SC

Curtis Loftis: “Say No To New Gas Taxes”

A MESSAGE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA’S STATE TREASURER … Hello, The special interests are at it again. They’ve designed a $42 billion wish list to “fix” South Carolina’s roads, but it is riddled with potholes and dead ends. Bureaucrats and politicans always want our money, but the desired results rarely follow….

A MESSAGE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA’S STATE TREASURER …

Hello,

The special interests are at it again. They’ve designed a $42 billion wish list to “fix” South Carolina’s roads, but it is riddled with potholes and dead ends.

Bureaucrats and politicans always want our money, but the desired results rarely follow. In this plan, the tax is real – the rest is only a promise.

South Carolinians deserve a safe and reliable infrastructure because it is essential to our State’s economic growth and prosperity. But a gas tax increase will only fuel special interests, damage job creation, and cost South Carolinians more at the pump.

Let’s not build a $42 billion road to nowhere. Join me in urging your representatives and senators to say no new gas taxes.

Be well,

loftis sig

Curtis Loftis
South Carolina Treasurer

SIC SEZ

will folks david asiamah

Treasurer Loftis: Thank you! This website has opined against governor Nikki Haley’s proposed tax swap as well as the S.C. General Assembly’s proposed gas tax trickeration – both of which include massive gas tax increases.  Glad to see you taking a principled stand.

Wanna sound off? Send your letter to the editor HERE …

***

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152 comments

sparklecity February 9, 2015 at 4:57 pm

I don’t want additional taxes either but pray tell Mr. Loftis your solution is?????

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The Colonel February 9, 2015 at 4:58 pm

Well – he got one right but Sparkle has a point – what do we do now? The 555 bridge over I-77 is going to fail if they don’t square the deck away.

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idcydm February 9, 2015 at 6:01 pm

The Leapheart bridge over I-20 is closed to semi traffic.

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You Know My Name February 10, 2015 at 9:27 am

My butt has contractions every time I have to drive over that bridge and am forced to stop on top of it in traffic.

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Smirks February 10, 2015 at 1:42 pm

Really? Tell me more about your butt contractions.

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This is what you do February 9, 2015 at 9:17 pm

You do the same thing Shealy suggested for the DSS, you wipe out the whole agency and start over.

Any gov’t agency that can’t give you a full and accurate accounting of its money is a complete failure from the start.

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Sconset987 February 9, 2015 at 5:06 pm

Curtis – The roads in the state are a big problem. It will cost a lot of money to fix them. Instead of a lightweight press release like this, you need to say more than you are against the proposed gas tax. What exactly do you propose instead? How about tolls on I-95? That way all the Canadians driving back and forth to Florida will be the ones paying for our fix up.

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Hal February 9, 2015 at 7:01 pm

It is an short e-blast form Loftis, not a infrastructure plan. It seems he is just letting his supporters know where he is on the issue. I am glad he did because for all I knew he had joined the rest of the big spenders in Columbia.
I am glad he is standing up for fiscal responsibility.

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Indian Land Jack February 9, 2015 at 7:57 pm

I am with him too!

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It's a Great Day in SC February 9, 2015 at 5:09 pm

People like Loftis have no solutions to anything.

They just holler that everybody is corrupt(except for them of course) and ,whatever it is,they are Agin It.

Most people here think simpletons lije him a are saints.

Me?

All I know is

It’s a Great Day in SC!

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southmauldin February 9, 2015 at 5:47 pm

No kidding. I’m no “special interest” that wants $42 billion in new spending. I’m just an ordinary guy who pays road maintenance fees on 3 vehicles in addition to the regular taxes. And I pay gas taxes, which haven’t increased since I had hair. But I’m tired of replacing tires, bushings, struts, windshields and the like because assholes like Haley and Loftis keep kicking the can down the road so they won’t be seen as raising taxes when they inevitably run for higher office. I’m so sick of these politicians but even more sick of the idiot voters who say they won’t pay a penny more in gas taxes yet don’t want tolls placed at the many interstates that cross SC. As they say, the cost of education pales in comparison to the price of ignorance.

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Can I sponsor you? February 9, 2015 at 7:56 pm

Iiott assholes are a special interest and you might be their chairman.

I suspect all the maintenance to your car is because you are a lousy driver, and probably a drunk. No body has all those problems unless you are hitting the sauce.

Try AA. It might help.

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TontoBubbaGoldstein February 9, 2015 at 9:17 pm

gas taxes, which haven’t increased since I had hair.

You say it like it’s a bad thing.

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:) February 9, 2015 at 9:20 pm

Not having hair or not raising taxes?

:)

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nitrat February 10, 2015 at 10:39 am

It used to be that ‘leaders’ led by educating and persuading, not pandering to the absolutely worst instincts of the voters.

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nitrat February 10, 2015 at 10:37 am

That’s how the Republicans on the national level, too.
Bitch and moan, bitch and moan and never, ever come up with a solution.
But, their voters have been falling for forever.
That’s the benefit of keeping people furious all the time.
It’s how propaganda works.

