STATE TREASURER: “THE TAX IS REAL – THE REST IS A PROMISE”
|| By FITSNEWS || South Carolina Treasurer Curtis Loftis is rallying opposition to a proposed increase in South Carolina’s gas tax – arguing the state’s politicians can’t be trusted to follow through on the offsetting tax relief they claim to be providing.
“The tax is real – the rest is a promise,” Loftis said.
Both state lawmakers and governor Nikki Haley have unveiled plans (HERE and HERE) which would force cash-strapped South Carolinians to pay more at the pump – even though Palmetto State residents already pay more of their budgets on fuel than residents of any other state save Mississippi.
The legislative proposal has drawn sixty-five sponsors in the 124-member S.C. House of Representatives, while Haley’s plan has thirty-seven sponsors.
Loftis isn’t on board with either proposal … nor should he be.
“Folks, let me be as plain as I can be: It is a $48 billion dollar boondoggle,” he said of the so-called transportation funding “shortfall” in South Carolina. “It is a pig in a poke. It is a dog that won’t hunt, and no matter how much lipstick you put on that pig, it’s still gonna be a pig!”
Loftis added that any revenue discussion was premature – noting that lawmakers must first pass a comprehensive reform bill addressing a host of issues at the S.C. Department of Transportation (SCDOT).
“Some say we should reform the DOT and the Infrastructure bank and raise taxes,” Loftis said. “I say no, let’s reform the DOT and the infrastructure bank and then debate the issue only after the reform … after we know that real change has taken place.”
Indeed …
Since taking office in 2011, Loftis has been one of the only elected officials in South Carolina willing to stand up for taxpayers. We appreciate his efforts – and are glad to see him weighing in on the right side of this issue.
86 comments
THis is worthless. Haley wants the money, the GA wants the money, and in the end, they’ll get their money. And they won’t reform DOT, and it will waste a lot, and they’ll build their little silly expressway from Florence to Mrytle Beach, and then look out over the new Hampton Inn and Days Inn, and Cracker Barrell, and say – “Job well done. Dat der is progress.”
I wonder why she waited until her second term to do it! Sure pulled the wool over the eyes of conservatives, we will remember this Haley!
Thanks for the tax cut Nikki!
Here’s a liberal now to defend Haley’s tax hike, shocked!!! Keep your hand out of my pockets.
Haley thinks the public will not hold her to her “no gas tax” pledge if the tax is a sales tax on gas.
She is wrong, it will be her political funeral.
If Haley votes for that sham gas tax (6% sales tax of wholesale gas) she will regret it. She would be a laughing stock!
Surely Haley would think she could get away with that. I like Haley and would hate to see her try that.
Loftis is the only state wide republican to come out against the tax. Good for him.
Loftis is the only one standing up to the tax and spend, let me get rich off the taxpayer crowd. I agree with him, we can be smart and prudent by perceiving and maintaining the existing road structure first, then go after our “wants” later.
The tax is $48 billion, plus the $29 billion already budget. For a state like SC, that is too much money!
Agreed! The status quo sucks. I am glad Loftis is fighting them. He is the only politician doing so, But the people are with him and that is what matters. Any GOP senator that votes for a gas tax will probably be beaten next year, and i will say good riddance to big spending trash!
It’s still all grand-standing. I don’t care HOW they do, just fix the f’ing roads!! I don’t care if Nikki and Curtis have to pave the damn roads themselves.
I agree. A gas ‘user’ fee ensures EVERYBODY contributes-even those on food stamps, Medicaid, Section 8 housing and those illegals getting those $6,000 Earned Income Credit checks under Obamas ILLEGAL amnesty decree this tax season.They got em some nice,BIG gas guzzlers!
90% of housing support goes to households with minor children or the elderly. Lots of working poor on food stamps (military too). Lots of Medicaid goes to poor children and the elderly. Maybe you could be a bit more precise?
EVERYBODY!
Shocking! Are you saying all the politicians are concentrating on posturing and posing rather than working for the benefit of South Carolinians? Loftis is just ginning up a kerfuffle to exploit for political advantage. I’ve asked this question before: What’s his plan to fund roads, highways and infrastructure? Where will he get the money? Does he have guts enough to say from where the dollars will come?
