Writer Opposes Vote By Ramsey, Mumpower

By: | TriCities.com
Published: September 23, 2009

Tennessee Rep. Jason Mumpower and State Senator Ron Ramsey voted for a bill (HB2389/SB2357) that is clearly a tax increase. The bill Mumpower and Ramsey voted for increases from 2 percent to 5.5 percent the tax that all HMOs (health maintenance organizations) doing business in this state must pay on the gross amount of all dollars collected from an enrollee or on an enrollee’s behalf.
One hundred thirty six million dollars that should have stayed in the pockets of hard working Tennesseans that are trying to make a living and survive now is going into the state governments big bank account. Why Mumpower and Ramsey both voted for this tax increase is beyond me.
I believe in giving credit where credit is due. Two of our representatives from Sullivan County, Rep. Jon Lundberg and Rep. Tony Shipley, voted against the tax increase. I thank them for their votes to keep Tennessee a low tax state.
At the same time Mumpower and Ramsey are increasing taxes, Sullivan County has a 9.6 percent unemployment rate and Johnson County has a 13 percent unemployment rate. As you know, both of these men represent these two counties. If tax increases are in your best interest, please support these men again. If you are against tax increases, please support someone that isn’t going to raise taxes again and again.