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Curt blows smoke February 10, 2015 at 7:59 pm

It’s a smokescreen to cover up their own corruption. Loftis thinks as long as he can keep the focus on someone else (I.e. another agency), he will get by with all of his deceitfulness. Keep making those illegal transfers of money, curt, you’re a train wreck in the making. We are all sitting back waiting for it all go down. Now that’s when it will truly be a great day in SC!

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Guest February 9, 2015 at 5:49 pm

LOFTIS doesn’t have solutions, just a bag of sound bites given to him by his political consultants. Hell, then can barely write a sentence.

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Guest February 9, 2015 at 6:27 pm

The last sentence above should have read, “Hell, he can barely write a sentence. ” BTW, who are his political consultants?

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Backlash If Raised February 9, 2015 at 6:29 pm

If the goons (crooks) in the legislature raise the gas tax, they will have thousands of angry citizens showing up at their offices and homes. Everybody I have spoken with (hundreds of people) say “NO NEW TAXES.”

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Raakkasan February 10, 2015 at 5:50 am

So the money will come from where again? The fairy dust surplus?

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You Know My Name February 10, 2015 at 9:20 am

But of course, we must give the politicians our very last dime to squander if they ask for it, right? Never mind that they cannot account for proper use of what they already extort from us.

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okay February 10, 2015 at 9:43 am

“Backlash if Raised” — speak for yourself… People in this state are receptive to reasonable tax hikes in order to pay for roads and bridges. You probably haven’t seen any polling data to support your claim.

What people will really bitch about is if companies like Michelin decide to skip across the border to do biz in another state with a better port and a better road system. That’s what people will actually go nuts over.

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Robert Evans February 10, 2015 at 2:31 pm

Haley’s proposed 2% income tax cut vastly outweighs the proposed gas tax increase. Anyone with an income in South Carolina would end up with a far smaller tax burden.

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Guest February 9, 2015 at 6:33 pm

News Flash. Just got an email from the LOFTIS campaign site saying the same thing as reported on this blog and guess what, he wants us to contribute to his campaign. Guess he wants us to get riled up and help payoff his campaign debt, from the last time he ran. Doufass!!!

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Daniel February 9, 2015 at 6:35 pm

Get a life Loftis.

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Guest February 9, 2015 at 7:51 pm

As Loftis is the only statewide Republican to say no to this outrageous tax plan I intend to send him a check!

I want to help fight high taxes and wasteful spending. I hope others do too!

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Dumbasses donate to curt February 10, 2015 at 8:04 pm

Send it on, brother. Just shows you don’t know how to handle money. Heck send him enough and he will put you on his staff, if you know what I mean.

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HD February 9, 2015 at 6:56 pm

Seriously, who would possibly care what this idiot says about anything?

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Boat2 February 9, 2015 at 7:05 pm

The people that work hard every day for their money yet get very little in return. The sort of people that are not insiders sitting around posting on blogs all day

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James February 9, 2015 at 7:49 pm

I care. And I am going t vote against anyone that votes yes to this bloated plan.

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HD February 9, 2015 at 10:24 pm

The point is not whether he’s right or wrong. The point is that he’s an idiot and his being right or wrong on any issue is simply an accident.

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Mark February 9, 2015 at 6:56 pm

It is amazing at how many people simply fork over their wallets at the first request. A little spin by the elected powerbrokers and $42 billion is spent on a plan that 99% of the people have never seen or read.
Billions for light rail and bike paths. Gezz. .
Don’t be a sheep, read the plan.

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Daniel February 9, 2015 at 8:31 pm

Curtis, quit making stuff up. Please cite one single document supporting raising the gas tax in SC that says billions will be spent on light rail and bike paths. Come to think of it though, maybe a little bike riding would do you some good. I’ve noticed lately that you’re having trouble buttoning your shirt.

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Ben February 9, 2015 at 9:29 pm

I am reading the plan right now and I am shocked at how much FLUFF there is in the plan. Read it for yourself.

http://www.dot.state.sc.us/Multimodal/pdf/SC_MTP_Executive_Summary_FINAL.pdf

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Daniel February 9, 2015 at 11:10 pm

Thank you for the link. I have skimmed it and do not see that this is a plan that has been adopted by DOT. It is however an assessment of what our long term needs may be and the cost of implementing them. You will notice that current revenue is $29 billion and that we need $43 billion just to repair and maintain what we already have. The final plan will be based on funds available and we do not have the funds to repair and maintain our highways. Something must be done.

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Ben February 10, 2015 at 1:16 am

You better stop skimming and read the document. Your assessment in incorrect. In fact, the more I read of it the more I believe Loftis is dead on in his assessment. This is a boondoggle of epic proportions.

FloBo February 9, 2015 at 6:58 pm

Treasurer Loftis is the only one that speaks up for the taxpayer. The rest of that gang will spend every tax dollar possible to make the road builders and engineers happy.

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Dactylitis February 9, 2015 at 9:24 pm

Loftis = squanderer of taxpayer money. Paying his SAP consultant Diare over $300,000/year… Paid his frat buddy Montgomery over $1,000,000 just by adding Montgomery to the Bank of New York lawsuit. Loftis just spoke… did you hear him taxpayer.

