SC

Red Alert: Brutal Truth Behind SC “Compromise” Gas Tax Hike

THERE’S A DEVIL IN THESE DETAILS …  || By FITSNEWS || “Republicans” at the S.C. State House – and governor Nikki Haley – seem to be coalescing around an “alternative” plan to raise gas taxes as the 2015 legislative session winds down.  After Haley’s proposed gas tax/ income tax swap went…

THERE’S A DEVIL IN THESE DETAILS … 

|| By FITSNEWS || “Republicans” at the S.C. State House – and governor Nikki Haley – seem to be coalescing around an “alternative” plan to raise gas taxes as the 2015 legislative session winds down.  After Haley’s proposed gas tax/ income tax swap went nowhere – and after proposed House and Senate tax hikes drew recrimination from the governor – all sides appear to be settling on a compromise.

FITS broke the initial details of this “alternative” plan earlier this week … but we’re just now getting the fine print.

And guess what: That fine print is disastrous for dirt poor South Carolinians – who already pay a higher percentage of their income on fuel costs than residents of any other state save Mississippi or West Virginia.

In other words, there’s a devil in these details … several devils, actually.

On the surface, the “compromise” doesn’t seem as bad as the previously proposed tax hikes.  On the one hand, gas taxes would be raised by 12 cents over the next three years, while on the other hand all marginal income tax rates would be cut by one percentage point over the next five years.

Naturally we oppose such a tax shift on the grounds we’ve consistently held: That with a $25.7 billion budget that’s grown by $5 billion over the last five years, there is more than enough money to fund roads and bridges without raising taxes.

Hell, there’s more than enough money to fund roads and bridges while cutting taxes … our state’s leaders simply lack the conviction to do so.

“While the Palmetto State’s roads and bridges crumble, its lawmakers continue to pass record-setting budgets,” we wrote earlier this year.  “Included therein?  Billions of dollars for South Carolina’s worst-in-the-nation government-run school system, its duplicative and inefficient higher education system, bailouts for wealthy corporations, shady ‘economic development‘ deals and … lest we forget … dozens of exorbitantly expensive and totally unnecessary highway projects.”

But this so-called compromise “tax shift” is far worse than it appears …. for two very critical reasons.

First, the plan raises gas taxes in perpetuity.

That’s right: It doesn’t just raise gas taxes by 12 cents, it allows the gas tax to be increased automatically every year based on inflation.

That, ladies and gentleman, is a permanent tax hike.

Second, the plan’s income tax relief is NOT guaranteed.

The proposal’s authors claim they are lowering all of the state’s marginal rates by one percentage point over the next five years, but these reductions would only take place if the government’s revenue estimates came in above four percent growth in a given year.

In fact one of the State Senators supporting the plan – Sean Bennett – admitted during a press conference this week that the income tax cuts were unlikely to take effect.

This isn’t a tax swap, people … it is typical South Carolina smoke and mirrors.  And no lawmaker calling themselves a “Republican,” let alone one who calls themselves a “conservative” can support it.

***

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65 comments

a face in the crowd May 8, 2015 at 1:38 pm

If “dirt poor” South Carolinians object to these kinds of policies, then they should stop electing frauds to public office. No sympathy here for people who make voting decisions based on gay marriage and other bullshit issues concocted by the lunatic right.

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fc May 8, 2015 at 1:46 pm

ha ha…Democrats scare the shit out of ‘middle America’- normal folks.They see Democrats advocating policies that encourage class warfare,crime,perpetual welfare,destruction of the family,perverse lifestyles,legalizing drugs and partial birth abortion.

You have tried to destroy our communities,families and now you go after our businesses and churches if we disagree with your socialistic and perverse agenda.

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a face in the crowd May 8, 2015 at 2:29 pm

You are completely full of shit. Republican politics have brought this country to its knees. Wars, destroyed economies, and idiots in Republican-controlled, bottom-feeder states blaming democrats.

