Let’s follow Spartanburg’s lead in November. Let’s kill S. 940! Vote “no” on local option sales tax referendums.

This spring, conservatives tried our best to kill a $1,736,830,485 tax hike. After 5 attempts,  the 6^th motion received the 23 votes necessary to end a filibuster. The government grab-it rabbit is after you!

S. 940 is a bill that enables tax increase referendums for school construction in 14 counties in South Carolina. If passed, Anderson taxpayers will fork up $250 million.

It’s just a penny? Pennies ad up! This penny is $1,736,830,485. This money taken out of the pockets of consumers will prevent growth in our economy. It is a further intrusion on the freedom of the taxpayer to spend his/her own money as they sit fit. Additionally, sales tax hikes injure seniors and low income South Carolinians most.

Here’s how these pennies will ad up: Aiken $180,388,530.00, Cherokee $69,518,160.00, Chesterfield $21,247,140.00, Clarendon $22,870,830.00, Darlington $53,825,220.00, Dillon $25,220,370.00, Jasper $53,886,945.00, Lexington $523,447,560.00, Marlboro $15,562,125.00, Beaufort $372,605,280.00, Georgetown $94,071,615.00, Anderson $250,271,220.00, Kershaw $53,915,490.00=$1,736,830,485.00

Bryant calls action “exciting victory”.

Anderson, SC – September 15, 2014 –Senator Kevin Bryant issued the following statement on Spartanburg School District 5 taxpayers’ rejection of $71 million tax increase and the pending vote in November on Anderson County’s proposed $250 million tax increase.

S.940 allows certain counties to impose a one-cent sales tax in addition to the taxes taxpayers already pay. Senator Bryant said that, “Your state government now is encouraging your local government to nickel and dime the taxpayers. But, unfortunately, the buck getting passed is yours.” Late last year, Senator Bryant unsuccessfully filibustered S.940 in hopes of preventing local taxpayers from the onslaught of another political campaign, but he was silenced by the advocates of higher taxes. Spartanburg District 5, however, fought off the “tax you first” crowd and Bryant is calling on Anderson County taxpayers to do the same.

“Congratulations to the tax payers in Spartanburg County for your victory. Let’s work together in Anderson County to oppose the $250 million tax increase in November”. Bryant said. “The voters in Spartanburg realized that a $71m tax hike not only is unaffordable but also likely will be wasted just like the money they send to Columbia in the first place. Let’s hope the rest of the counties with tax increases on their ballots will reject the rest of the $1.7 billion tax hike”.

South Carolina: Faith and Freedom in The Public Square

An Evening with
Senator Tim Scott, Dr. Bill Bennett and Ross Douthat

 

Presented by Hashtag Productions, Anderson University and Conservative Talk 94.5 FM! 

On Tuesday, October 14th at 7 PM, in Henderson Auditorium on the campus of Anderson University, nationally syndicated radio show host Dr. Bill Bennett, New York Times columnist and best-selling author Ross Douthat, and Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) will appear together on stage for a conversation about “Faith and Freedom in the Public Square.”

Dr. Bennett will be our host and emcee for the evening.

We live in trying times. People are abandoning truth, Western culture is dying, and the lines between right and wrong are becoming irrevocably blurred. Religious liberty is being threatened, both at home and abroad. Those of us who take belief in the God of the Bible seriously feel burdened by the problems that arise in our increasingly secular, pluralistic society.

The goal of this event is to allow prominent voices in the public square to engage in an open, honest and entertaining dialogue about religion, the price of freedom, and the challenges we face as a nation and civilization.

This is about asking and answering tough questions in a God-honoring and purposeful way.

Tickets are $20 for General Admission seating, and a limited number of $100 VIP Reserved seating (which includes admittance to a catered pre-show VIP reception with the speakers at 6:00 pm).

Note: ALL SALES ARE FINAL! There will be no refund issued in the event you are unable to use your ticket.