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Ad Hominem doesn't win February 9, 2015 at 10:54 pm

…and yet even if all those things you say are true, none of them matter when it comes to handing taxpayer money to the SCDOT, which can’t even give a proper accounting of the money they get.

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Hal February 10, 2015 at 8:52 pm

How easy it is to lie to a computer screen. May God have mercy on your soul.

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What? February 10, 2015 at 10:19 pm

Huh?

been there, done that February 10, 2015 at 10:43 pm

Hal – Amen. Any time a post from Fits, The State, or other media outlets come on.. he leaves the office and heads home to comment. He emails former staffers (who have ZERO allegiance to him) and pleads that they comment. It’s VERY VERY VERY sad, but VERY true.

LSusan February 10, 2015 at 5:21 pm

Loftis = squanderer of the retirees trust fund as well. $2 million for his intimate friend Montgomery in the Bank of NY lawsuit. Over 200 million lost from the retirees trust fund and more lost to come. A sorry treasurer and a sorry trustee for the retirees of this State. Who would listen to this hypocrite and vile man. How many workers have left his office ? Too many. … a sinking ship. Loftis has no credibility… just a windy mouth.

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Mitch February 10, 2015 at 5:28 pm

Oh Sam, lets talk about the negative 1% in earnings that the SC Investment commission has earned this fiscal year. That is right, minus one percent! You and your friends have cost the retires over a billion dollars in the last 5 years though high fees and low returns. In fact, the retires have lost 1 billion dollars in the last 6 months!

Also, the investment management of the $200 million was legally entrusted to the Commission, not the Treasurer. No doubt you will take that up with the Commission. Your buddies at the Commission lost 200 million in 2008 and 9, a full 3 years before Curtis was Treasurer!

Sam, you must deal with this hate/envy issue you have. Truly, it is not good for you.

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M326 February 10, 2015 at 6:03 pm

Oh, Curtis, you are so silly. Let’s talk about the 15% return for last fiscal year. Allegations that “You and your friends have cost retirees over a billion dollars…” seem odd. I don’t sit on the Investment Commission–you do, unfortunately. I would ask for a little more documentation on that one–I have made no investments nor even advised on any. You did not lose the $200 million, the Bank of New York did because they violated our contract with them. Your job was to sue them and recover as much as you could. You settled for 10 cents on the dollar. Can’t one raise questions about that?

Once again, I post as M326 and, unlike you, make little effort to disguise who I am. I am not ashamed of my opinions nor afraid to be identified. I did not post the above remark from LSusan although I tend to agree with it. I think your habit of posting as one person and then responding to your own post posing as another person is quite bizarre. Why do you do that? Maybe I can make a few guesses all of which revolve around ego.

I may have a few hate issues to deal with. But, believe me, no envy.

Mitch February 10, 2015 at 6:05 pm

Sam, ole boy, can you really not figure out who this is?

Sam, or is it Curt, or who? February 10, 2015 at 6:32 pm

Is Sam Griswold really Curt?

Lsusan February 10, 2015 at 6:38 pm

Who would envy Loftis? Walking out of meetings ,questionable life style and arrogance , lies and false accusations…well documented. A windy mouth with no solutions ever not even in a dream.

Craig February 10, 2015 at 8:49 pm

Last year SC was in the bottom 15% of pension plans, as always. Plans run by chimps made more money than SC.
You can lie about Loftis all you want, but the poor performance of the SC pension plan has cost the retires over a billion dollars!

Loftis February 10, 2015 at 10:54 pm

What plans are run by chimps Curtis? If RSIC portfolio looked like STO then that would be a scandal… Is that what EVERYONE in your investment division quit? DEAR LEATHERMAN — there is no one left in investments or debt… MOVE THEM!

WTF February 11, 2015 at 10:59 pm

everyone in the investment division quit?

Time is NOW February 12, 2015 at 1:47 pm

Yep, pretty much. Time to sit back and watch the show. About time for debt and investments divisions to be yanked from the Office of State Treasurer. Going to be fun to watch that temper when he loses control of those two divisions!

HELL FIRE!!!!! February 10, 2015 at 10:52 pm

No one feels envy towards curtis. His hands look like surgical gloves filled with mayonnaise. Hell Fire!

FRAUD February 10, 2015 at 10:50 pm

Okay let’s talk about bad earnings… Let’s talk about OPEB… Let’s talk about the horrible job you Mr. Treasurer have done with OPEB. What were OPEB returns?! Please reply anonymously pretending you’re an average citizen who looked it up on their own. Thats your speciality.

Facts suck February 10, 2015 at 10:47 pm

23 employees since February 2013. Curtis …. if you don’t believe me, print out an employee list from 2013 and cross out every name that doesn’t work there. Then add the ppl that worked in-between and no longer work there. It equals 23 out of 63 employees. Ronald Reagan once said, “Facts are a stubborn thing”.

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raging lunatic February 11, 2015 at 10:56 pm

more than you think…

since he has taken office, the number is now over 50 employees that have left…and growing. how much turnover was there in that office before he took over?

