Delay In Senate Committee Vote On Cigarette Tax Hike

NewsChannel5.com
May 22, 2007

Tennessee General Assembly

NASHVILLE, Tenn.- Gov. Phil Bredesen's massive push for education reform, and a cigarette tax increase were in jeopardy Tuesday.

The next 24 hours could be critical if the governor wants these key initiatives to pass. Bredesen wants to get the cigarette tax increase passed to pay for his education plan.

But, several senators have come out and said they don't like parts of the education reform plan.

So, if they don't like the plan, why vote for a cigarette tax hike?

"I would just like some clear direction from the administration," said Sen. Tim Burchett, a Republican from Knoxville. "What do they want us to vote for, and then we can figure out how to fund it."

The frustration level was high on Capitol Hill. With the session wrapping up, Bredesen is pushing legislators to pass his education reform plan, which to some, needs reform itself.

"When we're talking about significant increases in investments in education, we need to be very certain positive outcomes are a result, not just increasing the unit cost of doing the same thing," said Sen. Jamie Woodson, R-Knoxville.

It didn't help matters Monday night when the governor's office passed out inaccurate information to lawmakers on the Senate floor.

"When you just slap things together the way they've done, and then run them all down to vote them on the floor, you could put into law something that is not progress," said Sen. Mark Norris, R-Memphis. "It's not positive, and it could be very damaging to the education system to this state. And that's what they were on the verge of doing."

Bredesen's team admits the wrong information was passed out on the Senate floor, but they have spent the day working to correct the problem.

Insiders said if this education plan doesn't pass, a cigarette tax hike may never see the light of day.

Over the next 24 hours, the governor's office will give lawmakers the final points of the school improvement initiative. On Wednesday morning, the governor's office will meet with Senators and they will hash out their differences.

Later in the day, there is supposed to be a key vote on the 40-cent cigarette tax hike. If it gets out of a committee meeting, it could reach the Senate floor for a vote on Thursday.

This week, lawmakers are also expected to vote on banning smoking in all public places including bars and restaurants.