State of South Carolina secondary Archives: on Budget & Economy
Catherine Templeton:
I took a buzz-saw to government
Templeton's visit to her newly opened Upstate campaign office in Greenville was the first of four stops that she planned to make during a whirlwind tour of the state. She also was scheduled to hold a telephone town-hall meeting with voters Monday night.
Standing with her husband, three children and about two dozen supporters in Greenville, Templeton used an electric saw to cut a ribbon in her campaign office in the Green Gate Office Park on Woods Lake Road.
"I took a buzz-saw to government" while leading two state agencies under former Gov. Nikki Haley, Templeton said.
The 47-year-old is seeking elected office for the first time. She said the state is plagued by government corruption, crumbling roads and poorly performing public schools.
Source: Greenville News on 2018 South Carolina governor race
Feb 26, 2018
Gary Johnson:
On verge of financial collapse unless we balance budget
I believe that we're on the verge of a financial collapse unless we balance the Federal budget and I don't see that happening with Obama. Now I do see that happening with the Republican party -- [but] a few short years ago Republicans ran up record
deficits, I'm not so sure, but I'm under the belief that only Republicans are capable of solving the problem that exists right now which is the collapse of our economy. I'm an entrepreneur that ran for governor of New Mexico promising to bring a
common sense business approach to state government that everything was going to be a cost benefit analysis. I got reelected in a state that was 2:1 Democrat. I think we're on the verge of a financial collapse unless we balance the budget and that means
some really tough choices that all doable and they're all doable under the context of a commonsense business approach to the way government does business and a cost benefit analysis that goes along with everything that government is doing.
Source: 2011 GOP primary debate in South Carolina
May 5, 2011
Gloria Bromell Tinubu:
Economic justice is the number one issue
"For me, it's not about how the economy is doing, I will ask voters, 'How is Your Economy Doing?'" provocatively says the former chair of Spelman College's Economics department. Popular political influencer Stacey Abrams was one of her former
students. "For me, economic justice is the number one issue and economic freedom is the number one freedom," she said. "President Roosevelt said if don't have economic freedom, there's no real freedom. This is about freedom and justice for everyone."
Source: The Atlanta Voice on 2020 South Carolina Senate race
Aug 23, 2019
Gloria Bromell Tinubu:
Raise minimum wage to $15/hour if not higher
The Georgetown native is out campaigning on her "Reshaping America: Economic Justice Tour," discussing topics such as higher minimum wage and ways to improve the state's economy through agriculture. "So, first of all, we are,
we want to make sure that people are paid enough money so that they can take care of their basic kitchen table issues," she explained. "And so, we are in favor of increasing the minimum wage to $15, an hour, if not higher."
Source: ABC News-4 on 2020 South Carolina Senate race
Aug 23, 2019
Henry McMaster:
Propose nearly doubling rainy day reserve fund
I am proposing that the General Assembly allocate $500 million--38 cents of every new dollar--into our state's "rainy day" reserve fund. If approved, the balance of South Carolina's "rainy day" accounts will be almost twice what they were last year,
going from $616 million to $1.142 billion. By saving this money instead of spending it, something that has served our state well this year, South Carolina will be prepared for any eventuality and a whole lot of rain.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address: South Carolina legislature
Jan 13, 2021
Jeb Bush:
Florida thrived under my leadership
BUSH: People are struggling -- 63 percent of Americans can't make a $500 car payment. Most Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. We need someone who has a proven record of growing the economy.TRUMP: Florida, he put so much debt on Florida.
He put so much debt on Florida, and he increased spending so much that as soon as he got out of office, Florida crashed. I happened to be there. It's my second home. He didn't do a good job as governor.
He loaded it up with debt, and his spending went through the roof. He was not a good governor.
BUSH: Here's the record. We led the nation in job growth seven out of eight years. When I left there was $9 billion of reserves, 35% of general revenue.
No state came close to that. During my time, we were one of the two states to go to AAA bond rating. Personal income during my time went up by 4.4 percent.
Source: 2016 CBS Republican primary debate in South Carolina
Feb 13, 2016
John Kasich:
Ohio went from $8 billion deficit to $2 billion surplus
We've gone from an $8 billion hole to a $2 billion surplus. We've cut taxes by more than any governor by $5 billion. We have grown 400,000 private sector jobs since I've been governor.
Our credit is strong. Our pensions are strong. And frankly, we leave no one behind. Economic growth is not an end unto itself. We want everyone to rise.
