SC Boys And Their Taxpayer-Funded Toys
What is it with South Carolina politicians and their taxpayer-funded obsessions with old naval vessels?
Seriously, we already knew about Senate President Glenn McConnell’s phallic obsession with the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley (an open taxpayer tab which has cost us tens of millions of dollars), but now another Lowcountry RINO is getting into the act.
State Treasurer Converse Chellis unilaterally decided yesterday that S.C. taxpayers were going to spend $9.2 million to repair a decommissioned Korean War destroyer.
No really …
Funny, but isn’t this one of the guys who just a few short weeks ago was saying that the budget was so bad we were going to have to fire teachers and let inmates run wild in the streets?
Anyway, from the Charleston Regional Business Journal:
State Treasurer Converse Chellis announced today that the state will lend $9.2 million to Patriots Point for repairs to the USS Laffey, a destroyer with significant rust damage that threatens to sink it.
Chellis announced the loan after touring the ship, including the rusted bottom, which he said felt like a sponge. The destroyer’s hull has developed several holes since fall, and although they were patched, the ship remains closed to the public.
The Laffey repairs are among $50 million in repairs needed for the historic ships at the Naval and Maritime Museum in Mount Pleasant, one of the state’s high-profile tourist attractions. Patriots Point does not receive state or federal money for operations or maintenance, and officials have in recent months asked state and federal lawmakers for help.
Patriots Point officials are seeking $20 million from next year’s federal budget, which would allow them to repay the state loan, said Dick Trammell, interim executive director. U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., has submitted that request to Congress, Trammell said.
Let’s see if we’ve got this straight … some friggin’ RINO politician rubs the bottom of a ship, discovers it’s a bit limp and some guy tells him we need millions of dollars to make it hard again? And he says “sure why not?”
Because that can’t be right. It just can’t be.
Seriously, we have to be misreading this … they must be getting this ship ready to go fight the Koreans. Like right now. Because the last time we checked they were spoiling for a fight over there, even though President Barack Obama appears to be in no mood to give one to them.
Anyway, here’s how it went down …
After spending about 45 minutes touring the Laffey and hearing stories about its glory days from former crew members, Chellis pulled out a cell phone and called two other members of the state Budget and Control Board, Rep. Dan Cooper and Sen. Hugh Leatherman.
“I hope I can count on you at the Budget and Control Board meeting,” Chellis told one lawmaker. “It’s unbelievable what they’re working with here.”
Chellis said he had not seen the ship damage and wanted to view it for himself before signing off on the loan.
He said the two lawmakers pledged their votes. With Chellis’ support, the measure has the three votes it needs to pass the five-member board, which is scheduled to meet next on June 29.
45 minutes. 2 phone calls. $9.2 million dollars of your money gone … just like that.
Seriously, if this isn’t a metaphor for South Carolina’s totally whack funding priorites, we don’t know what is.
Like AIG, GM, Bank of America or any of these other bailout babies, if Patriots Point can’t turn a profit it is not the taxpayers’ job to bail it out.
Pic – Charleston Regional Business Journal
Comments
By Gillon on June 11th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
“…if Patriot’s Point can’t turn a profit it is not the taxpayer’s job to bail it out.” So, using that logic, we should close down all parks, museums, art galleries, national monuments, nature trails, war memorials, etc. How does it feel to know the price of everything and the value of nothing?
By Huh? on June 11th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
First of all, the USS Laffey started her career in World War II, and not in the Korean War. Secondly, that particular ship withstood an attack by 22 Japanese aircraft, 5 kamakaze strikes, and at least 3 separate bomb hits. Prior to that she was damaged by a Nazi shore battery, during the invasion of Southern France. I’d say that went well beyond what it should have survived in a war, and yet she did survive, with a very impressive war record. She stands now as a reminder of the toughness of both our military men and the ship itself at a time when we needed everything we had to defeat not one, but two determined enemies. Hardly something that is just some “old naval vessel.” She is an important part of history, which as our greatest generation passes on, we should consider before just allowing it to rust away. You think this is about priorities, and I agree, what we can’t agree on is what you find important. I would assume that if the USS Laffey had boobs, you’d be first in line to paint the bra. Besides, if I’ve read the news reports correctly, then this is a loan, and not just a bail out. It was my belief that the net result would be that Patriot’s Point will have 18 months to pay back this loan. So, way to go FITS! As usual, you prove the old axiom…..”better to remain silent, and thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt!”
By CNSYD on June 11th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
FITS you are a typical Columbia weenie. Other than being the hottest place on earth (and I don’t mean the good kind), Columbia has a meager history so you envy other locales. Perhaps you also missed the word LOAN. The P&C had a writer who suggested sinking all of the ships. His a$$ was scalded by comments on their electronic edition. You trying for the same thing? Taking your comments further, perhaps we need to close all the museums, the Smithsonian, etc. on the National Mall. They are obviously a waste of taxpayers money. We don’t need history we should only be interested in today, right?
