SC

Not Everybody Likes Tom Davis’ Filibuster

LIBERALS MOCK LAWMAKER’S BID TO HOLD LEGISLATURE ACCOUNTABLE ON SPENDING, TAXES || By FITSNEWS || S.C. Senator Tom Davis has spent the last week giving the Palmetto State’s liberal lobby fits … The second-term lawmaker – one of a handful of pro-free market state lawmakers – has been leading the charge…

LIBERALS MOCK LAWMAKER’S BID TO HOLD LEGISLATURE ACCOUNTABLE ON SPENDING, TAXES

|| By FITSNEWS || S.C. Senator Tom Davis has spent the last week giving the Palmetto State’s liberal lobby fits …

The second-term lawmaker – one of a handful of pro-free market state lawmakers – has been leading the charge against various proposals to raise the gas tax.  Davis’ argument is simple: There’s more than enough money to adequately fund South Carolina’s network of roads and bridges without raising taxes.

He’s 100 percent correct, of course, which drives the “big gubmint” legions absolutely nuts.  In fact while Davis has been staging his multi-day filibuster, even more money has materialized … although liberal lawmakers eager to pass the tax hike have refused to certify that new money.

For the second straight week, the State Senate has adjourned with Davis holding the floor … making him a lightning rod for liberal criticism (like the above image veteran Democratic operative Phil Bailey posted to his Twitter feed).

Davis’ critics say he’s blocking a vitally needed roads bill …

His response?  Legislative leaders have delayed certifying new money for more than three weeks … while spending the last five months blowing existing revenue ($25.7 billion of it at last count) on a host of unnecessary items.

We support Davis’ view … as do growing numbers of South Carolina politicians.

There is plenty of money for roads and bridges, lawmakers have simply failed to make infrastructure a priority.  And where they have spent money on infrastructure, they have failed to properly prioritize projects.

What have they done instead?  Tried all sorts of gimmicks in an effort to pump more money into the state’s chronically mismanaged highway bureaucracy.  First there was S.C. governor Nikki Haley’s proposed tax swap – which backtracked on her 2014 campaign promise not to raise the gas tax.  Then there was this attempted trickeration from the S.C. House (which ultimately passed a $427 million hike) – and this proposed $800 million tax hike from the S.C. Senate finance committee.

The most recent proposal?  Yet another tax swap offered by the S.C. Senate “Republican” Caucus – which we exclusively reported on and then exposed for what it was (another tax hike).

Davis drew a line in the sand and said “enough’s enough” – and so far no one has been able to knock him off of it.

Good.  It was about time someone stood up to the tax hikers. Let’s hope Davis keeps the heat on next week (whether the “big gubmint” status quo likes it or not).

***

Related posts

SC

North Charleston Councilman Accuses Cop Of Falsifying Police Report

Will Folks
SC

‘Carolina Crossroads’ Update: SCDOT Set To Unveil New Plan To The Public

Will Folks
SC

Federal Lawsuit Alleges Racial Discrimination in Horry County School

Callie Lyons

77 comments

TroubleBaby May 28, 2015 at 3:51 pm

Good for him. I hope he gums up the gears forever.

Reply
Former Director May 28, 2015 at 4:42 pm

10-4!!
If the taxpayers could see the money wasted and pissed away from unneeded spending by Agencies, they would revolt.

Reply
Rakkasan May 29, 2015 at 9:30 am

Why don’t you spell that out for us in some detail–or else save the work out rhetoric

Reply
Giles May 28, 2015 at 4:08 pm

Baily is a low rent hack for hire. Idiot at best, fool at worst.
Talk Davis Talk. No more money into Leatherman’s piggy bank!

Reply
Hugh May 28, 2015 at 6:19 pm

Phil continues to make a lower middle class wage for his lower middle class abilities. The free market really does work, even for democrats!

Reply
utah May 28, 2015 at 5:08 pm

So is Tom going to talk until Sine Die? And what happens when they come back in a few weeks to “complete” the open items–which presumably will include this roads bill? I applaud him, but wonder whether he’s actually going to accomplish anything tangible (other than a higher profile for higher office).

