WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | (1-21-2004) What did you think of Gov. Sanford's State of the State Address?
(1-21-2004) What did you think of Gov. Sanford's State of the State Address?
RM, Columbia: As a conservative Republican and one who voted for Governor Sanford, I am also a State Employee and am beyond tired of having a Governor and Legislators who care nothing about us and don't appreciate all of the hard work we do for the state. We are placed at the bottom of the totem pole and our needs and concerns are never listened to or met. For the third year in a row, I have seen my health insurance rise and my paycheck slowly dwindle. I understand Gov. Sanford had a budget mess on his hands when he took office but we're tired of excuses and want to see results! The "higher ups" have no idea what the rest of us do "in the trenches" day after day. If I don't see a change before next election, I may be voting Democrat for the first time ever!
rg, columbia: it not going to do any good $87 billion $ should had been left for all of sc not for them bums in iriq we need it more then them we need job,s get the homeless of the street and bulid a daytime shelter for them to go during the day and a another shelter to hold more people
ES, Columbia: Disappointing. State employees are hurting financially and it appears our governor and legislators do not care. State employees are taking a beating. Just remember, state employees vote!!
dw, lexington: Same crap, different governor! Sanford and his lawyer legislators are out to screw state employees just like Jim Hodges and the same bunch did before. Look at the legislators' retirement plan versus the state employees' plan. These cats are getting filthy rich off of the taxpayer, and we are allowing them to do it! Throw the bums out and elect people who are hard working citizens that know what it is to put bread on the table for a family by working for a living and not riding the backs of the good people of this state! Wake up South Carolina and get rid of these cats who enact laws, then exempt themselves from them, who give themselves pay raises while not allowing them for others. And one other thing--LEAVE T.E.R.I. alone! State employees haven't had a raise in years, and you want to take away more from them? It is hogwash to say that this program cost the state money.
JA, Elgin: That speech indicates to me that I helped elect someone who has no idea how to fix the state budget. I think if you work for state government you better be looking for another job, because you have been abandoned and handed your coat. And to all the people here that say that was I fine speech, they were right it was just a speech , full of empty promises and uncertain future for us all. He wants to trim and restructer state govenment then I think all the employees should give the service like they are paid like crapp!!!!!
KM, West Columbia: As a conservative who voted for Governor Sanford, but whose husband works for state government, I can tell you that we are very disappointed in his speech as well as some parts of his proposed budget. What concerns me as the wife of a state employee and a taxpayer is this incessant carrying on about "education". While it is very important for our children to obtain a good education, the answer is NOT throwing money at it as if that will fix the problem. Our property taxes go up every year and the Dept. of Education also receives money from the federal government as well as from the state and local taxes. I wish someone would do an article that explains how much money (from all sources) is spent on average per child. I'm sure we would all be shocked! As the governor stated, the extra money spent has not resulted in improved SAT scores, etc. An important point regarding state employees' lack of raises during the last three years: City, county, and federal employees have all received raises during this time and state employees have paid for them in their taxes, yet no one except state employees and their family and friends seem to care if they every see a raise again. I think the person who said maybe we should shut down state government for a month had a good point. We certainly should have a march at the State House on a non- work day. Inez sure seems to benefit whenever she and her education buddies protest!
PM, Columbia: Governor Sanford's speech stated all that he had to deal with since taking over as governor for a state that our previous governer ruined. Gov. Sanford had to start somewhere, and whether people belive or not he is doing a fantastic job. Put anyone who complains up their and I can grant you that they would not be able to get it together as Gov. Sanford has to help our state. God has blessed us with a family man, but also a true politician instead of the crooked one we had before he came. Good luck Governor Sanford! We are behind you 200%.
AA, Lexington: His speech may have sounded good but..... As a state employee who works for and agency that has watched co workers loose their jobs, as well as cut in pay, higher cost for benefits, etc. I am not impressed. So far I have seen chaos, confusion, people being forced to move into working positions they know nothing about, and so on. Who will suffer, the tax payer and the children of SC. I do vote and I am sure my fellow state employees, including those who lost their jobs, vote. I think we should shut down all of state government for a month and then see how the voters of SC feel.
