By fitsnews – August 18, 2012
STATE SENATOR RIPS PALMETTO STATE’S “SECRETIVE TOP-DOWN PLANNING”
South Carolina’s leading fiscal conservative lawmaker is blaming “rampant crony capitalism” and the “corrupt politics of favoritism” for the Palmetto State’s rising unemployment rate. S.C. Senator Tom Davis (R-Beaufort) didn’t name names, but he didn’t mince words in slamming the failed command
“Today’s unemployment figures for South Carolina are very discouraging,” Davis said in a statement. “In the past three months, our state’s unemployment rate has increased from 8.9 to 9.6 percent, more than three times the growth of the national rate. Meanwhile … per capita income remains only at about 84 percent of the national average. In other words, compared with most other states, we have a substantially higher unemployment rate and the jobs we do have pay substantially less.”
That’s right … in fact that’s the way it’s always been (and it’s the way it’s always going to be if we continue down the same path).
“This economic condition is the result of our state’s failed economic policy,” he said. “There is far too much secretive top-down planning by state government officials – chasing specific companies and industries with taxpayer subsidies – and not nearly enough attention to the underlying business climate. Instead of making South Carolina a place where everyone has a fair shot at succeeding, we are favoring the politically well-connected. That’s neither fair nor good policy.”
Davis has been criticized by some Columbia insiders for his efforts to provide more transparency and accountability to our state’s secretive incentives process. In fact he’s been accused by some of being “anti-business.”
“How can it be anti-business to fight for a more competitive business climate?” Davis responded. ”How can it be anti-business to try and put more money in the pockets of the individual taxpayers and small businesses that drive this economy?”
Sadly, Davis’ perspective isn’t shared by leaders in the “Republican-controlled” S.C. General Assembly or by S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley, who has bet her political career on government-run economic development deals.
We will continue to oppose those deals because they shift the state’s tax burden onto the backs of small businesses and sole proprietors.
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