Tennessee gubernatorial candidate Marsha Blackburn came out in support of an effort to eliminate state property taxes.
Blackburn, who is currently one of Tennessee’s senators, said Tuesday she supports Amendment Two, which would modify the state Constitution to outlaw state property taxes.
Blackburn noted Tennessee residents are “well-served by a limited government that allows them to keep their hard-earned money.”
“This November, I hope you’ll join me in voting yes on Amendment Two to ensure that future generations don’t have to worry about the threat of a statewide property tax,” she said. “Together, let’s keep Tennessee one of the lowest taxed states in the nation and make our state America’s conservative leader!”
In 1999, Blackburn helped lead a successful effort to thwart the implementation of a state income tax by former Republican Governor Don Sundquist. In 2014, Tennesseeans passed a ballot initiative that amended the state Constitution to ban an income tax.
A recent poll from Beacon Center of Tennessee showed Blackburn ahead by 47 percentage points in her GOP gubernatorial primary race against Representative John Rose (R-TN-06).
Last week, a campaign called “YES ON 2” began to repeal Article II, Section 28 of the Tennessee Constitution.
As required by state law, the constitutional amendment proposal cleared two consecutive sessions of the Tennessee State Legislature.
At the statewide level, Gov. Bill Lee will serve as the chairman for the campaign to end Tennessee’s property taxes.
Besides Lee, the Tennessee Farm Bureau, the Tennessee Realtors, and the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce will also be a part of the “YES ON 2” campaign.
Kevin Hensley, director of public policy for the Tennessee Farm Bureau, said his organization is “proud to serve on the committee for Yes on 2 to ensure that Tennesseans are able to keep more of their hard-earned money.”
Chris Garrett, president of Tennessee Realtors, noted “excessive property taxes could make the difference between a Tennessean being able to afford a home or being priced out of the market entirely.”
“We will always fight to ensure the dream of home ownership is in reach for Tennesseans,” he stated.
According to a Tennessee Farm Bureau press release, 64 percent of Tennessee voters supported eliminating state property taxes.
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Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of The Star News Network. Email tips to Zachery at zschmidt1717@gmail.com.
