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SANFORD ‘UNVEILS’ TAX PLAN, NEARLY IDENTICAL TO PLAN ANNOUNCED IN FEBRUARY
Gov. Mark Sanford today “unleashed” his three-part plan to “spur job creation and capital investment” in South Carolina. And brace yourselves because this plan is unlike anything Sanford has ever proposed before.
The plan would:
- Enact an optional income tax cut of nearly 50 percent, cutting the state’s top marginal rate from the current 7 percent to a flat 3.65 percent. The plan would also fully index the income tax brackets. The cut would be offset by a 30-cents-per-pack increase to the state’s cigarette tax, a new $3-per-ton tipping fee for landfill dumping, and elimination of the state’s sales tax holidays.
- Implement a 10-year phase out of the corporate income tax from the current 5 percent to 0. The cut would be offset by transitioning from most corporate tax exemptions and other business incentives over that same 10-year time period.
- Form a committee to look at inequities in the current property tax structure that adversely impact businesses.
“There has never been a more important time for this discussion about where we want to go as a state with respect to growing our economy,” Gov. Sanford said. [WCBD]
If you just read that and asked yourself, “self, was the second sentence of this post sarcasm?” then please reward yourself with a cookie — preferably, a Christmas cutout cookie — because you’re absolutely right.
The mainstream media and Sanford loyalists are acting as if the governor turned into Moses and parted the waters or something. But, in typical Sanford do-nothing style, he just “unveiled” the exact same plan he rolled out in February.
Just to reinforce that fact, I used the same exact banner picture I did 10 months ago. See?
The only thing that is in any way different about this plan from the February plan is that he threw in the gradual corporate tax cut and actually increased the marginal rate from 3.4 percent to 3.65 percent. That’s it.
And it’s not a bad plan. It’s just that he did absolutely nothing to implement it this year, so why will 2009 be any different?
It won’t, that’s why. Because Sanford talks a huge game and it sounds so appealing yet in the end his complete ineffectiveness and inability to look past himself will rule the day.
I’m calling it right now. Just go ahead and write me the check for whatever amount you would like to bet.
Of course, if Sanford paid RQA this would be billed as: “Sanford again leads the legislative horses to water. Will they drink this time?” Man, you’re tedious.
And I would bet if your boss, I mean boy, Henry McMaster had presented this tax package, it would be the best thing since sliced bread and it would “pave the way to 2010″ or somesuch. Get your head out of your rear- this is a good, fiscally conservative tax plan… if only our “Republican” legislature would get off their own rears and get to work.
if mcmaster had surmised this package he woulda only had to do it once because it would have been taken care of the first time. sanford has no friends in the GA so he cant get shat done.
turboman…..you just earned the first WHOA of the day.
Whoa’s are given out to people who make completely unintelligent, ignroant comments……so WHOA
McFailure could never be governor…….he cannot and will not even be able to manage his own campaign…..let alone a state.
Oh how clear is the proof of his inability to mismanage everything…..just remember briefly the sexual deviant case he completely botched just last year. The case was as follows…..redneck has a cellar behind his trailer……holds a girl captive….girl escapes……McFailure takes the case on personally because he believes its “raining perverts” in SC…..the case is a slam dunk for anyone with a brain…..McFailure sucessfully freed the guy he was prosecuting……….to this day that sexual deviant is still causing “rain” in SC…….no telling how many girls he has held captive and raped in the time since McFailure botched his prosecution.
What an idiot.
Maybe he is presenting it again because it was good the first time. Sanford doesn’t change with the wind like most politicians. Considering he was correct about the state overspending and fiscal irresponsibility the legislature should listen to him this time.
The good governor must be a first rate masochist. Trying once againg and probably hopelessly to get an atta boy from McFailure et al……SC loses wealthy retirees to the northern coastal areas of Fl where property taxes are barely higher, and insurance rates a mere annoyance when balanced by a 0% income tax rate. The retired rich own their homes, have no rug-rat deductions and are not interested in paying the highest income tax in the SE on virtually all of their income. The largest drain on state revenue is education and medicaid. The wealthy retiree demographic is relatively burden-free and Sanford would reasonably like more of them. What’s the legislature got against the well -educated and well-off who spend freely and contribute much?
Ga has Atlanta, NC has Charlotte. Ask college grads what city in SC comes to mind as the center of anything…oh wait Charleston has lots of great restaurant jobs. Again Sanford has the right plan to make location here a no-brainer. SC legislature certainly has plenty of folks with no brains so what’s the hold up?