 

September 12, 2014, For immediate release, Contact: Doug Mayer, 803-360-3285
Glen Raven Expanding Anderson County Sunbrella® Manufacturing Center
$13.5 Million Investment To Create 10 New Jobs
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Glen Raven, Inc., a global leader in high-performance fabrics, is expanding its Anderson County Sunbrella® manufacturing center through a $13.5 million investment that is expected to create 10 new jobs.
Glen Raven’s Anderson Plant is the company’s largest manufacturing center for its market-leading Sunbrella brand of fabrics for awning, marine and upholstery applications. The one-million-square-foot business center is operated by Glen Raven Custom Fabrics and includes highly automated, vertically integrated manufacturing facilities along with research and new product development.
Glen Raven began manufacturing Sunbrella fabrics in Anderson County in 1986 and in 1994 built Anderson Plant, drawing upon the latest in manufacturing technology from around the world. Located at 4665 Liberty Highway, the ultramodern Anderson Plant today employs more than 600 associates.
Founded in 1880, Glen Raven, Inc. today markets products in more than 130 countries worldwide, serving markets that include solar protection, marine, furniture, protective workwear, geogrid, automotive and water filtration. The family-owned company operates manufacturing, marketing and customer service business centers in North and South America, Europe, China and India.
To view all available positions, visit Glen Raven’s career page at www.glenraven.com. Additionally, interested candidates may email resumes to careers@glenraven.com.
QUOTES
“Continual investments in the Anderson Plant over the last 20 years have enabled our outstanding South Carolina workforce to make Sunbrella the best performance fabrics we can possibly make for our customers.  This latest investment continues Glen Raven’s commitment to Anderson County and to our talented associates by providing a safe, environmentally friendly and globally competitive manufacturing facility.” –Dave Swers, President of Glen Raven Custom Fabrics
“Glen Raven is a globally respected name in textiles, and we couldn’t be happier to see them to grow in Anderson – their premier manufacturing facility in the world. We celebrate Glen Raven’s decision to invest $13.5 million and add 10 jobs, and we look forward to their continued success in our state.” –Gov. Nikki Haley
“Today’s expansion announcement by Glen Raven is further proof that manufacturing is at home and growing in South Carolina. Thanks to team efforts on the state and local levels, this expansion will benefit Anderson County and the state for years to come, and it shows that South Carolina is just right for making quality textiles.” – Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt
“I am happy to congratulate Glen Raven on the expansion of their manufacturing facility in Anderson County. Glen Raven has been an exemplary role model in our industry neighborhood. Not only do they already provide more than 600 residents with jobs, but they proactively champion healthy lifestyles for their employees and support county-wide events that promote a vibrant, healthy community. This new $13.5 million investment and 10 new jobs are a bonus to District 4. It is truly satisfying to see such a wonderful company flourish and we are proud they call Anderson County home.” – Anderson County Councilman Tom Allen
FIVE FAST FACTS

