STATE SENATOR: WE HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH MONEY TO FIX OUR ROADS
|| By FITSNEWS || South Carolina Senator Tom Davis took to the floor of the State Senate this week to present a novel idea: That in a $25.7 billion budget, there should be more than enough money available to adequately maintain roads and bridges without raising taxes.
Imagine that: Government spending money on something it’s supposed to do – and doing it efficiently and accountably.
Of course that’s not the state we live in. Our state maintains a bloated network of roads and bridges (the nation’s fourth-largest, as a matter of fact). And our corrupt, unaccountable bureaucrats approve costly pork barrel projects while critical needs go unaddressed.
Rather than reform that system, though, our “leaders” want to take the easy way out and take more money out of your pocket.
As the curtain begins to close on a legislative dominated by smoke and mirrors – namely every form of tax swap under the sun – Davis has at long last drawn a line in the sand.
That line? “No new gas tax.”
Actually he drew the line over the weekend … in this column published on our website.
“I reject the premise that our state does not appropriate sufficient funds for our transportation needs,” Davis wrote. “It does; the money just isn’t wisely spent.”
Davis’ filibuster passionately advanced that belief – citing projected surpluses that could be earmarked for transportation spending as opposed to revenue from a tax hike.
“I am not going to stand here and throw $700 million into a system that has proven it cannot do the job,” Davis said. “That is irresponsible.”
Davis proceeded to compare the government’s demonstrably failed “more money” approach to funding infrastructure to its failed government-run school system – which also dumps ever-escalating amounts of taxpayer cash into a bureaucracy that produces diminishing returns.
“Tom Davis speech needs to be broadcast all over the state,” one former S.C. Department of Transportation (SCDOT) official told FITS. “He is 100 percent correct.”
Indeed. As we’ve noted repeatedly, the “Republicans” who support raising the gas tax have approved billions of dollars in new spending on 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.
They have the money to fix our roads and bridges without raising taxes … they are simply choosing not to do so.
Several of those “Republican” elected officials stood up to take pot shots at Davis – including powerful Senate president Hugh Leatherman and fellow fiscal liberals Luke Rankin and Greg Gregory.
But the pro-free market lawmaker held firm … forcing the Senate to adjourn with him holding the floor.
Good for Davis …
It’s about time someone stood up and challenged the liberal fiction that tax swaps and tax hikes are the only way to address South Carolina’s glaring infrastructure needs. They’re not … unfortunately, he’s one of only a handful of lawmakers who gets that. And who is willing to stand and fight for taxpayers who are already shelling out more of their income on fuel costs than residents of any other state save Mississippi and West Virginia.
26 comments
Tom Davis is a Democrat that voted for Vince Sheheen and Barack Obama 2x.
Why Fits loves him.
You left out carpetbagger who never met a grandstand he didn’t like.
The Senate is owned by one man, Senator Leatherman.
Davis will bow before him in the end because Leatherman has all the money, and Davis wants his fair share.
You mean to tell me in a state legislature choked with republicrats, only a small handfull are in favor of examining the books and budgets closely enough to to find a bit of waste?
Pretty much. Welcome to Hell, would you like help picking a room?
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Eddy, Eddy, Eddy – this is South Carolina.
We don’t “examine” anything. We barely even look at anything. We love grits – have you ever taken a good look at them?
We love potholes. We elect and re-elect the very folks that dig said potholes – all because they have that “R” after their name.
Books and budgets? Are you kidding me? Get on outta here! We might read most of the program at the annual Clemson vs. South Carolina football game (or at least look at the pictures) but that is about as close as we get to a book. And budgets? Isn’t that where you go to rent a car after yours is swallowed up by one of our potholes?
And you mention that our legislature is “choked with repuiblicrats” – now you’ve done gone a bit too far and committed blasphemy, Eddy. We don’t mix our R’s and D’s any more that we intermingle the races – some things are sacred – and Republicanism and Racial Purity are two of them – well actually, one and the same.
And you have a problem with a “bit of waste”??? Waste is good for you. Waste makes the world go round, Eddy. Without waste what would be our “raison d’etcetera” – and don’t you go laughing at our damn accent either, Eddy – we’re damn proud of it and the South Shall Rise Again!
A Folks cornucopia. Multiple uses of “government-run”, inefficient higher education, corporate bailouts, pork barrel projects, etc., etc. And he wraps it all up in his love affair and deification of Davis. They need to get a room.
Tom Davis is like the rest of the GOP in the Senate. They posture, they play to their base, but in the end they will let Leatherman have his way. After all, they gave Leatherman their balls a long time ago.
Grandstand, grandstand, grandstand, grandstand.
Will quit when he gets something he wants.
Grandstand, grandstand, grandstan.
Not saying I’m for or against what Davis is saying but his “grandstand” prevents them from being able to take a vote on the matter. A little bit of knowledge of the legislative process might do you some good.
I am telling you here and now, the overwhelming majority of the citizens in this state are mad as hell at these public servants trying to fuck us over again. They have had it with them. They better wake the hell up before people start confronting them in their offices, in the places they like to dine, in the places they like to shop. The atmosphere out here on the front lines is not a good one towards these corrupt rogues who think their shit don’t stink.
Nope.
The overwhelming majority will reelect them.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Sadly he’s right.
^^^^^ Posted above as “Centrist View.” Hence, more full of shit.
Negative Ghost Rider – The BS pattern is full. We’re going to buzz the sewage treatment plant.
^^^^ full of shit
Is Davis the real deal? Or, is this his apogee, soon to be followed by sordid revelations, allegations, separations, and diagnoses?
Where is Grand Tango? I need my Grand Tango.
Grand Tango has taken his meds.
Thank you White Jesus!!!!!!
All the roads and bridges can be fixed for free! The Baptist’s are gonna do it.
SC don’t pay shit in gas taxes.Whine while you’re head is stuck i a pothole,bitch
As usual, a Republican points fingers and offers no new ideas on how to fix things.
Exactly, the party of no and no ideas other than their standard tax the middle class, cut taxes on the rich plans. Those are constantly offered as the solution to everything..
Here’s a plan to raise billions of dollars. You Elected Officials can save all taxpayers money. The cost to taxpayers money if all non violent/victim less crimes prisoners from jail. It now cost South Carolina Taxpayers to spend $75.00 a day. It’s a way to raise a lot of money while giving this state much more money. Essentially our Government is spending your tax dollars on a vast Prison System. This is common sense but I know in South Carolina the jackasses won’t do it.
Senator Davis, from whatever Planet you are from,SOUTH CAROLINA DOES’NT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX ROADS. There plenty of things we could do to raise Billions but won’t because the Rebublican’s are idiots.