Kevin Bryant

Steven Khoury: “Conservatism At Its Best”
Politics is often associated with corruption. Yes, I am sure there are many politicians out there that give politics this bad name. I have been involved in politics for three years now and can honestly say there are politicians out there that really do all they can to better the lives of their constituents. During my involvement in politics, I have had the great privilege to work with three respected, noble men, who serve the state of South Carolina and this country with honor and pride. I have had the opportunity to work for South Carolina Senator Kevin Bryant, Congressman Mick Mulvaney and United States Senator Jim DeMint. These three men definitely manifest conservatism at its best. These true conservatives have constantly been advocates for limited government, traditional values, and keeping taxes at a minimum.
While a student at the University of South Carolina, I worked for the South Carolina Senate, with Senator Bryant and former South Carolina Senator Mulvaney. I always considered myself a conservative, but working with these two gentlemen definitely enabled me to gain a better grasp of true conservatism. As fiscal conservatives, Bryant and Mulvaney constantly fight for reducing tax burdens for all individuals and for a more limited government. Their true conservatism is evident due to the Gadsden Flags located on their desk in the chamber and offices. It truly has been an honor to work with these two respected politicians.
I also had the opportunity to work with United States Senator Jim DeMint in his Washington, D.C. office. Washington, D.C. was quite overwhelming at first, especially coming from a small town in South Carolina. Running into Vice President Biden, Speaker Boehner and others who I always saw on television was pretty awesome. I must say it was great running into all of these politicians, but overall my experience working for Senator DeMint was the greatest part about working at the Capitol. After working with Bryant and Mulvaney, I did not believe I would be given the opportunity to work with another true conservative. However, I was proven wrong when I started my internship with Senator DeMint. The Senator is definitely true to his conservative values and tirelessly fights for limited government, individual liberties, and less taxation. He serves the state of South Carolina with pride and dignity. He is definitely fighting to get this great nation on the right track again. Working for Senator DeMint on Capitol Hill has been an unbelievable opportunity, especially for a small-town boy from South Carolina.
Politicians are often given a bad name. From having first hand experience, I can honestly say there are politicians out there who really care about their constituents, especially the three men for whom I have worked. If we keep voting for politicians like Senator Bryant, Congressman Mulvaney, and Senator DeMint, then the principles that this nation was founded upon will continue to be upheld, and America will continue to be the great nation that it is.

Gov. Nikki Haley, Emergency Management officials to hold media availability
Haley will brief reporters on Hurricane Irene

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Governor Nikki Haley will hold a media availability today, Tuesday, August 23, at 6:00 PM at the South Carolina Emergency Operations Center.

The governor will discuss Hurricane Irene, and she will be joined by South Carolina Emergency Management Department officials George McKinney and John Boettcher.

WHO: Gov. Nikki Haley, and SCEMD officials George McKinney and John Boettcher

WHAT: Media availability regarding Hurricane Irene

WHEN: Tuesday, August 23, 6:00 PM

WHERE: South Carolina Emergency Operations Center, 2779 Fish Hatchery Road, West Columbia, S.C. 29172

Please go to www.scemd.org for updates from our Emergency Management Division.

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By Tom Davis (from fits news)|| More bad news today from the SC Department of Employment and Workforce: Our state’s unemployment rate moved up (from 10.5 percent to 10.9 percent) in July, even as the nation’s trended down (9.2 percent to 9.1 percent). Also South Carolina’s average per capita income remains stubbornly low at approximately 80 percent of the national average.

South Carolina’s poor economic performance can be traced back to the decision by our legislature in the late 1990’s to exert more control over the state’s economy. The attached graph by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, cited by the South Carolina Policy Council in “Unleashing Capitalism,” shows a direct correlation between diminished economic freedom in South Carolina and our citizens’ average per capita income.

One of the clearest indicators of increased state involvement in our economy is the growth in government economic “incentives.” As documented by our state’s Board of Economic Advisors, the total annual amount of special economic incentives given by the government of South Carolina to “targeted” businesses has increased from $35 million in 1998 to $525 million in 2008.

And as this graph shows, during that same time period our state’s per capita income ranking plummeted (note the direct correlation on the graph between the diminishment of economic freedom in South Carolina and our state’s per capita income):

It’s bad enough that politicians steer our tax dollars toward particular businesses, as if they were somehow better able to direct the allocation of capital than the free market. Even worse is that they do so with hardly any due diligence on the front end and zero accountability to the taxpayers on the back end.

State government in South Carolina has become a favor factory for those who can afford the pay-to-play game. The rules are simple: contribute money to elected officials, hire lobbyists with personal connections to committee chairmen, retain the private attorneys who actually draft the complicated tax bills, and then watch as the taxpayer money comes rolling in.

Our state tax code is a joke.

Thanks to over 100 special loopholes, we now exempt more in sales taxes than we collect. I agree with Chief Justice Toal, who referred to this arrangement as a “tyrannical exercise of arbitrary power.” And this state’s corporate welfare – while benefiting those with access to elected officials – results in higher taxes for everyone else who doesn’t.

There is nothing conservative about state government picking winners and losers in the private marketplace, and it simply amazes me that our Republican legislative leaders in Columbia continue to pump your money into efforts to steer the economy in specific directions.

We need to end the corrupt politics of favoritism, close the loopholes and cut taxes for everyone, across the board, so that all citizens and businesses pay lower taxes, not just the politically connected. Lower taxes for everyone promotes free market entrepreneurship and discovery – the true sources of prosperity.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Tom Davis represents Beaufort County in the South Carolina State Senate. Visit his website here.