By Liz Carey
Dec. 31, 2011
The Anderson County delegation to the state legislature said it will focus its attention on the state’s economy in the coming year.
Rep. Brian White, a Republican from the city of Anderson and chairman of the state House Ways and Means Committee, said the main issue facing the legislature will be the budget.
“We’ll have to look at the budget,” he said. “And I think we’ll have to address the issue of the retirement system. I think we’ll have a lot of stuff coming through this year, but the main thing with the new money coming in is that our debt needs to be paid down, and we need to look at our infrastructure. There are a lot of demands for that money.”
White said he would like to focus on some form of corporate tax relief as well to create jobs and stimulate the economy.
“The only way to get out of this mess is to get people back to work,” he said.
Rep. Anne Thayer, a Belton Republican, said she would be looking at getting ahead of the curve when it comes to drug enforcement. Last year, Thayer introduced a bill banning bath salts. Bath salts and synthetic marijuana are drugs that create dangerous and lasting highs. Up until recently, when they were banned by the county and then the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, they were available over the counter.
This year, Thayer hopes to have it and an amendment outlining other designer drugs passed through the Senate, she said.
“I’ve been working with forensics to identify another 100 or so compounds that street pharmacists are putting out there,” she said. “This is a proactive move to put us five years ahead of the curve, instead of lagging behind the drug dealers.”
Rep. Joshua Putnam, a Piedmont Republican, said he wants to focus on job creation and economic growth in the state. Putnam said he wants to address the state’s debt issue, but also to market the state better to attract businesses. Putnam said he is also looking at revamping South Carolina’s tax system.
“It is vital that we have tax reform in South Carolina in order to remain competitive with the other 49 states in the country,” he said.
Rep. Don Bowen, a Republican from the city of Anderson, said he had several issues he would like to address. Bowen has prefiled several bills, before the start of the legislative session, covering everything from water issues to eliminating countywide school boards in any county that has more than one school district.
Bowen said he has a few bills in the works for the coming year. But his first issue will be the economy and how to deal with additional state income.
“South Carolina is ending the year on a brighter economic note than it began. Indicators in the past few months have rendered several encouraging economic forecasts for South Carolina,” Bowen said. “By measuring the state’s sales and income tax collected, South Carolina’s economy is continuing its slow recovery. The state’s general fund revenue was up 6 percent in November from the same month a year ago. We’re apparently buying more; sales tax collections were up nearly 5 percent. Personal income tax collections were up 4 percent, while corporate income tax collections were up a whopping 118 percent.”
But the additional revenue should not mean more government spending, he said. Instead, he said, the legislature’s priority should be to adequately fund core functions of government, not to unnecessarily increase the scope or number of programs.
Bowen said he would also focus on the budget, tax reform and restructuring the retirement system.
Continuing to serve the people of Honea Path, Belton and Abbeville will be the goal of Rep. Mike Gambrell, a Honea Path Republican.
“I just want to continue serving the people of District 7 and doing what’s right to the best of my abilities,” he said.
He expects the legislature would have to deal with labor unions and their practices in South Carolina, and how they affect the state’s ability to attract industry, as well as having to deal with the state’s retirement system.
Sen. Kevin Bryant, a Republican from the city of Anderson, said the state’s debt and unfunded liabilities will be the biggest issue before the legislature.
Projections put the total amount of the South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System, the South Carolina Retirement System, the unemployment insurance debt to the federal government and other local debts at around $37 billion, he said.
“Some say these systems are ‘actuarially sound,’” Bryant said. “You can throw that term out there if you want to, but the nondebatable figure is $37 billion. Remember, these figures are assuming the (state’s) investments will earn 8 percent return. The 10-year annualized return of the investments of the system fund (which invests for all of the separate systems, including for police) is 3.95 percent, and that includes the fiscal year 2010 return of 14.62 percent. So in reality, the $37 billion (and all the other figures) is overly optimistic.”
Bryant said he also wants to make fathers financially accountable for their children.
“My heart goes out to single moms struggling to provide for their children,” he said. “We can do better at requiring deadbeat dads to provide for their kids. It’s his responsibility, not the taxpayer. Currently, it’s easy for him to walk away, but the taxpayer has no choice.”
Sen. Billy O’Dell, an Abbeville Republican, said he would focus on seeing what cuts come from the federal level and paying back some of the unemployment debt. Restructuring what state government in South Carolina looks like will be another focus.
Last year, several bills proposed a restructuring of the state’s highest office, with the governor and lieutenant governor running on the same ticket and several cabinet-level seats being appointments by the governor instead of elected offices.
“Last year’s session closed with the governor wanting to call us back to complete discussion on restructuring government,” he said. “I’m not sure where that will go, but I think it’s time to look and see where we are with it.”