Reply
You Know My Name May 31, 2015 at 1:41 pm

I don’t know if his strategy will work or not but I admire him for trying. He’s putting more genuine effort into keeping thie tax increase from becoming reakity than anyone else I know of.

Reply
Native Ink May 28, 2015 at 5:43 pm

Reform: It can be done immediately, it costs nothing, and it saves millions in the long run. They haven’t had the integrity to reform the DOT or SIB, so asking us to put more money in their piggy bank (or should it be called their pork barrel?) is ludicrous.

Reply
Bible Thumper May 28, 2015 at 5:46 pm

More Rainbows and Unicorns

Contracts to buy previously owned U.S. homes rose for a fourth straight month in April to a nine-year high, buoying the outlook for the housing market and the overall economy.

While other data on Thursday showed an unexpected increase in new applications for unemployment benefits, filings remained at levels consistent with a tightening labor market.
This flies in the face of Fits’, Paul’s and Zerohedge’s “gloom and doom.”

Reply
The Austrian perspective May 28, 2015 at 7:24 pm

“This flies in the face of Fits’, Paul’s and Zerohedge’s “gloom and doom.””

You should educate yourself on Paul’s stance, it’s a bit more nuanced.

When you understand that Austrians economics is about the BOOM and the bust, then you understand his viewpoint on inflation.

His “doom and gloom” comes via the after effects of the said boom. We are clearly in a boom phase for most industries.

Once the money supply contracts(probably via Fed raised rates to try to combat inflation caused price increases) instead of expanding, which can happen a myriad of ways, then the bust comes from the malinvestment.

What Paul is saying is that this process is inevitable, but no one can predict exactly when it will occur(because if they could, they be fabulously wealthy)

As for ZH and Will, who knows.

Reply
Garbage May 28, 2015 at 7:45 pm

Yet Paul bashes the crap out of FR Chairman for not being able to predict where it will go? Some guesses are better than others.

Reply
The Austrian perspective May 28, 2015 at 7:53 pm

“Yet Paul bashes the crap out of FR Chairman for not being able to predict where it will go?”

Why wouldn’t he? He believes that inflation is theft and that the tinkering the FR does hurts the middle class and the poor disproportionately.

Reply
The Austrian perspective May 28, 2015 at 7:58 pm

One other note, the Fed is constantly revising their numbers and would have everyone beleive they know what their tinkering does.

Ron Paul predicted the housing bubble back in 2003 and has a long track record of similar predictions while Bernanke was still denying a housing bubble in 06′.

The FR has one strategy, monetary expansion…and they don’t acknowledge that said expansion causes an eventual bust.

Reply
Garbage May 28, 2015 at 8:30 pm

No one can see the future, some are better educating at guessing and the blow to the poor is often less due to their educated guesses.

Not to diminish Ron Paul, but I too predicted the housing bubble, everyone thought I was nuts. All one had to do is look at the average income, the number of homes popping up, the average cost of homes to know there was no way it could possibly sustain. Some economists are better than others, but what do they really do? Bump the interest rate? Consumers can still make the best buying decisions for themselves. Yes, it is cumbersome, but all one needs to do in “most” cases is look around. Pay attention to their surroundings.

I don’t agree that the FR has a strategy of monetary expansion in the same sense you describe. Yes, everyone wants to make money. Do you realize that MANY MANY MANY of your economists refuse to even acknowledge that bubbles in the market exists. Why? Because it isn’t logical and cannot be solved by their mathematical algorithms. Their algorithms cannot, do not, take into consideration humor behavior, which is very unpredictable.

The bubbles are created by people and nearly impossible to predict. I could rant on for days, but if you have more of an interest, I’ll respond v. some monologue ;)

Native Ink May 28, 2015 at 9:27 pm

A lot of people predicted the housing bubble. Heck, just one visit to a cocktail party in Charleston circa 2006 would’ve convinced you it was a time bomb. Bunch of people bragging about how much they borrowed for a ranch house in the suburbs, but that was a great deal in their minds, because housing prices were going to double every five years. Never mind the simple logic that if houses were already unaffordable for people not willing to sign their souls away, it would be logically impossible for other people, making roughly the same income, to later pay double for that same home.

