Mar 31 2009

scpc & Laffer: stimulus would have stymied jobs

Today, the South Carolina Policy Council unveiled a study: “The Economic Impact of Federal Spending on State Economic Performance: A South Carolina Perspective. This project was done in cooperation with Arduin, Laffer & Moore Econometrics. Remember Dr. Arthur Laffer was Reagan’s chief economist. The findings?  The $700 million stimulus that Gov. Sanford has refused would have resulted in job losses for South Carolina; specifically 23,800-34,850 additional jobs lost.

Here are a few highlights. Click to see the full report.

Federal government spending comes with a cost to the private sector, ether higher taxes today or more borrowing which produces higher taxes later.

Total government expenditures relative to the private economy appropriately measures the burden created by total government spending. The government expenditure wedge (GEW) is defined as government expenditures divided by net domestic business output. *(the lower the better)

Increase in Government spending results in an overall downturn in the economy. Examples

-Between 1950 and 1965 GEW was low (32.4%) later it grew 5.5%. Private sector expansion was 3.6% per year.

-Between 1965 and 1983 GEW rose to 49.0% private sector slowed to 2.5%

-1983 – 1988 GEW fell to 45.7% and the private sector grew to 5.1%

-(continues trend GEW up = Private sector down see page 2)

Result: Accepting federal dollars causes a slowing in the private sector. 1.7 million jobs lost in US + 23,800 – 34,85 additional jobs lost in SC.

No such thing as a free lunch.

-More government spending creates lower private sector –

-Lower private sector produces higher unemployment –

-Higher unemployment creates more unemployment benefits.

-THEREFORE –

-More government spending creates greater costs to states in unemployment benefits.

Government spending directly produces higher state taxes.

After the stimulus bill the SC GEW will be 61.0%

Conclusion:

The Stimulus plan will be detrimental to SC, causing a slowing in the private sector, higher unemployment, higher state spending and  higher state taxes.

By Kevin Bryant • Uncategorized •

Mar 31 2009

good friday prayer breakfast

Good Friday Prayer Breakfast 
Friday April 10, 2009 
6:30 am at the Boulevard Baptist Church
Community Activity Center 
Rev. Jim Reimann 
Editor of “My Utmost for His Highest” 
“Look unto Me”  
Join us for a Resurrection Celebration

By Kevin Bryant • Uncategorized •

Mar 30 2009

Senate Time

“Senate Time” is an online video interaction presented by the SC Senate Republican Caucus Director Wesley Donahue. Here’s this week’s segment.

By Kevin Bryant • Uncategorized •

Mar 27 2009

Flag presentation to Sandy Springs Community Park

State Senator Kevin Bryant, Ethan Bryant, Bob Jones (president), Susan Smith, Vivian Gaylord 
Sandy Springs Community Park presented S.C. Flag by State Senator Kevin Bryant
March 15, 2009 State Senator Kevin Bryant, along with his son Ethan, presented Sandy Springs Park Association President Bob Jones a new South Carolina State flag for the Sandy Springs Community Park. The park is located on Sandy Springs Road and is a joint venture between the people and businesses surrounding Sandy Springs and Anderson County. The park includes a walking track, shelter and playground equipment and is open to the public year round.

By Kevin Bryant • Uncategorized •

Mar 26 2009

transparency amendment passes!

The amendment sponsored by myself,  Sen. Vincent Sheheen (D-Kershaw),  & Sen. Mike Rose (R-Berkeley)  on H. 3352, was adopted today ironically by voice vote. After I revealed that I had 27 commitments, everyone voted aye. I did feel, however, that there is a need for me to have my vote recorded in the  journal on the amendment. This a great day in South Carolina’s teachers, parents, and taxpayers!

By Kevin Bryant • Uncategorized •

Mar 26 2009

24 hour waiting period

H. 3245 increases the required waiting period of patients seeking  and abortion from 1 hour to 24 hours. The time this waiting period begins is when the patient has been offered to view images of the child viaultrasound. Due to my beliefthat life begins at conception, during my time in the Senate I have made every effort to protect the rights and liberty of the unborn. That is why I am supporting legislation that will give mothers a chance to think about the life changing decisions they are making before having an abortion. The essence of the bill states, “No abortion may be performed sooner than twenty-four hours after the woman receives the written materials and certifies this fact to the physician or the physician’s agent.”  Hopefully, the increase in this waiting period will give these patients in very unfortunate situations an opportunity to think about this decision and get input from other sources. It is in these small ways that we can make an effort to preserve life in South Carolina and uphold the principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I appreciate your support and encouragement as I fight to preserve the sanctity of life in the Palmetto State.

My friends at the Crisis Preganancy Center in Anderson inform me that when a patient views the ultrasound, 85%choose to carry the child to term. The Anderson CPC does an outstanding job at ministering to these women in desparate situations.

Also, I am in the process of reasearching practical measures to hold the fathers of these children accountable. Currently, the father of unwanted pregnancies are in no way held liable for their actions. Any thoughts you have in this regard, would be welcome.

