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Thursday, January 5, 2012
Gov. Nikki Haley joins Scott, Duncan in condemning Obama’s NLRB recess appointmentsCOLUMBIA, S.C. – According to
the Washington Post, President Barack Obama made recess appointments to the National Labor Relations Board. These appointments
“are something unions have made a big priority for them in the new year,” the newspaper noted.
Governor Nikki Haley today joined members of South Carolina’s congressional
delegation in condemning these appointments.
Gov. Haley said, “These recess appointments, which will energize unions across the country
in advance of this year’s election, represent an outrageous abuse of the president’s power. With the unprecedented
attack on Boeing, South Carolina has seen first-hand what the NLRB is willing to do to American jobs and American workers.
Today's actions are just another example of how far this president will go to keep the support of his union political allies
- and frankly, it's shameful.”
“The President clearly does not understand the potential damage an out-of-control
NLRB can do to our nation’s economy. We saw a glimpse of that potential in my district when the NLRB sued Boeing for
no rational reason, and last September the House passed legislation I introduced which would remove the ability of the board
to actively destroy American jobs,” said Congressman Tim Scott (S.C.-01). “The NLRB’s recent track record
shows it has been guided by political agendas, instead of acting as the unbiased arbiter it was created to be. Board members
must be properly scrutinized to ensure this cannot continue, and that the workplace rights of all Americans are protected.
With recess appointments, this important vetting process simply doesn’t happen.”
“President Obama
is thumbing his nose at the American people and the Constitution of the United States,” said Congressman Jeff Duncan
(S.C.-03). “I’ve never seen a President so blatantly disregard the law. With this appointment, President Obama
is claiming he has the power to ignore one of the most critical checks that our Founding Fathers placed on the President.”
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Monday, December 12, 2011
Post and Courier (Guest Column): South Carolina should not fear port competitionBY NIKKI HALEY
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Last week, the South Carolina Senate undertook the clearly political exercise unprecedented
in South Carolina history of subpoenaing my staff to ask them questions about my office's involvement in DHEC's granting of
a permit for the dredging of the Savannah port. They concluded, unequivocally, what we had said all along: Neither I nor anyone
who works for me played a role in this decision one way or another.
Now that this purely political inquiry, initiated
by none other than my gubernatorial opponent Vincent Sheheen, is behind us, we have to have an honest discussion about where
were going in South Carolina and what the last few weeks have been about.
Let's start here, with the most important
point: There is nothing that I am more committed to than the Port of Charleston. I know and believe in the Jasper Port. And
I know that we have a port in Georgetown that has viability. I would never, ever, do anything that I believed would undermine
the future of any of those ports. The ports are among the greatest economic development assets we have, and I will not stop
until I see them succeed.
A little more than a year ago, I spoke in Charleston at the State of the Ports, and I
told the people of this state, and every other, that I was tired of Georgia having their way with us on the ports. I meant
that, every word of it, and I mean it now. But when I said it, I did not mean that we were going to stop Savannah, but that
we were going to do something about our own port.
Not that we could have stopped Savannah. The Army Corps of Engineers,
which is ultimately responsible for carrying out the dredging, had been quite clear: They intended to carry out the project,
with or without DHEC's approval. Georgia was going to dredge for the Savannah port whether we liked it or not.
That
being the case, DHEC got a fantastic deal for South Carolina. Where we would have gotten nothing, we instead got massive environmental
concessions from Georgia, including the protection of almost 1,600 acres of wetlands and a commitment to pay to maintain the
oxygen levels in the river for the next 50 years, protecting the Lowcountry's marine life.
Outside the environmental
concessions, there's an important political point to be made. Its been fascinating to me that some of our leaders truly believe
Congress would have funded the Charleston port project while South Carolina held Savannah's harbor hostage. That's just not
realistic, and is, frankly, why Sen. Lindsey Graham was ecstatic when he heard Georgia had acceded to DHEC's permit requirements.
Sen. Graham needs the Georgia senators working with him to get Charleston's deepening money, not against him. And
now he's got it. In mid-November, both Georgia senators and the Georgia governor publicly expressed their support for Charleston's
project and their willingness to work to get it done. That's more than we ever had before.
Over the last 10 years,
the leadership of this state at all levels failed in regard to the Charleston port. South Carolina watched Georgia invest
in its port facilities, building distribution centers and transportation systems, and we sat on the sidelines and did nothing.
And so, predictably, we also watched Savannah's port activity rise while ours dwindled, and Georgia's economy and citizens
benefit from it while our suffered.
That is no longer the case. Today, we are fighting for the business of this
state and for the ports of this state. But our fight is not with Savannah, not in the sense that we can or should use an environmental
permitting board to undercut its ability to expand.
No, our fight is with ourselves -- with the political culture
that exists in South Carolina that for too long has been comfortable saying "no" and "can't" and for accepting
failure. That's not who I am. It's not who I believe South Carolina is. And I won't settle for it. We deserve better, and
we will get it.
