SC

Steve Forbes Rips SC Phone Tax Hike

BILL WOULD RIP OFF SOUTH CAROLINIANS, REWARD PHONE COMPANIES || By FITSNEWS || Media executive and former presidential candidate Steve Forbes is ripping a piece of South Carolina legislation sponsored by a pair of liberal “Republican” Senators that would raise taxes on cell phone users to pay for a bailout of…

BILL WOULD RIP OFF SOUTH CAROLINIANS, REWARD PHONE COMPANIES

|| By FITSNEWS || Media executive and former presidential candidate Steve Forbes is ripping a piece of South Carolina legislation sponsored by a pair of liberal “Republican” Senators that would raise taxes on cell phone users to pay for a bailout of landline providers.

The legislation – S. 277 – is sponsored by liberal trial lawyer (and former Democratic U.S. Senate candidate) Brad Hutto.  But it’s also sponsored by left-leaning “Republican” State Senators Thomas Alexander and Luke Rankin.

The bill would add a new cell phone tax to an existing $40 million state tax (and $100 million federal tax) on landlines – money which would flow directly into the pockets of landline providers.

“Why should government impose a new tax on wireless consumers to subsidize companies providing decades-old technology that is in decline?” Forbes asked in a column posted this week in The Greenville (S.C.) News.  “Government policies should encourage innovation and competition, not reward companies whose business plans depend on taxpayer-funded handouts to maintain their profit margins.  Instead of doubling down on a government-imposed subsidy program that takes money from everyday people and gives it to companies, legislators should give taxpayers a break and stop S277.”

We agree … wholeheartedly.

“Government subsidies are not only unnecessary, they are counterproductive because they force taxpayers to sponsor products and services people are less interested in buying,” Forbes added.

Indeed …

Hutto, Alexander and Rankin are attempting to perpetuate the robbery of their citizens – who clearly cannot afford to be nickeled and dimed like this.  And for what? To reward a narrow special interest that is rapidly losing its competitive advantage … that’s what.

This isn’t just bad policy … it’s everything that’s wrong with government.

Here’s an idea …

In addition to rejecting this expansion of an unfair crony capitalist handout, state lawmakers should also file legislation that would rescind the existing $40 million annual theft.  In fact we’ll be looking to free market champions like S.C. Senators Tom Davis and Kevin Bryant to take the lead in blocking this tax hike – and restoring the money that’s being raided from the public trust.

S. 277

***

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44 comments

CNSYD January 24, 2015 at 9:43 am

Tom Davis. Is that the carpetbagger legislator who has the worst “government-run” schools as part of his senatorial district? Or is it the Tom Davis who voted for Queen Jean?

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Dan Ruck January 24, 2015 at 11:55 am

I know you don’t do investigative reporting, but someone should look into how much the landline companies paid in bribes to the legislators proposing this theft. Nikki said today it’s OK for gov’t top dogs to take loot from companies. And in The State today you can read that Nikki keeps the “gifts” she receives and likes. This really STINKS!

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You Know Me January 24, 2015 at 9:55 pm

I warned you Nikki would screw you over and be a mistake!
I warned you Sanford would embarrasses You!
I warned you about Ravenel!
I warned you about Bob Peeler!
I warned you over and over!
I warned you about Obama!
Keep it up and you will continue to get screwed, over and over!

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Tom January 25, 2015 at 5:49 pm

Republicans think receiving payment for supporting legislation is just the free market in operation. They have no shame. Why do you think they went into politics in the first place? To become poor? With the Koch Brothers and Howard rich on a hiring spree, government service is a lucrative career path.

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Rethuglican January 24, 2015 at 12:11 pm

All incumbents, but by all means keep re-electing us SC. At least we give you peons something bitch about quietly on one of our useful idiot’s blogs.

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Mike Hunt-R January 24, 2015 at 12:11 pm

Keep voting these idiots in, South Carolina…

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grandtangosuglydog January 24, 2015 at 12:11 pm

Its come to the point that i honestly believe the only thing that can truly save our nation in regards to elected officials etc is campaign finance reform and the reversal of Citizens United, the most dangerous decision ever handed down by SCOTUS.