Source: 2016 CBS Republican primary debate in South Carolina
Feb 13, 2016
Lee Bright:
Free enterprise is the key to national prosperity
Question topic: Free enterprise and the right to private property turn mankind's natural self interest into the fairest and most productive economic system there is, and are the key to national prosperity.
Bright: Strongly Agree
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 South Carolina Senate race
Jul 2, 2014
Lindsey Graham:
Dollar-for-dollar offset: cut spending to raise debt ceiling
Q: This debt ceiling will need to be raised sometime in February. Where are you on the idea of a partial or a full government shutdown to stop the spending in order to get some cuts in exchange raising the debt ceiling?GRAHAM: I believe we need to
raise the debt ceiling, but if we don't raise it without a plan to get out of debt, all of us should be fired. Every American owes $52,000 in terms of their share of the national debt. I want to raise the debt ceiling, but I will not do it without a plan
to get out of debt. If you raise the debt ceiling by a dollar, you should cut spending by a dollar. That is the way to go forward. So a dollar for dollar offset and a budget I think are two conditions to raising the debt ceiling.
Q: And you would not
raise them unless you've got cuts certain in spending. You will not raise the debt ceiling?
GRAHAM: I'm not going to borrow trillions more dollars without a plan to get out of debt.
Source: CNN SOTU 2013 interview on 2014 South Carolina Senate race
Jan 6, 2013
Lindsey Graham:
Won't shut country down; getting back to business
Q: Should we ask teachers to return to face-to-face instruction without having access to widespread rapid testing?Graham: I think we should allow our parents to make a decision about what's best for their children. And if a teacher doesn't want to
go back to the classroom, I won't make them. But the one thing we're not going to do if I'm your Senator is shut the country down. We're going to open up safely. We're now getting back to business here in South Carolina.
Source: 2020 South Carolina Senate debate (Rev.com transcript)
Oct 3, 2020
Mia McLeod:
Got SC Ports Authority to triple minority business goal
Coming from a small business family in rural South Carolina, I know what it takes to sustain both a family and a business. A state with safe, well-compensated, and well-treated employees is a pro-business state. Last year,
I convinced the SC Ports Authority to increase its minority business participation goal by three times the original goal and now, small minority businesses have greater opportunities to do business with our ports.
Source: 2022 South Carolina Governor campaign website MiaForSC.com
Jun 15, 2022
Mia McLeod:
Allocate critical funds for infrastructure
As Governor, I will base infrastructure investments on the needs of our communities, not the self-serving motives of those in power. I'll work with the General Assembly to allocate critical funds for the long-term sustainability of our roads, bridges,
ports, dams, and broadband so no matter where you live in South Carolina, you'll enjoy a better quality of life with the technology to innovate and thrive in the 21st century.
Source: 2022 South Carolina Governor campaign website MiaForSC.com
Jun 15, 2022
Mitt Romney:
Washington is broken; needs fundamental change
As you look at what's happening in the federal government, [key is to consider] that Washington is broken. We need to have fundamental change in the way business in Washington is carried out. What that means is we're going to have to have leadership that
can reorganize the government. We're going to have about 40% of the government employees turn over in the next couple of terms. Let's go through all the agencies, all the departments, all the programs and cut out the unnecessary and the wasteful.
Source: 2007 Republican Debate in South Carolina
May 15, 2007
Nancy Mace:
Restore some accountability in the budgeting process
Mace fears a "constitutional crisis" if the massive federal government is not reined in. She alleges that the President has "forced policymakers and the American people into uncharted territory by deciding unilaterally what laws he will and will not
enforce." Mace recognizes that many Americans have lost confidence in ability of Washington to adequately represent its citizens and pledges to restore the confidence once she is elected.Specifically, Mace plans to attack the federal spending fiasco
in her first term. She wants to see "significant movement" on measures to "restore some accountability in the budgeting process." Mace supports a "cut, cap, and balance approach" that will promote economic growth. Additionally,
Mace supports eliminating the income tax and would like to see America move toward a consumption based tax.
Source: Edgefield Advertiser on 2014 South Carolina Senate race
Nov 23, 2013
Rick Wade:
Oversaw Obama stimulus implementation at Commerce Department
While at the Commerce Department, Wade worked diligently to ensure President Obama's business and economic programs, including the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, were implemented effectively and efficiently. A former White House mentor, he
served on the White House Task Forces on Small Business Contracting, Auto-Recovery, and Historically Black Colleges & Universities. He also served on Vice President Biden's Task Force on Middle Class America and the Interagency Business Council.
