So reports Knoxville News Sentinel chief Tom Humphrey with a current history of Tennessee’s budgetary conundrum.  Bredesen has “steered the ship,” as he described his management of state government some months ago, calmly and while working across the aisle.

The upshot is that, probably in the next few days, legislators will go along with the Bredesen budget-cutting plans - albeit with an appropriate round of posturing and speech-making to express remorse over the inability to spend more money on education, state employees and other good causes.

 

For some, the gist of the public posturing will be to blame the governor, then go along with his plans.

 

Privately, some of the more thoughtful legislators will also be thanking him for preventing the current revenue crisis from being a really great one.

 

And, of course, they can also thank the biggest tax increase in state history back in 2002. And maybe Don Sundquist, too.

 

Privately, some of the more thoughtful legislators will also be thanking him for preventing the current revenue crisis from being a really great one.

 

And, of course, they can also thank the biggest tax increase in state history back in 2002. And maybe Don Sundquist, too.

The contrast between Democratic Governor Phil Bredesen and the previous Republican administration should bode well for the Volunteer State’s next governor.