MG, Irmo: What speech did SB of Cayce and BW of Lexington watch or listen to? Governor Sanford said everything he possibly could about fixing the state budget! He said we should cut costs by making government more efficient, setting priorities instead of just cutting across the board, bringing more income (and hence tax money) to our state by making our tax system more business-friendly, and thinking "outside the box" to cut costs, just as his own office has done. Go to his website and read the budget. It will reveal to you the lengths that the governor and his staff went through to indeed do something about our budget problems, rather than just putting forward an unrealistic wishlist of programs with no way to pay for them, as our previous governor did. And pay more attention next time!
SP, Columbia: What speech? I didnt hear him say anything that is going to help us get thru the budget disaster the former governor created. Our schools are spending millions and millions of dollars and producing more janitors and garbage collecters than the state can use DSS is very good at attracting more welfare cases than we can afford, and we are actually importing uneducated, unemployable welfare cases from other countries to add to the budget crisis. Valuable state employees are retiring or moving out of state service because they are tired of being crapped on by the legislature, only the lottery board members are getting raises and a decent salary. I was born in SC and up to last nite I was proud to be a citizen of South Carolina. No more, I am going to close my business and get out while there is still something left.
JP, Columbia: Bull. It was 100% pure undiluted bull manure. We now have a do nothing governor with a do nothing legislature, our state budget is a bigger disaster than 911 thanks to four years of Hodges living the lifestyle of the rich and famous on the backs of the working people. I think right now the best thing the voters can do is not vote for any incumbant at the state or federal level.
CR, Springfield: I thought that Gov. Sanford's State of the State Address was really good until he forgot to mention the State workers and thank them for their service. They haven't had a cost of living increase in several years and with the increase of higher insurance rates they have really taken a reduction in pay. I believe he should apologize for that error.
jc, west cola: LIES,LIES. If this man would tell the truth his nose would stop growing.
MR, Lexington: Gov. Sandford is between a rock and a hard spot. Theres no doubt he will not get what he proposed. I say he should consider raising taxes on Beer, Cigarets and Gasoline. He will be wasting money on prisoner education. I vote republican, but I do not agree with his proposals.
SB, Cayce: I think he did not outline a plan to fix the state budget. I believe the govenor and the legislators tried to pretend that there was no budget crisis. The legislators were carefull not to commet after his speech because they have no plan as well and it is a election year for them. They need to put video poker back on the fall ballet and recruit more business and use lottey money to fund education until the budget crisis is over. Leave USC UNION AND SALK ANONE!!!
BW, lexington: I waist of tax payers money he said nothing positive about fixing the budget crisis. He had no plan to generate revenue, in other words he has no clue how to fix the problem. We the voters need a recall election here because our state is not moving forward. He did not have a plan for next year either. He should tax companies to the max that sell products in this state if they are made overseas. Come on I have a high school education and it is not that hard to figure out. I also noticed that this was one of the most grand standing about his people and his adgendas I have ever seen. State employees play the lottery maybe you will win before you get laid off. One final thought where is the video poker tax money when you need it in another state thats where.
DT, West Columbia: In answering the previous question I said I wanted specifics. Governor Sanford certainly delivered on that score. I was pleasantly surprised at the depth and detail in the governor’s remarks. I was further pleased at how little emphasis was placed on new money. Instead the governor appealed to individual and government action and initiative, “thinking outside the box,” exactly the right approach. That said, I am wary of the governor’s proposals for such sweeping reform of government and tax structures. I agree with his reasons for and his desire to initiate significant change here, but “the devil is in the details.” Which brings me to a final point about such speeches. Like President Bush the night before, Governor Sanford put forward a lot of good ideas and said a lot of fine things, but they were after all only words. It’s very easy to say the right things, particularly for a politician. It is considerably more difficult to DO the right things, particularly since the governor can’t do very much alone. And it is the doing of the right things which has confounded governments for so long as they have existed.
