Sen. McNally on 'Inside Tennessee'

Randy McNally

East Tennessee lawmaker Randy McNally doesn’t plan to change much if he becomes the state’s next Speaker of the Senate.

But, he might help push forward a gas tax, so long as a number of factors fall into place.
McNally, a Republican state senator from Oak Ridge, is the frontrunner to replace Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey who announced last month that he won’t seek re-election.

“I don’t think there will be a lot of difference – it will be a fairly smooth transition,” McNally told WBIR 10News.

Senators will vote on the next speaker in January when the General Assembly begins its next session.
McNally, who has served in either the House or Senate since 1977, is the guest on this  Sunday’s “Inside Tennessee,” WBIR 10News’ political and public affairs program, which airs at 9:30 a.m.

“I want to continue the path that (Lt.) Gov. Ramsey, the current speaker, has set out of being a very fiscal conservative legislator – making sure our debt is low, our taxes are low . . . (and) controlling growth in expenditures and making sure the essential services are providing for Tennesseans, especially growing new jobs and promoting education,” he said.

McNally, who currently serves as the chairman of the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee, said he plans to spend the summer and fall working with Ramsey to help Tennessee Republicans maintain and grow their strong majority in the state Senate.

During Sunday’s discussion, McNally touches on a wide range of topics, including the state’s financial health, Insure Tennessee and funding for indigent defense.

When pressed about whether he would push for an increase in the gas tax – something Gov. Bill Haslam has floated – McNally said he would, but only under certain conditions, like limiting it to a “single digit increase.”

He told the panel that the tax is a “user fee” that “People who use the roads should pay.”

McNally to seek Senate speakership

Sen. Randy McNally

State Sen. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, announced today his intention to become Tennessee's next Speaker of the Senate.

The announcement follows Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey’s decision not to seek re-election. 

“I want to thank Ron Ramsey for his tremendous leadership over these last ten years,” McNally said in a released statement. “If elected Speaker I will continue to support an independent State Senate and I will remain committed to keeping taxes low, while maintaining the financial integrity of our state that benefits all Tennesseans.”

McNally, who is also the chairman of the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee, added: “Tennessee’s Senators are among the most dedicated public servants in our nation,” continued McNally. “It is an honor to represent my district among a group that so strongly reflects Tennessee values and principles. It would be a great privilege to lead this esteemed body in the 110th General Assembly.”

McNally plans to spend his summer and fall working with Ramsey to help state Republicans maintain and grow their strong majority in the state Senate, he said.

McNally has served in both the House and Senate. He played a key role in helping to uncover political corruption in Tennessee during the Operation Rocky Top investigation.

McNally lives in Oak Ridge with Jan, his wife of 48 years. He is the parent of two adult daughters, Melissa and Maggie, three grandchildren and a dog. He has also worked as a hospital pharmacist at Methodist Medical Center.

Burchett, McNally pushing to make hotel-motel tax deadbeats public

Sen. McNally

Sen. Randy McNally plans to introduce legislation that would make the names of hotel and motels (and their owners) that don't pay their taxes public. The fact that this isn't public record is obscene, and - heck, I'll say it - flat out corrupt.

There is absolutely NO reason these businesses owners should not be held accountable. Deadbeats. Every one of them.

In fact, if anyone in the state General Assembly votes against this bill, they should step down immediately as it's obvious they've put special interest scumbag tax scofflaws ahead of the taxpayer and voter.

There is NO excuse.

Here's our story:

State Sen. Randy McNally plans to push for legislation that would allow local governments to make public the names of the hotels and motels that don't pay the occupancy tax – a fee that supports area tourism.

The move comes at the request of Knox county Mayor Tim Burchett who sent him a letter Thursday in the wake of an audit that says the Knox County Clerk's Office failed to collect almost $476,000 in taxes from local hotels and motels the past two years.

In a letter to state Sen. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, sent Thursday, the mayor noted that state law "does not allow public access to information relating to businesses' tax information, even if those business fail to pay taxes due."

"This being the case, the media and general public are not allowed to know the identity of the businesses that are not turning over the hotel/motel tax they collect from their customers," Burchett wrote. "As you know, the purpose of the Open Records Act is to protect the interest of the taxpayer. The fact that state law precludes Knox County from releasing a list of businesses known to not be paying the hotel/motel taxes gives primacy to these businesses over the interest of the taxpayer. This needs to change."

Burchett's letter to the state senator also comes as WBIR 10News has pushed his office, his finance office and the county law department to release the names. So far, the office's have refused, citing state law.

McNally, who is the chairman of the state Senate Finance Committee, told WBIR 10News on Friday that he was upset that businesses wouldn't pay up, and they should be named.

"The law is designed to protect businesses that abide by the law," he said. "If they're not abiding by state and local laws, then they shouldn't get protection. If I don't pay my property taxes, it appears in the newspaper. Why should these  businesses receive protection when they're not following the law?"

The Tennessee General Assembly meets again in January 2016.

Rest of the story RIGHT HERE.