SC

More Tires?

HOW MUCH IS THIS DEAL GOING TO COST TAXPAYERS? S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley’s beleaguered administration is set to receive some “good news” this week as a major automotive provider – reportedly a tire company – is poised to announce a $560 million investment in Chester County, S.C. Officials estimate the…

HOW MUCH IS THIS DEAL GOING TO COST TAXPAYERS?

S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley’s beleaguered administration is set to receive some “good news” this week as a major automotive provider – reportedly a tire company – is poised to announce a $560 million investment in Chester County, S.C.

Officials estimate the new facility will employ 1,500 people … although you know how those projections go.

Still, expect our governor to put on her finest hooker boots and declare it to be “a great day in South Carolina.”

What we don’t know is how much money South Carolina taxpayers will be forced to shell out in order to land this new plant – although last week local government officials unanimously approved a round of tax breaks as part of what they’re referring to as “Project Summer.” Generous state-level incentives are also reportedly in the pipeline from the S.C. Department of Commerce (SCDOC).

This website opposes such inducements on principle: Government shouldn’t give one company benefits it doesn’t make available to others. Period.

We also oppose such deals because they invariably shift the tax burden onto individuals and small businesses. And because they’re secretive. And because they haven’t worked … although that’s not stopping South Carolina’s brain dead leaders from ramping up your investment.

Three years ago, South Carolina spent big to lure tire maker Continental to South Carolina – even though neighboring North Carolina determined the incentives demanded by the company were “contrary to the best interest of North Carolina.”

Wonder how much we’re being forced to cough up for this company?

South Carolina shouldn’t have to keep playing the role of “that state,” you know, the one that’s so desperate it has to bribe companies more than other states are willing to pay in order to get them to come here (only to watch them pull up stakes later). It needs to be a state that leverages its natural assets – offering a friendly tax climate to go with its gorgeous geography.

Like the rest of South Carolina, Chester County is dealing with a shrinking workforce. Currently the county has just 14,600 in its labor force compared to 16,400 in 2000 – an 11 percent drop.

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37 comments

GrandTango May 27, 2014 at 8:27 am

Hey FITS, Bike

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junior justice May 27, 2014 at 9:17 am

(50% +) and (50% -) …. shit fire! .. can’t you figure out how to post a sensible comment?

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GrandTango May 27, 2014 at 9:33 am

Can you express an original thought on substance, and not attack people that you hate, because you are stupid, and they expose you???

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junior justice May 27, 2014 at 10:29 am

You belong in the bad peanut bucket.

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euwe max May 27, 2014 at 1:32 pm

He’s funny, isn’t he?

He’s the guy who screams: “WHY IS EVERYONE SCREAMING?????”

Neil May 27, 2014 at 8:38 am

Will’s plan to solve unemployment in SC: “Don’t attract businesses and elect a coke head to the US senate.”

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Smirks May 27, 2014 at 9:08 am

elect a coke head to the US senate.

Well how else is the adulterer in the House going to get support?!

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GrandTango May 27, 2014 at 9:12 am

What FITS and the liberals will NEVER understand…Haley’s strategy is to make it where opposing her, is opposing the prosperity of South Carolina voters… And the democrats are Stupidly falling into the trap…

And to support Obama, is anti-American. It’s why the democrat party is on life-support, and will be dead for a few years. It took a while, too long, but people have figured it out….

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Rocky Garcia May 27, 2014 at 10:04 am

Do you type while you’re dreaming and asleep?

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junior justice May 27, 2014 at 10:32 am

It’s his hairy, Yeti fingers.

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Nölff May 27, 2014 at 8:50 am

We need more tires because our roads have so many potholes. She probably owns stock in tires and refuses to fix the roads to make her stock rise. She owes me for three tires.

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CNSYD May 27, 2014 at 8:53 am

Nolff wants better roads, but is he willing to fund them via higher gas taxes?

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Smirks May 27, 2014 at 9:05 am

I’d rather fund them by killing off worthless projects first.

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Yep! May 27, 2014 at 9:48 am

Hell, let’s be honest and talk about how much money they already get that is simply pissed away, unless by “projects” you mean the internal SCDOT bullshit that is specific to them…in which case ignore my post.

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CNSYD May 27, 2014 at 9:57 am

“worthless” as defined by who? To the upstate, projects in the midlands and low country are worthless. The midlands and low country have similar views of upstate projects.

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Smirks May 27, 2014 at 10:50 am

“Worthless” as defined by the public at large, which should stand to benefit from such programs, but likely will see no benefits at all for some of these boondoggles.

What happens when one of these projects is in the lowcountry, and even the people in the lowcountry don’t want it? But the powers that be push it forward because it means a nice little payday for certain connected individuals?

Besides all of this, as I have stated before, government has a responsibility to prove it needs a tax hike, especially in a case like this. Part of that is showing all of the major projects, why they are needed, and ideally, studies that show how it will benefit the people. Show us you can’t cut anything else and I’ll gladly support adjusting the gasoline tax. Don’t show us, kiss my ass.

