SC

Lawmakers Pressed On “Fix Our Roads” Promises

SPOILER ALERT: A GAS TAX HIKE ISN’T GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM || By FITSNEWS || The dirty little secret in Columbia, S.C. is that there’s plenty of money to fund the core functions of state government.  Our “Republican” leaders just don’t want to. They’d rather continue blowing cash on…

SPOILER ALERT: A GAS TAX HIKE ISN’T GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM

|| By FITSNEWS || The dirty little secret in Columbia, S.C. is that there’s plenty of money to fund the core functions of state government.  Our “Republican” leaders just don’t want to.

They’d rather continue blowing cash on raises for University presidents who already make more than $800,000 a year.  Oh, and for “higher education” in general, which last time we checked was not a core function of government … but rather a for-profit scam.  A very, very costly one.

Lawmakers also continue to shell out hundreds of millions of dollars in new spending on South Carolina’s worst-in-the-nation government-run school system, its soaring socialized medicine bill, bailouts for wealthy corporations, shady ‘economic development‘ deals and … lest we forget … dozens of exorbitantly expensive and totally unnecessary highway projects.

Also, the S.C. Department of Transportation continues to be colossally mismanaged and eternally corrupt – even though lawmakers ostensibly “reformed” it seven years ago under the administration of former governor Mark Sanford.

Anyway … the contemplated budget for the coming fiscal year is $25.7 billion (not counting several hundred million in proposed deficit spending).  That’s a whopping $590 million more than lawmakers appropriated last spring for the current fiscal year (which ends on June 30).  It’s also roughly $5 billion more than was spent five years ago.

Have South Carolina income levels seen similar growth?  Hell no …

Apparently this orgy of government growth is not enough for the “Fix Our Roads” crowd … whose liberal leaders are demanding the passage of a massive gasoline tax (and other fee hikes on motorists) to address a so-called “shortfall” in highway funding.  And “Republican” leaders have dutifully capitulated to their demands, with the “GOP-controlled” S.C. House offering up a $427 million tax hike and the “GOP-controlled” Senate proposing an $800 million tax hike.

South Carolinians simply can’t afford that – especially seeing as they already pay a higher percentage of their income on fuel costs than residents of any other state save Mississippi or West Virginia.

Even if they could afford it, though, would higher taxes really “fix our roads?”

Don’t be silly.  The only thing more predictable than South Carolina’s tax-and-spend approach to “fixing” a problem … is its inevitable failure to fix the problem.

Enter the S.C. Policy Council – a libertarian-leaning think tank which is opposing the gasoline tax hike.  This week, the organization posited a simple question to South Carolinians (which it urged them to ask their elected officials): “If this tax and fee increase becomes law, can you assure us that our roads will be fixed?

Seems like a reasonable ask, huh?

Indeed … especially in light of the glaring, growing disconnect between “more government” and “better outcomes.”

If you’d like to put this simple question to your elected representative, here’s the link (oh, and the group has also included governor Nikki Haley on the list seeing as she supports a gasoline tax hike as well).

S.C. POLICY COUNCIL: WILL A TAX HIKE FIX YOUR ROADS?

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20 comments

Rakkasan May 5, 2015 at 10:38 am

Lawmakers also continue to shell out hundreds of dollars in new spending on South Carolina’s worst-in-the-nation government-run school system

Dr Frued is proud of you today for that slip.

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Halfvast Conspirator May 5, 2015 at 10:48 am

And worth every penny!

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Over May 6, 2015 at 9:54 am

Curt, dear sweet Curt, Why not advertise your make believed accomplishments in the Republic of Curtland , here on FITS? Is the honeymoon with Fits over? Please, tell me it is not so..

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M2000 May 5, 2015 at 10:59 am

Excuse me Paulbots, but it’s like this EVERYWHERE, the Department of Transportation LOVES to misspend money every fiscal year no matter if it’s a blue or a red state.

Dr. Ron Paul is still guilty of enabling Mark Sanford’s political career.

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Rakkasan May 5, 2015 at 11:20 am

Federal gov’t overreach in Indiana. The CDC has moved into to Austin Indiana to “fix” the current HIV crisis, without input or concurrence from the governor or legislature. In addition, Gov. Pence has “reluctantly” approved implementation of a needle exchange program there over the objections of local authorities. Socialized medicine at its finest–in a red state. The NYT quoted one local resident as saying “HIV is the best thing to happen to this community. Men used to come up here for the prostitutes who are addicts”. Break. Wow, this kind of shot is easier to make up and “report” than I thought. No wonder so many people do it.
On a more serious note, you know something serious has failed when HIV is the best thing to come to your community. Kinda like how bad your life sucks if the best thing about waking up is Folger’s in your cup.

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fartblossom May 5, 2015 at 12:52 pm

FIX THE DAMNED ROADS!

IF THE COCKROACHES DON’T HAVE ENOUGH GUTS/BACKBONE TO RAISE THE GAS TAX TO FIX THE DAMNED ROADS, THEN LEAVE THEM AT HOME NEXT ELECTION (2016).

(Yes, I’m Shouting).

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GrandTango May 5, 2015 at 3:11 pm

The roads are not that bad, you F*#king idiot. You invented that problem because you’re a lying F*#king liberal…

You are just like the average F*#king Democrat…you want LAVISH amounts of OUR money diverted to the GOVERNMENT …after you’ve WASTED all that we’ve already given you…

STFU…or either use YOUR money from your government check to fix your road. We don’t need a new tax so you can pay off your voters who sit on their LAZY @$$#s and smoke dope and do crack…like you….

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john May 5, 2015 at 3:40 pm

You must be flying not driving on SOUTH Carolina roads. TIRES ARE NOT CHEEP. TRAVEL AND YOU WILL SEE.