By Kevin Bryant • Uncategorized •

Mar 25 2009

my response

Dear  

I appreciate your concern for the school funding flexibility resolution currently before the Senate. I have communicated with many people interested in flexibility, and I have assured them that I too support full flexibility for all school funding, and that I hope this become permanent law. I believe every school should spend the taxpayers’ money as they see fit and let the taxpayers hold the school boards accountable for the results. 

I also believe that flexibility demands accountability. True accountability comes in only one form—transparency. Transparency ensures that all teachers and parents and taxpayers know exactly where the funds are going. Teachers deserve to know where the dollars that are not going into their classrooms end up. Some non-instructional spending remains, of course, necessary. Teachers however must enjoy the ability to have an open discussion with their administrators, and their parents, about the priorities decided upon by the school. Teachers deserve to know why some money goes into their classrooms and some money goes elsewhere. The reasons may be sound, and if they are then all will agree. Without transparency, however, the questions go unanswered. 

My amendment simply asks for transparency. It in no way delays the bill. The Senate can vote this amendment up or down as soon as it comes up. Let’s vote!

By Kevin Bryant • Uncategorized •

Mar 25 2009

School Board Administrators: don’t give teachers transparency!

To: SCSBA Members and Advocates 

From: Scott Price, SCSBA General Counsel

Re: Action Needed On School Funding Flexibility Bill

Action Needed Now

Contact Senator Kevin Bryant of Anderson County (even if he is not your senator) by emailing him atbryantk@scsenate.org or calling his office at 803.212.6024 and urge him to remove his transparency amendment from the joint resolution (H.3352) that would provide school districts funding flexibility for the current year and for 2009-10. The amendment is holding up passage of the resolution in the Senate and could also delay passage in the House if the bill winds up having to go to conference committee.

Background Summary

An objection (a legislative procedure that stops debate and vote on a bill) was placed on the funding flexibility bill during debate on Bryant’s amendment that would require school districts to post all their expenditures on their Web sites. The amendment is similar to two, “SC Truth In Spending” bills (S.229 and S.221) that currently reside in the Senate Finance Committee.

In addition, the resolution has been set for special order (calls for the bill to be debated and voted on one way or the other on a specified date that has not been determined), which could jeopardize the bill if the amendment is not removed.  

Sample Message to Sen. Bryant

Dear Sen. Bryant:

Please remove your transparency in spending amendment from the school funding flexibility joint resolution. While the amendment may have merit, it is holding up passage of flexibility schools need to efficiently manage the $387 million cut to public schools statewide in this fiscal year alone. Two other bills “SC Truth In Spending” (S.229 and S.221) that currently reside in the Senate Finance Committee would provide the measures you seek.

Local boards are struggling with developing budgets for 2009-10 and are relying on flexibility to help plan for projected lower revenues and provide a better grasp of year-end projections. Districts have taken a variety of measures to protect teaching positions and minimize the impact of budget cuts on classroom instruction. Virtually all districts have slashed administrative costs, put off building maintenance and repairs, restricted travel, eliminated student field trips, and declined to fill vacant positions.  Many districts have furloughed employees – some multiple times – and dipped into reserve funds to fill budget holes and avoid classroom cuts. With reserves depleted and other options exhausted, however, the reduced budgets to come will be felt by teachers and students in classrooms unless we are provided greater flexibility.

Allow the funding flexibility resolution as passed by the Senate Finance Committee to proceed for passage by removing your amendment now. Thank you for the opportunity to express request and for your service to the State of South Carolina. South Carolina public schools need your support.

Sincerely,

[Name]

Board Member
[School District]

By Kevin Bryant • Uncategorized •

Mar 25 2009

school funding flexability may get transparent

By Kevin Bryant • Uncategorized •

Mar 25 2009

Senator Ford rocks the house

Some say that we’re not reaching across the aisle, we’re reaching across the universe! Bryant and Ford cosponsoring a bill is just that, reaching across the universe. We’ve joined hands today to publicly cry for better options for our kids. As you can see in the picture (courtesy of fitsnews.com), this event drew the attention of the whole lobby.

This may be a once in a lifetime occurrence in the General Assembly so ya’ll may want to pay attention. I am cosponsoring a bill with my good friend, Sen. Robert Ford (D-Charleston). Many times I have butted heads with Sen. Ford. The definition of marriage, pork barrel spending, gambling, & capital punishment to name a few. Our voting records would probably show the most differences than any other two members of the Legislature. Yet, today, we’ve found an issue that we both feel passionate about; school choice.
                     
This week,  Sen. Ford introduced a bill (S. 520) that would allow parents more options in education. This bill gives a fraction of the total expenditures to a tax credit to families that are trapped in a failing school. On average, we spend over $ 11,000 per student per year on education. This bill gives a tax credit to parents that want to try a different approach for their child. Choice and competition gives students more options as well as it gives school districts incentives to improve.

Also, this bill is revenue positive for the public school system. As families opt out, 2/3 of the funding stays in the public system for empty chairs! This bill increases per pupil funding for public education.

By Kevin Bryant • Uncategorized •