This is in consideration of the plan put forward by Jim Rex, candidate for South Carolina Governor concerning the use of an increase in the cigarette tax to pay for education first and then health care.
While this is a out of the box idea, you have to watch out on funding education from a sales based activity. This thought process has gotten South Carolina into a lot of trouble by basing service funding off of sales based taxes. What's worse, if you read the article, Governor Sanford will allow an increase in the cigarette tax but offset it with a decrease in income or other taxes. How idiotic of Republicans once again, the State is in dire straits already and this would make it worse.
This entire thought process is unimagineable by the Republican Leadership and the question that has to be asked, are you kidding me? The basics of revenue generation for the government is not rocket science but the Republicans in South Carolina somehow missed those classes when they went to college.
What should be done is the increase in the cigarette tax would fund Human Services, Medicaid, and Tobacco use reduction programs, all of these areas are under stress from the smoking related health issues anyway. This would fund these services from these additional funds and create less stress on general income tax revenues, which could be redirected into education.
Education should be funded fully off of the property tax, without being exempted as currently. But a more targeted approach can provide property tax relief and also improve state funding for public education, according to this new report by Daphne A. Kenyon, a visiting fellow at the Lincoln Institute. State governments who have tried to reduce property taxes and improve school performance at the same time have not met with much success according to the report. Arguing that the use of property tax revenue for schools is fundamentally sound, the report points out that increasing state aid for education does not necessarily result in lower property taxes, and it cautions against switching to greater reliance on a sales tax to fund schools. The report also recommends a targeted approach, distributing state aid for public education to the neediest school districts, schools, and students.
We have to all agree it makes no sense to allow cigarettes in South Carolina to have the lowest tax when smoking related illnesses in the State put a strain on the health services in the State.
South Carolina's Sanford saga appears to be nearing a merciful end. From The State:
The S.C. House has passed a resolution expressing its disapproval of Gov. Mark Sanford's actions surrounding his secret trip to Argentina this past June. In a quick and lopsided vote, the House voted 102-11 to censure the governor. Last month, a House panel weighing impeachment rejected a bid to seek Sanford's removal from office.
Lawmakers deliberated the measure for roughly 20 minutes.
"Ladies and gentleman we have lived this nightmare for over seven months," said Rep. Jim Harrison, R-Richland, who headed the impeachment panel and authored the censure resolution. "It's time to put this issue behind us."
Those opposed to the resolution were mainly Democrats who preferred a bid to remove Sanford...
The impeachment resolution holds no legal weight. Sanford is facing 37 ethics commission charges related to his travel and his use of campaign funds. The governor could be fined up to $74,000 if the S.C. Ethics Commission determines he broke state ethics law.
The censure resolution now heads to the state Senate for consideration. However, whether Senators will have an opportunity to vote on a formal rebuke of Sanford remains unclear. Earlier this week, Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell (R-Charleston) told reporters he believes censuring the Governor would be "a waste of time" and predicted that the resolution would likely die if it gets tied up in debate.
Look, I know as much as any liberal how nice it would feel to liberate this state from Governor Mark Sanford. I just hope people realize that there's another Republican next in line, one who wants to be the next governor, if that happens.
Yesterday's findings of probable cause into the investigation of Gov. Mark Sanford brings to light some interesting parallels between the allegations facing Sanford and the charges that former North Carolina Governor Mike Easley is facing in federal court.
Amidst this circus I think we have a genuine opportunity, and this is the only reason I am still here. Over the last six and one half years, too often opponents in Columbia believed I was running for President and as a consequence didn't want to give "me" a win on restructuring or some other legislative item. They blocked things in many cases not because of the idea, but because of me.
Well, what's different now, Mark? Are your opponents in Columbia suddenly going to want to give "you" a win on restructuring or some other legislative item?
If the ideas are good, then get out of their way. You have the genuine opportunity to resign now before you are impeached. Resigning is the best way to make the next year and one half successful for the ideas.
You've gotten some people elected to the General Assembly, and it's time to let them fight for the ideas. Get out of the way.
Dwight Drake's new media team has come out swinging against our embattled Governor with a clever web video designed to direct viewers to sign the campaign's online petition urging state leaders to remove Sanford from office.