Of course I still hear the same magical thinking all the time about other issues. For example, from supporters of these boondoggle road who don’t even read the miserable findings from the DOT’s own traffic studies yet still insist that new asphalt will whisk them along like a magic carpet.

Garbage May 28, 2015 at 10:03 pm

On the former I agree anyone could have seen it was a time bomb.

Not sure what to make of the magical thinking, but I believe you are saying that DOT does not have a plan, at least not a transparent one, to fix the roads. So the plan for new asphalt that will whisk them along like a magic carpet is a fallacy?

The Austrian perspective May 29, 2015 at 6:32 am

“A lot of people predicted the housing bubble.”

So who else specifically? Any big names you can mention?

Also, if what you say is true, Bernanke declaring that was no housing bubble in 06′ makes him look even more stupid if your statement is true, don’t you think?

Limbaughsaphatkhunt May 28, 2015 at 7:56 pm

Thank God. Finally another compatriot willing to use actual facts and not rhetoric when talking about the improving US economy.

Reply
Bible Thumper May 28, 2015 at 8:10 pm

Now will you be as thankful when I comment on how South Carolina’s job growth rate of 3.7% is triple the national rate of 1.1% and has taken off like a rocket in the last 4 months.

Reply
Garbage May 28, 2015 at 8:12 pm

That is a joke. Like you BT, but there is no way SC job growth has tripled the national rate. Show me the proof from BLS or some other reputable source. No way.

Reply
Bible Thumper May 28, 2015 at 9:40 pm

MORE TOM9RROW
I’ve maxed oot on P&C free access , but I believe it is in one of these articles. I plan to post BLS data that proves this at least for the last 4 months SC jobs have been created at 3 times the pace of 2011 – 2014.

http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150527/PC05/150529401/1005&

http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150527/PC05/150529401&source=RSS

Garbage May 28, 2015 at 10:00 pm

That is interesting and hopeful, but I would really like BLS data to prove that fact. Thanks for the data point.

Guest May 28, 2015 at 10:05 pm

Can you tell me who Kenny Bingham’s attorney is?
Thank you.

Garbage May 28, 2015 at 10:11 pm

Everyone knows who it is – it is my opinion a slime ball ambulance chaser, but a darn good one. Should I ever need a slimeball, I’ll be sure to call him and hope he will take my case. He is brilliant in his abilities, but unethical – in my opinion.

Guest May 28, 2015 at 10:13 pm

I don’t know who he/she is. Could you please give me that information?
Thank you.

Garbage May 28, 2015 at 10:13 pm

You are joking right?

Guest May 28, 2015 at 10:15 pm

No.

Guest May 28, 2015 at 10:16 pm

Never mind.I will Google it.
Thank you.

Garbage May 28, 2015 at 10:17 pm

Here is what I find:

Lexington County
2015-CP-32-01764
Kenneth A Bingham v. William R Folks III and Fitsnews LLC
Bingham represented by John E Parker

Go here and plug in case number (minus dashes) to see status: http://cms.lex-co.com/scjdweb/publicindex/

Guest May 28, 2015 at 10:20 pm

thank you.

Garbage May 28, 2015 at 10:28 pm

I apologize for my poor response. The comments on this site are ugly, particularly after the lawsuit. Many guests posting for the sake of making you look like an idiot.

Your question appears to be genuine and I genuinely apologize for negative response. Guests are always welcome here, but they are often….. no excuse.

shifty henry May 29, 2015 at 12:34 am

A felon on trial is concerned about his chances.
His lawyer tells him, “Be calm. I’m a terrific lawyer.
I’ll prove to the jury that you were in Hong Kong when the crime was committed. I’ll put on two doctors who’ll prove that you were temporarily insane. I’ll pay off
two of their witnesses. I have two school buddies on the jury, and my wife’s uncle is the judge. ———
Meanwhile, try to escape!”