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Rocky May 8, 2015 at 1:50 pm

So we’re gonna get it anyway. Hey, sitting at TPC watching golfers pass through at that island green – wondering – what are the gas taxes down here in Florida – because I gotta tell you – I-95 is three lanes and wide open all the way (including GA), and the expressways we took out here when we arrived last night are really nice. This A1A highway, great shape. (BTW – accessing the site on the iPhone blows). But anyway, down here – it’s like a whole different country. Everyone driving nice cars, malls packed, wait at all the restaurants. Trying St. Augustine tomorrow. Figure it’s likea mini-Charleston – just don’t have to pay $150 for kakis. Sent from my iPhone.

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Rocky's Vacation (Lie #1) May 8, 2015 at 2:01 pm

GA is NOT 3 lanes all the way on I-95.

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Rocky May 8, 2015 at 4:20 pm

Yes it is. Unless I somehow missed it in the dark somewhere in the middle of nowhere like Midway, it was three lanes. Sent from my iPhone.

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fc May 8, 2015 at 2:10 pm

Take the A1A drive south to Daytona Beach. Not far. Stop in Flagler Beach and eat at High Tides at Snack Jack.Great burgers and oysters.On water.

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Rocky May 8, 2015 at 4:21 pm

Do they allow liberal Democrats there? I’ll take your idea, but think I’ll hold off going all the way to Daytona. Sent from my iPhone.

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willblogformoney May 9, 2015 at 8:50 pm

Sounds great. Stay there fuck face.

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jimlewisowb May 8, 2015 at 1:53 pm

I fully support the gas tax hike – in fact it should be doubled to 24 cents

I am also aware that not one penny raised will ever find its way to road repair

My reason for supporting the tax is that by some hook or crook process the double dealing back stabbing corkscrewing actions by the Cockroaches will somehow come back to bite them in their mother fucking asses

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Mark May 8, 2015 at 1:59 pm

She has great nerve. She calls out the General Assembly for not being conservative and raising taxes and then she signs on to the largest tax hike in history.

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Freddy May 8, 2015 at 2:00 pm

Leatherman get what Leatherman wants. No one else matters.

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Jackie Chiles May 8, 2015 at 2:16 pm

“it allows the gas tax to be increased automatically every year based on inflation.”

Makes sense to me. Really every tax, tax credit, deduction, etc. with a dollar figure attached to it should be pegged to inflation.

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Allen from Cola May 8, 2015 at 2:27 pm

FOIA will show that the Governor’s staff and DOR Director Rick Reames have crafted the plan and are allowing friendly Senators like Bennett and Peeler to carry the water.

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Native Ink May 8, 2015 at 2:38 pm

Totally agree that making an income tax cut dependent extremely high growth is a joke and should doom this proposal. The Republicans might try to use smoke and mirrors but they are pretty stupid at it. I can’t see this plan fooling anyone.

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FastEddy23 May 8, 2015 at 2:49 pm

Stupid? You noticed it too? … Out here in Taxifornia, we know those thieves are not really that stupid. The taxsuckers do know how to raise taxes without a Constitutionally Mandated vote of the people … But even if the people were allowed to vote on Taxifornia new or increasing tax laws, they have the vote so rigged as to win the battle whether it is voted down or not.

(Most recently, a Taxifornia county has called for a special election with only one issue: Sonoma County Measure A would add a 1/2% additional sales tax … and that is the only issue on the ballot!)

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Deo Vindice SC May 8, 2015 at 4:54 pm

Da tax in California, ah what ?

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FastEddy23 May 8, 2015 at 2:43 pm

OK then. How about a serious tax on the rich? How about those making more than four times the poverty levels in South Carolina? How about a tax on those drawing down fat pensions and perks and other bennies? …

How about a special tax on government employees? … Its called a pay cut … and can be accomplished by the Governor without much of a “by your leave” from the legislature.