By Craig on June 11th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Lemme get this straight. They are getting a loan using taxpayer money to fix a rust bucket. Then,they are going to get more taxpayer money from DC to repay the taxpayer money they’re going to get now.All this during a recession when the tax collections are still dropping like a rock. Only with RINOs does this make any sense.
By Wes Wolfe on June 11th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
Why don’t you run your line of bull by all the Navy vets that were trying to save the ship (something I wrote about, oh, weeks ago). I’m sure they would love some political consultant that went to boarding school to tell them they should let the ship they served on be sent to the bottom of the ocean.
By CNSYD on June 11th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Craig obviously you never served in the military. You just sucked your way along living off the sacrifices of others. So why don’t we plow over the National Cemetaries like Arlington? Why waste money on dead people.
By Stupid is on June 11th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
Ummm? Where has the Hunley cost the state millions of dollars?
By Richard on June 11th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
Chellis is just another wannabe puppet for the status quo. This is not where I expect to see my taxpayer money go, not to the Hunley, nor to higher ed, and other pet projects of these retards in Columbia. What about our public schools, Depart of Corrections, DOT, economic development? What in the hell is wrong with these people.
We need to clean the slate in Columbia!!!!
By Stupid is on June 12th, 2009 at 5:57 am
Ummm? Where has the Hunley cost the state millions of dollars?
P.S. – Sorry, forgot to tell you great post!
By Rick on June 12th, 2009 at 8:08 am
As a Navy vet, I agree with Fits….no taxpayer loans. If we, the vets determine this is of value to the State and the Nation, then we should support it out of our pockets. Have we a fund we can contibute to? We’re so conditioned to government being the answer to all issues that we look without thought. Every dollar given/taken to/by the government is a dollar removed from their rightful owners. As a taxpayer I find little use for much of what my taxes go to pay for. While as a private citizen, I believe that I have a duty to help educate our citizenry and have little issue(other than the mispending)with the taxation that goes with that, others will not have that same belief. The questions are, “what is of value to each individual” and “what is the mechanism by which we use public funds” and “by what method do we fund some things and not others”? We can make a point to fund anything, all we have to do is find enough fools to go along. But, at what point do we limit governments ability to say one thing and do another? We loan the money from the state government and get a grant from the federal government….sounds like I’m using taxpayer funds without the general citizenrys buy in. For those of you that have little issue with your taxpayer dollars being used in this way…think about what an extra dollar or five means to your family.
By Toyota Kawaski on June 12th, 2009 at 8:33 am
can we let fits rust and sink
By CNSYD on June 12th, 2009 at 9:02 am
Rick, agree with most of what you say. Having ships as floating history has seemed to work in NC, AL, NY and HI. What are they doing differently? Have we (SC) even looked? The part I disagree with you on is that you see little benefit from taxes paid. I think we forget how our interstate rods were paid for and by who. Or who pays the HUGE cost of our military. We are so used to them that we take it all for granted and think we get nothing for our taxes.
By Simple Math on June 12th, 2009 at 10:15 am
Average salary of a SC teacher according to Dept. of Education – $50,000
Number of tachers’ jobs potentially saved by $9.2m “loan” – 184
Number of good ol’ boys needed to tell them to shove off (pun intended) – 3
Value of being a RINO in South Carolina – priceless
By Ron on June 12th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Thanks for the great post Will,
You’re right, if rinos Chellis and Leatherman want to preserve these relics, they should be out fundraising along side the vets!! This is not a taxpayer function and especially in these recessionary times!! I’d be happy to buy some barbeque plates to help fund the maintenance projects and am quite certain that most of those posting here would also. It’s just too easy to “pick up the cell phone” and call their rino buddies on the budget and control board while the cameras are rolling in hopes that he gains several thousand votes in next years treasurer’s race. IT NEVER ENDS!! VOTE THE INCUMBENT BUMS OUT INCLUDING CHELLIS!!
By Ron on June 12th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Also mega dittos to Rick and others here with some common sense conservative values besides Will!! VOTE THE INCUMBENT BUMS OUT IN 2010!!
Does Chellis yet have an announced opponent!! I want to write them a check!!
By Calhoun Fawls on June 13th, 2009 at 1:43 am
I don’t have a problem with spending a little money to preserve history. The money is a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of the big government program of subsidizing private schools.
Funny what is conservative these days. It used to be a things like honoring military history, now its being for big government getting into private education.
By For real on June 15th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Ron,
Maybe we can bulldoze Arlington and build some condos. That sounds like a great idea don’t you think? And we can all tell that you have zero political acumen….don’t you realize FITS only writes about the bad side of government unless it’s one of his buds….so while your “throw the bums out” mentality may sound good, it makes absolutely no sense. So why not put your money where your mouth is and run for office?
By madcock on June 25th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
I can only imagine how Barry Goldwater would feel about people who call themself conservative Republicans being horrified about a loan to preserve a living memorial to brave sailors who fought fascists in WW II and communists in the Korean confict while cheerleading giving tax money to church schools and the rich snobs who are begging for welfare to pay to send “little Marshall and Muffy” to prep school.
As I posted in another thread, it’s no wonder you people can’t get elected dog catcher these days.