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>>> AND
WELCOME TO THIS WEEK IN THE STATEHOUSE AS THIS NEW
SESSION CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD.
LAST WEEK BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER THE HOUSE AND SENATE
LOST A WEEK. IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE
THEY CONTINUE TO BE TRUDGING ALONG LOOKING AT ETHICS
REFORM. THEN WE HAD JUDICIAL
ELECTIONS, THE CHIEF JUSTICE GOT REELECTED.
ISSUES CONTINUE TO PILE UP, WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF WEEKS
AHEAD AND WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE ISSUES COMING
UP IN THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY. BEFORE WE GO TO OUR PROGRAM, I
WANT TO THANK TIME WARNER CABLE AND THE SOUTH CAROLINA
FARM BUREAU FOR THEIR SPONSORSHIP OF THIS BROADCAST
AND ALSO SOUTH CAROLINA E.T.V. FOR THEIR PRODUCTION OF THE
SHOW AND THE SOUTH CAROLINA PRESS ASSOCIATION FOR THEIR
ASSISTANCE IN PUTTING ON THIS SHOW.
AND I WOULD BE REMISS BEFORE I INTRODUCE OUR GUESTS IF I DID
NOT WELCOME BACK PARTICULARLY AFTER THE WEATHER AND
EVERYTHING OUR FRIENDS IN 518 OF THE BLATT BUILDING.
I KNOW THEY HAVE THEIR T.V. ON.
WE HAVE SOME VERY LOYAL FANS OVER THERE AND I THINK IT WAS
REPRESENTATIVE STAVRINAKIS SAYS, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE
TAKING NOTES WITH HOMEWORK. WE GIVE HIM SOME OF THE
ANSWERS. I'M GLAD THIS SHOW DOES
SOMETHING FOR THEM. WE'VE GOT A GREAT SHOW TODAY.
WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE ROAD SYSTEM, WHAT
ITS CONDITIONS. GAS TAXES, SHOULD WE HAVE GAS
TAX IN SOUTH CAROLINA. I HAVE TWO HERE WITH DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVES. RIGHT NEXT TO ME, SENATOR RAY
CLEARY, GEORGETOWN, YOU REPRESENT A PIECE OF
CHARLESTON AND A PIECE OF HORRY TOO.
>> YES, SIR. >> YOU HAVE ALL OF THAT.
THEN SENATOR KEVIN BRYANT, COMES TO US FROM ANDERSON
AND -- >> IT'S ALL WITHIN ANDERSON
COUNTY, YES, SIR. >> LET'S GET DOWN TO IT.
AND I'LL JUST SET THE STAGE OF THIS COMING ISSUE.
EVERYBODY IS TALKING NOW ABOUT ROADS.
THE PUBLIC OUT THERE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO SEE THIS STATE IS
GLIDING TO GRIDLOCK. THE INTERSTATES ARE CLOGGING
UP, THE ROAD SYSTEM IS LITERALLY COLLAPSING BECAUSE
IT'S NOT BEING MAINTAINED PROPERLY.
BRIDGES NEED TO BE REPLACED AND WE NEED ADDITIONAL THREE
LANES UP THE INTERSTATE, FOUR LANES ON PRIMARY ROUTES AND
EVERYTHING. SO GENTLEMEN, THE PEOPLE ARE
ASKING IS IT GOING TO HAPPEN, IS IT NOT GOING TO HAPPEN,
WHAT ARE THE ISSUES HERE? SENATOR CLEARY, DO YOU THINK
WE'RE MAINTAINING OUR ROAD SYSTEM AT A GOOD RATE?
>> WELL, IT'S OBVIOUS THAT -- IN FACT, A LOT OF THE
LEADERSHIP IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE WHEN THEY FIRST GOT
ELECTED GOT ELECTED WHERE SOUTH CAROLINA ROADS WERE SOME
OF THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY. WE'VE GONE FROM EXCELLENT TO
GOOD TO FAIR TO POOR. I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE GO NEXT,
DEPLORABLE, WITH 1600 FAILING BRIDGES AND 50% PLUS OR MINUS
OF STATE SECONDARY ROADS POOR. HOW FAR CAN YOU GO WHERE YOU
PUT DETOURS AROUND WHOLE PARTS OF THE STATE.