Bible Thumper May 28, 2015 at 10:34 pm

Haha! I read the papers. I think his name is Pinson? He is out of Hampton. He won a multi-million dollar defamation lawsuit against Jefferson Pilot and their Charleston TV Station. But Will doesn’t have anything to worry about. He doesn’t have enough wealth to interest a lawyer.

Despite what you think, I hope Will comes out of it suffering nothing more than a good lesson.

BT Is Insane May 29, 2015 at 12:37 am

When several people sick of your stupid shit show up out of nowhere and get in your face, what will you do?

Bible Thumper May 28, 2015 at 9:38 pm

I’ve maxed out on P&C free access , but I believe it is in one of these articles. I plan to post BLS data that proves this at least for the last 4 months SC jobs have been created at 3 times the pace of 2011 – 2014.

http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150527/PC05/150529401/1005&

http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150527/PC05/150529401&source=RSS

Reply
Alfred Newman May 29, 2015 at 12:31 am

No links, no proof. Just another day of your stupid hate filled bullshit. Piss on you.

Reply
Cam May 28, 2015 at 6:01 pm

Anything to keep Leatherman from stealing us blind.

Reply
Snark May 28, 2015 at 6:03 pm

Phil Bailey did not do this graphic. He would have had to be sober, and that has not happened since 2009

Reply
Frank May 28, 2015 at 6:42 pm

Let some of Davis supporters take a ride out of their nicely gated communities north toward Columbia or try to flee an approaching Hurricane. They will change their tune quick. Ride on these shitty roads with the rest of us.

Reply
Chandler May 28, 2015 at 8:11 pm

I ride on the roads everyday. We have plenty of money to have them fixed. Throwing money at the problem doesn’t solve the problem. If we’d reform the SCDOT we would have much better roads with no need to increase taxes.

Reply
Garbage May 28, 2015 at 8:15 pm

well, we still have a bridge out on my road. Whoever put the signs up, didn’t put a lot of thought into it. My side road comes in from a major highway and immediately off that highway is a sign, BLOCKING ONE LANE, Road out 1 mile ahead.

Considering the sign is as wide as a lane, they could have put it off to the left of the road and kept both lanes open. Instead, I am often greeted by cars who have no idea where to go, nor do I, when I turn down the lane where my property extends to where the sign is placed! It’s crazy. Been there for at least a month now.

Reply
Chandler May 28, 2015 at 8:21 pm

Exactly they are unable to get anything done, but it isn’t because of lack of funds it is due to the massive bureaucracy that cannot get anything done in a timely matter.

Reply
Garbage May 28, 2015 at 8:22 pm

Absolutely agree!

Garbage May 28, 2015 at 7:00 pm

FREE SIC WILLIE CAMPAIGN: I am surprised we haven’t seen more people supporting this site, at least verbally. I guess after the one article that FITS is being sued, everyone has forgotten?

To my knowledge there is not a fund set up, which I think there should be, to keep freedom of speech – free.

We all have the ability to contribute to the this site by donating in whatever capacity we can: https://www.fitsnews.com/donate/

I am going to post this on other pages unless/until admin request I take it down or I see something that indicates it has been settled. Only one post per page, so as not to spam, but inform readers/contributors.

FREE SIC WILLIE CAMPAIGN, donate here: https://www.fitsnews.com/donate/ ..

Reply
T.Ervin May 29, 2015 at 8:28 am

Check in mail.

Reply
N.Haley May 29, 2015 at 8:29 am

Check in mail.ha!

Reply
M.Sanford May 29, 2015 at 8:30 am

Would have sent money but Fits called me insane.

Reply
T-Rav May 29, 2015 at 8:32 am

Check in mail-NOT!

Reply
Zed May 29, 2015 at 8:33 am

Will sell you my EBT card for .50 on the dollar?

Reply
J.Kimbrellll May 29, 2015 at 8:36 am

Nope.

Reply
john May 28, 2015 at 7:15 pm

No new road money till the change how we build and finance roads. None. Zip. Nada.

Reply
Garbage May 28, 2015 at 10:47 pm

I am sick to death of the new taxes for roads. How much should one pay in taxes? What percentage of your earnings should be yours?

