After reading the transcript from SC Gov. Haley I could only shake my head in amazement and feel a sense of foreboding. In a speech that emphasized cutting back on government spending, which includes not funding Arts Programs, and looking for ways to decrease federal funding for much needed programs I wonder how long it will be before buyers remorse sets in for all those misinformed and misguided souls who voted her into office.
You can read the transcript of her speech here:
The T and D
That she continually invokes Ronald Regan and Abraham Lincoln throughout her speech gives you some insight as to her policies and the way they will be justified.
So as we move forward tonight in discussion of the challenges and opportunities that lie in front of us, let's not forget the words of our 40th President, Ronald Reagan, who said:
"There's a clear cause and effect here that is as neat and predictable as a law of physics: As government expands, liberty contracts."
Abraham Lincoln once said, "The people will save their government, if the government itself will let them."
Enlightenment comes with a price:
And the reality is the role of South Carolina's government in the year 2011 can no longer be to fund an Arts Commission that costs us $2.05 million. It cannot be one that funds ETV, costing taxpayers $9.6 million. And it cannot be one that pays taxpayer dollars to lobbyists, costing us $1.2 million a year.
and:
South Carolina cannot continue to chase federal dollars without studying the larger impact of how accepting those dollars affects our spending and financial stability. We know all too well that with federal money comes strings, and with those strings come limitations, unaccounted for costs, and in many cases, unsustainable spending.
So I am wondering is she going to give back all the revenue from the military bases in her state as well...following her "string theory"
But the best part comes with regards to the healthcare reform legislation that the Republican majority house voted to repeal yesterday:
I had the pleasure of meeting with the President last month and asked him if he would consider repealing this law, as South Carolina citizens can't afford it. He quickly told me "no".
Our founding fathers always intended that we empower families first, then communities, then states, and last Federal. Constitutionally, our states do and should have the ability to decide what is best for our citizens. And so I will continue to support the Attorney General's legal action against this intrusion.
But as I told the President, my job is to look for every avenue I can to deal with a situation that South Carolina can't afford. I asked him, respectfully, if he would allow South Carolina an exemption from this bill. I appreciate his willingness to have an open dialogue, and his statement to me that if South Carolina met certain criteria, he would be open to allowing us to opt out.
So apparently South Carolina cannot afford for its citizens to have the ability to obtain health insurance and not be denied coverage for pre-existing conditions, and the same small businesses that she touts as being the "backbone" of South Carolina don't need the tax cuts that would be provided to offset the costs of insuring their employees.
We have seen the enemy and he is us....
updated and removed reference to SC Income Tax