BUT THIS REALLY ISN'T ABOUT THE ROADS BECAUSE THERE'S NO
ONE IN THE ASSEMBLY, THERE'S NO REALLY ANYONE IN THE
CHAMBERS THAT DOESN'T KNOW WE HAVE BAD ROADS.
THIS IS ABOUT FUNDING. SENATOR BRYANT ACTUALLY TOOK A
REAL MAJOR PROBLEM THE STATE HAD IN UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE,
WE WERE LOSING A BILLION DOLLARS TO THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, AND HE GOT THERE, HE GOT THE SENATE WILLING TO
DEBATE IT AND WE SOLVED THAT PROBLEM, HAVEN'T WE, SENATOR?
>> YES, WE DID. >> WE ARE ONE OF EIGHT STATES,
MANY NINE THAT WENT TO THE [INAUDIBLE] SYSTEM AND THEY
DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM IN THE DOWNTURN.
I WANTED TO GIVE YOU CREDIT FOR THAT.
SENATOR BRYANT AND I GOT IN THE SENATE AT THE SAME TIME
AND HE TOOK THAT CHALLENGE ON AND CORRECTED IT AND THE
CITIZENS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, YOU NOTICE, OWE A DEBT OF
GRATITUDE FOR THAT. >> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE
THAT. I THINK THE PROBLEM WE HAVE IS
A LITTLE BIT OF -- IN THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE,
SHE TALKED ABOUT INCOME TAX RELIEF, ELIMINATING THE 6%.
THAT'S ABOUT $30 MILLION. EVERY FAMILY GETS ALL OF $29
BACK NEXT YEAR IF WE DO THAT. LET'S THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX A
LITTLE BIT. IF WE HAD TAKEN THE
150 MILLION WE ROBBED FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND THE
150 MILLION WE MIGHT ROB THIS YEAR AND APPLIED THAT TO
INCOME TAX, EVERY FAMILY MIGHT HAVE A $300 TO $400 TAX BREAK,
INCOME TAX BREAK BECAUSE WE'RE PAYING FOR THE ROADS THE RIGHT
WAY WITH USER FEES. AND YOU KNOW, IF WE COULD DO
THE DEBATE IN THE SENATE, I COULD SHOW YOU HOW WE COULD DO
THAT WITHOUT THE GASOLINE TAX. GIVE EVERYBODY IN THIS STATE A
$300 TAX CREDIT WITHOUT RAISING THE GAS TAX.
THAT DOESN'T SOLVE OUR ROAD PROBLEMS.
THAT'S JUST ONE WAY OF THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX.
>> WELL, LET ME ASK YOU, THE STATISTICS THAT I'VE GOTTEN
INDICATE, AND SENATOR BRYANT, THAT THIS STATE NEEDS
$48.3 BILLION FOR ROAD REPAIRS.
I'M NOT TALKING CONSTRUCTION, FOR ROAD REPAIRS OVER THE NEXT
20 YEARS, BUT ONLY HAS 19.3 BILLION TO PAY FOR THESE
REPAIRS SO THAT LEAVES ABOUT $29 BILLION THAT'S GOT TO BE
MADE UP. DO YOU SEE THAT BEING MADE UP
OR WHAT? >> GOVERNOR, I THINK -- I
THINK PROBABLY IF YOU POLLED EVERY MEMBER OF THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY, THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, THAT WE ARE BILLIONS
AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS BEHIND WITH OUR ROADS AND BRIDGES.
WHERE WE SCATTER IS EXACTLY HOW TO PAY FOR IT.
BUT ALSO WE'VE GOT TO REMEMBER THAT WE DO SPEND A LOT OF
MONEY ON ROADS, IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM TO GET THERE.
I KNOW YOU ALL PROBABLY -- I WOULD ASSUME YOU ALL WOULD USE
FITZ NEWS AS YOUR PRIMARY SOURCE OF NEWS, BUT HE DID
POINT TO ANOTHER STUDY, REASON.ORG, THAT HAS SHOWN
SOUTH CAROLINA SPENDS MORE PER MILE THAN ANY OTHER STATE.
THAT'S ONE STUDY. THE STATE HAS THE LARGEST --
ONE OF THE LARGEST ROAD SYSTEMS OF ANY OTHER STATE PER
CAPITA BECAUSE THE -- THE WAY WE DO IT IN SOUTH CAROLINA,
THE STATE MAINTAINS MORE ROADS AND THE COUNTIES AND CITIES
MAINTAIN VERY LITTLE PERCENTAGE OF OUR ROADS.