Curt is a scammer February 10, 2015 at 8:31 pm

Just imagine how many roads could’ve been fixed or maintained with the $9mil he got for his personally attorney off of the BONY lawsuit that he settled illegally.

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Curt = Fraud February 10, 2015 at 10:45 pm

The BNYM lawsuit is just the beginning. Research what he has spent on furniture, paint, artwork, and under qualified staff. Thats the real scandal. “Fiscal conservative” my butt!

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Manray9 February 10, 2015 at 12:15 am

Notice how Curtis mentioned nary a word about how he would pay for the “safe and reliable infrastructure…essential to our State’s economic growth and prosperity.” What’s your plan Curtis? I noticed you hit the cliches “special interests” and “job creation.” Put up or shut up.

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Curt is trash February 10, 2015 at 7:51 pm

That’s cause all he does is spew diarrhea form the mouth constantly. He is a slug, piece of crap and he will be outed soon.

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Hal February 10, 2015 at 8:50 pm

How easy it is to lie from your mothers basement.

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Curt is a baby February 10, 2015 at 10:04 pm

Hal, I mean Curt, thinks everyone lives as he does … In their mothers’ basements. See, Curt, most NORMAL adults live in the real world, not the imaginary world of curtland.

U Betcha!!! February 10, 2015 at 10:57 pm

Curty has no plan. He just wants attention. He is crazy jealous of Alan and Nikki. This is his only way to get his name in the news. No news outlet takes him seriously anymore. If he was a serious person, he would have had, at a minimum, an idea to put forth. His eblast is nothing more than a Sarah Palin excuse for attention.

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Ned February 12, 2015 at 11:01 pm

Loftis does a great job!

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Shallow idiot he is February 15, 2015 at 12:51 pm

Every time you read statements that us words like “that gang, boondoggle, special interests, elites, plans run by chimps, paid consultants, I’m thank for for treasurer loftis, mr. Loftis, pig in a poke, dog that won’t hunt, they’re after me, out to get me, anti-loftis haters (of which I know none – most are ANTI-loftis lovers),” you can place your bets that its Curtis himself making the post. Dead giveaway every time.

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Cash February 9, 2015 at 7:04 pm

The GOP in SC is the party of crony capitalism and big spending. The Democrats could not do worse. The GOP seems to beg for the opportunity to spend money, mainly with big out of state business. I wish Loftis success in his effort to stop this madness.

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Matt February 10, 2015 at 8:45 pm

Loftis is a tea party dope, who like the rest of them has zero real solutions just uses generic catch phrases like “cut taxes” that plays to the uneducated tea party voters.

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Pat February 9, 2015 at 7:15 pm

What are you people talking about? The big spending bastards say they need 40 billion for a road plan that nobody has read and you say sure, no problem. WTF! We are supposed to be Americans and WE DECIDE our level of taxation, not a handful of GOP powerbrokers.
The same idiots that want to spend 40 billion on roads will be whining when there is no money for education, law enforcement, health care or other stuff. It is my money and I am going to make them earn it, not just blow it like some baller on a crack spree.

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Tiger1 February 9, 2015 at 7:46 pm

Finally, a SC Repub that has not sold out. The transportation plan is an embarrassment-it over spends by 2 or 3 times. My brother is a road builder and even HE is embarrassed. Any state can tax itself, only a smart state can send wisely.

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Calvin February 9, 2015 at 8:04 pm

Curtis, we sent you there to do a job. So do it. Hold their feet to the fire. Don’t let them tax us like they do in some northern state. They will take every penny if you let them!

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okay February 9, 2015 at 8:11 pm

Great plan. No tax hike, but magically pay for the roads and bridges that need billions. I like how he thinks….

This was the dumbest couple of paragraphs I’ve read in a long time.

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Bill February 9, 2015 at 8:33 pm

Try reading the DOT plan that cost almost a million dollars and wants to raise taxes over 40 billion. Yea, that is with a B!

I think it was written when the last DOT director was drinking heavily.

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okay February 10, 2015 at 9:40 am

Not saying that’s a great plan or a bad plan. I’m saying Loftis added nothing constructive to this dialogue whatsoever. Which isn’t a surprise to anyone here.

Nonetheless, people in this state will get sticker shock at what it’ll cost to fix our roads and bridges. We’re way behind. It’s going to be expensive, but this is what I believe gov’t is for. Build our infrastructure. We can always cut costs and look for better ways to do something, but our roads and bridges are in need of a lot more money than a lot of people seem to think. And there’s not a road and bridge fairy that’s going to come down and fix everything for free.

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Jason February 9, 2015 at 8:12 pm

This convo started last year with talk about crumbling bridges. but I see that plan has:

Billions for bike and walking paths, local public transit, light rail to Charlotte, repairs to CSX railroad tracks, new roads, enhancements to the Ports Authority (why the hell are we paying for their junk) etc. etc. etc. I think they might repair some bridges in a decade or two. Who knows?

it is a road builder get rich bill with plenty of money for kickbacks and special favors. It is government “unchained.” It sucks.

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FastEddy23 February 11, 2015 at 12:38 pm

That is the latest wrinkle/scam of many state “road” building bureaucracies = To add unnecessary and wasteful projects to the main proposals.

