Bredesen Trying to Hold Lawmakers to Making Hard Choices

Governor Phil Bredesen says he’s worried the legislature may not raise taxes or make deep enough cuts to the state budget.

Republican budget proposals get rid of the governor’s increase to driver’s license fees and his proposed sales tax hike on big ticket items. To keep from raising taxes, Republicans want to remove the governor’s proposed bonus for state workers. But now Democrats want to restore part of the bonuses, even without the new taxes, and instead spend more of the state’s reserves.

Bredesen says he’s concerned.

“Both parties are moving away from the commitment to really leave the next governor with a recurring to recurring, balanced budget. No one wants to add new revenue, but they do want to fix up some of the cuts that I made and put them back in, and that’s a tough way to go.”

Bredesen says the legislature needs to make hard choices, pass a budget, and move on. So far, lawmakers continue to debate over line items that represent a tiny fraction of the state’s overall spending.