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jimlewisowb January 24, 2015 at 12:31 pm

Would recommend strong consideration of the following:
1) Fleet of Donkey Carts
2) Sizable Herd of Donkeys
3) A few thousand feet of sturdy rope
4) Couple of tons of tomatoes, heads of cabbage, oranges and eggs (for spectators contribution only)
5) Several dozen saw grass baskets, bushel size
6) One industrial grade guillotine with diamond tipped blade and silicone coated blade edge for an extra close super fine cut

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grandtangosuglydog January 24, 2015 at 1:01 pm

Great ideas..ill add one more: one of those dunk tanks that if you throw the baseball they fall in a tank..full of sharks and piranhas..I would literally pay to see that..

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Soft Sigh from Hell January 24, 2015 at 1:14 pm

“Several dozen saw grass baskets, bushel size”

I like this “several buggers to a basket” innovation and time saver.

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Mike at the Beach January 24, 2015 at 11:11 pm

Robespierre lives! You go, amigo…

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TontoBubbaGoldstein January 25, 2015 at 8:48 am

TBG will be bringing pitchforks, tar, feathers, torches and Jello shots to the party.

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GrandTango January 25, 2015 at 7:00 am

Yours is the level of IGNORANCE that got us in the mess we’re in…You told us to elect Obama and it would be a panacea…6-plus years later and you’re blaming the SCOTUS for upholding freedom of expression…What a Dumb@$$…

As soon as we bid good riddance to the HORRIBLE Nightmare known as Obama, and began reversing his dangerous and harmful policies, in relation to: Obamacare, EPA NAZI-control, irresponsible immigration, Keystone, Solyndra, over-taxation, Jihad-boosting, spending, GM Nationalization, racial hatred of the builders…etc…

You’ll be SURPRISED at how quickly AMERICANS can fix the disaster the Democrat Party has wrought…

But with Liberal Liars in the media and idiots (like you) who are blaming Citizens United (LMAO) and being delusional about your culpability, it will just make healing and the job of repairing this land, that much harder. You need to STFU…you’ve done enough already. Admit you are a D*#m fool and get out the way…

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TontoBubbaGoldstein January 25, 2015 at 8:50 am

Dude!

You got Spellcheck!!!

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glass half full January 25, 2015 at 3:43 pm

Too bad it doesn’t fix the random caps.

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grandtangosuglydog January 25, 2015 at 11:18 am

Wow do you need attention so bad that you make a fool of yourself and dont care, as long as someone sees you screaming? YOU hate Vietnam war vets and are proud apparently of how you knock them, obviously because you never had the courage to serve but what makes you think you tiny speck of shit of a coward that you have the right to knock our vets?
Im still waiting on that single other blog you own , you can leave out the other 999,999 you mentioned and swore you owned, all i need is one.. otherwise you are admitting , yet AGAIN that you are a liar, pussy and a coward, we all know this, but good to see you are admitting it. So to be clear unless you can show me at least one out of the million other blogs you say you own, then it is fact what a liar, coward and a pussy you truly are at your core. Hence why you never served and hide online as a troll 100% of your time. Youre not worth the time it would take to beat you, your a speck, a fart in the wind..you are the grandtrollcoward.

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GrandTango January 25, 2015 at 11:30 am

We’re talking the political state of our nation Dumb@$$…your hatred for me, or you belief in limiting free speech, has nothing to do with that….

