By FITSNews || When it comes to picking winners and losers in the marketplace, S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford obviously believes that Boeing will be a big winner.
That’s why he signed off on the largest incentives package in state history to land the aircraft manufacturer, a deal that is quickly approaching the $300 million mark in terms of its cost to the taxpayers.
With such a hefty price tag, we certainly hope Sanford is right.
The governor doesn’t have the same winning feeling about a controversial “Mega-mall” proposed for Jasper County, though, a project that’s currently seeking an incentives package valued at $132 million.
This week, Sanford blasted the Sembler Company’s Mega-mall on the Okatie project as “corporate welfare” and pledged to veto the legislation if it comes to his desk.
It may never get there, though.
After all, the Sembler incentive package is being held up in a legislative conference committee by S.C. Sen. Wes Hayes (RINO – Rock Hill) – or so it would appear.
Hayes – true to RINO form – isn’t opposing the bill because he’s concerned about the taxpayers. In fact, like the rest of the so-called “Republicans” in the State Senate he’s actually a big fan of massive government incentive packages. However, Hayes has a deal with S.C. Sen. Greg Ryberg to keep the Sembler incentive package bottled up – at least for as long as he is in a position to keep it bottled up.
The sands may be running out of that hourglass, though.
Sources tell FITS that Hayes – under pressure from Sembler and its army of S.C. lobbyists and consultants – has submitted a request to Senate President Glenn F. McConnell (RINO – Charleston) asking to be removed from the committee.
McConnell – much to Sembler’s chagrin – has failed to take action on Hayes’ request.
Will the powerful Senate president bend and eventually replace Hayes on the committee?
It’s doubtful.
With a Sanford veto threat looming, McConnell would be exposing himself to considerable political risk with very little chance of obtaining his objective.
It’s far more likely that Sembler will have to find another legislative avenue, or wait until January of 2011 when Sanford is out of office to renew its push for these incentives.
By Old Bike Dude January 22, 2010 at 8:41 am
I believe Sanford is right about this (gags and slightly vomits in mouth). Boeing will use the tax break in a more acceptable and traditional manner. Sembler will simply put his tax break on the market to the highest bidder and use our cash to build his mall. All the previous endeavors of this approach to construction has given us several slums here in the lowcountry.
I think Sembler and the crooks at Traditions should put their heads together and make an ass out of themselves.
By Judy January 22, 2010 at 10:31 am
what power does “he” still hold or since he is humble now does that change everything until the soul mate makes an appearance?
By Brandon January 22, 2010 at 3:27 pm
Like it or not, Mark Sanford’s political career is going to be okay. If Ted Kennedy can get away with killing his girlfriend and become a US Senator, then Sanford can get away with hitting some South American poon tang. Ba da bing ba da boom
By Old Bike Dude January 22, 2010 at 5:04 pm
Yes Brandon and let’s not forget that after killing her boyfriend, Laura Bush went on to become the first lady.
By SnakeMD January 22, 2010 at 6:08 pm
Just say no to any mall. Don’t walk away–run! The largest and most successful mall builder in the country, General Growth Properties is in the tank. They have defaulted on their loans and several of the largest department store chains such as Dillard’s are suing them. GGP got special incentive packages from the state of Illinois (Obama’s henchmen?) and it never helped them.
You can not predict any shopping endeavor in today’s market. Even when malls were hot their life span was only about 10 years. After this you have to pump in millions of dollars to refurbish or remake their image. In the next few years dozens and dozens of malls that were built in the 1960′s and 1970′s will shutter their doors. Mall stores only pay their employees a few bucks over minimum wage. The biggest challenge of any mall, in any state, is trying to figure out how to keep the gangs and pseudo-gangs out.
Call up the Catawbas and bring out the bingo dots–now that is real money$$$$
By Mike January 22, 2010 at 6:10 pm
Yeah Old Bike Dude a 17 year old girl gets into a car accident is the same as 37 year old sitting Senator leaving the scene of the accident and showing up the next day at the Police Department with his lawyer. Yes, sir that’s a moral equivelent. You and Obama live in the same dream world.
By Batt Man January 22, 2010 at 9:21 pm
When has it EVER been necessary that Government, Big Government ‘bankroll’ a Shopping Center? They are ALL OVER Columbia and South Carolina.
Hell, when they decided to build Harbison, the ‘new’ owners bought a brand new high-end Holiday Inn and bull dozed the Mother for land!
Same thing happened with Kroger in St. Andrews… they relocated a whole Subdivision in Quick Rick Quinn’s constituency. The bought everyone out, all agreed to move ‘peacefully.’
There are soooooo many new shopping centers going up, we have them ‘Rotting’ all over. The New Wally’s, on Bush River, they razed a whole shopping Mall –>Bush River Mall to build it there.
There is So, So, So much money we DONT need Big South Carolina to finince ANOTHER Big Shopping Center!!!
By Batt Man January 22, 2010 at 9:26 pm
So, if Stinkford is threatening a VETO against Sembler, why doesn’t he ‘veto’ that latest “Reprimand” The statehouse issued, against ‘Mark’ Sanford?
Maybe Mark Sanford could unleash the Gestapo police force he has on them?
By Old Bike Dude January 22, 2010 at 10:16 pm
Hey Mikey, dead is dead. Quit making excuses based on party affiliation. Dead is dead, 17 or 37.
By BIN News Funding Editor January 22, 2010 at 10:16 pm
sic(k) willie called Wes Hayes a RINO?
Poor sic(k) willie. Such a political pimp.
According to sic(k) willie, anyone not paying him political pimp money is a RINO. So, that makes the majority of elected officials in S.C. RINOs.
At least according to sic(k) willie.
Thank goodness the R(H)INO is a noble beast. Big. Strong. Honorable. Able to withstand little bites from sand gnats like sic(k) willie.
But keep it up sic(k) willie. Some day you might make your little porn site profitable. Not likely. But possible.
By Ynotfirst January 23, 2010 at 6:26 am
yeah let the “Sanfraud goons” strike again.
they are most unpleasant, let me assure you.