• Glen Raven’s existing manufacturing operations in Anderson County today have more than 600 employees.
• $13.5 million investment expected to create 10 new jobs.
• Glen Raven has been in operation for more than 134 years, currently marketing products in more than 130 countries in segments that include solar protection, marine, furniture, protective workwear, automotive, geogrid and water filtration.
• The company began manufacturing Sunbrella fabrics in Anderson County in 1986 and in 1994 built Anderson Plant.
• Those interested in working for the company are encouraged to visit Glen Raven’s career pageatwww.glenraven.com for information on current openings and how to apply.
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I ran this article a couple of weeks ago, and it has since disappeared. If you’ll indulge me, I want to run it again. Maybe it was persuasive. Maybe it wasn’t. But we all need to know what our leadership is doing.
This is about a tax that will stay with us for 15 years to pay off a bond (debt) for a building I’m just not sure we need. Do YOU think we need it? Do you want our taxes to be 7% vs. 6% for 15 years? This article will hopefully tell you some facts around the money that I think could be better spent on …say, moving our educational system out of the ‘50’s. Tell me if you think I’m wrong. That would actually be good news. Here’s the article:
In November when the weather starts getting cold and callus, you will be asked to vote.
There is a question our leaders are asking us to vote on. Maybe we can work together to understand it better.
Our school district leaders, in Anderson County, are putting a one-cent sales tax “referendum” – proposal-up-for-vote – on the ballot November 4th that will give you a choice as to whether you want the one cent sales tax increase or not. (It will be written in legalistic writing, so probably more difficult for me to understand.).
http://www.independentmail.com/news/school-district-5-board-votes-for-holding-tax-bond-referendums_71792378
I’m wondering about this question our leaders are asking us to vote on. Maybe we can help each other understand it better.
I, personally, am against it. The reason I am against it is that these people are as human as you and me. They are capable of as noble and as ignorant, as well-meaning and as greedy, and as thought-out and as short-sided a thinking as you and I.
Yes, they have years of education and insight into this specific “need”, AND they are, like the person who makes bread everyday, knowledgeable about his or her product (in this case, our educational “system”) and how it should look and operate. But these are the same folks who are also wanting to spend more money within a structure that:
1) Is told that it has to spend ALL of the money it receives each year (wisely or not) so they can get more next year.
2) That voted to spend $5,200 a year to drug test our student athletes and band members when I don’t remember anyone bringing drug use problems from our high school athletes and band members to the public’s attention; this within a school system that is struggling financially. (Is there a drug problem with our athletes or band members? The schools say that these folks represent our schools and towns so we have to drug test them. Have they represented us for more than 50 years without drug testing? Has their behavior deteriorated or become a subject of concern? Are we drug-testing other students who do off-campus activities? Are we drug-testing the folks who chaperone the students, or any of our teachers or principles in the schools?
3) A system that gives our kids lists of items they have to get each year. The items on these lists are to be used by the entire classroom. Why is this? Don’t our taxes buy necessary supplies? I’ve been told that some teachers pull out their own money for school room supplies. And what happens to the supplies at the end of the year, that aren’t used up? My 6th grade nephew says the teachers re-use the unused items again. So, are they still given the same list as the year before?
An example of an item on the list and the process: graph paper is normally on the list. So, each Mom buys a pack of graph paper. Each child in class probably uses 5 sheets out of this pack. Since there were probably 30 packs of the paper bought, there are probably 25 packs floating out there somewhere not used.
I don’t get how that responsibility (of supplying these basic school items) was shifted to the parents (and teachers?). I do understand that some parents can’t afford as much as other parents, but to make a list of 25 things that every student must buy?…
4) The one-cent tax is slated to be used for a career center. What will be the difference between a new career center (that you pay for, for the next 15 years. That’s how long it will be a tax.) and the career center that we already have at Tri-County Technical College (TCTC)? Yes, I know TCTC is a distance away, but we have a bus system. Is that unsympathetic (of me), if one really wants to use it? Why couldn’t our educational leaders “partner” with TCTC for all area eligible students and persons needing career advice to use TCTC’s center, or at least research the idea?
5) Senator Kevin Bryant also opposes the referendum. Here are two links:
http://www.kevinbryant.com/kbarchive/2014/06/20/a-1736830485-tax-hike-needs-a-veto/
http://www.kevinbryant.com/kbarchive/2014/06/25/sen-shane-martin-a-tax-hike-steamroll/
I asked him to spell it out a bit more why he is opposed to this. He said there are special interest groups that will profit/benefit from the construction, who will be lobbying to help design and build it.
He also said that we (individuals) should have the right to decide for ourselves how we want to spend our money. (This vote DOES give us a choice, but we must carefully consider both sides of this decision…)
Like gas prices after Katrina, do you believe that the tax will be here longer than needed?)
And lastly, he agreed with my reasonings, above, that the districts “have to spend what they are given each year to receive more”, why do parents have inherited mandatory lists of items to buy each year for kids in the classrooms, and why could there not be a partnership between local schools and TCTC.
When Sen. Bryant spoke, with our next state house member, Jonathon Hill, at the Rec Center downtown he said that 70% of our county’s property taxes goes to education.) I have to wonder what I am missing here. (Salaries, maintenance, office supplies, building fund, technology, expansion, infrastructure. But where is the thinking.)
http://x315126.yourkwagent.com/atj/user/AdditionalGetAction.do?pageId=227919
Since Sen. Bryant is one of our state senators he also has talked to folks in-the-know (folks who “make the bread”), so he hopefully has some expertise in this area (or at least in the area of how much or little is reasonable to pay in taxes).
I’m asking you to please keep this in mind when you go to the polls. And if you educate your friends and relatives I believe we can begin to understand more and maybe partner with of our educational leadership to do a …better job. We are not sheep. ☺
Have a good one.