BUT THE -- THIS NOTION THAT WE NEED TO RAISE TAXES TO FIX OUR
ROADS IS PROBABLY WHERE WE'RE GOING TO DISAGREE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE CHANGED YOUR MIND ON THE GAS TAX AND
MAYBE YOU WILL AND I HOPE YOU DO, BUT -- BUT, GOVERNOR,
DURING THE BUDGET DEBATE LAST YEAR, WE HAD SEVERAL
AMENDMENTS. ONE WOULD TAKE TWO AND A HALF
PERCENT OFF THE TOP, SEND IT STRAIGHT TO THE ROADS, ONE
WOULD TAKE FIVE PERCENT OFF THE TOP, SEND IT STRAIGHT 20
THE ROADS. ONE WOULD TAKE 10% OFF THE TOP
AND SEND IT TO THE STREETS. $630 MILLION IN ONE YEAR, BUT
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DECIDED TO GO INTO DEBT AND PUT THIS
BURDEN ON OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN TO THE TUNE OF
500 MILLION FOR ROADS AND ANOTHER 120 MILLION WITHOUT
EVEN A TERM SHEET. WHO IN THE WORLD WOULD GO TAKE
OUT A MORTGAGE WITHOUT KNOWING THE TERMS?
THIS COULD COST US A BILLION DOLLARS IN ONE YEAR.
THIS REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOISTED
$1 BILLION OF DEBT ON OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.
>> HOW ARE THEY PAYING FOR THAT BOND ISSUE. THE BOND
ISSUE, THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.
>> THE BOND ISSUE, YES. PEOPLE WOULD RATHER USE THE
WORD BOND, I WOULD PREFER TO USE DEBT AND RED INK.
I'VE HEARD THE TERM RED INK FROM TIME TO TIME BUT IT JUST
BLOWS MY MIND HOW THE RINOCRATS WOULD BORROW THIS
MONEY WHEN THE MONEY IS THERE. >> HOW IS THAT BOND ISSUE PAID
FOR? >> I DON'T KNOW, GOVERNOR.
AN AT THE TIME WE VOTED, WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF
INTEREST WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY AND ATTORNEY FEES AND
ALL KIND OF FEES. THERE IS A DEDICATED
50 MILLION, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THERE IS A DEDICATED
NUMBER TO PAY BACK THESE BONDS.
SO I WOULD SAY IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN WASHINGTON JUST
SPENDING MONEY THAT DOESN'T EXIST, THERE IS A PLAN TO PAY
BACK THIS DEBT. I'LL GIVE YOU THAT.
BUT I -- I HAVE SEEN OVER AND OVER AND OVER ALL THE
FRIVOLOUS AND WASTEFUL SPENDING ON THINGS THAT GO
BEYOND THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT AND THE FOLKS DON'T REALLY
KNOW THAT. BUT THE FOLKS SEE POTHOLES AND
THEY SEE OUR BRIDGES CRUMBLING AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO
SPEND ALL THIS MONEY AND GROW GOVERNMENT BEHIND THEIR BACKS
AND GO TO THEM AND SAY HEY, WE ALL AGREE WE NEED TO FIX YOUR
ROADS, SO LET'S RAISE YOUR GAS TAX.
I WILL AGREE WITH YOU, SENATOR CLEARY, THAT A GAS TAX IS A
FAIR TAX. THE MORE YOU USE THE ROADS,
THE MORE GAS YOU BUY AND YOU ARE ACTUALLY PAYING FOR THE
ROADS YOU ARE SPENDING. AND I TELL YOU, IF THE -- IF
THE GAS TAX IS MAYBE OFF SET IN AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF CUT AND
INCOME TAXES, THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING I WOULD CONSIDER.
TWO REASONS IS WE'RE NOT RAISING TAXES AND ANOTHER
REASON IS WHEN YOU CUT INCOME TAXES, OBVIOUSLY THOSE ARE
YOUR JOB CREATORS AND THAT'S HOW YOU GET FOLKS OFF THE
UNEMPLOYMENT ROLLS IS WHEN YOU CUT INCOME TAXES THAT SMALL
BUSINESSES PAY, THEY CAN GROW AND THRIVE AND GIVE THEIR
EMPLOYEES RAISES AND HIRE MORE PEOPLE.