CNSYD May 27, 2014 at 11:07 am

and who are “the people” in the Low Country that don’t want a certain project? Is it a majority of residents? If so, show me the “votes”.

TontoBubbaGoldstein May 27, 2014 at 12:48 pm

Find me one person who isn’t politically connected (and thus hoping to profit from it) and has an above a South Carolina speed limit IQ*, that favors the “Clyburn Connecter”.

TBG, in no way meant to imply that some of the politically connected don’t also have construction zone speed limit IQs.

Jack May 27, 2014 at 6:22 pm

The biggest problem is “worthless” is in the eye of the beholder. For example, to Republicans in South Carolina programs designed to prevent black children from starving would be a worthless program.

aikencounty May 28, 2014 at 11:23 am

Such as the I-26 exchange in Charleston that Strom added to allow access to SCANA property?
Oh, by the way, SCANA had sold Strom several acres of this “worthless” property before the exit was added.
Alas, Strom was the benefactor of the taxpayer when he RESOLD it to SCANA at the new price.
Look it up!

CNSYD May 27, 2014 at 8:52 am

“This website opposes such inducements on principle: Government shouldn’t
give one company benefits it doesn’t make available to others.”

Were other tire companies offered the same “benefits”? Do you know for sure?

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Aw, come on! May 27, 2014 at 9:45 am

Jesus, are you really trying to make the argument that some companies aren’t getting favorable tax treatment over others? Seriously?!?

Do you really doubt this one iota?

Why do you think the SCDOC exists? They decide who gets the keys to the Magic Kingdom (both taxpayer funded incentives & tax exemptions).

I, myself, have no problem with tax exemptions, I just think they should be for everyone instead of those that have the connections to our crooked pols to buy them off with their kickbacks via various schemes.

As far as taxpayer funded incentives(which are different from exemptions), fuck that…that’s straight out fucking wealth redistribution/theft.

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CNSYD May 27, 2014 at 10:01 am

Put on your bifocals. I said TIRE companies. Was any other tire companies contemplating a SC plant and told that they would get no incentives because those are reserved for certain other TIRE companies?

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TontoBubbaGoldstein May 27, 2014 at 9:03 am

If there are going to be “hooker boots” involved, TBG respectfully requests…nay, DEMANDS pictures.
*Poundz fist*

*Tears up* There was a time (not so long ago)when this would have been *voice quavers* a given.

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Tiime Warp May 27, 2014 at 9:25 am

That first paragraph gave me flashbacks to those Downfall parodies that were all the rage a couple of years back.

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junior justice May 27, 2014 at 10:31 am

TBG, you should have saved those pictures when they were posted. Now you will have to find them in the archives.

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jimlewisowb May 27, 2014 at 9:24 am

Every time I read/hear of pending breaking news from the Cockroach Governor’s Office my sphincter tightens up

Only after I reflect on the thousands and thousands of men, women and children in another State being spared the butt fucking we will be getting in South Carolina does it relax enough for me to breathe again

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junior justice May 27, 2014 at 10:35 am

Perhaps Haley’s next incentives will be for a KY-Jelly plant(s), possibly one in each county.

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aikencounty May 28, 2014 at 11:25 am

Well it’s for sure NIMRATA doesn’t need the jelly!
Alum, YES!

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Fascism, it works! May 27, 2014 at 9:28 am

Another win for crony capitalism! Yay!

Time for a stripper party! We’ll have Haley making it rain with taxpayer dollars, First Cuckold, watching her give away free lap dances, & Bobby Hitt serving up the drinks!

I’m sure Dellaney will be in the background picking up the dollars Haley has her cronies dumping on everyone from the rafters, given it’s in his back yard.

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idcydm May 27, 2014 at 9:51 am

“Tax breaks” to corporations, are they any different than “tax breaks” to any other tax payer…someone pays for them, be it you, me or future generations.

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Rocky May 27, 2014 at 11:07 am

Awesome. I am thrilled that Nikki has been able to secure another environmentally friendly clean manufacturing faciltiy for the state, one that has limited pollution and is akin to white-glove manufacturing. Oh, it’s a tire plant? In Chester County? Well that explains a lot. I guess if you inbred and hooked on meth – a little extra solvent in your ground water is a good trade off. Better than like a medical device company, or something high tech. But then you need a literate workforce for that – and Haley already says that South Carolina labor participants are stupid and couldn’t pass a drug test.

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ted May 27, 2014 at 12:31 pm

Wonder if Haley could pass a drug test?

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Rocky May 27, 2014 at 2:09 pm

Or a pap-$##$%

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aikencounty May 28, 2014 at 11:27 am

YUKKKKKK!!!!

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euwe max May 27, 2014 at 1:31 pm

South Carolina is tired of this!

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Thomas May 31, 2014 at 10:24 pm

The question I have is the vulcanized rubber coming through our ports? And from what nation? Is the rubber vulcanized in SC?

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