Republican candidates for the 3rd Congressional District, from left, Weston Wamp, Ron Bhalla and current U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann participate in the 3rd Congressional District Republican Debate held on Monday, May 21, 2012, at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s Roland Hayes Concert Hall in downtown Chattanooga, Tenn.WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER SIDE?The Democrats are divided on taxes, too.• Bill Taylor, a Chattanooga businessman running in the 3rd District Democratic primary, has said tax rates “do not need to be increased.” On his website, he writes that “revenues need to rise” by eliminating unnecessary loopholes — a popular Republican refrain.”There are 165 deductions, exemptions, preferences and loopholes that cost the Treasury $1 trillion per year,” he said. “Each of these items needs a close review.”• Taylor’s opponent, physician Mary Headrick, of Maynardville, supports higher taxes for the wealthy.”Why should a hedge fund operator or a private equity fund partner pay only 15 percent taxes with no payroll tax and no graduated income tax rate?” she wrote on her campaign website.
When it comes to life’s realities, Republicans aren’t fond of death, but they despise taxes.
But in Tennessee’s 3rd Congressional District Republican primary, nuance exists: Two candidates say they’ll never raise taxes while two others refuse to speak in absolutes.
At a debate Monday night, challenger Ron Bhalla described any tax increase as “a no-no thing” and the incumbent, U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, said he’s one of more than 270 members of Congress to sign the Americans for Tax Reform pledge, promising never to vote to raise taxes.
“We have a spending problem,” Fleischmann said. “To actually come to the American people and say it can even begin to be solved with revenue is wrong.”