You could silence me, immediately…and it would not undo the damage idiots like you, by electing Obama, Pelosi and Reid, have done to our country…

Not sure if you’re stupid, or sinister, or both…but you have F*#ked up…and stopping you is the road to recovery…and until we overcome the disaster you are…we cannot fix anything….that’s just a fact…

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grandtangosuglydog January 25, 2015 at 11:34 am

ioh you have the right to lie, be a coward and a pussy as you obviously prove daily. So wheres the proof, remember you swore you had a million blogs, i asked for just one. One! you swore you had proof that because he was black OJ got off, i asked for proof..none. You swore that Vietnam vets are stupid, hence why they lost the war..(an exact quote you pussy) for that i would beat you like the pussy you are but you hide like a scared little girl..so dont change subject pussy..for once in your sad pathetic life be a man.

grandtangosuglydog January 25, 2015 at 11:44 am

Corporations dont deserve free speech, they arent people simpleton. The reason is simple, otherwise those with billions drown out the votes and voices of individuals, a concept our nation was founded on you ignorant twat.

GrandTango January 25, 2015 at 11:50 am

So Obama and you can tell us which Americans do, and do not, DESERVE Free Speech…

Do Unions DESERVE Free Speech???…What about Christians?…when will you tell us if Obama approves of them having access to Constitutional rights???

Hitler-Mao and Stalin are smiling and patting you on the back about now. They taught you well..

Again: you told us Obama would bring Utopia…he’s had 6-plus years..and now that no one will buy “It’s Bush’s Fault”. any longer..you are blaming s corporate America…

When is ANYTHING going to be Obama’s fault????…you swore he’d change it all…now that he has…why are you trying to lay fault on anyone but him???

grandtangosuglydog January 25, 2015 at 11:56 am

2 buck gas..it is Obamas fault (not really as a prez has little to do with gas but..) 5% unemployment, rocking stock market, two wars ended, housing going through the roof, yeah ill admit all Obamas fault. (not really but hey your a fucking pussy so ..)
Now that thats out of the way…
I can back up everything ive said about, that you are a liar and a coward with facts. your own words. You just sprout shit and change the subject when you are proven wrong, again and again. You say anything about vets again and I will take the time to find you, whether you are part of wills imagination or an actual living coward. You need to learn when you have lost the argument before it comes back to bite your cowardly ass.

GrandTango January 25, 2015 at 12:30 pm

Are you more of a F*#king idiot or a liar???…Your support for your lord-god Obama is based in Myths, that liberals feed their dolts…

6 years of $3.35 avg. gas (will Obama refund me for his 6 years of exorbitant gas tax?) and Obama’s avg. gas price is still not as low as Bush’s….even w/ a collpase in the oil mkt.

Count the unemployed who have quit looking, and unemployment is about 10%, not to mention Obama is crediting himself for PT and Temp jobs…

Stock mkt. propped up by $85 billion a month in govt.money, and astronomical oil prices, that the PEOPLE have been forced to pay…and we have an $18 trillion debt (MOST increase EVER by Obama)…to pay for the rich Wall St. investor Obama-cronies…

Two wars WASTED because Obama is clueless, and has empowered Islamic world-domination operations, undoing ALL the progress we made against the Axis of Evil….

The Avg. loss on the sale of a house is $35,000…under Obama…I lost $40K…on the sale of one of my houses…

A lot of Vets are the Greatest people on Earth…and some had their minds F*#ked up in service…If you happened to be in the service, and collected a check, stayed out of harm’s way…and got top consideration for a pie-job when you got out…more power to you…

But joining the service does not mean you are immune from being a Dumb@$$ or does it make you more of An American…If you were in the military, you prove that….

Mobile Holmes January 25, 2015 at 12:37 pm

“The Avg. loss on the sale of a house is $35,000…under Obama…I lost $40K…on the sale of one of my houses…”

Goddamn, those double-wides don’t hold their value.

GrandTango January 25, 2015 at 12:48 pm

Ignorant Cliché much?

Smirks January 26, 2015 at 8:46 am

Ignorant Cliché much?

From what Karl said it wasn’t far from the truth at one point.

Smirks January 26, 2015 at 8:45 am

I’m willing to bet GT blames the cockroaches and the hoarder-style decor on Obama too.

GrandTango January 24, 2015 at 12:33 pm

They better bail out us landliners, how will I afford my dial up Internet if they don’t.