Loftis has a good point though, as long as we are considering boondoggle projects and not fixing the issues DOT has, we will just be throwing money away. The agency needs to be run properly just as much as it needs to be funded properly.
That may be true, but dodges the question of how Loftis will finance the infrastructure work. It’s easy to criticize and shoot holes in other people’s plans and ideas. Curtis: Put up or shut up.
Smirks,
The big government types believe we have to justify to them why we don’t want to waste our money. They believe there is something wrong with anyone that doesn’t give money when asked by the good old boys!
I say let them waste their money anyway they want, but stay the fu%k away from my wallet!
Mac
We know it will never be ‘run properly’ as long as the 12 year Sanford/Haley administration continues.
Curtis come out of the closet with your plan for our roads! Stop inserting yourself into a conversation you refuse to constructively participate in. Come out of the closet with your plan already!
The DOT and special interest spent 10 million on a plan that dumps money into their coffers. More money to the rich and powerful, less for the working man.
Curtis Loftis said work on existing roads now, leave light rail, bike and walking paths, mass transit, railroad repair for CSX, etc for later.
Why would anyone want to throw billions at a plan that has so much fluff? Unless the commenters are in line for some of that tax money!
The next election is 4 years away. I doubt he is mush worried about that now.
So, are you ok with paying 50% more per mile? 75% more?
You wanna pay taxes and you don’t care how, so tell me how much waste you will put up with?
25% waste of $48 billion is $12 billion. You OK with that? Tell me how much money you want to waste!
Some people fall prey to any tax hike. For the children, for better roads, for our future, for the turtles.
Waste, fraud and abuse does not matter as long as they feel good about something!
I want nice roads but spending money like a drunken sailor does not get me better roads. And I should know.
DS
I support Curtis Loftis 100%. Katrina does too after I made her an offer she couldn’t refuse (.i.e. threatened to beat the shit out of her.)
Everybody should pay their ‘fair share’. Muslim Obama says so.
CUT state income taxes for those WORKING.A gas ‘user fee’ for ALL would ensure EVERYBODY has skin in the game.
Nikki expands medicaid, Kasich expands medicaid, this libturd praises them both. Obama’s pawns all three!
So what’s Curtis’ plan? After the agencies are restructured, what’s his proposal to actually fix the roads/highways?
Loftis said, on the radio, that we should spend this year on reform, then prioritize road maintenance and preservation, determine correct funding mechanism (cash, bonds, or combo), and perform work. This can probably be done by redirecting present revenue from gas tax, license fees, sales tax on cars, etc. If more is needed, then the General Assembly can make the funding choice and order it so.
Makes sense to me. Otherwise, it is pouring more money after bad, and the only people that want that is special interest that is making a ton!
I agree. SC DOT simply cannot manage that many projects without huge overruns and possible fraud. Lets take care of our needs first then or wants.
I worked for my money, special interest did not give it to me. So I say to them, go to hell with your boondoggle. Keep your hands out of my bank account!
So his plan is to kick the can further down the road and by finding an extra billion dollars from a revenue stream that doesn’t exist. I think even Palin was brighter.
Politicians never have enough money so they always hit the well (you) when they have more spending needs. About everyone supporting this tax increase has an incentive for the proposal to pass, which includes payoffs, consulting fees, media, and construction contracts. Typical.
Who specifically supports a plan that stands to receive payoffs, fees, media (Curtis is getting his media attention from this) and contracts?
Literally half of the consultants in town are being paid! You must be one of them as I can’t believe anyone could ask such a stupid question.
BTW, 48 billion dollars is going to make a LOT of people rich. Or do you think all the large corporations that build roads and bridges work for minimum wage?
So Chris, I mean Curtis, no one specific. Guess all these folks live in your head too. Must be getting crowded up there. Don’t stay up too late posting tonight. You have work tomorrow.
Political consultants, lobbyist, business consultant, sellers of concrete, asphalt and steel, unions, sellers of heavy equipment, truckers, architects, engineers, etc are just some of the people that will make a fortune.
I want roads, not rich out of state corporations making a fortune. Loftis is doing the right thing!
I am with Teddy, and Curtis Loftis. SC pols never stop asking for money and Loftis stands up against them. Can you believe, in this GOP Conservative state, that only one statewide politician has stood up and said NO?
Keep fighting them Treasure Loftis.
