General Assembly overrides veto

August 8, 2001

Sen. Kurita: General Assembly overrides veto; 'no new taxes' budget stands

The General Assembly voted Tuesday to override Governor Don Sundquist's veto
of the "no new taxes" budget that passed on July 12. Senator Rosalind
Kurita, who voted to override, said the Governor's push to impose a state
income tax and increase spending by almost $1 billion was "out-of-step" with
Tennessee taxpayers.
"The actions taken by the General Assembly reflect the views of the vast
majority of Tennesseans who want state government to tighten the belt, fix
TennCare and make government run more efficiently," Senator Kurita said.
"The 'no new taxes' budget balances the state's finances without increasing
the sales tax or imposing an income tax. This budget is in-step with the
constituents that I represent."
Senator Kurita said the Governor's plan to increase spending and start new
programs was unrealistic from the start. "At a time when families and
businesses are tightening the belt, the Governor was asking for an extra
billion dollars. It was a tough fight, but in the end, the taxpayers won
when the General Assembly voted to override the veto."
Senator Kurita said overriding the veto prevented the state from reverting
to the temporary budget passed on June 30. "Had the legislature voted to
sustain the Governor's veto, teachers and college faculty would not receive
2.5% cost of living increases. Under the temporary budget, BEP funds would
have been withheld from local school districts and our colleges and
universities would not have been allowed to keep funds from tuition
increases for use in higher education. Even if the General Assembly fixed
problems with the temporary budget, there was no guarantee the Governor
would sign the bill. The best option available was an override of the
Governor's veto."
Senator Kurita said the budget passed by the General Assembly places top
priority on education. The budget passed includes:
* Cost of living increases (2.5%) for school teachers, university
faculty and staff, and state workers;
* Funding for scholarships for needy college students facing tuition
increases;
* Full funding of the Basic Education Program (BEP) for K-12;
* Funds raised from tuition increases will stay in higher education.
The vote to override was 19-12 in the Senate (17 votes needed) and 66-33 in
the House (50 votes needed). Following the veto override, the House and
Senate adjourned until January 2002.