Davis Blasts Port Leaders, Lawmakers

By fitsnews • on February 12, 2009

S.C. Senator Tom Davis blasted state lawmakers and Port Authorities in Georgia and South Carolina today for failing to move forward on a free market port in Jasper County.

“There is no doubt in my mind that the S.C. State Ports Authority and Georgia Ports Authority do not want to develop a port in Jasper County,” Davis said during a mini-filibuster on the Senate floor. “We have a tremendous asset sitting here going to waste.”

Davis specifically said a port management bill backed by Senate President Glenn McConnell would be the “death knell” for the development of the Jasper port.

“If this bill passes, that Jasper Port will not be built,” Davis said. “The Ports Authority has ignored Jasper in the past, they have been brought into this kicking and screaming by the governor.”

Ports Authority officials have consistently opposed building a deep water port in Jasper County in favor of expansion in Charleston, despite the fact that such expansion hasn’t happened there, either.

“You can do both, but we’re not doing both,” Davis said.

Editor’s note: You can watch the Davis filibuster for yourself by logging onto www.scstatehouse.gov …

Comments

By Reformer on February 12th, 2009 at 3:02 pm

The anti-reformers really look stupid today. Did anyone see Jake reading his pre-written questions? Even then, he struggled.

Tom Davis is standing up for free enterprise and the entrepreneurial spirit. Tom for Governor!

By Reform the SPA on February 12th, 2009 at 3:12 pm

I agree with Sen. Davis – neither the GPA or the SPA want a port in Jasper . Competition is to be squashed and not tolerated. On the one hand , these government monopolists scream out our states need more port capacity – but they run off private companies willing to give us free capacity.

This bi-state committee was only formed to slow down and delay the Jasper port- surely Davis sees that now.

Does Sen. Davis support the proposed new public port terminal in Charleston- the most expensive container terminal ever built in the U.S?

Oh well, maybe Sen. Davis and Gov. Sanford can get the few acres of land sold down in Port Royal before their terms are up- that seems like the most free market reform we can expect.

I hope Sen. Davis works to stop giving the SPA money in the future. Make them sell the +1000 acres of land on Daniel Island and generate some money for our state.

By Philip Branton on February 12th, 2009 at 5:05 pm

TOM…………???

WHAT are you doing…..!??! I appreciate your concern but you are NOT speaking the right LANGUAGE…!!!

What is the overall capacity and then extrapolate the numbers in Barrels of OIL or gallons of DIESEL fuel !!!!

Geez TOM !!!!

How much are the OIL Boyz losing in OUR state due to the LACK of build out…!?!?! You start speaking that language and pimps in this state actually PERK up !!!!

Tom …your NO dummy !! I know you need a TUMS everytime you go to the PUMP and kiss a foreigner instead of an AMERICAN Farmer !!!! I highly suggest that you start displaying your true “TAZMANIAN” style Filibusters than these “Swan songs” !!!!

Tom …DO you know what this PORT means to the STATE of SC…?? Well, obviously the two pokes in Charleston (Riley and Summey) …DON’T !!!

…and the silence of Campsen and Hutto, and Scott, and FORD is doing US all wonders !!!!!!

Tom, call Catherine “The Great” Cieps in for a chat and get her backside up to O-burg to lasso Gilda Cobb-Hunter to remind Gilda that she just received an award !!!!!

Its time for OUR state to …MOVE !!!!!

Next ….jolly trot on down to the Jacksonville PORT and get a Photo OP with some ILA wives…!!! Get your OWN youtube PRESS corps up and running to inform US all of JUST what your UP too ……….!!!! Who needs the PRESS in this STATE !!!!

You’ve GOT …SIC !!!!!!

By cadetsuperintendent on February 12th, 2009 at 5:17 pm

To Philip Branton:

WTF?

By Free marketer on February 12th, 2009 at 5:22 pm

Finally! Someone takes to the well of the Senate and lays down the challenge in plain terms: are you for providing even more power to the state legislature and creating yet another separate island of government unbeholden to anyone (except for senior legislators like McConnell and Leatherman and Harrell who bust skulls in backrooms), or are you for private enterprise, the free market and competition? Davis making Grooms eating his own oped words on the “danger” of private enterprises (they look out for themselves — gasp! — not others!) was delicious.

By Clyde Smoak on February 12th, 2009 at 5:34 pm

Since Sanford and Company want transparency, I think that it is only fair that our freshman Senator from Beaufort disclose his involvement with Jasper County and SSA Marine.

TOTAL TRANSPARENCY! Of course this requires Tom to tell the truth and also disclose things he may not want his family, friends, and supporters to know about him.

The truth will set him free!

By Dexter on February 12th, 2009 at 6:07 pm

Seriously, we need this guy to run. Talk about a passionate reformer. If Mark wants to make it look like he made an impact on SC government- he needs a clear successor to win. The reform bench is ok, but Davis is clearly the star. Sanford needs to come out for him strong and soon.

By Philip Branton on February 12th, 2009 at 6:37 pm

Cadet-Super….

Nice to meet you if we’ve not met yet…..

As per this article…
http://www.charleston.net/news/2009/feb/12/dist_wins_right_add_impact_fees71481/#comments

..you can click on my post name zoomru and freshen up on all 1000+ comments

OR…

as per this article…
http://www.thestate.com/local/story/682695.html?mi_pluck_action=comment_submitted&qwxq=2127303#Comments_Container

you can find out the articles under zoomru also.

CAdet…from what I read in every paper across OUR state; Sic willie and few other sites will determine the 2010 election results due to the FACT that our state’s editors are freakin’ outright INK Pimps !!!!!

No wonder our state is in such disarray….! Citizens have no sense of TEAM !!!?

Its time to NAME …NAMES and expect ACTION by our elected officials !!!! TOM takes this time to scream about the PORT and its FINE; but did he show this “PASSION” in the primary last JUNE…??? What is his view of the PHELPS BLITZ going on right now involving OUR tax paying WALLETS for the eight people that were arrested…!?!?!
Has TOM ripped his shirt off over at DHEC yet…!?!?!

WE Are fed ….UP !!! Right …SIc????

By Elmo on February 12th, 2009 at 6:44 pm

Let me get this straight, so I can make some sense of our legislature’s logic.

According to the Beaufort Gazette, the Jasper port will not come on line until 2024. And there are questions that this extra port capacity is really needed.

However, Senator Grooms wants to keep pushing to fast track a state financed and operated spec terminal constructed at the Charleston navy base – to the tune of 1.2 billion dollars in roads and terminal expense.

There are no shippers today interested in filling up the 3 existing terminals we already have in Charleston.

Why does Senator Grooms want to shun private investment in our port terminals, and fast track the public port project that has no customers?

By BIN News on February 13th, 2009 at 12:18 am

MAB,

Where are you on this issue? You busy decorating a Christmas tree, while “buck naked,” again. MAB, you have created a mental image, and your fans will demand satisfaction.

When will sic(k) willie post pics of you “buck naked” while decorating a Christmas tree? MAB, this was your suggestion. Put up, or shut up.

BIN News – Waiting for Pics! :)

By Gen. Longstreet on February 13th, 2009 at 10:25 am

Mr. Bin,

A cretin like you has no right to “demand satisfaction.” My compliments, sir.

By Clyde Smoak on February 13th, 2009 at 3:26 pm

Governor? LOL!! Gimmee a break. The folks in Beaufort may have taken a swig of the cool-aid but I can assure you he rest of South Carolina is much smarter than that.