The web ad, "(500) Days of Sanford," (a play on the Indy romantic comedy "(500) Days of Summer") replays the highlights of this summer's entire Sanford saga and warns of continuing drama for South Carolina unless state leaders act soon to remove the Governor.
Last week, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate called on South Carolina's constitutional officers to oust Sanford for the good of the state. Under Article IV, Section 12 of the South Carolina Constitution, the state's four constitutional officers could remove Sanford from power if they find that the Governor is "unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office."
While it's highly unlikely that the state's constitutional officers would be willing to oust the Governor in this fashion -- Attorney General/GOP gubernatorial candidate Henry McMaster indicated on Thursday he won't go there and Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom is a Sanford ally -- Drake's well-produced web ad already has gone viral.
Whether you're a Drake supporter or not, the Democratic candidate's aggressive, party-neutral anti-Sanford messaging and his creative new media strategy are the most sophisticated marketing and list-building approach to emerge so far in the 2010 gubernatorial race.
It's also a sign to his challengers that Drake is willing to pull out all the stops to grab the Democratic nomination next June.
The state Education Department received Kristin Maguire's resignation letter Monday. In her letter to Gov. Mark Sanford, dated Friday, the Clemson mother of four cites increasing family demands as the reason for her departure.
Maguire served on the board since 2000. Sanford reappointed her in 2004 and 2008. Maguire drew criticism because she home schools her four daughters.
The county Republican leader also co-founded a group that pushes for abstinence-only education, private school vouchers and the teaching of intelligent design.
She became chairwoman of the 17-member board in January. Maguire became the nation's only home-schooler to head a state board overseeing public schools.
Nothing unusual there, although some would argue it was her ideology, not her personal preference for her childrens' education, that drew the most criticism.
Enter Will Folks. Since The State newspaper blew the cover off Gov. Mark Sanford's affair, Folks has declared open season on personal scandals and today looks to be his first score with a report that Maguire authored adult sexual stories and the Governor's office helped her clean up a dirty trail to prevent them from ever going public. From FITS:
When Maguire was elected to lead the S.C. Board, her appointment was hailed as a victory for social conservatives and feted on Christian blogs and websites across the Southeast.
Maguire’s alleged alter-ego would obviously be quite a contrast from her carefully-cultivated public persona.
“I fantasize about being the ’second’ F (female) in a MFF (threesome) where the other two are in a committed relationship,” the sultry “Bridget” writes on one post. “I would like to focus on pleasuring her and ‘enhancing’ their intercourse …”
So, did Sanford’s office help Maguire engage in a cover-up of this highly-sensitive information? Or, as English told FITS, was the Governor’s Office simply reeling from the distraction caused by the governor’s own sex scandal? Who knows, but shortly after Sanford’s office was informed of the alleged connection between Maguire and “Bridget,” her writings began disappearing from the web.
While the timing, motivation and source of Folks' report are all highly suspect, it'll be interesting to see if any journalists follow him down this path. What's more interesting is the future composition of the State Board of Education. As recent events in Texas and last year's biology textbook dust-up in South Carolina have shown, these boards are becomming an increasingly-partisan battleground.
Throw another way to rid ourselves of Mark Sanford into the mix.
Democratic gubenatorial candidate Dwight Drake just held a press call in which he called on the state's attorney general, treasurer, comptroller general and secretary of state to act on their own authority to remove the governor from office.
Article 4, Section 12.2 of the state constitution gives a majority of those officers the power to remove a governor from office should he be unable to perform the duties of the office. The lt. governor would assume office.
Should the governor object, the General Assembly must meet within 48 hours to decide the matter.
"It's time for bold leadership to end this nightmare and get back to creating jobs," Drake said.
The constitution does not specify what "unable" means. Drake, familiar with the provision from his work in the 1970's for Governor John West, said the language was deliberately left open to interpretation by legislators.
Asked if he believed Sanford might be mentally incapacitated, Drake said, "Whether it's spiritual, mental or whatever, this fellow is unable to do his job."
"Since July he's taken more vacations than Elizabeth Taylor at her best, and he's gone on an 'apology tour,'" Drake said. "But the number one job for a governor is jobs."
