Curtis Loftis Rallies Gas Tax Opponents

STATE TREASURER: “THE TAX IS REAL – THE REST IS A PROMISE”

|| By FITSNEWS || South Carolina Treasurer Curtis Loftis is rallying opposition to a proposed increase in South Carolina’s gas tax – arguing the state’s politicians can’t be trusted to follow through on the offsetting tax relief they claim to be providing.

“The tax is real – the rest is a promise,” Loftis said.

Both state lawmakers and governor Nikki Haley have unveiled plans (HERE and HERE) which would force cash-strapped South Carolinians to pay more at the pump – even though Palmetto State residents already pay more of their budgets on fuel than residents of any other state save Mississippi.

The legislative proposal has drawn sixty-five sponsors in the 124-member S.C. House of Representatives, while Haley’s plan has thirty-seven sponsors.

Loftis isn’t on board with either proposal … nor should he be.

“Folks, let me be as plain as I can be: It is a $48 billion dollar boondoggle,” he said of the so-called transportation funding “shortfall” in South Carolina.  “It is a pig in a poke.  It is a dog that won’t hunt, and no matter how much lipstick you put on that pig, it’s still gonna be a pig!”

Loftis added that any revenue discussion was premature – noting that lawmakers must first pass a comprehensive reform bill addressing a host of issues at the S.C. Department of Transportation (SCDOT).

“Some say we should reform the DOT and the Infrastructure bank and raise taxes,” Loftis said.  “I say no, let’s reform the DOT and the infrastructure bank and then debate the issue only after the reform … after we know that real change has taken place.”

Indeed …

Since taking office in 2011, Loftis has been one of the only elected officials in South Carolina willing to stand up for taxpayers.  We appreciate his efforts – and are glad to see him weighing in on the right side of this issue.

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