SC

SC Gun Manufacturer Already Shedding Jobs

AND “JOBS GOVERNOR” NIKKI HALEY IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND … Remember PTR? The Connecticut gun manufacturer made national news last summer when it left the Nutmeg State for South Carolina – bringing 150 new jobs in tow. Or so we were told … We supported PTR’s decision to relocate…

AND “JOBS GOVERNOR” NIKKI HALEY IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND …

Remember PTR?

The Connecticut gun manufacturer made national news last summer when it left the Nutmeg State for South Carolina – bringing 150 new jobs in tow.

Or so we were told …

We supported PTR’s decision to relocate to the Palmetto State, but as free market supporters we objected to the company receiving taxpayer-funded bribes (a.k.a. “economic development” incentives) to come here.

“Obviously the move will still have economic benefits associated with it, but will those benefits outweigh the costs?” we asked at the time.  “And even if they do outweigh the costs, why should PTR Industries get incentives that aren’t available to your company? Isn’t that picking winners and losers in the marketplace – a strategy which has failed our state miserably?”

Indeed … 

Anyway … last week S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley, whose “personal touch” helped land PTR, visited its facility in Aynor, S.C.  There she received a commemorative firearm, one of many we’re told the company is doling out to state lawmakers.

Everything was upbeat, with Haley thanking the company for her new gun – which she said was “a thank you for the support they have received since coming to our state.”  Meanwhile company executives told a local news station they were pleased with where the business was headed.

Fast-forward to this week, when PTR admitted to WBTW TV 13 (CBS – Florence/ Myrtle Beach, S.C.) it was “laying off eight full-time workers” and cutting wages for other workers at its new plant.

Bear in mind this is out of a roughly 53-person workforce – nearly half of which was brought in from Connecticut.  And most of which was making $13 an hour before  the wage cuts. So much for the company’s promise to pay “significantly higher wages than the County average,” right?

And then there’s Haley … who took all the credit for bringing PTR to the Palmetto State, but was nowhere to be found when the job losses were made public.

“Love that Haley is there one week and cuts are announced the next,” one lawmaker told FITS. “(That’s) emblematic of her economic development track record.”

Indeed …

PTR claims the job losses and wage cuts are only “temporary,” and that the company is still on track to create “at least 100” new positions over the next three years.  We’re certainly willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, but even if those optimistic predictions come true the company would still be creating only two-thirds of the jobs it promised.

And even if PTR ultimately created more  jobs than it promised … again … why should one company get a tax break that’s not available to you or your business?  A tax break that you and your business ultimately must subsidize?

Exactly … it shouldn’t.

Oh well, at least “gun-lover” Nikki Haley got a shiny new firearm out of the deal …

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44 comments

Larry Bishop July 9, 2014 at 12:20 pm

Haley is the biggest scam artist to ever live in the Governors mansion. Dolling out taxpayer money to every corporate welfare case she can to get re-elected to continue her gravy train ride that she thinks will lead her to the White House. The biggest data breach in the history of South Carolina ,DSS Deaths, Crumbling roads, Georgia Port deal sell out, every director at her cabinet agencies has been a total failure etc etc…and idiots in this state will still vote for her. Come people are you not tired of making the Randhawa family richer? Would love to see the IRS audit her family and their accounts how much out of state money has been funneled to them hmmmm? State and county employees kiss your pension goodbye if she is re-elected you all are easy targets and in her cross hairs folks good luck….oh and your insurance kiss it goodbye as well….Vote anybody but Haley please. Haley should run president and have her running mate as the guy in the office now cause they are just alike. How many more companies will come here under false pretenses?

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aikencounty July 9, 2014 at 1:24 pm

Yeah, but she has that”R” before her name on the ballot.
Wonder what the TEA Party thinks of NIMRATA now?

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ELCID July 9, 2014 at 4:26 pm

Don’t forget the bribes she took from Lexington County Hospital and the Carlisle and Wolfe Engineering firms for the unnecessary Heart Hospital we didn’t need.

Sheen should just run one simple TV ad Statewide in his campaign. Just have some one list all the Haley Disasters in the commercial. Unfortunately, it will probably take much longer than a one minute ad to do so: talk faster??

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Latisha July 9, 2014 at 12:25 pm Reply
tomstickler July 9, 2014 at 12:29 pm

Maybe they should not have given away so much of their product to politicians?

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Is This All There Is? July 9, 2014 at 12:52 pm

July 9 , 2014 Lay Offs:

Fidelity Investments – 400 in KY, 60 in Texas

PTR Industries – 8

Arivaca Fire District AZ – 10 Layoff Notices

Pitney Bowes Inc – 56 in Neenah

Eby-Brown of Springfield – 30+

Medtronic in Minnesota – 40

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Is This All There Is? July 9, 2014 at 12:53 pm

July 8 , 2014 Lay Offs

Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust – <10

Brandon VT – Few Layoffs Possible

United Airlines – Outsource 630+ Airport Jobs

SMART bus – Layoffs Likely

Quantas ( International ) – 167 Engineering Division

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New China July 9, 2014 at 1:27 pm

Why else would they come to SC? The cheap ass, third world labor force.