And while some in this state may be afraid of real, honest competition, I am not. I am not scared
of a 48-foot deep Georgia port 36 miles up the Savannah River with one-way traffic. Not when I know were going to have a 50-foot
deep Charleston with post-Panamax ships rolling in and out both ways, with dual rail and a good system of distribution centers.
No, I am not afraid of that kind of competition.
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Saturday, April 16, 2011
WHY NOT SOUTH CAROLINA? When counseling or interviewing candidates for public office and even seasoned elected officials I often ask them “Where
do we stand?” Followed by: Is South Carolina #1 on the list of Business friendly states? Does South
Carolina have the most favorable climate for entrepreneurs? Is South Carolina the best state to work in? How
do we rank among the port states? FYI: Here’s some data available on the web regarding South Carolina’s ranking:
#8 According to the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council Chart: http://www.sbecouncil.org/uploads/SBSIIndexFinal.pdf #31 on CNBC America’s Top Business States for 2010 - Excerpt: Cost is a major consideration when a company chooses a location. We looked at the tax burden, including those
on individuals, property, business taxes and even gasoline. Utility costs can add up to a huge expense for business, and they
vary widely by state. We also looked at the cost of wages and workers’ compensation insurance, as well as rental costs
for office and industrial space. #10 on Chief Executive’s Best States for Entrepreneurs 2011 - Excerpt: The so-called de-leveraging of America hasn’t reached government. U.S. cities and states have issued over
$2 trillion in new debt since 2008, with another $1 trillion scheduled this year. The problem is that state revenues in real
terms may not reach 2008 levels until late in 2012, according to John Thomasian of the National Governors Association Center
for Best Practices. As he emphasizes in his paper, “The Big Reset: State Government after the Great Recession,”
states will have to rethink and redesign government in terms of what is essential and what can be made more efficient if their
citizens are to have much of a future. #22 on the 2011 State Business Tax Climate Index (Eighth Edition) - Excerpt: Lawmakers create these deals under the banner of job creation and economic development, but the truth is that
if a state needs to offer such packages, it is most likely covering for a woeful business tax climate. The answer is
most often an emphatic “NO!” I always respond with the question “WELL, WHY NOT?” I usually
get a pause from the politicians and sometimes the silence is even deafening. Then they begin to explain their accomplishments
and vision for the future of the state followed by a list of excuses including some finger pointing. However, from the
candidates seeking office I usually get a myriad of quick rehearsed talking points which sound like they came from a business
how-to training manual. The purpose of the article is not to promote or discredit anyone individual but to
promote thought. South Carolina leaders must work toward a common goal and that’s to make South Carolina absolutely
the most business friendly state in the United States bar none. “We can do it!” may sound
to many like a catchy phrase or slogan but its true – we truly can become number one! We
must commit to doing the things that brings businesses to our wonderful state through fairness and a less burdening tax structure.
We shouldn't offer tax breaks and incentive packages to new enterprises and not to the faithful existing businesses who are
all struggling. Giving away the ranch will in the long run tarnish our image and drive existing Business & Industry away. “Capitalism and opportunity are the best solutions for social problems.”~ CVA What makes
Texas# 1 in most studies? South Carolina must: Invest in our infrastructure instead of supplementing laziness
through social programs. Allow real School Choice instead of Social Engineering. Reform our tax structure across the board and not just for deals made by the power
brokers. Place high priority on Ports and less on wasteful projects. Create the toughest laws in the country to
combat crime – yes this will help bring business and entrepreneurs to SC. Businesses shouldn’t have to spend large
portions of their budgets on security costs and citizens should feel safe to shop in our malls, drive down our roads, or sleep
in their own beds. Take a strong look at business insurance and work to lure more underwriters to the state. Tort
reform. Less Regulatory fees. PROPERTY RIGHTS SHOULD BE AT THE TOP OF THE LIST. Efficient government and
reduced spending. I could go on for hours but I think I've made my point – We the People can
do it! Let’s do it together, shall we?
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Coffee with Curt part 2 - Meeting with the Treasurer Recently, I got the opportunity to sit down for a cup of java
with South Carolina State Treasurer Curtis Loftis in his new office. This is the first time we’ve spoken in person since the election. The meeting was rewarding and
reaffirmed my belief that he was an excellent choice for Treasurer. The accessibility of public officials is critical to the political process and Curtis has made himself more available
than any other current statewide government official. Curtis
Loftis not only promised transparency and accountability during the campaign but he continues to deliver on that very promise
in a big way. Watch this excellent video of Curtis delivering some key points on transparency - this is some Good Stuff:
SC Treasurer Curtis Loftis - WLTX-TV I'm Just
Sayin' Courage is paramount in politics and Curtis is not
afraid to take anyone who’s not working in the best interest of the South Carolina taxpayers. “Though I don’t agree with
his decision to refuse a state car and gas, I do admire the notion nonetheless.” The Budget and Control Board Meetings before Loftis were held in a Governor’s Conference
Room with barely enough room for Board members. Now they are meeting in the Blatt Building which can seat more than 150 people.
