Protesters rally against proposed income tax

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Sign-carrying, horn-honking tax protesters returned Wednesday to the state Capitol to urge lawmakers to reject an income tax plan.

About 300 people gathered on Legislative Plaza, a week after a similar rally against the proposed plan to implement a 4.5 percent flat income tax.

House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh was expected to call for a vote on the plan, which would also remove the sales tax from food, nonprescription drugs and clothing that costs less than $100.

Tennessee is one of nine states without an income tax.

Naifeh, Gov. Don Sundquist and Senate Speaker Pro Tem Robert Rochelle have been pushing for tax reform for several years. They say the sales tax overburdens the poor and does not bring in enough money to cover education and other necessary services.

Income tax opponents say the government should operate within its means.

"We're already taxed enough," legal secretary Betty Kaufman said.

"If they're trying to fix the budget, they need to cut out the waste, fraud and abuse," she said.