SO IT'S GOING TO BE A LIVELY DEBATE, IF WE EVER GET THERE.
BUT MY VIEW IS I CAN'T SUPPORT A -- AN INCREASE IN ANY KIND
OF TAX IF IT INCREASES THE BURDEN OF SOUTH CAROLINIANS AS
A WHOLE. >> SENATOR?
>> WELL, SENATOR, SINCE YOU QUIZZED ME ON THAT TAX AND YOU
SAID IT'S GOING TO BE A LIVELY DEBATE, I'M NOT SURE I SIGNED
YOU ON TO AT LEAST DEBATING IT.
UNLESS WE SET IT FOR SPECIAL ORDER WE DON'T GET TO DEBATE
IT. AND THE IF THE CITIZENS OF
SOUTH CAROLINA DESERVE ANYTHING IN THE SENATE, THEY
DESERVE A DEBATE ON IT, TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES ABOUT
THE DIFFERENT THINGS WE CAN LOOK AT.
YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH YOU, SENATOR, BUT YOU KNOW,
SOMETIMES I LEARNED IN THE SENATE BECAUSE AS A DENTIST I
DON'T KNOW THESE THINGS, BUT SOMETIMES A WORD CHANGES.
IF YOU HAVE A WORD THAT SAYS WILL OR MAY, IT CHANGES THE
DYNAMICS OF THAT BILL ENTIRELY.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT? IF YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE A WAY TO
FUND ROADS, THEN LET'S CALL IT A TAX BECAUSE WE'RE ALL
AGAINST TAXES. BUT ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL
TAX INSTITUTE ANY MONEYS THAT GO TO A SPECIFIC PURPOSE, TO A
SPECIFIC CAUSE LIKE ROADS, THAT'S A FEE.
AND HERE'S WHY THE PUBLIC WILL UNDERSTAND THE FEE DIFFERENCE.
BECAUSE IF YOU CHARGE A FEE, WHETHER IT'S ELIMINATING AN
EXEMPTION OR RAISING THE GASOLINE -- USER FEE, THAT'S
THE DEFINITION. IF YOU DO THOSE THINGS, THEN
THE PUBLIC CAN SIT BACK AND BE ASSURED WE CAN'T USE THEIR
INCOME TAXES. I'VE HEARD THIS POLITICAL
SPEAK, FIRST WE HAVE TO FIX D.O.T.
WELL, THAT'S JUST A GAME BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO
ADDRESS THE FUNDING ISSUE. YOU KNOW WHAT ONE OF THESE
AMENDMENTS TALKS ABOUT IF WE EVER GET TO THE DEBATE?
IT TALKS ABOUT FOLLOWING ARTICLE 114 OF THE LAW.
SO ANY NEW MONEYS THAT COME INTO D.O.T., IF WE PASS THIS
ONE AMENDMENT, IT SOLVES THAT PROBLEM ABOUT HAVING TOO MANY
ROADS IN THE SYSTEM, I THINK MAYBE AMENDMENT 14 OR 16
ADDRESSES THAT AND PUTS NOT ONLY SOME OF THESE ROADS BACK
INTO THE LOCAL AREA BUT ACTUALLY GIVES EVER COUNTY
BETWEEN A HALF A MILLION AND MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS TO
DO THAT. UNTIL WEAPON THAT DEBATE ON
THE FLOOR, SENATOR, WE'RE NOT DOING THE JOB THE PUBLIC HAS
SENT US FOR. SO LET'S BE HONEST AND USE THE
RHETORIC. IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MONEYS
GENERATED TO A SPECIFIC PURPOSE, THEY CAN'T BE
DIVERTED, THAT'S A FEE. AND DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?
>> WELL -- >> BECAUSE I'LL GET THE
DEFINITION IN THE SENATE TODAY.
IT'S A FEE. SO LET'S BE REAL AND LET'S BE
HONEST. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FEES.
YOU MAY NOT LIKE FEES, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT, BUT
IT A FEE BY DEFINITION. >> WELL, HERE'S WHAT I THINK
I'M HEARING. WHEN YOU TAKE A DOLLAR OUT OF
THE TAXPAYER'S POCKET, IF IT'S A RIGHT POCKET IT'S A TAX AND
IF IT'S THE LEFT IT'S A FEE. I SAY IT'S A DOLLAR COMING OUT
OF THE TAXPAYER'S POCKET. YOU CAN CALL IT A FEE OR
WHATEVER. I DON'T THINK THEY SAY, WELL,
I'M OKAY PAYING THIS BECAUSE IT'S JUST A FEE AND I DON'T
WANT TO PAY THAT BECAUSE IT'S A TAX.
