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The Coming Budget Crisis: Candidates for Governor Are Clueless
State government is twirling down the toilet. Everyone knows it. The economy knocked a billion-dollar hole in the tax base, an unprecedented revenue loss, and that money isn't coming back because we're so heavily reliant on the regressive and inelastic sales tax. Once the federal stimulus money disappears in 2011, the governor at that time will be forced to take a hatchet to state services, namely health care, prisons and education. Dr. Stan Chervin, an economist and analyst at the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, explains:
"So they're going to have to make some hard choices. And that's going to be the next governor and the next legislature. Fiscal year 2012 and 2013 are probably going to be when it really hits the fan. They're going to have to make some really tough decisions."OK, it will be ugly, but no worries. The candidates for governor are all over this problem, right? Hah! Andy Sher asked them to explain how they will deal with the recession's expected lasting impact on state revenues. Their answers would be funny if this situation weren't so serious.
We won't raise taxes. Oh no, won't even think about that. Well then, what will we do? Bill Gibbons would "set some clear priorities." Good idea. Roy Herron says, "we'll look and see where we are then" when the shit's hitting the fan. That's decisive. Mike McWherter knows "in tough economic times you have to have someone who can manage in tough economic times." No kidding.
In short, Dear Pith reader, these guys are clueless. Isn't that reassuring? Here are the candidates' full responses, pathetic as they may be:
* Democrat Ward Cammack: Could not be reached.* Republican Bill Gibbons: Assuming there is no growth, "I would set some clear priorities for state spending. My priorities would be making sure we have the infrastructure for economic growth, safety and public schools."
* Republican Bill Haslam: "I would argue that the next governor, whoever it is, has to be prepared to take a whole new look at state government because the revenues are not going to be there. You're not going to raise taxes, and there's no choice but to come back and look at the expense structure."
* Democrat Roy Herron: "I think the economy will rebound, but if it's slower than I believe it will be, then we'll look and see where we are then. You're talking a year and a half from now, and that's a long time."
* Democrat Kim McMillan: "I don't think we need a tax increase. ... You figure out what's the most important to the state and to the people to spend your money on."
* Democrat Mike McWherter: Could not be reached. Campaign manager Kim Sasser-Hayden said that "in tough economic times you have to have someone who can manage in tough economic times. ... It's a challenge he's aware of, and he's certainly taken on tough economic challenges in his own business."
* Republican Ron Ramsey: Could not be reached.
* Republican Zach Wamp: "We've got to get (government) down to the most limited place to start with and then have an ambitious economic development agenda centered in production. ... We're going to grow our way out of this problem. If I'm governor, I'm not going to tax our way out."
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