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S.E. Wood What "is" is Steve Gill is a popular Nashville radio talk-show
host. He has been very active the past two years in organizing
the horn-honking protests against the state income tax. But now he is on a tear because gubernatorial
candidate Van Hilleary has so far refused to sign his "No
Income Tax" pledge. Steve has stated publicly that if Van
doesn't sign, then he may have to vote for his opponent, Democrat
Phil Bredesen! Although he certainly wants Gill's support,
Congressman Hilleary is standing by his own policy statement,
which essentially says the same thing. Here are the facts: Steve Gill's "pledge" says: I, ________, pledge to the taxpayers of ________
District and to all the citizens of Tennessee that I will vigorously
oppose and vote against a state income tax and that I will also
actively oppose and vote against any and all efforts to impose
any tax on the wages or earnings of the people of Tennessee. I am opposed to a state income tax and fully
believe it to be unconstitutional. My efforts to stop a state
income tax date back to 1991-1992, when then-Gov. Ned McWherter
attempted to create an income tax. I was against an income tax
then. I am against an income tax now. I will vigorously and actively
oppose all efforts to impose any tax on the wages or earnings
of the people of Tennessee. They both seem pretty clear to me. So why
all the fuss? Why doesn't Hilleary just sign the thing and be
done with it? I suspect he fears if he signs Gill's pledge, then
he will be expected to sign another version for competing Nashville
talk-show host Phil Valentine. Then another from Knoxville; then
Memphis; then Chattanooga, and so on. And certainly the newspaper
writers will have their own "pledges" for him to sign.
And then where will it end? Hilleary says, "I also believe that keeping
my word is my No. 1 job as a public servant. That is why the
voters of the 4th Congressional District have elected and re-elected
me to office four times, last year with 66 percent of the vote.
I have earned and kept their trust, just as I will earn and preserve
yours." So that's Hilleary's position. But what about Steve Gill? Why is he trying so hard to pick a fight with Van? Of course, Gill's first obligation is to improve his broadcast ratings. But he is attacking with such vengeance, do you think he may also be considering a run for the governor's mansion? · · · |