Legislative Plaza

Last week, I posted a photo from the Southern Festival of Books which was held at Legislative Plaza. Legislative offices are in the Federal-style building in the photo, and the state legislature holds public hearings in the auditorium there. The state capitol is on the north side of the plaza, or to the right as you look at the photo.

Note the lack of traffic, due in part to the fact that I took this photo on a Saturday morning. However, a couple of years ago, the legislature tried to pass a state income tax, which didn't go over too well with Tennesseans. Hundreds of people crowded the plaza in protest, and others drove their cars around the plaza, honking horns and creating quite a traffic jam during the business day. It worked. We still don't have a state income tax. We do, however, have 9.25-9.75% sales tax on almost everything. Most foods are taxed at a lower rate - 8.25-8.75%.

I'm going to be teaching art classes out of town for a week or so, so I won't have a lot of commentary. While I'm gone, my husband will be uploading photos for me.