THAT’S WHAT THEY’RE SAYING …
|| By FITSNEWS || If you’ve been reading any mainstream media outlet in South Carolina over the last few days, you’ve no doubt heard about the “failure of the S.C. General Assembly to pass a bill to fix our crumbling roads and bridges.”
And you’ve probably heard that a South Carolina Senator by the name of Tom Davis is the man responsible for this failure.
Both statements are accurate. South Carolina lawmakers did not pass legislation this year to substantively address the condition of the state’s abysmal roads and bridges – and it was Tom Davis who waged the filibuster preventing a so-called “roads bill” from passing the State Senate.
As a result, according to the MSM, every pothole, uneven road, decaying bridge or stalled construction has become Tom Davis’ fault. And every bad thing flowing from those road issues is Tom Davis’ fault.
Take a look at this text message our founding editor received …
That’s three (count ’em, three) angry faces …
As we’ve noted repeatedly over the last few weeks, though, Davis is to be commended … not criticized … for his obstructionism.
What Davis blocked wasn’t real reform of the S.C. Department of Transportation (SCDOT) aimed at “fixing our roads,” what he blocked was an effort to dump hundreds of millions of new tax dollars into the same old system that’s been failing our state for decades.
Tax dollars which our dirt poor citizens can’t afford to cough up right now …
Pumping more money into a broken system would be “the definition of insanity” he said during his filibuster.
Which leads us to our point: Our roads and bridges aren’t terrible because Tom Davis filibustered a gas tax hike, they’re terrible because our state’s leaders have habitually funded costly new projects (including S.C. Senator Hugh Leatherman‘s totally unnecessary widening of a highway from Florence to Pamplico, S.C.) instead of needed repairs. Or because they chose to spare wealthy Charleston, S.C. residents a few extra seconds commuting rather than making long-overdue repairs to one of our state’s most vital commercial thoroughfares.
Or more to the point, our roads and bridges are terrible because lawmakers continue funding billions of dollars worth of big government that they shouldn’t be funding … or at the very least that they shouldn’t fund before fixing our roads.
Which reminds us: The same media outlets lying to the public about the true size of the state budget are also lying about who is to blame for our crappy roads and bridges – and what ought to be done to fix them.
Is that Tom Davis’ fault?
Not hardly …
You don’t have to tell us how bad South Carolina’s roads are … we drive them all the time. In fact we’ve helped point out some of the worst instances of unsafe infrastructure in this state (and helped get some needed repairs done).
As we’ve stated repeatedly, those decrying Davis have approved billions of dollars in new spending on South Carolina’s worst-in-the-nation government-run school system, its duplicative and inefficient higher education system, bailouts for wealthy corporations and shady ‘economic development‘ deals. In fact lawmakers are spending more than $120 million as we speak on incentives to build an interchange for Volvo – money that could have gone toward far more pressing transportation needs.
None of this is Tom Davis fault.
Again, last time we checked he’s one of the only ones standing up to the failed status quo in Columbia, S.C. and saying “enough is enough.”
36 comments
Tom Davis is a liberal and should NOT be trusted on ANY issue,in my opinion.A gay marriage supporter and advocate for legalizing pot (the gateway DRUG to Heroin and Cocaine).If he won’t stand for traditional marriage and protecting our children from drugs why would we expect him too help the taxpayers trying to get too work?
“Now Davis is taking another bold step. In a Facebook post yesterday, the Beaufort senator took a stance on the issue of same-sex marriage that many Dems in the state are unwilling to take: it doesn’t faze him. In fact, Davis doesn’t believe the government should even be involved in the marriage biz. He writes:
LA state judge rules #SameSexMarriage ban violates due process, equal protection, full faith & credit. Here’s an updated tally for those keeping score at home: U.S. district courts in 13 states and state courts in five states have ruled same-sex marriage bans violate the U.S. Constitution, while one U.S. district court and one state court have found that same-sex marriage bans do not violate the constitution. Unlike some of my Republican brothers and sisters, however, I’m neither keening nor gnashing my teeth. Marriage as a crucial and indispensable social institution (and for me, as a Catholic, a sacrament) can and will survive and thrive without the coercive power of the state. In my opinion, government ought to get out of the marriage business entirely — save, however, for the adjudication of the parties’ respective rights and obligations upon its dissolution, just as the judicial system adjudicates other breaches of contract.”
http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/HaireoftheDog/archives/2014/09/23/sc-sen-tom-davis-unfazed-by-same-sex-unions-thinks-guv-should-get-out-of-marriage-biz
Not sure what point you are trying to make, but FYI, there has been NO study at anytime, anywhere that points to pot being a gateway to ANYTHING, except maybe Doritos. Since you seem to be able to use the Internet to post here, why don’t you try doing some research before making tired, old, blatantly false statements and discover the REAL reasons why pot was outlawed.
And just a sidenote, you are wrong about gay marriage, as well, but that’s not surprising, given your apparent backwards thinkgin mindset.
Don’t pay attention to this fool. Festus is just another alternate alias for pogo/flip/fc.
I love talking about gay people and having sex with dogs. Makes you wonder don’t it? LMAO!!! LMAO!!!
Ok, thanks for the head’s up.
Sounds more Libertarian than liberal to me, judging from what you typed above…
Does it really surprise anyone that the G.A. is looking for a scapegoat to blame in regard to decades of road repair mismanagement?
