According to a Tennessean report this week, several prominent Middle Tennessee political figures either are or were delinquent in remitting their property taxes. Among them, it is worth noting, are State Representative Brenda Gilmore (D-Nashville) and State Senator Thelma Harper (D-Nashville). The legislative voting record of these two ladies certainly lends credence to the idea that they have no problem supporting raising taxes, they just aren't much on paying them. It might be a fair question to ask whether or not Harper or Gilmore supported former Governor Phil Bredesen's most asinine proposal during his time of office-that of a State property tax which thankfully went nowhere.
To be fair, a lot of us who do not have the privilege of public office would also like to avoid being oppressed by high taxes. Many people whose property tax payments are tied to their mortgages see the monthly bill they pay on that mortgage go up every time there is a local property tax increase. Certain elected officials, however, seem to be able to put off paying until they feel up to it. Would some of the elected officials profiled in the Tennessean piece might try to find some way to skip out on paying what some old time farmers here in East Tennessee call their "land taxes" if a major State press organ hadn't discovered them?
Don't we all wish we had that luxury?
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