We had a great turnout at a Town Hall meeting at Wren High School. Hosted by Councilman Ken Waters and joined by Representative Joshua Putnam, we had an interesting conversation. About 60 or so people attended the event. As usual, I get questions I can’t answer, or am not comfortable answering without some thought. Below are those questions:

1-Is South Carolina a “donor” state or a “recipient” state as it relates to gas taxes? We are a “donor” state. For the gas tax we send in, we get back 89%

2-Will more electric cars be a problem since they do not pay gas taxes at the pump, yet still use our roads? I doubt this will be a problem for a long time. The problem with electric cars is that they cost too much and no one can figure how to change that. The UK Guardian reported in September that, “Electric cars will not be able to compete with conventional cars on price until 2030, a report said on Tuesday. The total cost of ownership – the upfront price and running costs such as fuel and insurance – of environmentally friendly electric vehicles is currently around £5,000 (@ $7500) more than petrol and diesel cars, found the study undertaken by consultancy Element Energy and commissioned by the public-private Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LCVP). But even if fuel prices double to £3 ($4.50) a litre, the authors said, the overall cost of electric cars will be higher than conventional combustion engine cars. Electric cars today cost around £30,000 without a government grant of £5,000 – nearly double the equivalent petrol and diesel rivals. But they are cheaper to run, with a Nissan Leaf costing around 2p per mile compared to 14p for a Ford Focus.”

So, just like solar power and ethanol, it’s just a government boondoggle that benefits a government-favored constituency.

3-Why shouldn’t we require moped riders to carry liability insurance? Liability for cars is necessary because if a driver hits you and is at fault, he/she must be insured to cover the damage made to you. I haven’t found that moped drivers have been at fault, and caused serious damage to others. Until I see evidence that this is a problem, I won’t support requiring to insure mopeds.

4-Is it lawful to allow motorcycles to have extremely loud mufflers? There are local noise ordinances, depending on your location. The state does not regulate motorcycle noise. I would not support the state getting into this, but would support local governments’ regulation.

5-Does DNR and PRT get some of the gas taxes we pay? Shouldn’t all of this money go to our roads? DNR yes, PRT, no: One percent of the proceeds from thirteen cents of the gasoline user fee imposed pursuant to this chapter must be transmitted to the Department of Natural Resources for a special water recreational resources fund of the State. All balances in the fund must be carried forward annually so that no part of it reverts to any other fund.

We were very impressed with this new movie, courageous. Unlike many Christian flicks, the message, story, and acting, were superb. We’ve decided to sponsor a movie night for those who are interested at Bryant Pharmacy & Supply. Go see it!

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Comedian and Radio Talk Show host Dennis Miller endorsed Mr. Cain and gave him the idea for this bumper sticker following that endorsement!  American Made. get yours here

Below is a response in the Anderson Independent Mail to my recent op/ed. BTW, I do recuse myself from voting on medicaid reimbursement and issues directly affecting our business. See here and here. Also, you can find the economic disclosures for Bryant Pharmacy here.

Guest column: Senator’s moral outrage, Trav Robertson, Thursday, September 29, 2011

A recent guest column from Sen. Kevin Bryant, in which he tried to justify being both a fiscal and social conservative with his interpretation of the Bible, reminded me of something my father and mother taught me while explaining the difference between dogs and humans. Rationality is man’s ability to justify any action or consequence.

I am not sure all human beings can aspire to the level of rationality. Three aspects lead me to this conclusion: His adopted role as the protector of liberty, his unpatriotic attack on the system of government he runs and his hypocrisy in setting himself up as the self-proclaimed prophet from Anderson.

Perhaps the most insidious aspect of the column is the use of religion to justify his version of class warfare and his attack on the middle class.

Using the shield of patriotism, Bryant implies that he alone has the “moral obligation” to guard freedom. Every American shares in this obligation. This moral obligation is what guides me to point that the senator should re-read Matthew 7:5, “…. First take the log our of your own eye and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” His rhetoric clearly doesn’t match his governing style.

We as a community, bound by a common good, must question his use of religion to justify his attacks on our system of government as “socialist” and those who might disagree with him as the “socialist left.” My mind is not that of St. Thomas Aquinas, but lessons learned at First Presbyterian Church lead me to believe that Jesus might not appreciate the use of his word to justify hypocrisy.

By the way, the “socialist left” doesn’t control the state Senate, the House or any of the nine constitutional offices in S.C. Where were Bryant’s “moral imperatives” or “moral obligations” to the taxpayers of this state when Gov. Nikki Haley spent over $250,000 on a recent trip to Paris? Did he express any moral outrage?

I can’t recall his “moral imperative” to protect the taxpayer when he participated in a legislative process that included Medicare or Medicaid reimbursements to his pharmacy. Did this “moral imperative” guide him to sponsor legislation requiring those serving in the legislature to disclose the amount of money they or their businesses receive from Medicare and Medicaid? Did he recuse himself from all votes that related to Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements to pharmacies?

Where was this self-proclaimed prophet’s “moral obligation” to transparency when Haley failed to disclose secret payments, while a state representative, from a company that may have benefited from her votes in the General Assembly?

Bryant’s assault on programs that help the children of our state is contrary to Psalms 82:3-4, which commands us to “Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy.” Would Jesus fail to provide health care to those children who can’t control the circumstances unto which they are born or help the aged whose life savings have not survived the economy that Kevin Bryant helped create and can’t seem to fix?

I dislike his repeated habit of distorting religion to use as his personal political attack weapon to justify class warfare and deprive the less fortunate of faith and hope.

Faith, in its true words, offers us hope for a better future for ourselves and for our country.

Trav Robertson Jr. is an Anderson native and a 1991 graduate of T.L. Hanna High School. He is the former deputy state treasurer for South Carolina and ran state Sen. Vincent Sheheen’s

campaign for governor.