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The Fools Are Insane May 8, 2015 at 2:43 pm

The People of South Carolina – and in very large numbers I might add – are so angry at these criminal fucked up sacks of shit, they best starting thinking of going into hiding. Citizens are on getting close to declaring all out war on these rogues. They have stabbed the tax payers in the back one too many times, I tell you.

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Who's the Fool? May 8, 2015 at 3:21 pm

The”people of South Carolina” elected all these Republicans and are getting EXACTLY what they deserve.

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Soft Sigh from Hell May 8, 2015 at 4:17 pm

And for the most part don’t even notice they are being screwed.

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Diogenes May 8, 2015 at 5:39 pm

…and all three of you are exactly right.

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Spy Watch May 8, 2015 at 7:24 pm

And all three of them are the exact same poster under different names, like you.

again May 8, 2015 at 5:02 pm

and they will bitch and moan and then vote for them all again next time

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Mike at the Beach May 10, 2015 at 11:19 am

I don’t know, man…we suck pretty solid at voting in my home state. Don’t misunderstand me; I wish you were right.

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RC Planes May 8, 2015 at 2:49 pm

I am going to fly my drone over Hugh Leatherdicks house and drop dead rats in his driveway.

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Note Their Special Auto Tags May 8, 2015 at 3:21 pm

Key Message >>> 25.7 billion budget for a small state with barely 4 million below national average income earning citizens >>> plenty of public money taken in by taxes, fees, fines, already. But they want to stick it up the asses of the citizens and suck more and more.
.
I am telling the world wide web right here, right now. By this time next week, as the news is plastered across the airwaves from one corner of SC to the next, on every radio talk show program, as everybody in SC starts talking at the dinner tables, in the bars, at other events, about this malicious and willful abuse of the tax paying citizens of South Carolina, it is my opinion and my prediction that the majority of voters in SC will be wanting to get their hands around every member of the General Assembly’s and Nikki Haleys neck.

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Me May 8, 2015 at 3:22 pm

The people of South Carolina are getting exactly what the f@ck they voted for. Luv it. Keep electing the same people but expect a different outcome. We are still a backwards state!!!!!!

BTW – FOIA how DOT leadership cut the MAintenance budget EVERY year!!!!

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GrandTango May 8, 2015 at 4:51 pm

No, if we get a tax…we’re getting what the DEMOCRATS voted for…

Republicans are the ONLY thing even trying to stand between the Democrats and more theft of the people, by the government….Dumb@$$…

Not a political science major, are you?

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Love it May 8, 2015 at 3:27 pm

Nikki Haley makes a difference.

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Micha May 8, 2015 at 3:36 pm

The minute her Chief of Staff became the president of the State Chamber of Commerce. was the moment that I knew she would collapse on the road tax. It was a foregone conclusion.
Lots and lots and lots and lots of money will be made by a lot of people close to Nikki Haley

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GrandTango May 8, 2015 at 3:40 pm

If it’s extreme tax on the dirt poor…why are the Democrats BEGGING for it?

Are you telling me Democrats are BOLDFACE F*#king lairs when they say they are the protectors of the poor???

And is FITS doing an about-face, shilling as a selfish, self-centered “F*#k-the-Poor” Liberal-Tarian on the one hand…. but rushing in as a DEFENDER of the impoverished, now????

PS: Maybe if FITS would attached the DEMOCRAT fingers to it…he could get a wall of opposition…instead of just blaming the Republicans acting like Greedy Democrats???

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Nölff May 8, 2015 at 3:55 pm

#$%^# Democrats !!#$%^&?Democrats … ????? “¡™£¢?§¶ Democrats CAPITALIZED WORD… More F*#king DOTS… F*#kingF*#kingF*#king Democrats… GREEDY liars ˜?©?¥?™£¢ Democrats???!!!

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GrandTango May 8, 2015 at 4:02 pm

But no answer for yourself, is there???…typical…LMAO…

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One Question May 8, 2015 at 4:02 pm

Are you retired or unemployed?

