The Sun News: Lawmakers discuss taxes, I-73

Posted on November 29, 2007 
Filed Under News

Interstate 73, tourism promotion, tax reform and immigration issues were among the top concerns aired Wednesday at the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual legislative luncheon.

About 200 people attended and listened for almost two hours as most of the county’s delegation spoke on issues they expect to be topics of legislation in the coming session and answered questions posed by chamber members.

Lawmakers were asked if they think they can get $10 million – or more – in the state budget again for tourism promotion, and if it could be a permanent allocation rather than one that has to be considered each year.

Rep. Alan Clemmons, R-Myrtle Beach, said more accommodations tax money was collected from Horry County last summer than ever before, and he believes it is related to the stepped-up tourism promotion.

That will help make a good case for permanent funding because increased revenue helps the whole state, Clemmons said.

How to get permanent funding for I-73 in the budget is another problem. A House-passed plan to do so failed last session because Sen. Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence, opposed it. Sen. Luke Rankin, R-Myrtle Beach, said Leatherman supports I-73 but did not think it was the right time to spend state money on it.

Rep. Nelson Hardwick said the issue is one reason he works on developing relationships with legislators from other parts of the state.

“They enjoy divvying up our money,” he said. So he works on trying to persuade them to help Horry County make more money, such as with an interstate highway.

Rep. Thad Viers, R-Myrtle Beach, also said it’s important to keep pressing the argument that I-73 is needed “from the state’s perspective,” and that it isn’t just to help Myrtle Beach bring in more tourists.

Clemmons commended the chamber members for lobbying other legislators about the area’s needs, especially with the annual reception for lawmakers held in the capital during the legislative session.

“You have made so much difference in how the Grand Strand is perceived in the General Assembly,” Clemmons said. Most of the delegation said they expect some action will be taken on immigration this year. More than a dozen bills on the subject were filed last year, many of them by Viers, and more will be filed this year.

“We just can’t continue to let things go on and on and on,” said Rep. Billy Witherspoon, R-Conway.

“Something’s going to happen,” but legislators will make sure it is fair to employers, Viers said.

Rankin said the state cannot allow local governments to pass their own immigration ordinances. The chamber and most other business groups do not want local governments to be able to regulate immigration, or to investigate employers.

On tax reform, Clemmons said there will be attempts to adjust the swap of sales tax for school operating taxes on owner-occupied homes. One result has been higher taxes for second homes, which affects investing and the real estate industry, he said.

Sen. Ray Cleary, R-Murrells Inlet, said economists predict a slowdown early in the year and local legislators will first have to make sure they hold onto local allocations before trying for additional money.

Lawmakers discuss taxes, I-73
By Zane Wilson – The Sun News  – Nov 29, 2007