IMOP: All State Transportation Departments should get completely out of the railroading business. Out here in Taxifornia the real costs of new rail track plus the maintenance is around $100K per mile per year (Union Pacific private sector costs). CalTrans and various Taxifornia county agencies are spending more than $1 Million per mile per year for the very same results, except for the non-productive overhead. (Note: Grade Five Rails are the same for both passenger and freight services whether Taxifornia or Tennessee.)

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Mic February 9, 2015 at 8:19 pm

This plan reads like it was written by Boeing, BMW and Michelin for their benefit, but will be paid for by the small business and soccer moms of SC. Once again, our tax dollars are used to help the absentee owners of billion dollar business and Joe Sixpack from Pelion has to pay the bill. I say we take care of ourselves first, the one percent later.

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BeachGuy February 9, 2015 at 8:30 pm

“In this plan, the tax is real – the rest is only a promise.”

Now that is a great line, and it says it all! Especially when the tax is $42 billion!

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BL February 9, 2015 at 9:07 pm

I am reading the plan now, on line , and I do not see any footnotes concerning the financial assumptions. The report is from an engineering firm and I wonder if they are qualified to make such assumptions. How can a report dealing with financial assumption dealing with over $70 billion be so careless? Normally, a financial firm or actuary would do this financial work.

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Greg February 9, 2015 at 9:29 pm

Curtis Loftis is a self absorbed, self important POS.

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FastEddy23 February 9, 2015 at 9:31 pm

Imagine that! Sensibility from a government official!

I’m shocked!

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William February 9, 2015 at 9:33 pm

I agree, Mr. Eddy.
Give them hell Mr. Loftis. I can’t afford anymore taxes, I am working two jobs as it is.

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Cynthia February 10, 2015 at 8:02 pm

Stupidity is more like it. He is a fake, lie spewing idiot.

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Oui February 10, 2015 at 11:21 pm

No one and I mean no one calls him “Mr. Loftis” except for Curtis himself. He must be home at “CurtLand” posting himself. I read coming in tomorrow because he’ll be in one of those “Everyone is out to get me” moods, like he is anytime there is an “article” about him. At least it’ll be humpday.

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Ben February 9, 2015 at 9:31 pm

This report is full of FLUFF. Read it at the link below. This is a blatant attempt to robb the taxpayer!

http://www.dot.state.sc.us/Multimodal/pdf/SC_MTP_Executive_Summary_FINAL.pdf

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Concerned February 9, 2015 at 9:51 pm

Since when did a consulting engineer’s report become a controlling document of the State of SC? I have been in state government for 25 years and this type of work has always been seen as simply a guide. I am troubled that the General Assembly and others are using these numbers as their actual working dollar amounts. This treatment shows the report has been given a preference it is not due.

I am very concerned by the total acceptance of this plan and the large financial commitment it entails. It speaks to the lack of due diligence by the leadership.

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nitrat February 10, 2015 at 10:02 am

That is the great fail with the idea of the Cabinet system and department of Administration in this state. The legislature will never do the routine oversight that that is required.
Nothing prevented them doing their ‘due diligence’ before they confirmed Lillian Koller at DSS. They just didn’t bother to read the Hawaiian newspapers on line. They don’t know how to act unless it is to react.

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Kenny February 10, 2015 at 1:26 pm

I agree! And that is why the DOT cannot be given 48 billion dollars! Loftis is correct, reform first, pay later!

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Matt February 9, 2015 at 10:15 pm

You know its a slow day on Fits when he fills up his site with this “story”.

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Sam February 9, 2015 at 10:33 pm

Don’t you know it. Fits prints a fluff piece for Prince Curt and Curt spends the rest of the night congratulating himself and having conversations with himself. Wierd. Glad this guy doesn’t have any real responsibility

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Curt is a sick boy February 10, 2015 at 8:25 pm

His multiple personalities and still discussing this article and the comments. He will not sleep for days.

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Cash2 February 9, 2015 at 10:41 pm

Billions for crap. I want roads fixed and they are promising Utopia, complete with light rail and mass transit and walking trails covered in gold. What happened to my republican party? They sold out for a bike path they will never use (at a cost of a zillion dollars a mile!),

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Giles February 10, 2015 at 1:18 am

State government will spend every dime we have if we let them.

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Eric February 10, 2015 at 5:40 am

We need to fix our existing roads and bridges first then worry about the rest of these “wants.” Placing walking trails on the same par with bridge repair is foolish. If we give in the the establishment they will spend the the $42 billion and then come back for more.

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From the lobby February 10, 2015 at 7:45 am

This plan is dead. It is being pushed by a handful of political consultants that are bleeding their patrons dry. There will be posturing, fury, and dealmaking, but it won’t pass. Next year, during an election year, they will bring forth a common sense proposal to bring the infrastructure up to date. It will be affordable and will pass, and the voters will be happy.