IT'S MONEY COMING OUT OF THE POCKETS OF TAXPAYERS AND I
JUST DON'T THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT ON WHATEVER YOU CALL
IT. IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT A FEE,
CALL IT A FEE, BUT I NEED TO ASK YOU ONE QUESTION.
>> BECAUSE WHEN THE TAXPAYERS REALIZE THAT IT'S COMING TO A
FEE BECAUSE IT'S SPECIFIC PURPOSE THAT WE CAN'T BUILD A
GREEN MUSEUM WITH, THAT IT'S GOING TO FIX A PROBLEM AND WE
KNOW THE GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ROADS.
WE CAN'T FIX ROADS. THAT'S A GOVERNMENT
RESPONSIBILITY. LET'S HAVE AN HONEST DEBATE ON
THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE. OUT OF THESE 17 AMENDMENTS, I
MIGHT GET YOU TO AGREE TO TWO OR THREE OF THEM.
>> YOU JUST MIGHT. >> BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE THE
DEBATE. >> YOU JUST MIGHT.
WELL, SENATOR, I STILL -- I STILL WANT YOU TO TELL ME THE
DOLLAR THAT COMES OUT OF THE POCKET OF A TAXPAYER, IS IT A
U.S. DOLLAR FOR ONE THING, A TAX, IS IT A BRIGHT BUCK FOR A
FEE OR A CHINESE YEN OR WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU ARE
TAKING MONEY OUT OF THE POCKET OF THE TAXPAYER THAT THEY
CAN'T SPEND ON ANYTHING ELSE, CAN'T SPEND IT ON THE CAR
PAYMENT OR THEY CAN'T BUY THEIR GROCERIES AND THAT SORT
OF THING. DO YOU THINK WHEN THE TAXPAYER
LOOKS IN HIS WALLET AND HE'S EMPTY HE SAYS I'M GLAD IT'S
EMPTY BECAUSE WEIGH CALLED IT A FEE INSTEAD OF A TAX.
>>> I THINK THE TAXPAYER IS SMARTER THAN THAT.
THE AVERAGE TAXPAYER WHO MIGHT DRIVE 12,000 MILES A YEAR ON
TWO CENTS IS GOING TO SPEND 80 CENTS.
AND THAT TRUCKER THAT SPENDS 1 YOU HAD THOUSAND MILES IS
GOING TO SPEND MORE. I THINK TAXPAYERS UNDERSTAND
IF I WANT GOOD ROADS I HAVE TO PAIR FOR THEM.
WHAT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND IF THEY TAKE IT OUT OF MY INCOME
TAX, I'M PAYING A DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WHEN WE START RUNNING ON DETERGENT
OIL AND ALL THESE OTHER ALTERNATIVE FUELS BECAUSE WHO
PAYS FOR THE HIGHWAYS THEN, SENATOR, AND THAT HAPPENS
WITHIN TWO OR THREE YEARS. THEN WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME
FROM? >> IF YOU WANT TO CALL THEM
FEES, CALL THEY WILL FEES. >> I GOT YOU HALFWAY THERE.
>> NO, THEN WE'RE JUST GOING -- THEN I GUESS YOU ARE
GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE TAXES ON ALTERNATIVE FUELS, YOU ARE
GOING TO HAVE A HYBRID TAX, HYBRID CAR TAX, YOU ARE GOING
TO HAVE A HYDROGEN TAX, A NATURAL GAS TAX.
BUT WE'VE HEARD THIS BEFORE. WE HEARD THAT THIS NEW FUNDING
STREAM THAT THE LOTTERY WAS GOING TO FIX EDUCATION, WE
HEARD ALL THAT AND YEAR 2 EDUCATION IS RUNNING OUT OF
MONEY. WE HEARD THAT THE CIGARETTE
TAX WAS GOING TO FIX OUR MEDICAID PROBLEM AND EVERYBODY
WOULD BE HEALTH ANY SOUTH CAROLINA IF WE RAISED THE
CIGARETTE TAX. GET WHAT, IT HASN'T.