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GrandTango May 8, 2015 at 4:04 pm

Are you functionally stupid, or just a guilty liberal, cliche -jockey idiot?

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One Question May 13, 2015 at 12:27 pm

Not everyone who disagrees with you is a “liberal”. I understand that ignorant people, such as yourself, will use simple rhetoric and buzzwords in an attempt to paint people in that light.

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GrandTango May 13, 2015 at 12:53 pm

Run away from who, and what, you are much???…LMAO…

euwe max May 9, 2015 at 3:15 am

Number three: He’s stupid.

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Bible Thumper May 8, 2015 at 4:21 pm

Conservatives win in the US, Israel and UK. POLLS wrong again by 6% to 9%. Even the exit polls under estimate (again) the conservative victory.
http://www.bbc.com/news/election-2015-32650742
Ahh! The liberals do have Alberta. South Carolina’s population is a half million greater than Alberta, but still….

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GrandTango May 8, 2015 at 4:48 pm

Maybe we can let ALL liberals in America go to their own few states, like Alberta…I’d welcome their secession, and even pay a heavy tax to fund their departure from out country…. Their state would collapse in less than 10 years…

Also: I think the Obama “Win” in 2012 becomes MORE and MORE suspect w/ each Conservative win across the world…especially after the disaster of Obama’s first term. There was no excuse…

There were so many indicators pointing to an Obama loss…expect the media was selling out to him w/ ferocity. But what’s new?

Maybe it was Romney being a Mormon, or maybe the Mass. Romney-care similarity w/ Obama killed Romney…

It’s why we MUST nominate a Conservative to take out Hillary …otherwise we will continue to swirl down the toilet, Obama has us in….

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Deo Vindice SC May 8, 2015 at 4:58 pm

A conservative republican is who ” WE ” are looking for, know any ?

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GrandTango May 8, 2015 at 5:10 pm

Just think about who would be best for the country, get us out of this disastrous catastrophe Obama has us in, and who you hate most…Who would you, the DNC and the media be most compelled to lie about w/ extreme contempt…???

PS: I’m not running…LMAO…

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euwe max May 9, 2015 at 3:15 am

You’re lucky to be able to channel enough mental energy to your legs to *walk* much less *run*.

I’m surprised you can read and breathe at the same time.

Bible Thumper May 8, 2015 at 5:10 pm

“Maybe we can let ALL liberals in America go to their own few state, like Alberta.”

I’ve got a solution. Here is a list of the ten fastest growing states, DC and the party of the chief executive.
1  North Dakota R
2 District of Columbia D
3 Colorado D
4 Utah R
5 Florida R
6 Arizona R
7 Nevada R
8 Washington D
9 South Dakota R
10 South Carolina R

Most are the Republican states, but the Democratic ones have one thing in common. All passed a referendum legalizing marijuana. May be if it could be passed in a few more states more liberals will leave.

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GrandTango May 8, 2015 at 5:12 pm

INGENIOUS….because it is SO indicative of who they are, and where their priorities are…and where the true successes are…

It seems to be working…VERY insightful by BT…Far more relevant and meaningful than anything FITS throws up…

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euwe max May 9, 2015 at 3:14 am

fastest growing…

from 0 to 1 can happen in the blink of an eye, while 100 million to 101 million takes a little while.

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Bible Thumper May 9, 2015 at 8:58 am

Hey! You won Alberta. It’s like going to the prom with your third choice’s baby sister.

Bible Thumper May 8, 2015 at 8:40 pm

SC gets VOLVO plant!!!

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RogueElephant May 11, 2015 at 9:48 am

There was enough conservatives and Christians stayed home to put Romney over the top. The liberals and moderates can only win when real Americans don’t care enough to show them the door. As the difference between (D) and (R) becomes smaller and smaller, more people will say “to hell with both of them.” We MUST nominate a conservative that will be able to express enough of a difference to get people to care enough to vote.

