House Democrats are pulling for the Senate today, particularly on the state budget.
Democratic lawmakers expressed buyer's remorse in their return to the State House Tuesday.
They berated House Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, and their Republican counterparts for leading the state into the budget crisis it faces.
Then they turned on themselves.
Comments from the House Democratic Caucus meeting today got caustic at times, as Democrats returning from a couple weeks at home realized they are being smeared by a process over which they have almost no control.
Some comments made today:
"I'm disappointed we left here a week ago without a budget," said Rep. Harry Ott, D- Calhoun, who is the House Minority Leader.
He strongly criticized a recent opinion piece by Harrell in which he said working from last year's budget could be an acceptable option this year.
"That is a slap at every person's face who voted for that budget," Ott said.
"We ought to all be embarrassed to go back home without a budget," said Rep. Doug Jennings, D-Marlboro, "all over a petty game. We have dropped the ball -- the House, the Senate, Democrats, Republicans. When rich and poor, black and white look us in the eye and ask why, what are you gonna say to them?"
Another hot issue is income tax cuts. A House measure would cut the income tax for the wealthiest South Carolinians.
"We can't allow income tax cuts from the top down," protested freshman Rep. Bakari Sellers, D-Bamberg. "Here is where we have to make our stand. We have to be the party of injured workers."
Rep. David Mack of Charleston found little he liked about what's before the General Assembly.
"Every one of those bills (the budget, worker's comp, DOT reform) is a bad bill. This is (the Republican's) ballgame."
I am not one of the rich... but what is the issue with the 'rich' getting a bigger tax cut? They pay most of the taxes anyway. Dems would have you believe that this is a bad thing. How many people who are in the lowest income brackets contribute to the economic growth of SC. It is proven - there is economic growth through tax cuts. If John Kennedy were still alive he would tell you since he did it! I support a straight across the board cut... if you pay 5,000 in taxes, you will get more back than if you pay 5 dollars in taxes... Rich or poor, it is the worker's money - not the government's.I guess it is not stealing if the government does it. Lastly, studies show that more govt services are used by poor people, yet the rich pay a disproportionate amount for services they never use. I personally am tired of supporting other people with my labors!
Posted by: R. Faulkner | 19 June 2007 at 02:09 PM