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Flip Coscoe January 24, 2015 at 12:35 pm

Or the teen line your Mother has it hooked up through. Then the main line will busy all day and I won’t be able to get through!

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FastEddy23 January 24, 2015 at 1:58 pm

You are dreaming if you believe any of this will cut your land line costs. BOHICA.

AT&T (long distance POTS, CIA-banko-crooks-commerce-international, taxes for school connection, “beautify” america tax …) never found a comm-tax it didn’t like and never has lowered rates, ever.

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Slartibartfast January 24, 2015 at 2:46 pm

It took an act of congress to break up the land-line monopoly. Now, they want to tax us in order to avoid the same market forces. Ptooey!

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Control baby! January 24, 2015 at 11:00 pm

It’s all about the intervention with gov’t types.

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Hutto Is an Asswipe January 24, 2015 at 6:12 pm

Hey, Hutto. If you are reading this, FUCK YOU.

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Trixie January 24, 2015 at 6:22 pm

Tax, taxes and more taxes. Let’s hope “someone” passes a bill to offset these liberal tax and spend legislators!

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Mark January 24, 2015 at 8:37 pm

Sen Alexander has not had a good idea in 20 years, and only does as Leatherman tells him.

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screwed again January 24, 2015 at 9:50 pm

Amen!!! And Larry Martin.

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Mark January 25, 2015 at 5:50 am

But Alexander is such a fake, behind the scenes backstabber! Martin is pleasant, and that counts for a lot.

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TontoBubbaGoldstein January 25, 2015 at 8:56 am

Leatherman has always regretted that he didn’t think to raise taxes on automobiles to subsidise the coach and carriage industry. Now is his chance to make things right. Give the man a break!

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Beartrkkr January 24, 2015 at 11:18 pm

Just perusing the legislation, it is apparent that this was drafted by the landliners. There is too much technical information to have been written by legislators. It’s all about the Benjamins….bet there were some recent campaign “contributions” doled out.

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Nan January 25, 2015 at 5:48 am

Pam Lackey and her bosses at AT&T have poured millions into Nikki Haley; her campaign, her charity, hosting events such as the inauguration and SCORES of other events. Haley has to get this bill through, otherwise other groups with similar investments, such as Wall Mart, BB & T etc will no longer have confidence in her!

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snickering January 25, 2015 at 1:10 pm

Why is anyone surprised? Republicans elected Haley once again and wait until the real press gets hold of this. Sigh, I’m so tired of all of you.

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Dukes Scott January 26, 2015 at 9:21 am

The Office of Regulatory Staff strikes again! First they eliminated consumer choices with the Uber decision, now they’ll be charged with holding money the brown shirts at the PSC and the state house have ordered be taken out of consumer pockets! This agency is nothing more than a band of thiefs the legislature has tasked with funding their crony capitalist misdeeds!

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nitrat January 26, 2015 at 9:57 am

“Media executive and former presidential candidate Steve Forbes…”

And, why should we care what yet another failed billionaire presidential candidate has to say?

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who dat? January 26, 2015 at 11:28 am

This legislation is total bullshit.

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ELCID January 26, 2015 at 5:34 pm

Bell tax increases are never used to improve the old telephone land lines. They go directly into the pockets of executives and stock holders. The entire land line system has paid for itself over and over again.

Grandma paid for her telephone back in 1970 and before. She’s also been paying for it over and over again ever since. These ATT and other land line companies completely control the SC Legislature. They even write the telecom laws, stack telecom commissions, and hire and fire The SC State IT Director. Even when he tried to move traffic off they networks in order to save taxpayers money, and attempt to stop what became the giant SC Tax Network Cyber Attack Hike. Yep, they directly caused it to happen, along with Haley’s kickback bribes.

They are monsters sucking on the T** of the taxpayers thru all types of bribery. It never ends, even when they own the wireless carriers too. Where they can just pass on the rate increase directly to their own cell customers. It’s like a free profit increase for them as they own both sides of the deal. What a rip off, and exactly the reason all these companies should again be heavily regulated.

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