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Alphonse February 10, 2015 at 8:05 am

This is pure pandering at its worst. There is not even a hat tip to what Loftis poses as an alternative even though he notes there are serious infrastructure problems. We know that by merely driving around. Where are the solutions. If we do not tax, then what? Get rid of waste and corruption? We’ve been electing politicians on that promise for a long time, including Loftis. Surely the waste and corruption has been weeded out by now. Mr. Loftis, just what is your solution?

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You Know My Name February 10, 2015 at 9:14 am

God forbid that Haley and SCDOT use the money they already take from us under threat of force in a wise manner. So much better to just give these crooks moar, moar, and moar of our money and “hope” some of it gets spent wisely for road and bridge repair. Yeah, makes perfect sense to me, …………………………….. NOT!

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nitrat February 10, 2015 at 9:50 am

Let’s audit the SCDOT and see what they do with the money they get.
But, common sense says that if you have not raised the gas tax since 1987 and the costs of materials and labor and contractors have increased that you really do need to raise the gas tax.
And, you need to make some kind of tie-in to inflation to automatically increase it going forward so that our roads and bridges never deteriorate to the extent they have after nearly 30 years of Grover Norquist and SC Republican legislators signing his pledge.
There are serious issues about how we decide priorities for our road work. But, that’s a separate issue from the fact we need more money to do it basic maintenance.
What Grover and Trikki want with revenue neutrality is robbing Peter to pay Paul. That will only get us to the economic debacles that now exist in Kansas and Louisiana and New Jersey. And, I imagine we will read more and more about the failure of severe trickle down in Red states.

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Pat February 10, 2015 at 1:25 pm

Other fees and revenue sources have been added and the interest rate for debt has plummeted meaning more money is available. The gas tax is but one source.

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Robert Evans February 10, 2015 at 11:43 am

Anyone suggesting that there’s enough waste to cut to pay for our road fixes needs to point out what, and how much of it, should be cut.

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Jan February 10, 2015 at 2:22 pm

No, you need to point why we should give the fat cat contractors and engineers 40 billion dollars. If you have not read the reports, plans and back up documents, then shut the crap up. If you have , demonstrate what you have learned and why you should be able to take our money for this worthless list of “wants.”

We don’t owe people money. They owe us a compelling reason to believe them.

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Elliot February 10, 2015 at 1:37 pm

Alphonse, if you want these road builders to have free reign in your wallet, then go ahead. I make it a habit to control my money, not freely giving it to some salesman with a great sounding plan.

So if your plan is to be a sucker for every fine sounding plan, then fine, you support it. But I will be damned if I will send my money to the 1% crowd just so I can feel good about myself. I want value for my money!

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nitrat February 10, 2015 at 9:24 am

Does Curtis still own that exterminating business and does it have trucks traveling the highways?

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Dave February 10, 2015 at 8:22 pm

Nah – he never owned that business. It’s his father’s. he tried to work there but they kicked him out. How the hell he got elected treasurer when he couldn’t even make it as the bugman of Cayce it beyond my wildest imagination.

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Hayden February 10, 2015 at 11:19 pm

He bought the position. That’s how he won.

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You Know My Name February 10, 2015 at 9:31 am

Looks like lots of highway contractor who stand to be awarded very lucrative contracts by their cronies in state government and maybe some of their employees are out taking potshots at Mr Loftis on here, today.

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Alpha February 10, 2015 at 1:23 pm

Yea. People with a vested interest have hired political consultants to harass Loftis and anyone else that object to a big tax hike. Nothing new about that, reform in SC is illusive for a reason.

Loftis stands up for the taxpayer and anonymous special interest slams Loftis. Business as usual.

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Cobb February 10, 2015 at 11:17 pm

Curty is chased by perceived and invented enemies. It’s part of his self-important fixation on himself. No one envies Curtis. No one. He envies others. Such as Alan, Nikki, Lindsey, (he hates) Tim Scott (undeserving), Mulvaney, Duncan, even MERRILL. He’s crazy!

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Go away curt February 10, 2015 at 8:05 pm

Yep, we know your name is Curtis loftis. Paranoid freak.

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Pete February 10, 2015 at 1:33 pm

It is a false argument that Loftis needs to present a plan. Special interest have approached us, demanding we open our wallet to the tune of 48 billion tax dollars. DOT spent a million dollars on the plan and it sums. Loftis does not need to fix their plan. He does not need to spend a million dollars of taxpayers money to compete with it.

Special interests wants in our wallet and he has every right to not only say no…but hell no!

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I'm important February 10, 2015 at 11:15 pm

It’s not a false argument. It’s very easy to say HELL NO and it’s a true statesman that has a plan. Curtis has no plan, he just wants headlines.

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HorryCounty February 10, 2015 at 1:50 pm

I enjoyed the rally this morning. Mr. Loftis was very helpful in explaining how certain parts of government works and was clear that we should be “of good cheer and wearing a smile” when we talked to our representatives. I was able to talk to three members of the House and they were very responsive. I hope they kill the gas tax hike.

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Jon February 10, 2015 at 2:32 pm

It ain’t going to pass. All a game to rile up the base. if they did mess up and pass it, half of them would lose their seats, so it ain’t never going to happen.

