Marsha Blackburn killed the state income tax proposal in Tennessee.
Posted by Badlands Media, Checked
- Sources
- 4 support1 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 70%
Badlands MediaAug 11, 2026
Independent and primary sources agree that Blackburn led the statewide campaign in the Tennessee Senate that defeated a proposed state income tax in the early 2000s, so the claim that she killed the proposal is supported.
A guest makes this claim. Listeners heard it, so it counts against the post, and on the guest's own record.
What was said
… That would be good symmetry. I like it. To whomever would be in the Senate, I can tell you this: Tennesseans want a conservative who is going to do the heavy lift, and they want someone who's a fighter, like I have been, killing that state income tax when it was proposed in Tennessee. And in November, I'm leading the push for an amendment that says we will never have a state property tax. We do not have one now, and we never will. …
Badlands Media · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Supports. The AP report on Blackburn's 2024 reelection says she 'helped lead the revolt against a proposed Tennessee income tax in the early 2000s.'[1]
Supports. Blackburn's official Senate biography states that while in the Tennessee State Senate she 'led a successful, statewide grassroots campaign to defeat a proposed state income tax.'[2]
Supports. Blackburn's own 2026 statements, quoted by The Tennessee Banner, say she 'led the fight to stop the state income tax and won.' These are self-described accounts and are not independent corroboration.[3]
Supports. Blackburn's 2026 op-ed says a statewide grassroots campaign she led in the state Senate defeated the proposal. The op-ed is self-authored, so it confirms her account rather than independently verifying it.[4]
Context. A 2025 Times Free Press piece concerns a different proposal, Gov. Ray Blanton's 1970s income tax push, and does not bear on Blackburn's role in the early-2000s fight.[5]
Sources
5 sources: 1 fact-checker, 1 primary, 3 not rated
- 1Republican US Sen. Marsha Blackburn wins reelection in Tennesseeapnews.com · fact-checker · cited for: supports
- 2About Marsha - U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennesseeblackburn.senate.gov · primary source · cited for: supports
- 3Tennessee governor race: Blackburn, Green clash on policy ...nashvillebanner.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 4While Democrats Embrace Failures of Socialism, Tennessee Charts Path to Prosperity - Clarksville Online - Clarksville News, Sports, Events and Informationclarksvilleonline.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 5Free Press Opinion: Fifty years ago, governor wished ...timesfreepress.com · not rated · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post
Related claims
- Marsha Blackburn won the Republican primary for Tennessee governor on Thursday.True
- Marsha Blackburn is the Republican nominee for Tennessee governor in the November election.True
- Senator Marsha Blackburn uses scripted talking points.True
- Tennessee does not currently have a state property tax.True
- Governor Andy Beshear signed a tax cut in Kentucky.True