AND I JUST DON'T BELIEVE AND WE DO NEED TO REFORM THE
SYSTEM AS TO THIS MONEY HAS GOT TO GET TO POTHOLES AND
FIXING BRIDGES AND PAVING ROADS AND WHO KNOWS WHERE IT'S
GOING. I THINK WE DO NEED TO REFORM
THE SYSTEM AND MAKE SURE ALL OF THOSE FEES THAT ARE
DRAINING OUT OF THE TAXPAYERS' POCKET GET TO ACTUALLY ROAD
CONSTRUCTION AND ROAD MAINTENANCE.
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT MAY BE ONE OF THOSE AMENDMENTS WE CAN
WORK ON TOGETHER. LET ME TELL YOU ONE OF THE
THINGS IN TRACK 2 COMMISSION. ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS ISSUES
WAS THE $300 LIMITATION. WE SPECIALIZE IN INDUSTRY MANY
YEARS AGO $300 WHEN YOU BUY A VEHICLE.
NOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT DON'T THINK THAT'S
FAIR THAT THAT PERSON THAT BUYS A MERCEDES PAYS $300.
THERE MAY BE EXEMPTION WE MIGHT BE WILLING TO ELIMINATE
BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE THE DEBATE.
>> IF YOU REMOVE AN EXEMPTION AND SOMEONE HAS TO PAY MORE
TAXES THAN THEY WERE, ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT'S NOT A TAX
INCREASE? >> IT IS NOT A TAX INCREASE,
IT'S AN EXEMPTION. >> BUT THERE'S MORE MONEY
COMING OUT OF THE POCKET OF THE TAXPAYER.
>> THERE'S MORE MONEY COMING OUT OF THE PERSON WHO BUYS A
MERCEDES THAN A PICKUP TRUCK. >> THAT FELLOW WHO IS PAYING
MORE NOW THAN HE DID, HE DIDN'T GET A TAX INCREASE.
>> SO YOU THINK THE RICH PERSON SHOULD HAVE MORE
DEDUCTIONS THAN THE POOR PERSON IN THIS STATE?
IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING? THE POOR PERSON WHO CAN ONLY
AFFORD THE PICKUP TRUCK HAS TO PAY $300, BUT THE RICH PERSON
WHO CAN AFFORD THE 60,000 MERCEDES, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE
HIM A TAX BREAK. WE'RE GOING TO CUT HIS TAXES.
IS THAT FAIR? >> I'M ASSUMING YOU ARE
TALKING ABOUT THE SALES FEE OR SALES TAX.
WHEN YOU BUY A CAR, IS THAT A FEE OR A TAX?
>> WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT. >> THE LEFT POCKET OR THE
RIGHT POCKET? >> WHICHEVER POCKET WE WANT.
>> SENATOR, I DO THINK IT'S STRANGE THAT WE HAVE A $300
CAP. >> THANK YOU.
>> BUT WITH A SUPER HIGH CAR TAXES WE HAVE, IF YOU WANT TO
TALK ABOUT REMOVING THAT SALES TAX EXEMPTION AND GIVE CAR TAX
RELIEF THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE CAN WORK WITH, IF WE EVER
GET TO THIS. >> LET ME ASK BOTH OF YOU,
WOULD YOU NOT BOTH AGREE THAT WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR -- AND
I'M WITH YOU ABOUT BORROWING MONEY ON THESE BOND ISSUES,
BUT THIS SALES TAX HAS NOW, OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND, WE'RE
TAPPING THE GENERAL FUND TO BUILD ROADS AND TO MAINTAIN
THEM. WE'VE NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE.
NOW, THE GENERAL FUNDS WHERE SCHOOL BUSES ARE SUPPOSED TO
BE PAID FOR BUT WE HAVEN'T HAD THE MONEY TO PAY FOR SCHOOL
BUSES SO WE HAVE AN ANCIENT FLEET OUT THERE CARRYING
CHILDREN AROUND THIS STATE. WHAT I GUESS I'M ASKING THE
TWO OF YOU IS THIS. WE KNOW WE NEED $29 BILLION.
WHERE IS IT GOING TO COME FROM?
BECAUSE IT'S GETTING WORSE OUT THERE.
THE ROADS ARE CLOGGING UP. AND THE FINGER POINTING AT
SOME POINT IS GOING TO START. AND WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR,
WOULD YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE THAT IT FIXES THE ROAD
PROBLEM? >> THE 50 MILLION, I BELIEVE
IT WAS, THAT WE COMMITTED OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS
PENNIES COMPARED TO SOME OF THE AMENDMENTS WE HAD, I MEAN
WE COULD HAVE HAD $630 MILLION IN ONE YEAR ON HAND.