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M326 February 10, 2015 at 4:34 pm

Speaking of transparency and openness, why has the State Treasurer not released the audit of his office? He promised to do the first “audit” in years when first elected, engaged a firm to do it, a draft was received and then….nothing. Where is that audit? A few years overdue, is it not? I want to read it. I want to know if any corrective action has been taken. Don’t we, the public, have the right to know?

And what is with the big exodus of key staff who helped run the office for years. Sometimes a capable bureaucrat is far superior to a political hack. What happens when we lose these valuable people? Who replaces them? You don’t even have to guess…hacks. Loftis apparently likes the deference he receives from hacks as opposed to those who talk truth to power.

And there are rumors that the office has not converted or was very tardy in converting to the new state accounting system that other agencies were required to do years ago.

And how much time does Loftis spend on social media using various “guest” names to hold conversations with himself which always are complimentary. I hope he is not using state computers and our tax dollars to do this. Get off FITS and do your job. No way to be a good Treasurer.

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Mitch@aol.com February 10, 2015 at 5:22 pm

Oh Sam, how silly of you. The audits are posted on line, the turnover is natural given the age and tenure of the staff, and the normal comings and goings of people. And of course, the system conversations were 4 years late when Curtis came into office, and are now well under way to be finished by the end of the year.

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Jake February 10, 2015 at 5:33 pm

Don’t feed the trolls. They are angry little men.

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Mitch February 10, 2015 at 6:04 pm

I love feeding the old trolls. Their blood pressure goes up, their little willies get just a tiny bit excited. Troll feeding is what I love because it is so easy. Hate and envy are powerful motivators of trolls, and once that is learned, the rest is pure enjoyment! They are like ugly little puppets on a string.

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M326 February 10, 2015 at 6:09 pm

You seem to have some odd fixations.

These &(^(*^ hands February 10, 2015 at 11:14 pm

No one, and I mean no one, envies those disgusting, filthy, morbidly obese hands of yours curtis! hellfire!

M326 February 10, 2015 at 5:43 pm

Curtis, just answer one question: Why do you post under so many different names? I use M326 and make little secret of who I really am. It is bizarre that you spend so much time responding to your own comments. The only audits I can find on the Treasurer’s web site are from the State Auditor, not the one you announced and had a separate firm do. That has not been released. How much did that audit cost? If you say it has, please give a specific address for it. I say it has not been released because I know it has not been released. I know the staff and I know why they are leaving or retiring. It has nothing to do with tenure or age. And I am so pleased to know that four years after your election you finally got the office ready to go onto the regular state accounting system. What a marvelous achievement. Perhaps I am not the only one who is silly.

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Mitch February 10, 2015 at 5:59 pm

Oh Sam o Sam. You think anyone supportive of Curtis is Curtis. Just think how Curtis must have got himself elected, voting for himself hundreds of thousands of times, and all those cars riding around with his bumperstickers-that Curtis must be so smart to drive so many cars at once. And all those signs that he put up all by himself. You must be correct, no one has ever helped him and he does everything by himself. In fact the more I think about it, the smarter he gets! He can be giving a speech or be chairing a meeting and he is blogging. He can be asleep and he is blogging. Wow, he can probably be in the shower and be blogging. Yep, that guy Curtis is everywhere, doing everything by himself.

Sam, are you on your meds? I know a fine doctor that can help you. Oh wait, I bet Curtis is a doctor too! Yea, that Curt is everywhere and everywhere he is smart!

Sam, do you see Curtis in your dreams? I bet so and I bet he is busy and smart in your dreams too. That Curtis, he is everywhere in your dreams and so smart too- he does it all by himself.

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M326 February 10, 2015 at 6:07 pm

All I want is the web reference to the audit he has never posted.

Patiently waiting February 10, 2015 at 8:19 pm

Curt, oh curt- you didn’t win by much. A no name from spartanburg almost wiped your butt. Just imagine if he only had a little more financial support. You would still be sitting in the corner of your imaginary curtland, sucking your thumb and crying like the little baby brat that you are. Get over yourself. Don’t worry, the people who know you aren’t even close to being finished with you yet. Not til you are sitting in a jail cell. I hear jimmy is going to be looking for a cell mate soon..,

Republic of CurtLand! February 10, 2015 at 11:13 pm

CURTLAND IS REAL. SEE FACEBOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Paul on Main February 10, 2015 at 11:12 pm

Curtis bought the office. Look at the ethics reports he posts on http://www.ethics.sc.gov 90% of his money is his own. Aint nobody have Curtis bumper stickers. Sorry Curt, you’re not as big a deal as you think you are. No one, from ROTC to Paul to today think you’re a big deal.

I'm in February 10, 2015 at 8:12 pm

Most of the staff Curtis hired after being elected have jumped off the bus. It’s not “old” staff that’s bailing. Ha running them off by the bus load. And more to follow. Another is going Friday. And for goodness sake, somebody PLEASE check the salaries of his hired cronies. Last one hired came in without a job ever being posted to the public. Lets get transparent, Curt. What a hypocritical jackass.

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C. Adams February 10, 2015 at 11:10 pm

Correction: the last 5 came in as cronies with ZERO experience. It was a pleasure hiring them.