It might work too, the hoi polloi are just that stupid.
Kudos to Davis for standing on principle and trying to eek out just a smidgen of accountability.
I love have the GOP controls EVERYTHING in this State, but still manages to find scapegoats and reasons why the roads suck so bad. JUST FIX THE G’DAMN ROADS!!!! If the SCDOT is messed up, FIX IT!! If you need money, GET IT!!! Is it really going to take a tragic accident or a big employer leaving SC cause its employees can’t make it work anymore?!?!?
People vote Republican because they think the Republicans will run a tight ship and cut taxes with all the money they save. SC Republicans turn agencies into mismanaged nightmares that bleed money, keep it that way because it lets their buddies leech more money from the public, and then try to push tax increases without fixing one damn thing.
That doesn’t amaze me though. SC reelecting the same Republicans amazes me.
Something has gone wrong with the Democratic Party. There was a day when Democrats and Republicans held out the same goals for our country, but disagreed on how to reach them. There was a day – as recently as the administration of President John F. Kennedy – when the two parties could unite against a common enemy like Communism.
Those days are over.
Maybe it was Vietnam. Maybe it was Watergate. Maybe it was the left-wing candidacy of George McGovern. But whatever the tipping point was, today’s Democratic Party has turned mean and evil. Today’s Democrats don’t just just want to defeat their political opponents; they want to destroy them. They smear conservatives, take them to court, get them indicted, and allege that they are conducting “wars” on every conceivable group of people.
Today’s Democrats are liars.
How is any of what you are saying, which is all a bunch of BS BTW, relevant at all to my statement? Especially when SC is run by REPUBLICANS, in case you did not notice in all of your wisdom.
Fake post by pogo again.
Yeah, but a great description of the GOP since Gingrich.
Calm down. You gotta read the fine print on these road plans. All tax hikes and no reform. Giving these GOP clowns more $$$ without reform is like pouring water in a bucket with a hole in it.
I’m trying to remain calm, but I sat in a room with many SC legislators hearing how TERRIBLE the roads are and they are going to do whatever it takes to fix, including raising the gas tax. I really don’t ask much from our Gov’t (being a Democrat in SC forces me to be that way), but I DO expect to be able to drive to work with CONSTANTLY dodging potholes, especially in a state where freezing temps don’t cause many issues with the asphalt.
And, GOP extortionary tactics have worked out so well in the US Congress…let’s try ’em here?
Tom Davis went public last year as a full fledged liberal Democrat when Jean Toal bought him. He has gone down hill ever since. His filibuster mess this past month only showed Davis does not have the leadership ability to work with others and get things accomplished. Sorry, Sic. Tom Davis will not be a governor here.
Bongo! Carpetbagger Davis is as phony as a $3 bill.
Hey Broken Record. What century are you living in? You are such an evolved “American” aren’t you? Make like Jack Leggett and go away. SC doesn’t need you.
Wrong. I am gay,smoke pot and will support him.
Not fooling anyone pogo.
Damn, now everyone knows I’m gay and smoke the reefer. LMAO!!! LMAO!!!
I thought you were leaving.
A good editorial from The Island Packet/Beaufort Gazette.
http://www.islandpacket.com/2015/06/09/3787041_money-not-the-biggest-problem.html?rh=1
To the person who would like to drink coffee in their car without spilling it…..your first world problems are NOT problems you fucking cry baby.
Only if they are wearing a white button up shirt ;-)
Let’s spend billions of dollars so crybaby won’t have to spend $10 on a coffee flask.
The lobbyist and consultants got rich.
Why don’t we the citizens of South Carolina send the entire G.A. bills for car repairs. We should also bill them for their poor performance. Should they not accomplish anything during the regular session then they stay until things are accomplished. These elected officals have done absolutely NOTHING in the past 40 plus years. Their salaries should be garnished and they should be fired!!!!! There should also be term limits for one and all.
Carolina Girl
I am hearing new squeaks in my dash every day and it drives me nuts!! Looking down on a road that is likely older than I does not make me feel any better.
Why does everyone think that SC’s roads are bad? I moved down from Vermont a
dozen years ago, and SC’s roads are awesome compared to any road in the
NorthEast.
I think this whole ‘bad roads’ thing is a gimmick to get more tax
dollars, the roads are fine, its the drivers that need to be replaced in
most cases.
There are some areas that are ok, but other heavily deficient in road quality. It really depends on where you spend your time driving(which is probably correlated with the power those elected in that area have in the GA)
I agree. I have lived in a lot of places Dayton, OH, Wilmington, DE, Denver, CO, San Diego, CA, Olongapo, Philippines. Our roads here in Lexington, SC may have the occasional pot hole or bump the same as any where else.
If you want to see what truly bad roads are take a drive around Staten Island. I grew up there and left in the early 70’s. I went back recently for a funeral. I drove around checking out the old stomping grounds and thought I was in a third world country. Patch work on top of patch work and pot hole right next to a patch. It was tooth jarring.
So I am not riding the “our roads are the worst” band wagon.
So Tom Davis calls the GA to task for the fail of the status quo and for bringing it to light, it must be his fault… same ol’ same ol’, welcome to SC, nothing to see here, move along leave your contribution at South of the Border with Pedro.
Suck my Koch.
Hello I’m Tom David and I refuse to support tax increases on my Costa Wealthy Carpet Bagger constitutes. But I supporr it for the poor and middle class .