(3-12-2004) What should be the top priority for the SC budget debate?

jm, lexington:
Balance the budget? Ha, that's about as likely as Bush prosecuting "Kenny Boy" Lay or Cheney giving back his Haliburton war profits(sorry I just had to finish what someone else started). Seriously, how can expect anything out of these clowns, they even left the "Pork Barrel" bowl money that they hid, in the budget. And then throw the state employees a 2% raise in a blatant attempt to sop them and hopefully win votes. How about a rollback of that 300% insurance premium increase in every paycheck that you stuck them with? No, I have a better name for this game, call it the Pose(Peeved-Off State Employees) Bowl(or if you prefer, you can change the first word to something you might deem more appropriate starting with "P"). Any state worker who votes for an incumbent who agreed to this waste of money is like a "chicken voting for Col. Sanders."
PY, Columbia:
1. Education - 2. Health care - 3. Jobs - If the legislature sits on its hands again this legislative session, I will make my displeasure known during elections this fall. I challenge all South Carolinians to do the same. It's time we jumped up and slapped these idiots back to reality!
JP, Columbia:
Speaking of the budget,,, I saw where they brought in some more Bantu families last night. The first thing they do is get on Medicaid and welfare. These families bring a lot to the state. They will all be on welfare so they will always vote for the democrats. They have no education so they will raise Richland District 1 SAT average by at least 12 - 15 points. The last thing is I know that for every dollar I earn for the rest of my life, a part will be taken from me and given to them for not working.
ta, Columbia:
Get rid of some of those richland one school district board members. I heard that some of them make well over 161 thousand dollars a year. Hmmm....what is wrong with this picture? Listen up folks in district one. Your taxes pay their salaries!
JB, Newberry:
In my opinion we should not be cutting education. Just when we seem to be making progress we start with cutbacks. If we have to cut back in education it should be with some of the paperwork that is required by goverment. This would reduce cost and also allow teachers to spend their time teaching instead of doing paperwork. I also agree that we have to many school districts. By combining some of these we could save.
WC, Columbia:
What needs to be established is accountability. Our state government holds no one accountable for what they do or how much money they spend. Commerce department is a prime example. The various education districts/boards are not held accountable for what they waste. Until the voters in this state wake up and realize that just floating along with the flow will bankrupt the state in a couple of years. The power to change is with the voters and they are just too lazy to give a damn as long as welfare continues.
bm, columbia:
The Gov is on the right track. Consolidate so many duplications of services. There are so many agencies that have so many salaries that really no one knows who is responsible for whatever they are designed to do. Education; has been keynote plank for any politicians forever to no avail. We even had a city council candidate in the past who was going to update that system. We spend too much money there. Why do we need two districts in any county. The tax paid for education never gets to the clasroom. A person was hired (fired from Fairfield County) at a salary that would have paid two first year teachers. The job is still a mystery. Such is government.
EH, Columbia:
Tax the tourist, through sales tax, hotel taxes, etc. They will still come just like we still go to Florida, which taxes everybody. Bring back video poker, is it not funny we started running budget deficits the year video poker was cut. By doing this we may be able to lower the tax burden on our citizens.
GH, Columbia:
First of all there is about as much chance of a balanced budget as there is of John Kerry telling the truth. Secondly selling state property is a disaster. What will they sell next year? Thirdly, raising taxes is the only way to raise dependable revenue. Cigarette/Alcohol taxes in SC are amoung the lowest in the nation. Raise sales taxes by 2 or 3 percent and lastly raise gasoline taxes by 2 cents per gallon. In state government you only get what you are willing to pay for. And lastly, cut out the social programs...dont compel people to support people that are not willing to support themselves.
JP, Sumter:
I noticed that WISTV lacked the courage to publish my first comments on this subject. We can get our budget out of red ink by cutting out all welfare and social programs. Working people should not be carrying the non workers on their backs.
MW, Columbia:
There are a number of viable ways to increase revenue. Raise cigarette taxes, sales taxes on new cars, boats and raise user fees for parks, recreational areas without really hurting anyone. BUT.... The most important thing is to cut the give away programs to people that have never worked and have no intention of working. Stop the free ride to so many lazy lay abouts who were just too lazy to learn anything and now they expect the working people to support them for life.
jc, west cola:
Sure these people will not cut Medicaid, not the schools, not state jobs, I know they could debate about not getting an increase for the next 4 years or how ever long they will serve with pay.
tg, florence:
I think the top priorty should be to raise fees/taxes to balance the budge. Increase surer fees on state parks,licenses,permits etc. Increase the sales tax to an even 10%. Increase the state auto sales tax from $300 on all cars to a tiered system-$300 for cars priced under $10,000;$500 for cars sold at $10,001-$15,000;$750 for $15,001-$20,000 etc. Increase the renewal fee for driver licenses and permits and charge for permit and driver exams. Increase state gas, tobacco and liquor taxes. Add a special events tax for live sport/entertainment events.If these sound harsh and dracoian consider who it effects-if you don't drink or smoke you don't pay the tax. Don't buy a $20,000 car but a $7500 used car you pay less. Dont go to a state park you dont pay the extra fee. Dont go to a sports event or concert you dont pay the fee. Keep in mind yes if you go; if you use you will pay an increased fee. So to will all the tourists from Georgia, North Carolina and else where who pass through our state. I am not proposing increasing the state income tax what I am proposing is increasing fees/taxes for various items that either not everyone uses, or are used by not not just residents of the state but tourists as well. Painful-to some yes but unless you use the "service" or spend the money on a specific item it will not effect you.
ME, Spartanburg:
The best thing for SC and the whole country is to strenghten our educational system. We need more teachers, better facilities, a strong public library system, and an emphasis on academics and the arts. We need to lessen our emphasis on sports and get back to reading, writing, and arithmetic if we hope to better ourselves, our society, and compete in a global economy.
CA, Bishopville:
Prioritizing services in order for funding that benefit greatest number of constituents. Of course that's after they determine the appropriate amount of funding for the first annual "Taxpayer Bowl".
FD, Irmo:
In the budget they should consider ways to reduce the tax burden on citizens! Real Estate and Vehicle taxes are out of control! Raise the sales tax 2 to 5 cents. All pay and the tourists help us pay our bills. By eliminating the real estate and car taxes it will give the citizens more money to spend, therefore generating more revenue for the state. Its simple but no one is listening! Also bring back video poker, horse racing and casinos. Open the stores on sunday before 1:30 pm and sell alcohol beverages on sunday also. This will generate more tax revenue. Our do nothing Governor should be soliciting ideas from the citizens. I have called several times but never had a chance to explain my ideas. You can't get past his staff!
JP, Sumter:
First of all give the state employees what they deserve, a 10% raise for all employees earning under $50,000. This will almost bring them back to where they were 4 years ago whend the raises stopped and inflation did not. Secondly cut out the give away programs to people that do not contribute anything to the state except more welfare claims. The working people should not be condemmed to carry the freeloaders on their backs.
WW, Columbia:
First priority are the things that affect the safety and well being of ALL the citizens. The last thing are the social give away programs that reward women for having more and more children to get on the welfare rolls.
JP, Columbia:
I think the first priority should be the safety of the citizens. Police and fire, then comes education, however, I think that 75% of the money spent on education is wasted and going into the deep pockets of the school superintendents. Then there are the programs that benefit everyone, parks, highways. The last priority should be the freeloader programs, welfare, medicaid, first steps. The social programs should only be funded if there are any funds left over.
DT, West Columbia:
BALANCING the budget has to be the top priority. The politicians of this state have to realize that they can’t promise everyone everything they ask for (The Palmetto Bowl comes to mind). Just like us regular folks, the state has to learn to live within its means. And just like us, that sometimes means going without. It always means prioritizing, as in paying the rent comes before splurging on a trip to the beach. Similarly, every time some constituency asks for something more from government, the first consideration has to be how it will be paid for.