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Mack February 10, 2015 at 5:30 pm

I heard the Republican Caucus meeting did not go well with the Governor. I heard she caught an earful with about the taxes. Anyone know?

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Kyle February 10, 2015 at 5:32 pm

Anytime someone want to raise taxes, I am suspicious. Anytime they tell me they can predict what our needs will be in 30 years, it makes me even more suspicious. I vote no on tax increases!

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Cash February 10, 2015 at 5:34 pm

If Haley’s bill dies, and the House bill is rejected by the Senate, what will happen?

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William the Great February 10, 2015 at 5:37 pm

Hey, where is Grand Tango and Boz?

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GT February 10, 2015 at 10:35 pm

GrandTango is Curtis

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Don February 10, 2015 at 5:41 pm

I hear the Federal Gas Tax is going to be raised. Is that true?

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HAS February 10, 2015 at 6:12 pm

i keep hearing from my politico friends that this is the issue that many conservatives feel with “turn” the Senate. They say their polling shows a yes vote on gas taxe will render many Senators vulnerable to an election defeat.. Any thoughts on that?

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M326 February 10, 2015 at 6:14 pm

I think the roads are so bad the general population will breathe a sigh of relief when they start being fixed. Gas prices are the lowest in years. I actually see no political fall-out two years hence.

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Why is curt involved? February 10, 2015 at 10:25 pm

And this is something the Office of State Treasurer should be involved in, WHY? Mind your own office first, Curtis. You are losing key staffers by the day. Make sure the functions of your office are taken care of before you stick your nose where it doesn’t belong. There’s enough corruption and mishandling of money in your office that you shouldn’t have time to tend to DOT’s issues. Settling a $200+mil lawsuit for $20mil is a perfect example of your ineptness and bad judgement. Diversions from the truth are very short-lived.

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sorry i'm not sorry February 10, 2015 at 11:08 pm

He has lost 1/3 of his staff to resignation, retirements and one suicide in less than two years.

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Insider February 10, 2015 at 11:01 pm

I have it on very good authority that Curty won’t finish his new term. BNYM is the least go his worries. He is under the impression the General Assembly doesn’t have access to SCEIS and other systems. He is wrong. Curty is a fraud and will be exposed as so. The house of cards has been collapsing for a while and I look forward to the conclusion :)

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STO Insider February 10, 2015 at 11:04 pm

CML has purchased software (on his own dime) to review the IP addresses of people on here and elsewhere. If you work at the STO, I advise you cease posting on here. Friendly advice.

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Who cares? February 11, 2015 at 7:34 am

How will he fit that into his most busy schedule? Perhaps one of his multiple personalities will assume this task. Or maybe he will assign it to one of his employees who sits in a created job slot with no position description. It most likely falls under the “and other tasks as required” job duty. But he certainly doesn’t have time to do it, being as he is so important and involved in so many self-serving activities that have absolutely nothing to do with his role of state treasurer. If you can’t handle the criticism, don’t post these type of articles.

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Facts February 10, 2015 at 11:23 pm

i just saw one of his 529 commercial tv ads. Remember when he SWORE he wouldn’t appear in those ads? It was a campaign promise.

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Wow February 11, 2015 at 6:54 am

Man, these anti-Loftis haters are sick freaks. Twisted minds and lies. This is really sick stuff, even for an anonymous board.

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Bill February 11, 2015 at 7:22 am

That is what happens when paid consultants link up with big government insiders. This blog comment crap is not important, as no one reads this stuff or believes it. But it does show the character of the people writing it, and that is instructive.

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Really? February 11, 2015 at 7:36 am

You read it, bill (curt). Lmfao

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Google search February 11, 2015 at 8:16 am

Seriously Curtis. You’ve been doing this since Princess Linda and the BMW affair.

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Rebel James February 11, 2015 at 6:52 pm

Some twisted minds at work here. I want to send this to Mental Health agency and see what they say. Damn twisted stuff.

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Kevin February 11, 2015 at 8:31 pm

Couldn’t agree more. Loftis is one sick puppy. Hope he gets help.

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Curt is sick February 11, 2015 at 8:49 pm

Yes, we all agree. Loftis posting, then responding to his own post under various aliases definitely indicates a mental issue. So many people have tried to encourage him to get help, but alas, here we are once again, begging that sick bastard to get the seriously needed mental help that he so desperately needs. Poor, sick, demented little man.

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Tim February 12, 2015 at 7:09 am

Treasurer Loftis, you have evidently hit the bad guys right between the eyes. The putrid, filthy comments posted in this thread demonstrate the low quality of our government and political class. That adults would post such slime is amazing.

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You make us laugh hysterically February 12, 2015 at 1:51 pm

Curtis, you are too funny. Responding under all these aliases is hilarious. You seriously need help. SMH LMFAO

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Hal February 12, 2015 at 11:00 pm

I am thankful to Treasurer Loftis for his courageous stands. It is easy to vote yes on tax increases as it makes the lobbyist and special interest happy.

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snickering February 16, 2015 at 4:37 pm

Got your back jack.

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