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GrandTango May 11, 2015 at 10:12 am

Amen!!!!

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Word of Mouth Spreads May 8, 2015 at 7:27 pm

I overhead people just tonight at a restaurant loudly talking about this subject and how sc legislatures are criminals.

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GrandTango May 8, 2015 at 9:08 pm

Was it Hillary, Charlie Rangel, John Edwards, Barry, Harry Reid, Robert Ford, Lois Lerner, Steve Benjamin or Bill Clinton???….

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Bible Thumper May 8, 2015 at 8:10 pm

Breaking Story
Georgia is no longer candidate for Volvo plant.
http://m.ajc.com/news/news/sources-georgia-no-longer-in-running-for-volvo-pla/nmCZM/

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GrandTango May 8, 2015 at 9:02 pm

Lord — THANK you BT for posting this. You are a TRUE American, and a true brother South Carolinian, hoping for the BEST for all of us….

And to post it on here is a GRAND SLAM…because these people HATE to see our state thrive.

We desperately need some GREAT economic news…and SC gets it share of it…despite a miserable national economy…

Again: Bless you my brother..you know what our priorities are. Just like you posted the UK and Israeli election results. You remind us there is HOPE and prosperity, once we get past this nightmare that began in 2008…….Hallelujah!!!…you are an inspiration…

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Bible Thumper May 8, 2015 at 9:12 pm

You’re very welcome.

In (South Carolina and on FITS) today, we have more than our share of the nattering nabobs of negativism. – Spiro T. Agnew

They will be eating crow this Mother’s Day. Not us.

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GrandTango May 8, 2015 at 9:18 pm

This is a MAJOR blow to FITS…and I’m sure he’ll be publically advocating this plant’s failure…and ripping apart any incentive deal…despite the overwhelming success of Boeing, Amazon, BMW and Nephron just got a FDA approval to put it into FULL-GO…

All these Palmetto Bugs (haters) have a lot of egg on their faces, right now…

It’s been ALL bad news for the libs this week…with the UK vote, Hillary getting deeper and deeper and the prospect that Obamacare is going to be struck down…

Sucks to be them…LMAO…

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RogueElephant May 11, 2015 at 8:04 am

With the results of the three elections in USA, Israel and now England. The world might be waking up to what the liberals have been doing to us. It will really suck to be a lib when they do finally wake up. awakening a sleeping giant.

GrandTango May 11, 2015 at 8:33 am

RE..I can only pray that you are right.

I was SURE 2008-to-2012 would have SHOCKED the American people about who, and what, Barack Obama and the Democrat Party are…but somehow (maybe cheating) they got re-elected.

So you cannot take even the most OBVIOUS outcome for granted anymore. The media and the liberals’ ability to make lies truth to far too many people gives them an advantage I guess.

It’s like I don’t even know my country anymore.

RogueElephant May 11, 2015 at 9:39 am

Today would have been my father’s 102 birthday. Can you imagine if he could come back and see the USA as it is today?

GrandTango May 11, 2015 at 10:16 am

He’d vomit in disgust, no doubt. That’s the reaction from ANY decent American.

God rest his soul. And you should probably be glad he’s not here to see who, and what, has taken over our country (hopefully temporarily)…Although those older generations knew what a fight was about. They’d be a stout match for the detestable Obama, and the Democrat Party…along w/ the enabling establishment-traitor Republicans.

euwe max May 9, 2015 at 3:12 am

See there? You’re bumping uglies with the fringe.

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Bible Thumper May 8, 2015 at 9:37 pm

RED ALERT: BRUTAL TRUTH
Congratulations Nikki Haley and Bobby Hitt. A smart attractive governor and the high powered car guy bring SC to the victory lane.

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snickering May 9, 2015 at 12:32 pm

I hate to toot my own horn but I wrote this awhile back.

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