Caucus Press Release: Democrats Stumbling Upon Republican Issue
Feb 2, 2005
SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS / PRESS OFFICE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For More Information:
Jason Zacher
(803) 734-3334
COLUMBIA -- House Republicans have initiated action on at least three property tax relief bills and will debate them before the end of the session, leaders said Tuesday, adding that they believe any Democrat-led attempts to attach it to the Income Tax Reform Act are unconstitutional.
"Property tax relief is a critical part of our conservative agenda," Speaker David Wilkins said. "However, in light of last week's Supreme Court ruling on bobtailing, the Income Tax Reduction bill is not the proper avenue to achieve property tax reform."
Several Republicans, including the Speaker and Ways and Means Chairman Bobby Harrell, the Lexington County Delegation, Chairman Ronny Townsend, and Rep. Richard Chalk, are working on, or have submitted, property tax reform bills.
Property tax reform has long been part of the GOP's agenda, as it was one of the first major bills passed in the initial Palmetto Pledge, made when the Republicans took over the House in 1994.
"The taxpayers of this state are getting hammered by property taxes that are forcing them out of their homes," said Majority Leader Jim Merrill. "This is not a new issue, but obviously the Democrats have stumbled upon something Republicans have worked on time and time again for more than a decade."
The Supreme Court ruled last week that a bill may not contain items unrelated to the subject of the bill -- in this case reducing the state's income tax from 7 percent to 4.75 percent.
Coupled with the 2005 Jobs Creation Act, passed two weeks ago, Caucus leaders believe the income tax reduction will help reduce unemployment and expand the state's economy.
This is the second time the income tax reduction has been passed by the House. Last year the same bill died in the Senate. The income tax reduction is also part of the Governor's legislative agenda and highlighted in his State of the State Address.
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