AND I AGREE THAT WE'RE GOING TO SET ASIDE THE $50 MILLION
EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT VERY MUCH, BUT WE USE IT AS A
DOWNPAYMENT TO GET OURSELVES IN MORE DEBT.
WE'VE GOT $33 BILLION IN UNFUNDED LIABILITIES IN SOUTH
CAROLINA AND WE JUST ADDED MAYBE A BILLION DOLLARS IN ONE
YEAR LAST YEAR. AND THIS IS THE SO-CALLED
REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
I CALL IT THE RINOCRAT IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
NOBODY WOULD DISAGREE THAT ROAD MAINTENANCE IS A CORE
FUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT, BUT WE HAVE SO MANY THINGS THAT ARE
NOT CORE FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT THAT THE PUBLIC
DOESN'T REALIZE. WE'RE GOING TO SAY WE NEED TO
FIX OUR POTHOLES OR RAISE YOUR GAS POCKET FEES, LEFT POCKET,
RIGHT POCKET, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, AND I JUST
THINK IT'S A BAIT AND SWITCH TO THE TAXPAYER.
THEY -- >> MONEY INSTEAD OF PAYING
DOWN DEBT OR BUILDING SCHOOL BUILDINGS OR COLLEGE BUILDINGS
OR STATE OFFICE BUILDINGS OR FIXING ROOFS ON MENTAL HEALTH
FACILITIES, WHERE IS ALL THE MONEY, I'M TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND, TO FIX $29 BILLION IN ROADS AND PAY DOWN DEBT AND
EVERYTHING IN THIS STATE? THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND. >> GOVERNOR, LET ME CUT IN
HERE. GOVERNOR, THE BUDGET LAST YEAR
IS WHERE YOU WERE EXPECTING $6.4 BILLION.
40% OF THAT GOES K-12 AND 30% TO H.H.S.
SO THAT MEANS WE ONLY HAVE 30% OR ABOUT $2 BILLION TO SPEND
ON EVERY OTHER AGENCY, EDUCATION, AND OF THAT
2 BILLION A BILL AND A HALF IS NEEDED EVERY YEAR FOR 20 YEARS
BY D.O.T. UNLESS YOU CREATE REVENUE
STREAMS FOR THEM, AND QUITE HONESTLY MY FRIEND FROM
ANDERSON IS WRONG. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS A
DEBT OF 17 TRILLION AND THEY HAVE NO WAY TO PAY BACK.
WHAT WE DID IN THE SENATE WAS GOOD MONEY POLICY.
WE HAVE A WAY TO PAY IT BACK. IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN THE
AVERAGE FAMILY BUYING A HOME MORTGAGE.
HE SAYS I CAN AFFORD THIS MUCH PER YEAR, THAT IS SET ASIDE TO
PAY THAT MORTGAGE. THAT'S WHAT WE DID WHILE
INTEREST RATES WERE WAY LOW. THE PROBLEM IS WE ONLY
ACTUALLY TOOK 130 MILLION OUT OF REVENUE, D.O.T. NEEDED
1.5 BILLION. YOU CAN'T MAKE UP THE
DIFFERENCE AND NO ONE CAN DO THE MATH TO DO IT.
ALL THEY CAN DO IS GO BEHIND POLITICAL SPEAK OF SAYING HOW
THEY DON'T WANT TO DO IT. I WANT TO KNOW HOW THEY WILL
DO IT. I'M OPEN.
I'VE GOT 17 AMENDMENTS, BUT I'M WILLING TO LISTEN TO 17
MORE IF THERE'S A SOLUTION. SO I'M MORE THAN HAPPY.
TELL ME WHAT PROGRAMS YOU WANT TO CUT TO PUT IN THERE, TELL
ME WHAT YOU WANT TO CUT AND ANYTHING YOU WANT TO PUT IN
THERE AND LET'S HAVE THE DEBATE.
LET'S NOT HIDE BEHIND THE SENATE RULES AND NOT HAVE THE
DEBATE. >> WELL, SENATOR, I GUESS YOU
DIDN'T HEAR ME WHEN I SAID WE DID SET ASIDE THE $50 MILLION
TO PAY DOWN THIS DEBT WE'RE HOISTING ON OUR GRANDCHILDREN,
SO I DO REALIZE THERE IS A PLAN TO PAY DOWN THIS DEBT.