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truthmonger July 9, 2014 at 4:07 pm

Like Indonesia, only closer….

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James July 9, 2014 at 8:24 pm

Actually I think when BMW moved here one German executive said it was as close to Mexico as they could get in the US.

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Ctrot July 9, 2014 at 1:47 pm

Opposition to tax credits for businesses to entice them into a state is fine in theory, in practice it is unwise. If SC doesn’t offer “deals” to new companies NC, GA, FL, AL etc will. Then what does your “stand on principles” get you? Not more jobs for SC that’s for sure. SC can’t act in a vacuum, SC has to play the game that other states are playing if SC expects to win. You can’t re-write or ignore the rules just because you don’t like some of them and expect to win.

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GC July 9, 2014 at 2:13 pm

CTROT-Excellent Point, No Incentives=No Jobs, Mr. Freemarket does not understand the other states will not play by his rules. If he were Governor, SC would be in great depression.

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Ctrot July 9, 2014 at 2:43 pm

I am as pro free market as anyone, I believe there should be no government mandated minimum wage and health insurance should be completely divorced from employers. But I am also a realist. As long as other states are offering incentives to businesses then SC must as well in order to compete.

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Corrupt to the core July 9, 2014 at 3:06 pm

“I am as pro free market as anyone,”

No you’re not. If you simply stripped out payroll & property taxes to entice companies, they’d come in droves and you wouldn’t have to worry about pols giving away our money for favors down the road.

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Confused July 9, 2014 at 3:57 pm

Isn’t not paying payroll tax and property tax basically a subsidy and it is a giving money away?

Corrupt to the core July 9, 2014 at 5:54 pm

No, because it’s not state money to start.

soxinsc July 11, 2014 at 1:19 am

Property tax also pays for police and fire service, hospitals, schools, and jails. If a business isn’t going to pay property taxes, let it burn when it catches fire. Either that or bill it for the service.

truthmonger July 9, 2014 at 4:09 pm

Yep, and leave we the people paying the bill for their expenses…

Corrupt to the core July 9, 2014 at 5:56 pm

I’ve decided to raise a white flag to the idiots here. You all win.

Ctrot July 9, 2014 at 5:33 pm

Yes, I am.

I explained my position, clearly.

If you can’t comprehend it, that is your problem.

Again, so long as other states are going to offer incentives for businesses to relocate to that state South Carolina MUST do the same or loose jobs to every other state. I don’t like it but that is just the way it is. Period.

And if that did happen, and jobs were leaving SC for other states, you would probably be first in line to whine about that too.

YOU convince the other 49 states to not offer tax cuts to relocating businesses, then you’ll have a valid argument.

Corrupt to the core July 9, 2014 at 5:55 pm

You are a complete ignoramus without the ability to comprehend what I wrote.

Ctrot July 9, 2014 at 6:40 pm

I comprehend fine, you’re just wrong.

Soft Sigh from Hell July 9, 2014 at 7:57 pm

“health insurance should be completely divorced from employers”
.
I believe many industrially successful nations do that with national health care.

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Jan July 9, 2014 at 8:31 pm

More accurately almost all industrially successful nations do that with national health care. .

Yep July 9, 2014 at 9:25 pm

Healthcare used to be divorced from employers in this country, until wage controls during WW2 forced employers to find other ways to compensate their employees.

Ctrot July 9, 2014 at 11:42 pm

Well if you want socialized health care so bad how about you moving to one of those “industrially successful nations”.

Ctrot July 9, 2014 at 11:42 pm

Well if you want socialized health care so bad how about you moving to one of those “industrially successful nations”.

Tea Party, y'all! July 9, 2014 at 1:55 pm

Nikki is such a gullible rube. PTR gets a boat load of incentives to move here, then squeezes out their higher paid employees from Connecticut with wage cuts and hires South Carolinians who will work for much less. Nikki gets a shiny new gun (that cost them nothing) and a photo op to look all butch for her even more gullible supporters. PTR is loving dumb ass SC!

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Jim July 9, 2014 at 2:50 pm

This shouldn’t surprise anyone with any knowledge of the firearms industry. Gun companies, especially those that make modern sporting rifles (known as “assault” rifles with large “clips” to liberals) were booming the last 18 months with impending gun control bills in the wake of the Newtown, CT shooting. Since those bills were either defeated or killed in committee the rush is no longer on. Go check the shelves in your local gun store or Wal Mart. They have black rifles sitting on the shalves. Last year they were being bought before even arriving at the store. 150+ employees right off the bat was doable as long as Scandel in Chief was pushing gun control. Thats not happening now and won’t happen in an election year. Plus its PTR. Not Colt, Bushmaster, S&W or even DPMS. They are relatively small in the gun field. However that G3 knock off above is pretty sweet.

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Fuck Bobby, Nikki, & the rest July 9, 2014 at 2:55 pm

Another “win” for that fat lying bastard Bobby Hitt and his Department of Commerce.

