Tennessean: TN GOPing Members of Congress vote against sales tax deduction from federal income tax

[doeriver]

TN's Republican reps vote against tax relief
http://www.tennessean.com/article/200912171445/HENDERSONVILLE07/91217062

In a fit of what can be called nothing less than blatant hypocrisy, all four of Tennessee’s Republican House members last week voted against a bill to allow Tennesseans to continue to deduct their state sales tax from their federal income tax returns.

The bill, if approved by the Senate, would save Tennesseans literally hundreds of millions of dollars by extending tax credits through 2010 that allow deductions for state and local sales taxes and provides tax deductions for certain expenses for school teachers and people paying tuition. The extension would also apply to Tennessee businesses receiving tax credits for, among other things, research activities and equipment depreciation.

Republicans claim to support tax relief and supposedly believe low taxes stimulate the economy. By voting for this bill, they had the chance to prove it. Instead they did the opposite. Of course, all five Tennessee Democrats in Congress, including our own Bart Gordon, voted for the bill, which passed easily. If you like the tax deduction that 41 other states have, thank Congressman Gordon.