Source: Biography by the Univ. of South Carolina alumni association
Dec 13, 2013
Rick Wade:
AdWatch: 5 years in Washington on failed $787B stimulus
Wade was an adviser to Barack Obama's 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns. He also has run for statewide office before, losing the 2002 race for secretary of state to Republican Mark Hammond.State Republican party leaders called
Wade a "political insider." The GOP chairman said, "He spent the last five years in Washington authoring President Obama's failed $787 billion stimulus bill and sending taxpayer dollars to his political cronies.
We look forward to Rick Wade explaining that record to regular South Carolinians. They won't be too impressed."
The Wade campaign responded, "When it comes to choosing between what's best for South Carolina and America and what's best for his tea party friends, Senator Tim Scott will always choose the tea party".
Source: Greenville News AdWatch on 2014 South Carolina Senate race
Dec 15, 2013
Thomas Ravenel:
Federal spending is headed for a doomsday scenario
Ravenel's candor illuminates a desire to tackle the problems that Washington has so far ignored and may give voters a reason to take a look at his long-shot bid. With nothing left to lose and no one else to fear offending,
Ravenel is ready to unload on the Republican Party, incumbent politicians, the ballooning federal debt, and what he sees as a dangerous and unprecedented expansion of the federal government into the lives of Americans.
Now that he has been "emancipated" from the party label, the more libertarian Ravenel gladly holds forth on just about any issue that comes up. On federal spending he warns that the nation is headed for "a doomsday scenario."
"The federal government is making all these promises, but at some point, we're not going to be able to fulfill those promises," he says. "We're going to end up like dogs fighting for scraps."
Source: TheDailyBeast blog on 2014 South Carolina Senate race
Jul 4, 2014
Tim Pawlenty:
I left MN with a balanced budget, not a $6B deficit
Q: You like to say in Minnesota you balanced the budget without raising taxes. The National Conference of State Legislatures say that you used a lot of one-time fixes, such as taking $2 billion from the Obama stimulus plan, and borrowing billions from
local school districts. The bottom line is you left your state with a projected deficit of $6 billion.A: Every budget during my time as governor was balanced. So, this idea that I left a deficit in Minnesota is not accurate. This two-year budget cycle
ends in the black this summer. The two years after that is a projection, based on preposterous assumptions.
Q: But people talk about a projected deficit is because of $4 billion in borrowing you took from local school districts, which the state has to
pay back.
A: Actually the deferral of those payments to schools was something I wanted to make permanent, but the legislature refused. They chose to do it one time. In this session, it looks like they are going to make them permanent.
Source: 2011 GOP primary debate in South Carolina
May 5, 2011
Tim Scott:
Address fiscal cliff with sequestration & tax cut extension
Q: Let's talk about the fiscal cliff. What happens now?SCOTT: The House has acted already. The House passed sequestration on four occasions. We've extended all the tax cuts. And now we wait for a response from the other side. We stand prepared to be
here in Washington whenever the president or the Senate has a proposal that we can take and act on.
Q: It seems like both sides seem to be, "Well, we're waiting for them." But the fact is nothing ever gets done. Do you think that this Congress will
let us go over this so-called fiscal cliff?
SCOTT: That's a really good question. And that's one of the reasons why I'm pretty excited about the fact that we have already acted. We acted several months ago to extend the tax cuts for all Americans.
We don't have to go over the cliff. There is a piece of legislation that has passed the House, which is good news.What we haven't seen come out of the Senate yet is a single piece of legislation that addresses the crisis.
Source: CBS "Face the Nation" on 2014 South Carolina Senate race
Dec 23, 2012
Tim Scott:
Free enterprise is the key to national prosperity
Question topic: Free enterprise and the right to private property turn mankind's natural self interest into the fairest and most productive economic system there is, and are the key to national prosperity.
Scott: Agree
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 South Carolina Senate race
Sep 30, 2014
Tom Tancredo:
Reduce budget deficit--restrict feds to Constitutional role
Q: Interest on the national debt is $400 billion. Do you consider that a problem? A: Yeah, it's absolutely a problem. Reducing the national debt requires us to have some sort of fiscal discipline. There are a million programs that we operate and
that we pay for with the federal government that are far beyond the bounds of the Constitution. Follow the Constitution and you'll know what is necessary. And that's the defense of the country. That's it for the federal government.
Source: 2007 Republican Debate in South Carolina
May 15, 2007
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023