Letter: SC State Legislature fails to pass road bill, again

I am appalled by our state legislature and their failure to pass a meaningful and desperately needed road bill this year. To add insult to injury, our Governor threatens to veto any bill that does not contain a cut in the state income tax.

While I can appreciate not wanting to raise taxes under the guise that the state has the money and just needs to cut the wasteful spending, but instead of addressing the problem they defer the issues and simply do nothing.

Let’s look at the facts; South Carolina ranks 43rd out of 50 as having the lowest gasoline tax in the nation; the state does not license trailers and limits the sales tax on cars to $300 no matter what their cost.

They let environmentalists stop needed road construction plans (SC 31) and fund a median project through Pawleys Island that nobody wants and then start the construction during the summer tourist season. The Grand Strand area is the only major tourist area in the country with no interstate connection even though Interstate 73 has been planned since 1990.

It’s time for the citizens of South Carolina to raise their voices, use their power at the polls, and restore our government to reflect the true needs of the people.

This story was originally published August 14, 2015 at 5:40 PM with the headline "Letter: SC State Legislature fails to pass road bill, again."