BUT I CAN REMEMBER, THIS TIE WAS WORN BY WINSTON CHURCHILL
AND ONE OF THE THINGS HE SAID WAS IF YOU FAIL THE PLAN, YOU
ARE PLANNING TO FAIL. I BELIEVE IT WAS 2006, MAYBE
7, ONE OF OUR FIRST OR SECOND YEARS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
AND THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAD 1.2 BILLION NEW DOLLARS IN
REVENUE. NOW, WHY COULD ALL OF THAT NOT
GONE TO THE ROADS, I DON'T KNOW.
WHY COULD HAVE -- AND AT THE TIME I REMEMBER I HAD AN
AMENDMENT THAT WOULD RETURN JUST A FOURTH OF THAT TO THE
TAXPAYER. GOT LAUGHED OFF THE FLOOR.
THE OVERCHARGED TAXPAYER DIDN'T GET ANY RELIEF.
AND YOU KNOW, I AGREE, WE'VE GOT TO SPEND MONEY ON OUR
ROADS, BUT I BELIEVE WE'VE GOT IT.
THERE WAS AN AMENDMENT LAST YEAR, $630 MILLION IN ONE YEAR
WOULD HAVE GONE TO OUR ROADS AND UNFORTUNATELY THAT
AMENDMENT FAILED. SO I HAVE --
>> IS THAT OFF THE TOP OF THE BUDGET?
>> THAT WAS OFF THE TOP. >> WHERE WOULD THAT MONEY HAVE
COME FROM. >> THAT WOULD HAVE COME FROM
LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNDS. WE ACTUALLY FUNDED THEM
30 MILLION, WE NEED TO FUND THEM 90 MILLION TO KEEP UP
WITH OUR PROMISES TO THEM. >> IT COULD HAVE COME FROM THE
24 MILLION WE SET ASIDE FOR THE 4-K.
I CALL IT OBAMAGARTEN. >> TELL ME WHAT PROGRAMS THE
MONEYS COME FROM AND THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO DO THAT.
EVEN IF WE TOOK THE WHOLE $630 MILLION WE'RE STILL A
BILLION SHORT AND THAT'S JUST FOR ONE YEAR.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO GO AFTER THAT?
>> WE COULD CLAMP DOWN AND STOP GLOWING AGENCIES AND STOP
CREATING PROGRAMS -- >> HEARING DURING THE DEBATE
BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO ELIMINATE SOME AGENCIES.
>> WE DIDN'T HAVE TO EXPAND OBAMAGARTEN WITH $24 MILLION
THAT COULD HAVE GONE TO ROADS. WE CAN NAME ALL KIND OF THINGS
THAT WE COULD TAKE MONEY FROM. I TELL YOU THIS BLACK HOLE
DOWN THE STREET THEY CALL THE INTER VISTA THAT WE'VE PUT
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS INTO THESE EMPTY BUILDINGS AND THEY
ARE NOT DOING WHAT WE WERE TOLD, WE GO IN THERE AND I
CALL IT INTER VISTA BECAUSE YOU CAN HEAR THE ECHO OF THE
EMPTY BUILDINGS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE AN ECONOMIC
ENGINE THAT HIGHER ED IS GETTING INTO AND I FEEL LIKE
HIGHER ED OUGHT TO FOCUS ON EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN AND ALL
THESE OTHER THINGS ARE UNNECESSARY.
THERE'S ANOTHER PLACE YOU COULD GET SEVERAL MILLION
DOLLARS FROM. BUT THE DEBATE OF A GENERAL
TAX INCREASE, IF I CAN STOP, IF I CAN PROTECT THE TAXPAYER
I DON'T WANT TO HAVE THAT DEBATE BECAUSE I THINK IT'S
GOING TO END UP RAISING TAXES AND I THINK YOU FEEL LIKE OUR
CITIZENS OF SOUTH CAROLINA ARE NOT TAXED ENOUGH AND I BELIEVE
THEY ARE. >> WE'VE GOT A SHORTAGE
UNFORTUNATELY OF TIME. WE'VE GOT TO WIND IT UP.
I WANT TO THANK BOTH OF YOU. I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS.
WE'LL BE BACK WITH OTHER ISSUES HERE IN THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY.