We are now on another proposal by Sen. Larry Grooms (R-Berkeley)
Keep in mind that there will be winners and losers in all property tax reform proposals. When the homeowner is the winner, I’m all ears!
Groom Broom III Highlights:
-raises cap on automobile sales taxes to $600
-removes local school operation property taxes off all classes of property
-2 cent increase in the state sales and use tax
-Deed recording fee increase
-creates statewide property tax of 75 mills for all classes of property except owner occupied homes (SC average 150 mills, so commercial property taxes are cut in half)
-the 1st motion to table failed, the 2nd motion to tabled passed

All during the budget process, I along with conservatives have been screaming “stop this irresponsible spending”! Well, we fought the good fight, yet when the votes came, we failed. At the end, the big spenders win and the taxpayers lose. As I try to be optimistic in every bad situation, I have drawn one positive note in this losing song of wasteful spending and I hope you can follow my tune. Ponder this. Politically, this is a win for Gov. Sanford. He gets a big fat budget with more pork than Circle M BBQ. I’m predicting Mark throws out his rotator cuff scratching through the line-item-vetoes.
I’m not doubting Sanford’s sincerity nor his spending principles, but fans of big government are throwing him into the briar patch!
“Skin me Briar Fox,” says Briar Rabbit. “Snatch out my eyeballs, tear out my ears by the roots,” says he, “But please, Briar Fox, don’t fling me in that briar patch, “. (Song of the South)

Today I’m back at my real job, Bryant Pharmacy & Supply. Gov. Sanford will drop by around 3:45 to talk to folks about my amendment to return the surplus money to the taxpayer. He may even want to talk to some of my customers. He may ask them “If you were over charged at this pharmacy, wouldn’t you expect Kevin to give your money back?” I’m sure the answer will be yes from every customer. Wednesday, I asked the same question to my colleagues in the Senate. Should the taxpayer get a refund since they have been over charged? Only 9 other members voted with me, so unfortunately, the Governor has only a few stops today. And the people’s government refuses to give them what is rightfully theres…their money!

By the way, it is wonderful to be back in Anderson. It is much more down to earth that Columbia where common sense is not very common.

Michael Reese has added a feature to his blog “sports and politics” titled “politics rocks”. He was kind enough to feature an interview with me in his debut. The 5 minute interview is mainly about the capital punishment sentencing amendment that I offered to Jessica’s Law last month. Click here: http://michaelreese.blogspot.com/2006/04/audio-interview-politics-rocks-gets-5.html

I offered a motion to take the surplus money, pay off the trust funds, then return all of the money to the taxpayer. Unfortunately, only 10 members of the SC Senate voted against the tabling motion: Campsen, Courson, Cromer, Grooms, Hawkins, Knotts, Peeler, Ryberg, Verdin, & myself.

This amendment if passed would send $250 million back to the over charged taxpayer. Every taxpayer would get $125 back. That’s $250 per couple. That’s $5.4 million per senate district.

This budget grows government by 28% over the level of just three years ago. It is clear that government can never have enough money to spend, so all I’m saying is this year let’s give the extra money, just the extra money, back to the people who earn it. With this budget, we are telling taxpayers that if they send it, we will spend it.

Perhaps these taxpayers will have used their rebate to pay their property taxes, make an extra house payment, take a long weekend vacation, buy the car a new set of tires. I have asked many constituents this question: do you want me to spend your money in Columbia or return it. 100% of my constituents have told me the same thing. I want MY money back.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of mcolleagueses disagree.