Next week, state officials are expected to report how healthy April tax collections were, another indicator of how much new revenue the state will need to raise. Lawmakers have been holding off getting down to the nitty-gritty business debating budget and revenue issues until after the Funding Board revisions and April tax collections are reported. Critics derided the move as ''voodoo'' and ''doodad economics'' because the money might not be collected. Recent lower tax collections have borne out those criticisms. Lawmakers can expect a busy two weeks if they are to meet House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh's May 18 target date for adjournment.
Some lawmakers consider the schedule too optimistic.
We did that so people will start thinking in terms of concluding the session,'' said Senate Finance Chairman Douglas Henry, D-Nashville. Senate Speaker Pro Tem Bob Rochelle, D-Lebanon, said the committee probably won't take up the tax bills until next week to give senators time to reach consensus. Gannett Co. Inc. newspaper Use of this site signifies that you agree to our terms of service. Associated Press content is Copyrighted by The Associated Press.