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GrandTango May 5, 2015 at 3:53 pm

Like Global Warming…your Boogey men are non-existent and mythical…while the TRUE and dangerous enemies – like liberal thieves – are ignored…

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fartblossom May 5, 2015 at 4:24 pm

I am not a liberal – far from it. I don’t smoke crack, weed, coke, or tobacco. I certainly am not a Democrat. I do not, and never have worked for the Highway Department.

I agree with the DEA that Crack sale should carry a stiffer penalty than regular cocaine.

I don’t mind “lavish” amounts of tax money [a hell of a lot of it is what I paid in, as did my wife, 3 sons and 6 grandchildren (all adult)] being spent for necessary government programs, but I could suggest enough pure “give away” programs to cut to make up the difference.

I’m not on the “dole”, but enjoy my Blue Buzzard (Social Security) check each month – I paid my proportional part of SocSec since I was 13, and am enjoying getting what little of my money back even if it didn’t start for 52 more years.

I AM TRYING to use my money from my government (SocSec) check to FIX THE DAMNED ROADS. After all, because I worked all my life at gainful employment, my other retirement incomes requires me to pay INCOME TAX on mt SocSec. While the state doesn’t tax SocSec, the Feds do contribute up to 90% “co-pay” in “matching funds”.

Drive I-77 toward the Fairfield County Line from Columbia, and enjoy the potholees that I “invented” which have managed to allow one windshield to be broken on my old pickup. Drive I-26 toward Newberry from Columbia, and enjoy the same at the Newberry County line, and another set in the eastbound lanes just north of Chapin.

And best of all, and most importantly, PLEASE take another Haldol. Your withdrawal is showing.

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GrandTango May 5, 2015 at 4:30 pm

Cry me a river, you F*#king whiney-@$$ dolt..

You’re an IGNORANT tool of the liberals, who want to take money good people work for…to feed your Greed, and live lavishly…while working people suffer…you F*#king Dumb@$$…

I just hope the GA can hold off you Greedy pieces of feces, until the session runs out…You F*#king THEIF…

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fartblossom May 5, 2015 at 5:21 pm

The reason I no longer work are twofold.

First, I’m now 84 years old.

Second, I have some serious medical problems: Heart & Lung; replacement hip, both knees, rebuilt shoulder.

I don’t think I’m whiney – I really enjoyed working, and would like to be able to do so again.

Consider taking 2 Haldol – and maybe a 200 mg Thorazine. Your withdrawal is worse than I first imagined.

Obviously, you are unable to comprehend what I’m trying to tell you. I never said I received “little” (probably because I did my own retirement plan, rather than depend on SocSec). And again, I make enough “retired” to have to pay Fed Income Tax on my SocSec [NOT WELFARE] check. My share was taxed when I worked for it. Now they are taxing it again.

GrandTango May 5, 2015 at 9:08 pm

And you’re sitting around worried about spending a billion dollars on the F*#king roads…

That might be part of your F*#king problem…

GrandTango May 5, 2015 at 3:07 pm

Wasn’t FITS raised on money from a VERY money-slurping public university????

Sorry FITS, but when you’ve been gorging yourself at the public trough – especially with the reputation USC has for STEALING the money WE EARN – you need to STFU….You have a feces trail all around your mouth…

Not to mention: You were summoned by the USC-J School to pontificate on “New” media…when you are nothing but a re-transcriber for The State newspaper and the SCDP…

You are more F*#king worthless than those you’re attacking all the time…especially since you ignore the Democrat threat to our freedom….and constantly BASH some of the people thwarting the Democrat Party…

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fartblossom May 5, 2015 at 5:26 pm

I had not before realized what fun it is to tip Grand Tango over the edge.

I had noticed over the last few years that others had a lot of fun doing it, but didn’t know why until today’s monotribe that doesn’t make sense, and is completely non sequitur.

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John Boy May 5, 2015 at 5:38 pm

The funny part is him trying to convince others he’s employed.

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Backlash Cometh May 5, 2015 at 7:10 pm

I am glad you are uncovering the truth here, Sic. Word is spreading fast across the state that our General Assembly is attempting to bamboozle the citizens with this insane gasoline tax increase.

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Bad May 6, 2015 at 6:31 am

And where will the money come from to fix the roads? Loftis was blowing his big mouth but has been silent since Robin Johnson resigned. Chief Counsel. Yes, another resignation in the State Treasurer Office. Loftis has destroyed the STO . So many people in the STO have resigned. Curtis Loftis is full of illusions and people are seeing him for what he is. The entire State Senate voted against him. 44 votes , one no vote by Paul Thurmond. He took his State owned computer to a company outside state government to replace the hard disk and took the disk to have 3 holes drilled in it! He compromised the personal information of all South Carolinians to cover and hide WHAT? I can only guess that the information on that hard disk was bad news.

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Disk May 6, 2015 at 6:56 am

Oh no.. Curtis Loftis sure did not follow protocol with his State owned computer. The legislature gave STO $270,000 for security after DOR breach and $56,000 is unaccounted for. Where did that money go? Why would he comprise the data of all South Carolinians by taking his state own computer to a strip mall in Harbison to replace the hard disk? The man must be stopped as he is a danger to all SC.

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Sick May 6, 2015 at 7:25 am

The DOR breach was very serious and affected all of us, sending us to change banks, seeking security and causing severe anxiety for many. Loftis, by taking his State owned computer to a private company to replace the hard disk has endangered and exposed the personal information of all in SC. He didn’t even bring the old disk back and had to send somebody to retrieve it and have holes drilled in it. This violates state procedure which apparently is just fine with Loftis. Costs us money, too. The man is sick .

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