|
COLUMBIA - Republicans and Democrats say Gov. Mark Sanford needs to clearly
define his position on property tax reform during tonight's State of the
State address.
The Republican governor has stated that he supports the proposal to
eliminate home taxes by increasing the sales tax 2 cents, but lawmakers are
looking for more direction.
"I think it is helpful to lay out some parameters in this debate," said
House Majority Leader Jim Merrill, R-Daniel Island. "We need to hear his
ideas on our legislation."
The governor's office said that Sanford would delve into the issue during
the 7 p.m. speech but did not offer details.
Previous governors have used the bully pulpit to announce major programs,
such as Republican Gov. Carroll Campbell's government restructuring plan and
Democratic Gov. Jim Hodges' First Steps education initiative.
Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer said the governor's speech wouldn't include
any major revelations.
"The governor will continue to outline some things he's outlined for the
better part of three years, which is how do we keep South Carolina
competitive in an increasingly global economy?" he said. "There shouldn't be
anything too surprising to anyone who is familiar with where the governor
has been coming from in the last few years."
The political pressure is weighing on the property tax issue and the
economic development front.
Sanford's Republican primary opponent, Newberry physician Oscar Lovelace,
said the Legislature has dominated the tax debate and questioned the
governor's absence.
"If Sanford fails to call for property tax reform in the State of the State
address Wednesday, the property taxpayers of South Carolina will understand
that he is intentionally snubbing the wishes of the people," he said in a
statement.
South Carolina political observers such as Neal Thigpen see an opportunity
for Sanford to enter the property tax debate and emerge a hero.
"If he can get in there with an in-between plan that the business community
is not too wary of ... he could make up for three sessions in the past that
have been largely zilch in the way of accomplishments," said Thigpen, a
political science professor at Francis Marion University. "He still needs
something to take to the people" during the 2006 campaign.
Democrats said they are expecting a re-election-themed speech that
highlights the positives and ignores the negatives.
State Rep. Leon Howard, D-Columbia, said Sanford should come clean with
where the state stands nationwide.
"He needs to address why our state is last in every education, economic,
health care and domestic violence category," Howard said.
Lachlan McIntosh, executive director of the S.C. Democratic Party, said he
expects to see a politically born-again Sanford.
"It will be interesting to see, now since we are in an election year, if the
governor will suddenly discover issues like property tax reform, education
and health care costs," McIntosh said. "Normally in the fourth State of the
State, the governor would talk about what he's done. But he's got nothing to
talk about."
|
My
Scribe