This state is such a joke. There are numerous ways to raise money, even without raising the gas tax. Marijuana legalization, casinos, tolls roads, vehicle inspections, etc.
SC won’t do these, why? Are they the work of the Devil? Crazy Yankee, Liberal ideas?
Just keep yammering way. Meanwhile I have to dodge potholes everyday like its an f-ing unfunny game.
Loftis just kicked off his Loftis for Governor 2018 campaign by being against something without offering alternatives. That is called leading from behind. Typical shallow politician.
Loftis has said over and over again he is not running for governor. I know, because I have tried to convince him to run.
He spends his own money to get elected because he won’t “sell out” like the GOP political consultants that are making a fortune pushing this sky high gas tax!!
I wish he would run, but when asked he always says no. I understand his reasoning that making sure our money is safe, and that government is accountable, is the most important thing he can do. But I still wish he would run.
Then why in the Hell is he asking people to send him money in his emails.? It’s to pay off his campaign debts from 2010. This is a joke.
You are the joke, here. HAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!
Wayne b seems frustrated. Must be one of this consultants that won’t get a bonus if gas tax fails.
Poor guy.
Tiger…you must be turning a blind eye to what he is going in office them. He is one of the most corrupt people in government! Not only that, but he is a lunatic!
The DOT spent 10.5 million dollars to come up with a wasteful plan to spend $43 billion on top of our already budgeted $29 billion.
I think “no” is not good enough. I think “HELL NO, HELL NO, HELL NO” is about right.
We need Loftis to beat this tax back, not bargain our money away into the hands of the 1% crowd. Keep fighting the thieving bastards! Ot they will take it all!
I love that line Loftis uses: “The tax is real-the rest is a promise.”
When will the sheep understand the government and contractors get our money but don’t have to do the roads as listed or promised. $48 billion is enough to attract the wealthy out of state and out of country cooperations that know how to cut corners, then cut and run back home with our money, leaving the crappy roads behind!
I saw polling today that says the anti gas tax vote is at 61%, up 10 points since last week!
(And among other things, that Tim Scott is the most popular statewide politician)
Keep up the good work Treasurer Loftis, it is paying off.
Curtis has nothing to do with any supposed poll numbers. Kent = curtis
Let’s work harder and bury the robbing bastards. I hate pick pockets, especially of the tax and spend kind!
I don’t know a soul that wants to raise taxes and give the money to state government. I am sure somebody does, but not my friends and co-workers.
Bureaucrats and government vendors love high taxes. You need them as friends, then you would know people that support the gas tax!
I think the gas tax will fail because haley will have enough support to veto it. We have got to mobilize against if though or she will go squishy on us.
99% of the politicians are for the gas tax or hiding in the dark. Loftis steps out front and leads. He takes the arrows. He stands with the middle class people of SC, not the rich and powerful. He is doing what we want so you lobbyist and road contractors can take a flying leap.
If leadership is defined as kicking and screaming without having anything constructive to say, then yes, Curtis is a leader. Other than that he is on his next “quest” to make the newscycle.
One thing I notice is that all the paid consultants ask the same question; Where is the the opposers plan? Hell, SC has already spent 10 million dollars on a crappy plan, so I don’t want more tax money wasted on another plan.
I want to beat back this plan then study what to do about the bad roads, then fix them! We have money budgeted and if they quit wasting it and working on politicians pet projects, we would have great roads!
Paul = Curtis
It is called spin. All the special interests groups get together to work out messaging, including rebuttals. The truth is a casualty, and what is left is spin. They have millions to spend and are about to roll out media. Lots of powerful people want this gas tax.
You call fighting a bloated road plan with a $48 billion dollar gas tax “leading from behind’?
His job number 1 is to beat the tax! Then when that is over he needs to help find an affordable solution that works for SC, not rich road contractors and their politician friends!
You tax and spend people love to waste other people’s money. Well, I ain’t giving you mine. So take your wanna be Obama attitude and bite me!
His job number 1..? His number 1 job is to be the treasurer. If he wants to wade into another arena and attempt to attain a speck of relevance, than he needs to propose a plan. Everything else is just hot air!
Since he is the only statewide elected official fighting the tax I doubt if he is “typical.”
If spending less, wasting less is not a good plan I don’t know what is. Unless you consider your plan…. Waste 48 billion on unneeded crap … A better plan. Tax and spend liberals would.
