How about reducing state tax, gas tax, property tax. How about reducing the taxes everyday people have to pay groceries. It isn't about reducing the cost of doing business in South Carolina it is about increasing the income for people to spend. I find it amazing after all the federal tax relief for those so called small businesses and local tax incentive you still have Nimrata asking, demanding more corporate welfare at the expense of our schools, infrustructure, public services. I find it amazing that people actually fall for this same old line of distortion the Republicans have been spewing for decades. Every dime to increase profits of investors is passed off on to the consumer who makes sure that the consumer can continue to consume????

What about our schools? Teachers haven't had a raise in four years. About 4,000 state employees - specifically teachers, police and firefighters - have lost their jobs in the last three years due to underfunding. We have dismal state roads that haven't had service in decades. We have one port that needs improvement to stay on pace with its competitors, and another port that needs improvement just to stay in business. But suddenly we somehow can afford to lower an already very very low business tax (5% - one of the lowest in the country)?

Joe, Can you give some more details on this no questions asked free summer lunch program? Where is it located?

I'm more than happy to pay taxes. Just spend the money the right way. I'd rather better the world around me than focus money on myself. I don't need cash when I die. Keep the money SC - just spend it in the classroom and in the community.

ps. Reg - the budget this year includes a pay raise for teachers and an increase in the amount of $$ per student in the classroom -- but I'm all for giving them more than the budgeted increase too.

Re: “The budget plan already includes a bill that decreases taxes for business owners and is expected to reduce revenue by $15 million over the next four years, according to an Associated Press report...But Haley is demanding that the Senate pass a second bill that would go into effect in 2013 and save taxpayers about $78 million, according to the report”

And these tax cuts are paid for how...with cuts to education maybe...

Is there a spread sheet showing budget revenue and expenses...is there an economic evaluation of the cuts...say their effect on education.

These cuts are just red meat pandering to the T-GOPs...investments vs. inefficient spending should be evaluated.

perhaps Joe knows cutting the free summer lunch will cover the $78 and $15 million in tax cuts...oh/and;

i forgot about trickle down theory...the cuts will trickle down to investments in education...eg, teacher's salaries...

Ever wonder why so many big corporations have built manufacturing plants, opened offices and facilities in to South Carolina and yet our public schools do not have soap, toilet paper or paper towels and teachers aren't paid the salaries promised them? The numbers don't add up. You can go here http://reut.rs/Hz9WFb and find that in 1995 SC allowed corporations to withhold $70.3 million in state income taxes from the paychecks of their workers. The corporations did give this money to the state. This income tax was kept by the corporations and given to their investors who do not live or spend their wealth in South Carolina. 1995 was the last year SC reported how much money was lost from the state coffers to this corporate welfare program. How much do you believe is being stolen from South Carolinians today? Hundreds of milliions? Billions? The SC Department of Commerce tells me they can't tell me because of tax payer privacy and suggested I contact the state revenue department. I have asked the State House and Senate how much was cut out of our state budget because of these corporate tax incentives. I have received no answer. I encourage you to ask questions. This corporate welfare is literally stealing the future of our state. With a high unemployment rate, many newly poor and unfunded mandates in education and public health, I say first end corporate welfare, restore our education system and then think about a tax break.

Typical groceries and provisions are practically untaxed. If small local businesses are charging customers a high retail and hospitality tax (10.5%) it makes them look expensive. it's more fair that those non-local, larger sales volume chains should be charged that. It's a heavy strain on the small locals and makes it more difficult to stay in business.

Many of the jobs created recently are filled by skilled workers and management relocated to South Carolina by corporations that withhold SC income tax from their workers' paychecks and keep it as a corporate tax incentive to create jobs. I call this corporate welfare and estimate in to be in the $$billions. These relocated workers bring their families. These families have children who attend public schools. The schools do not enjoy any tax benefit from the workers' income to support public education. Berkeley County has been hit hard with a big jump in relocated workers whose state income tax never finds its way into the State's coffers. Berkeley County must build schools to support its growing student population. An education bond, I believe in the amount of $233 million, will be on the ballot this November. How will this bond be paid? Through increased property taxes. Once again, middle class and working poor will have to pay more taxes to support corporate welfare. Dorchester Cty will face this problem in 2013. Notice all the factories being built on the new commerce highway in Summerville? Once building is complete an influx of relocated workers for corp. that withhold SC income tax from their workers' paychecks and keep it will occur. These workers' families will have children that will need schools built to support the growing number of students. I hope Dorchester Cty is watching & learning from Berkeley Cty. Corporate welfare is out of control!