South Carolina’s “Republican-controlled” S.C. General Assembly hasn’t even been in session for 24 hours and they’ve already started raising fees in an effort to generate more revenue for state government.
On Wednesday morning a Senate subcommittee voted to allow the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) to raise a water sampling fee in an effort to generate $700,000 in new revenue for the agency.
Bear in mind that South Carolina spent a record $22.1 billion last year – and is poised to grow government by as much as $1 billion this year.
According to S.C. Sen. Larry Grooms (R-Berkeley), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requiring additional testing and SCDHEC wants to make money performing those tests.
“It’s all about the money,” an agency representative testified.
Grooms’ response?
“I asked them what Georgia would like us to do,” he said, referring to the agency’s controversial appeasement of the state of Georgia’s port expansion plans (a.k.a. Gov. Nikki Haley’s “Savannah River Sellout“).
“Fundamentally this is no different than a national health care mandate,” Grooms said. “We all get a better price and have better quality if we mandate big government do something.”
Sadly, thanks to South Carolina’s screwy agency regulatory laws, a two-thirds vote of the committee would have been required to shoot down this fee hike. In fact, absent such a show of disapproval the hike would have automatically taken place in 17 days.
S.C. Sen. Tom Davis – the General Assembly’s leading fiscal conservative – has proposed legislation that would force lawmakers to proactively approve these fee hikes by a simple majority vote.
Unfortunately, like other pro-taxpayer reforms that Davis has introduced his fee reform legislation has been bottled up by “Republican” leaders like Senate Finance Chairman Hugh Leatherman, Senate President Glenn McConnell and Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler.
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By RINO January 11, 2012 at 1:58 pm
Nikki said on Facebook today that she doesn’t want any more programs. What is her definition of a “program”?
By Silver Eagle January 11, 2012 at 4:31 pm
Her definition of a program doesn’t matter – its all about whether SHE wants the program or not. It SHE – Queen Haley wants it – it is ok. But, if somebody else wants it – then it is bad.
By james January 11, 2012 at 2:01 pm
You are confused. The fee allows for the cost of sampling to be borne by the users rather than from the general fund. With the collection of this fee the budget needs of the agency should be less. For example I pay 25.00 to have a renewed drivers license; should I get it free of charge (with all the taxpayers covering the cost)?
By CNSYD January 11, 2012 at 3:50 pm
James, will you please stop injecting truth and logic into these discussions.
By jimlewis,owb January 11, 2012 at 2:42 pm
Hell, that ain’t no surprise. It would appear that South Carolina is fair game for every butt fucking loser with two legs.
Just when I thought JugHead had set a new low with his cry baby whines/emails about his lost of the purchase of the Bessinger Islands along comes the story of the Georgia Legislator who has resigned her seat in the Georgia General Assembly and has a website promoting her candidacy for Congress.
http://www.gloriaforsc.com/
True the website doesn’t say what “Congress”, what “State” or even what “District” . Apparently Ms. Tinbu doesn’t consider this type of information relevant for donors to have in order to contribute.
On the other hand could this be one of those alleged trade offs between the Gypsy Queen and Fucktard Governor Deal. Is it possible it could have gone down like this:
Nikki my Love, I have this dear dear friend who is in the Georgia General Assembly. She is going to resign her seat in the Georgia General Assembly, move from Clayton County Georgia to Turdsville, USA (Myrtle Beach) and run for Congress in the newly created 7th District. Now Nikki my Love, I know you have a dear dear friend who has already announced for the 7th District but we need for him to disappear.
Nikki my Love, remember you always need to keep the Big Picture in mind at all times. We have already neutralized the Beaufort Area. Once we get my dear dear friend elected in the 7th District then that part of the coast will be ours for the taking. All that will be left is Charleston and once we get Charleston you, Nikki my Love, can take the steps necessary to deed over all of South Carolina’s Coastline to Georgia.
Of course when the deal is sealed Nikki my Love, you will have the Franchise Rights to all Little Miss Beauty Contests in both South Carolina and Georgia.
Yep, sounds like a plan to me.
By eggaday January 11, 2012 at 3:18 pm
you got it OWB… but then he ended it, we ARE FAMILY .
By staffer January 11, 2012 at 3:14 pm
So, Viers is out because of Nikki, who endorsed him?
By staffer January 11, 2012 at 3:15 pm
Will Viers now speak of the one night stand?
By :) January 11, 2012 at 4:00 pm
If gov’t took my money is a fashion like picture above, a comely women sneaking around in black clothes trying to remove my wallet from my pocket…I might be OK with it.
I’d tell her all my money was in my front pockets and that she’d have to feel around for it-but I’d imagine I’d be OK with sparing a couple of singles to pay for our potholed roads and oversexed politicians.
If she tickled my balls from the rear while she was down there I might cough up a little more.
By ceilidh10 January 11, 2012 at 4:00 pm
I find it soooo funny that the Republican legislature is not doing what it is supposed to do–slash and burn. So then why vote republican if the outcome is the same? Hypocrisy and bullshit as always from the GOP.
By Dr. (Well I'll Be) M.D. January 11, 2012 at 4:52 pm
G.O.P…..Now stands for (Gypsies Or Pussies)! This ain’t your Daddy’s America anymore! It’s just plain sad!
By Flunky State of SC.Gov January 11, 2012 at 4:08 pm
Cut out all of those state (tax payer )paid vacation days, annual leave, and sick leave.
If state employees don’t like it, they can resign and easily be replaced.
By Old Bike Dude January 11, 2012 at 4:38 pm
Well now that’s just dumb…but this is South Carolina.
By Billy Bob January 11, 2012 at 4:53 pm
I think she said no more pogroms! (apologies to those that have to look it up!)
By sam January 12, 2012 at 6:37 am
This is a load of crap. What you have omitted are the directors of Beaufort Jasper Water( Tom Davis’own utility), Spartanburg Water, the Rural Water Association and others who asked the committee to let the state perform testing across the state in lieu of each individual utility doing the job at a higher cost to the rate payers (Read: Customer).
Complain about an unfunded federal mandate if you like, but don’t criticize a decision that saves money for the individual homeowner. You need to get your facts straight.
By Sarah Nuckles January 12, 2012 at 1:26 pm
Interesting. At the 12/1/11 SCDOT Commission meeting, we were asked to approve spending $403,521 for “mandatory monitoring of storm water on SCDOT maintenance facilities”, because it was a new DHEC requirement that went into effect 4/1/11 . We were told that failure to approve this money would subject the SCDOT to penalties and fines. The contract went to a consultant. Sarah Nuckles, SCDOT Commissioner – Fifth District (803) 327-8911