“…being against something without offering alternatives…”
Gee, that makes him a typical Republican!!!
pigs & dogs?
How about squirrels, giraffes, llamas & ground hogs?
Polar bears for all I care, just don’t raise my taxes so the DOT can waste it. I worked there during college and it was a joke. Waste was everywhere and no one cared. I pay taxes now and I get it. NO MORE WASTEFUL TAX PLAN!!!
I totally agree with Wayne B and Jonny Logic. Loftis is an empty suit. Too many of them in Columbia as it is. What he needs to do is to get out of politics and go back to his bugs.
Loftis made million in bugs, now he is stamping out the pest in state government. I hope he continues, and hope he stamps out all the fat ticks sucking off the taxpayer! There are far too many people getting rich off of state government!
Elliott = Curtis
Treasurer Loftis, thanks for taking a stand. Don’t give them any money till they reform the DOT and Infrastructure Bank.
They spend 10 million dollars on a road plan, have no legal obligation to do what the plan says, and you are for it?
I want value for my money. You can throw yours to the wind for all I car, but I am careful with mine!
I am with Loftis, no taxes till we get reform!
What reform proposal has Curtis out forward? (((Crickets)))
From the photo it appears there is about 20 old people at this “rally”!!! How Loftis deserves two fits “articles” on this non-event I do not know.
What is really interesting is that Loftis doesn’t have a vote. He has no official role to play in this debate other than as a citizen. He has no more voice than you or I. He will have no say in reforming DOT, whatever that means. He is simply running his mouth like the rest of us.
He’s doing it because he hasn’t found a way to make “the news” in months. RSIC beat him so it’s just a pivot. He knows he has no vote so that’s why he offers absolutely nothing constructive to the debate. Credibility is everything in politics and the ole curt has none left.
Because of Loftis’s activism the investment commission made over 120 process important improvements that protect our money. He forced a clean up the “back office” when no one else would, and honest and knowledganle people admit that.
Our money is safe now, except for an expensive and underperforming portfolio. Loftis can’t change that, so it continues to underperform its peers and pay almost half a billion dollars in fees.
He is a statewide constitutional officer that has every right and obligation to speak up about the finances of the state. Had Treasurers done this before maybe things would be better for SC.
He has access to people and information that the average citizen can’t get so this is very helpful to people of good faith.
Keep up the good work, Treasurer Loftis. We are with you!
Some people just love to pay high taxes. Or is it that these commenters trashing Loftis are “on the gravy train.” Millions of dollars are flowing from road building fat cats to work the General Assembly, the blogs, media, political opponents, etc.
Maybe I should go to their side. I can make a lot of money and only pay a relative small amount in taxes. Damn, that sounds good!
I know of 4 consultants that are being paid to push the gas tax. One told me it would probably be his biggest payday ever. Greed has turned these consultants very mean as you can tell by the vicious comments about Loftis.
Stay positive Treasurer Loftis, we are with you! We will beat back this wasteful tax hike and plan, and then have our roads fixed properly, at a cost we can afford!
Who is “we”? Curtis and his many alter egos? Can’t fix a problem without offering a solution, or at the very least an idea. Curtis, there is no road fairy…. So what’s your proposal?
Curtis, didn’t you just buy a fancy new Lexus? Is that part of the gravy train you speak of so eloquently? You wouldn’t want those bad roads messing up you fancy new car, would you?
I am very proud that I have voted for State Treasurer Curtis Loftis twice!
I am the classic soccer mom except I drive a smallish car.I think the roads are fine and I do not want to pay more than is already budgeted. I can spend my money more wisely than some detached government agency.
Janet = Curtis.
I have been reading the transportation plan and it is a very odd document. it seems to take on local and private concerns as if they were state issues. It also addresses issues at airports that have typically been handled by counties or regions, or even private organizations. The whole thing is interesting but I don’t find it credible as a tool to raise billions of dollars in tax revenue. I also cant understand how the document cost over 10 million dollars.
The Nerve says that CDM Smith is Trikki’s former lobbying-while-legislating employer Wilbur Smith all merged up and they have been getting millions of SC tax dollars from cabinet agency SCDOT since 2011 – Trikki’s first year as governor.
Did they prepare the ‘transportation plan’ you are referring to?
Seems everyone is working off the same an. Yes, Nikki used to work there