Most business try to pay quarterly taxes, individuals try to deduct enough to cover taxes. We are a single member working family, with a commercial building we lease. We made our money in the past. I would only post this under Disqus….but…. Every year we have paid HUGE taxes. We thought this year we wouldn’t, sold business several years back, save the building we lease. We got hit with a 75k +/- tax bill.

We are looking at retiring early – taxes are too much. What is the point in working? Health Insurance? That is the biggest unknown. Damn if you do and damn if you don’t.

Reply
EWL May 29, 2015 at 6:02 am

I understand your frustration. The big spenders that have friends and family that prosper from government spending never stop looking for ways to raise taxes on the masses so they can fund their cronies.

Our roads are not great because of government waste and incompetence. The big spender’s have an obligation to satisfy our desires for efficiency and value. We do not have an obligation to satisfy their big spending desires.

Give us real government reform and we may give you money…if we trust you!

Reply
nitrat May 29, 2015 at 11:22 am

Our roads are not great because our Norquist pledge signing legislators didn’t and don’t have the brains to take into account things like population growth and business growth and all of the development that needs highway access that goes along with that.
When you don’t raise gas taxes for 28 years – since 1987 – of course, your roads go to hell.
Yes. SCDOT needs reform – AGAIN – but that is a separate issue from the money needed to maintain and build roads because more people are on them going many more places.
Extortion (to get the needed reform) as a governing tactic hasn’t worked out real well for us in the Congress and it won’t work out here.

Reply
Limbaughsaphatkhunt May 28, 2015 at 7:16 pm

This is like a Grover Norquist circle jerk.

If you live in this state, you’d be better off installing top of the line shocks and getting some new tires on your car.

Reply
Garbage May 28, 2015 at 7:44 pm

Why start there? That is assuming you have somewhere to go, and money for gas. Why not invest in a generator, food supplies, fencing, livestock, and so on.

If you have gold, I suggest selling it for the above mentioned needs.

Reply
Limbaughsaphatkhunt May 28, 2015 at 7:55 pm

I like it…full on prepper style. I hear Glenn Beck will give you a good deal on that gold.

Reply
Garbage May 28, 2015 at 7:56 pm

Unfortunately I don’t have any to spare ;)

Reply
Garbage May 28, 2015 at 7:56 pm

gold that is

Goldline is a scam May 28, 2015 at 8:02 pm

No one is surprised by that.

Since everyone here likes facts, here’s a long term chart on the performance of gold:

http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2015/05/in-defense-of-ron-paul.html

Garbage May 28, 2015 at 8:09 pm

Your long term performance charts are shown in the stock market. Ron Paul has had this same message for decades. I told people years ago I would sell my gold. Well, guess what, all the sudden gold plummeted and those poor souls who listened to him, lost their money.

Rule #1: Don’t gamble in the stock market unless you have discretionary spending that you can afford to lose – oooops Paul forgot to mention that part.

I appreciate his message of liberty and he knows a great deal about economics, but he is a logical economist and does not consider behavior. There is and has been a big debate between the two. I lean towards behavior at this point and reserve the right to change my mind down the road, but his “buy gold” is nothing more than a scam he is making money from – that is my opinion. I am at a loss to dispute his message below. He isn’t expanding anything, he is taking advantage of people. That, again, is my opinion. Just read it and watch the markets.

“When it comes to getting the message out, Dr. Paul is many steps ahead of us in understanding how to do it. And I am just glad there is someone like him who has come along to deliver the message and who knows how to expand the libertarian base using every nook and cranny of opportunity that is out there.”

Huh? May 28, 2015 at 8:47 pm

“Your long term performance charts are shown in the stock market.”

?

Garbage May 28, 2015 at 10:09 pm

All you have to do is look up the gold performance/trend. People who are buying it are …oh, you didn’t know….investing in that dirty Wall Street Market. It is easy to follow, as long as you make it a full time job. Most people who are buying up gold are just setting themselves up for a bubble that has already burst, but Paul will keep talking, the stock will have it highs and lows, but it when that bubble bursts, it will be the Feds fault.

