NASHVILLE -- House Minority Leader Gary Odom, D-Nashville, said Friday he intends to push a sales-tax exemption on appliances and building materials for families who suffered flood damage in this month's severe flooding.
Tennesseans qualifying for Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance, authorized by President Barack Obama, could buy appliances such as refrigerators and building materials tax free through September.
"After several meetings with constituents, I believe that this is absolutely necessary in providing relief for our citizens that were devastated by the recent flooding disaster," Rep. Odom said in a news release. "It is the least we can do to help our neighbors and friends get back on their feet."
He said the measure should not have a negative effect on sales tax revenues because the appliances and material would not otherwise need to be purchased to the extent they will now.
Parts of Nashville including Bellevue, which Mr. Odom represents, were hard hit in the disasterous funding.
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