Why the fuck anyone would believe anything he or Nikki Haley says is truly beyond me. Their press releases are fucking worth less than a pile of turds.

Fuck, give them all our fucking money and get it over with. I love paying taxes for this shit, I can’t take it up the ass hard enough for this bullshit. Where’s Lindsey when you need a good ass reaming?

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Sharon July 9, 2014 at 3:27 pm

Hah aha Haley is such a lying witch……..Idiots that voted this disaster in office…Lol

Columbia, SC (WLTX) — Firearm manufacturer PTR Industries, that
completed their relocation to South Carolina’s Horry County in January,
has reportedly laid off eight employees, and cut wages for other
employees.

In a report from WBTW,
a PTR Industries executive said the adjustment in the company’s
staffing is only temporary, and layoffs were due to a downturn in the
gun industry market conditions. They said the layoffs are a temporary
setback, and expects market conditions and staffing to improve as new
products are introduced in the coming months.

Previous Coverage: PTR Industries Hiring 30 Workers in SC

The
company moved to Horry County in November of 2013, and following the
recent staff reduction, still has 41 employees, with PTR’s commitment to
add 100 jobs to the facility by the end of 2016.

Recently South
Carolina Governor Nikki Haley toured PTR Industries’ Aynor-based
facility, to receive a South Carolina commemorative gun the company is
producing.

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Bible Thumper July 9, 2014 at 4:10 pm

There is a lot of confusing data and this so called recovery is very unusual. It seems best to compare SC’s ( and therefore Haley) to its neighbors, the southeast average and the nation. It is also best to compare not in terms of absolute numbers but by indexing it since Haley is not responsible for the economic condition when she took office.
Since 2011 SC beats the nation and the Southeast in personal income growth, but not North Carolina and Georgia. In the last four quarters, however, South Carolina beats them all.

Personal Income (index) last four quarters
GeoName—— 2013Q1– 2013Q2 2013Q3 2013Q4 2014Q1
United States— 100.00 –101.17 –102.18 –102.73– 103.55
Georgia———- 100.00 –101.26– 101.72 –102.14– 102.99
North Carolina– 100.00 –100.78 –101.55– 102.39 –103.06
South Carolina- 100.00 –100.90– 102.36– 103.28 –104.24
Southeast——– 100.00 –100.97– 101.82– 102.37 –103.17

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Ralph July 9, 2014 at 6:12 pm

Oh how soon you forget the millions it cost folks here in South Carolina due to Haleys incompetence. And she lied to cover it up until Romney lost. But its ok not her fault shes a raging lying moron.

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Carol July 9, 2014 at 6:14 pm

Do you mean the data breach if so they yeah she has cost all of us money.

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Bible Thumper July 9, 2014 at 6:44 pm

South Carolina’s personal income for Q1 2014 was $173,729,954,000.
Over the past year SC has surpassed national growth by 0.69%.
That is equivalent to 1.2 billion dollars. So what is a few million dollars?

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Guido Sarducci July 9, 2014 at 5:13 pm

ever hear of Obama-care?

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dildo sardouchey July 9, 2014 at 6:24 pm

No! Why don’t you break it down for us.

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Deo Vindice SC July 9, 2014 at 7:29 pm

Well Mr. Bishop, how much this time ? How much more for the taxpayer ? I heard another 98 K from taxpayers for people camping out, due soon to the FEDS. I would almost bet my right nut, Nikki has plundered – say – 75 mill is my estimate. It’s not even over yet. What if she wins again ? We should top all states at that time, on the bottom of course. Rest assured we’ll be Republican, dam it !!!

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Tv's r us July 9, 2014 at 7:48 pm

Anybody checked on the TV maker from last year and the number of jobs to SC?

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Scooter July 9, 2014 at 10:08 pm

Slick Willie ad the heads in the sand crowd have spoken. It is this kind which keep SC at or near the bottom. If you are going to play you have to ante up. You are not going to win every time.

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William J. Hamilton July 10, 2014 at 11:23 am

When they rehire the eight people they just let go for holiday sales production in the Fall, they’ll “create” eight new jobs. The Governor, of course, claimed 150 new jobs when they announced the relocation here, so they’ve alreday created 158 jobs for South Carolina using this special type of math. I expect that $11 per hour is still above the county average because wages throughout SC are generally lower than that. So when we look at it. 25 people in SC, maybe 17 now, got a new, low paying job. How much did that cost?

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bamberger July 10, 2014 at 4:10 pm

Obviously her parents didn’t teach her right from wrong. Really is a pity.

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Louveteau July 10, 2014 at 5:21 pm

Another company that will get tax incentives at the expense of others, and the higher paying jobs will go to those from out of state, whom will move here, increase the traffic and complain.

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Ralph Hightower July 13, 2014 at 5:49 pm

Governot Haley who was photographed that gift of an assault weapon like it was a dildo, should report the gift with the SC Ethics Commission, like Mayor Steve should have reported his trip to Florida that involved hiring strippers.

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