Look at how many people have published false information for personal gain. I can’t help but question how much stock does Ron Paul have in gold? Is he creating the next bubble? It will be insignificant, because most people won’t listen to him, but he has been touting this for years.

From a Former Ron Paul Supporter. I still appreciate some of his message, but he is not my data point for financial investments, nor do I have any confidence in his foreign affairs policy – in fact, I think they are dangerous.

Great message of Liberty, but my confidence ends there….

Huh? May 29, 2015 at 6:29 am

“All you have to do is look up the gold performance/trend. People who are buying it are …oh, you didn’t know….investing in that dirty Wall Street Market. ”

I really have no idea what you’re talking about.

Garbage May 29, 2015 at 11:32 am

This was 2013, had a friend who invested in Gold right about that time and was apparently unhappy about the investment. Not sure what the stock was, but this is an indication in part of what I am referring to.

“While shareholders of gold mining companies have suffered losses, the executives of these companies have not felt the pain so much. Aaron Regent was paid $12 million, mostly from a severance package, after he was fired as CEO of Barrick last year. In total, Barrick management was paid $57 million, a 148% year over year increase while the stock was headed in the opposite direction. Newmont executives got $30 million, up 31% and Kinross’ executives received $39 million, a 54% increase. These execs may have won, but their shareholders have lost big time.”

http://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanvardi/2013/07/01/how-gold-miners-became-a-terrible-investment-2/

euwe max May 29, 2015 at 1:01 am

gold clad coins are experiencing a resurgence

euwe max May 29, 2015 at 1:00 am

prepper spray

Reply
Tally Ho May 28, 2015 at 8:17 pm

Praying that Tom will not cave. There are many of us in the silent majority who are sick of big government and would not mind if the fiscal year ended without a budget. Keep up the good work Tom.

Reply
What! May 31, 2015 at 6:32 pm

He already thinks income taxes do not need to be cut – from the AP –

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – Gov. Nikki Haley is demanding that legislators cut personal income taxes to make South Carolina more competitive with its neighboring states. But South Carolinians already pay less in income taxes than their counterparts in North Carolina and Georgia, as well as most other states that collect the tax.

While the state tax code puts South Carolina’s top rate at 7 percent, South Carolina’s effective rate – meaning what people actually pay – averages just under 3 percent.

Democratic Sen. Vincent Sheheen of Camden says it’s a myth that South Carolina doesn’t compare favorably with other states.

Republican Sen. Tom Davis of Beaufort agrees. He plans to work with Sheheen on a bill to better align South Carolina’s advertised to actual tax rates.

Reply
Forbes May 29, 2015 at 12:49 am

The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 6.7% in April. But financial experts are predicting the future looks bleak in the 3rd and 4th quarter for the nation as a whole.

Reply
Dick May 29, 2015 at 6:05 am

Phil Bailey is an idiot. He and his party make the Republicans look intelligent.

Reply
FastEddy23 May 29, 2015 at 10:45 am

That’s a neat trick. And would that idiot be that smart?

Yes, it is all too often difficult to determine whether the usual poli-wogs are stupid or just stupid thieves.

Reply
Lobeco May 29, 2015 at 8:57 am

Does Jean know about this? Just like the gifts she gave Tom to vote for her, she can still take them away.

Reply
Rakkasan May 29, 2015 at 9:25 am

You wouldn’t know “big gubmint” if it teabagged your face

Reply
scout May 29, 2015 at 10:04 am

the citizens of sc should show their support of a politician that is willing to make a stand for the right issue. this state is no different from the federal gov’t. the money needs to be spent on the purpose for which it is intended, instead of propping up political payback of EITHER party!!! if their was real transparency, the citizens could see how funds are being spent and make informed decisions. deal with FACTS

Reply
FastEddy23 May 29, 2015 at 10:42 am

LOL … At least someone at U R DOT has a sense of humor.

Reply
Philip Branton May 29, 2015 at 11:26 am

I can think of a lot more names to go along with Tom Davis on this sign……….

“You are now free to move about the Fitsnews cabin”………

Reply

Leave a Comment