Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
House Joint Resolution 0017 (HJR0017) urging Congress to pass the Fair Tax Act found concurrence in the Senate 26-6 earlier this week.
The HJR mirrors much of the language in the Fair Tax Act (H.R. 25), namely calling for the abolition of the federal income tax and the institution of a national sales tax instead.
It further critiques much of the current tax system and denounces federal payroll taxes, including those on social security, Medicare payroll, and self-employment and supports the repealing of the 16th Amendment, all consistent with H.R. 25’s aim of promoting, “freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity.”
During the Senate floor session on Wednesday, April 16, Senator Jack Johnson (R-Franklin-District 27) introduced the resolution and urged the body to pass the measure as, “our country operated from its inception until 1913 without an income tax. We need to go back that direction.”
Democrat Heidi Campbell rose in opposition to the resolution, calling it, “incredibly regressive”. “It’s strange to me that we’re being cavalier about supporting the removal of [Constitutional] amendments, but I will also say the bottom 50% of the population now owns less than 2% of the wealth. Over the past 30 years we’ve had a massive wealth migration to the top 1%. This would actually shift that wealth even more significantly. This incredibly regressive tax formula does not work.” she claimed.
Fellow Democrat Jeff Yarbro spoke in objection to the proposed 17-25% national sales tax, stating, “I just can’t abide supporting something that would lead to Tennesseans paying a sales tax between 27-33%. And I don’t think that’s what Tennesseans want.”
Senator Adam Lowe (R-Calhoun-District 1) spoke favorably of the resolution saying, “Not all amendments are created equal. When we consider the Bill of Rights were part of ratifying the Constitution and are held in a greater regard than the subsequent amendments. So, we have to keep that in mind. When we tinker with the first ten, we tinker with the whole document, but we have had a pattern, post-ten, of being able to move in and out as needed. And so, this resolution simply says and compels Congress to take a step back from what’s happened over the past 100 years with our tax formula that has, in many ways, been regressive already.”
The body voted 26-6 in favor of HJR0017 along party lines, and Republican Ferrell Haile did not cast a vote.
As both chambers of the Tennessee legislature have passed the resolution, a copy will be sent to President Trump and each member of the Tennessee congressional delegation.
Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
Good. I hope.