Tag Archives: rallies

TFT Plans ‘Untax Groceries, Tax the Wealth’ Rallies

1 Reply

News release from Tennesseans for Fair Taxation:
Tennesseans across the state are invited to celebrate their First Amendment rights by peacefully assembling in a Statewide Day of Action Nov. 12. The “Untax Groceries! Tax the Wealth!” Day of Action will urge Tennessee Representatives to oppose a Constitutional amendment to permanently ban an income tax in Tennessee.
“Our present state tax system is immoral, unfair and bad for our economic future. It hurts the middle class and the poor. We have one of the highest sales taxes on groceries and other items in the nation. That costs us jobs and revenue that could strengthen education, health care and public safety in Tennessee.” Elizabeth Wright, director of Tennesseans for Fair Taxation (TFT), says.
“But instead of our State Legislators passing a solution that would help those of us in the middle class, they are fighting for a Constitutional ban on an income tax to protect the wealthiest Tennesseans from paying their fair share of taxes,” Wright added.
“Everyone who wants large corporations and the wealthy to pay their fair share of taxes so we can have more jobs and most Tennesseans can pay less in taxes should join us on November 12. We also want to celebrate the rights to free speech and peaceful assembly that were so bravely defended for us all by Occupy Nashville protestors Oct. 28,” says Dick Williams, TFT board chair. “The income tax ban is irresponsible and short-sighted. It would tie the hands of future legislators in accessing viable revenue options. Advocates of this ban have no idea what the future might hold for our state.”
The schedule of events includes Knoxville, Nashville, and Memphis as shown below:
Knoxville: Sat. Nov. 12, 2011 – 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the UNITE! Building, 1124 N. Broadway
Memphis: Sat. Nov. 12, 2011 – 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. with press conference at City Hall, 4 p.m.
Nashville: Sat. Nov. 12, 2011 – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Legislative Plaza with Occupy Nashville
The mission of Tennesseans for Fair Taxation since 1984 has been to end the sales tax on food and to create a more fair and progressive tax structure that ensures adequate revenue for the benefit of all Tennesseans.

Both Sides at TEA-Tea Party Rallies Call on Haslam to Take a Stand

1 Reply

By Erik Schelzig
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Protesters braved heavy downpours Saturday to converge at the state Capitol to voice competing views on legislative efforts to do away with teachers’ collective bargaining rights.
A few hundred tea party supporters gathered on the statehouse steps to call on Republican leadership to pass the measure, while more than 1,000 of supporters of the Tennessee Education Association, the state’s largest teachers’ union, marched to the Legislative Plaza across the street to speak out against the bill. (Note: Tennessean estimates ‘more than 3,000.”)
Both groups urged Republican Gov. Bill Haslam, who has remained neutral on the bill, to come out on their side of the debate.
“He has the power to stop this madness now,” House Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Turner of Nashville said to loud shouts of approval at the teachers’ rally. “Gov. Haslam, if you’re listening, please stop this terrorism against our teachers.”
At the tea party rally, Raymond Baker of Franklin called out Haslam and House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, for not standing more firmly behind eliminating teachers’ collective bargaining rights.
“Bill Haslam, where are you?” he said from the steps below the governor’s offices in the Capitol. “These people probably voted for you … they’re standing in the rain trying to tell you something.”

Continue reading →