But Phil Bredesen, the former Nashville mayor about to begin his second year at the helm of Tennessee state government, seems determined to change all that, acting to fulfill both the spirit and the letter of Wilsons dictum.
Last year the newly elected governor entered office to find that the state was a hundred million dollars in the hole, even after the enactment of an unprecedentedly large sales tax increase the year before. Instead of gnashing his teeth or wringing his hands, Bredesen analyzed the situation and determined to do that which no prior Democratic governor (or Republican governor, either) had done -- slash state spending across the board. Except in the area of public education or where judicial mandates prevented it, the governor insisted that each department slash its budget by 9 percent. Remarkably, even the Tennessee Department of Transportation, whose roadbuilding apparatus had always enjoyed sacred-cow status, came under the ax.
How was Bredesen able to enforce his will? First of all, he had the support of his fellow Democrats in the legislature, who in the preceding years had rallied only unevenly to support Republican Governor Don Sundquists abortive tax-reform efforts. And it didnt hurt that Bredesens actions were in conformity with the traditional cut-spending rhetoric of the General Assemblys Republicans.
But the key to Bredesens success in budget-cutting -- and that which guaranteed that the scalpel was wielded judiciously -- was his insistence on carrying on his budget negotiations, line by line, department by department, program by program, in public. No private pork-barreling, no back-room back-scratching. It was unprecedented. Open covenants, openly arrived at, indeed: Wilson would have been proud.
This week and next the governor is holding similar public hearings with officials of state departments to iron out the details of the budget he will present to the General Assembly with the New Year. (Citizens interested in checking them out via streaming video on the Internet can do so by going on line at www.legislature.state.tn.us , then clicking, consecutively, on House and on Governors Budget Hearings.)
All this is taking place while Congress is rushing to conclude some year-end business in Washington -- including preparation of an energy policy and provision of prescription-drug coverage for seniors -- by the same old closed-door methods. All indications are that the wheelers and dealers are getting their piece of the Thanksgiving mealbefore the rest of it is even set on the table.
It is too much to expect that what is now going on in Tennessee will become a model for national lawmaking, but its worth recommending all the same. And it seems to have paid off politically. So far the best the governors political opponents can do is grouse about extravagant salaries for state lottery officials. That may or may not pay off by 2006, but Bredesens decision to play his cards face up has him ahead in the game so far.
Always independent, always free (never a paywall),
the Memphis Flyer is your source for the best in local news and information.
Now we want to expand and enhance our work.
That's why we're asking you to join us as a Frequent Flyer member.
You'll get membership perks (find out more about those here) and help us continue to deliver the independent journalism you've come to expect.
Comments