Wow, now they have room for some of those pesky constituents – what a novel idea. Talk about “Transparency;” take a peek at Treasurer’s actual activity
calendar online where you can track his “Government Productivity Status” or GPS as I call
it: The SC State Treasurer's Calendar Curtis is taking on local, state, and federal agencies
while suing major Banks all in our interest. This is true representation and proven transparency in action. Some see Curtis
as a troublemaker and others have referred to him as openly confrontational where I see him as an elected official who’s
looking out for the public’s interest. Though only a couple of people have told me that they don’t trust his motives
they still feel he’s doing a good job. Though skeptical, even these folks admire his passion for transparency. Speaking of controversy in the name of the people; read this article
where he discusses Governor Haley’s staffers: http://www.thestate.com/2011/03/28/1753958/loftis-skeptical-about-state-government.html Battles between agencies are a good thing as long
as the fight is objective and in the best interest of all South Carolinians. You can bet though, if my friend Curtis Loftis
fails to live up to his promises I will be the first one banging on his door!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Terms of Endurement For the past several decades, the State and Federal Government
for the most part have become a burden on society. While the unemployment rate in South Carolina hovers around 12% our state
legislature continues to operate like we have money to burn and continue to cater to special interest groups and lobbyists.
It’s good to know that the “Good Ole Boys” are fat and happy while most of our citizens are struggling to
make ends meet. How do you expect our house and senate
leaders to understand the plight of the unemployed when they are often referred to them as peasants and bums? For over twenty years, term limits has been one of the most widely
debated issues across the nation. Americans have become sick of their local politicians who are seeking nothing more
than to hold a seat for decades while building lucrative retirement accounts. After career politicians stay in office for
countless consecutive terms they eventually build dictatorships and become totally disconnected from the people who put them
in office. “Politicians are like diapers: they
must be changed often and for the same reason.” ~ Paul Harvey There are several active movements in South Carolina that desperately need legislative action and approval such as
those groups pushing for transparency (roll call) rules, balanced budget amendments, education and tax reform just to name
a few. However, the legislative process in South Carolina State has been paralyzed for many years and under the tight control
of the “Good Ole Boys” network. “The people must
remain ever vigilant against tyrants masquerading as public servants.” ~ George Washington Without Term Limits, South Carolina’s State legislature will
never truly represent the citizens of South Carolina and will forever remain a Kingdom for a very powerful political machine.
The state house and senate are totally controlled by the RINO establishment politicians. These power brokers discourage other
members from introducing legislation that conflict with their agenda through bullying and intimidation. For example, disagreeing
with House Speaker Bobby Harrell on even one minor issue can result in a fellow member being ostracized and punished. Bobby
demands obedience and life is miserable around the State House when his almighty authority is challenged. Republican nominee
from state house 87 Todd Atwater went against his supporters and many constituents and opted to commit his full allegiance
to serve Harrell even before he has won the general election. “The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted.” ~ James Madison Political Machines only serve the establishment and the privileged few. Senate President
Glenn McConnell is hands down the most powerful man in the legislature and possibly all of state government. If the emperor
doesn’t enthusiastically support a bill – it’s dead! There’s almost no need for Harrell and McConnell to campaign when the party discourages challengers
and all opposition is bullied by these political thugs. The
leadership of each house controls all committee assignments and privileges. If you disagree with Harrell or McConnell you
can quickly be thrown in the proverbial doghouse. Bobby Harrell took important committee assignments away from Nikki Haley
because she insisted upon pushing legislation that would require all house votes to be recorded. The citizens of McConnell’s senate district #41 are far more powerful than any other
district along as he is firmly in charge of the state senate. It only takes one state senator to stop a bill in its tracks
with the leadership deciding what legislation is worthy of consideration. “Whenever a man has cast a longing eye on office, a rottenness begins in his conduct.” ~
Thomas Jefferson The Career politicians in South Carolina
are power brokers instead of public servants. They absolutely don’t care what the public thinks or how bad things get
along as they are permitted to conduct business with their friends and associates. They receive pensions & retirement
benefits and are so entrenched into their position that they have convinced themselves that it’s theirs to keep forever.
After decades of winning mostly uncontested elections many of these politicians begin to take their government jobs for granted. By limiting terms and shortening the annual legislative season the
citizens can regain control of a legislative process that at this point inaccessible to regular citizens. There are 15 other
states that have term limits for state legislators. Term Limits should be the new battle cry of the reform movement in South
Carolina. “The short memories of American voters
is what keeps our politicians in office.” ~ Will Rogers Term limits have presented challenges to legislatures that wish to remain strong and effective institutions. With
Nevada’s unemployment rate at 14.2% and the National rate at 9.6% and climbing Harry Reid still may be re-elected to
the US Senate. This is due to Reid’s prestigious position as head of the US Senate and majority leader. Even though
Nevada has the highest rate of housing foreclosures in the country the people of that state had rather suffer than lose the
power that comes with Reid’s top position. We
need to reduce drastically or eliminate entirely our state taxes if we want jobs and progress; the citizens deserve an open
and transparent government; the people want education reform and school choice. But under Harrell & McConnell’s
regime they are allowed to want but unless this powerful RINO establishment decides to put the people’s needs above
their own desires then want is all they are allowed. If
we limit the terms then we can return the power to the people!
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