Drake said it's unlikely anyone with a major economic development prospect looking at the state would take that prospect to meet with Sanford.
Drake also raised further questions about Sanford's use of state and private planes.
"He's said these private planes were a gift," Drake said. "If so, he has to declare it on his taxes - we're going to need to see his taxes. Other state officials have gone to jail for failing to disclose gifts on their income taxes."
Mark Sanford says that it would be "heaven on earth" if he could "escape the glare of television cameras and reporters in the midst of a media frenzy" and "go back to the farm and take refuge."
Well, Mark, don't let us stop you. Go ahead.
The time has come. The time is now. Marshall C. Sanford, will you please go now?
Southern governors heard dire predictions about the potential for disaster created by climate change during the Southern Governors' Association's annual meeting in Williamsburg this week. From the Richmond Times-Dispatch:
Global climate change over the next 20 years will cause intense droughts in the Southwest, floods in the Northeast threatening the coastline and urban areas, and significant storm damage along the Gulf Coast, a panel of Southern governors was told yesterday.
Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Richard Engel, director of the Climate Change and State Stability program of the National Intelligence Council, told the governors that the changes could also affect U.S. national-security interests -- aggravating poverty, degrading the environment and destabilizing fragile government regimes of nations around the world.
He said that although the U.S. will be "less affected and better equipped than the vast majority of nations to deal with climate change," it will still face challenges. Engel said these range from the costs to control emissions and respond to emergencies, to safeguarding against the potential for terrorists to "obtain and utilize" nuclear material and expertise that will increase as more countries pursue nuclear power as an energy source.
And yet South Carolina, a state with 2,876 miles of coastal shoreline, apparently had no representation or leadership at the meeting. In what has rapidly become a "Dog bites man" story, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford was nowhere to be found at a meeting that attracted some 400 participants with 70 industry groups ranging from Northrop Grumman and Exxon Mobil to Capital One and Norfolk Southern helping to foot the bill. One can only assume the meeting's agenda issues of "Health and Human Services, Energy and Environment, Energy Demands and Climate Goals, Developing a 'Smart Grid', and Transportation Issues" wasn't enough to motivate South Carolina's amorous chief executive to attend.
Last night Jon Stewart took a moment to salute the Palmetto State for kindly supplying him with a constant stream of bat guano crazy material for The Daily Show to draw from all summer long. The Love Gov, DeMint, Graham, Rusty DePass, Robert Ford, and that guy with a horse fetish all received shout outs. Enjoy.
Columbia, SC – South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Carol Fowler issued the following statement today in response to recent reports that Governor Mark Sanford turned down state economic development opportunities during his disappearance last month in Argentina.
"It's not just the development opportunities Mark Sanford turned down for the 10 days he planned to be in Argentina. Since we haven't had his schedule, it makes us wonder how many other opportunities he has turned down over 6 ½ years because something else sounded like more fun.
"And the damage Mark Sanford has done to the state's image has been devastating to economic development for the foreseeable future. There haven't been this many people making fun of South Carolina since the days of the Lizard Man," said Fowler.
Senate Democratic Leader John Land wants to know what other duties Mark Sanford might have skipped out on to visit his Argentine lover.
The State reported today that the Wild Bull of the Pampas "...declined a dinner invitation from a company looking to expand its business in South Carolina because Sanford planned to be in Argentina that day."
Sanford also missed another meeting during the trip when his spokesperson said his schedule was "absolutely jammed" for the summer.
“When Mark Sanford ran off to Argentina, he missed two critical job creation meetings. Mark Sanford placed a higher value on his personal pleasure than bringing jobs to a state with a 12% jobless rate,” Land said.
“We need to investigate further and learn what other opportunities have been missed through the Governor’s selfishness.”
Land also criticized the fact that Sanford's newly public schedule has been largely blank.
“When you’ve dragged your state into the one of the nation’s highest jobless rates, you owe it to the people who elected you to spend night and day chasing down any company that wants to create jobs,” Land said.
“Governor Sanford’s economic development philosophy has always been hands-off. Now he owes it to us all, critics and supporters alike, to come clean about other missed opportunities to create jobs. Only then can we begin the long and slow process of clawing back from the one of the nation’s worst jobless rates.”
