Herbkersman: Another idea on changing the tax code From the House The budget, school funding and wetlands were the topics of the day at the League of Women Voters meeting in Bluffton last week. We have a very active and informed league that is always a pleasure (and a challenge) to appear before. Incidentally, it may be called the League of Women Voters, but membership is open to men as well. We've come a long way. The new tax code proposals drew some friendly fire and provoked some very interesting suggestions as well. Col. George Harrell suggested incorporating a value added tax into the equation. A value added tax is a tax on the estimated value added to a product or material at each stage of its manufacture or distribution, ultimately passed on to the consumer. Much of European tax structure is based on the value added tax. Variations on this theme keep cropping up during the extended debate on changes to the tax code. Folks seem to have some level of agreement that our tax code could use some retooling, but the particulars are controversial. The debate goes on. Now that the most recent budget projections show an even larger shortfall than anticipated, the possibility of cuts to education funding are real and alarming. Fortunately, both Laura Bush and Barbara Catenaci were at the league meeting to help us understand what the local implications are of state budget cuts. Any way you slice it, it's not pretty. We have just got to do better for the future of the culture and the economy by making sure education is properly supported. We can't afford not to. Another top-tier issue on the minds of the LWV folks was wetlands, and particularly wetlands protection legislation. This is something we in the Herbkersman camp have been working on since before my election. While it is premature to talk about specifics at this point, I will be very surprised if the next session of the General Assembly doesn't see at least one or two productive wetlands measures coming out of the House. Look for the Coastal Coalition to spearhead the effort. We can take care of our wetlands while respecting legitimate property rights if we take a flexible, common sense approach, based on the best and latest science. If my colleagues in the Legislature had as well developed an understanding and appreciation for the role of wetlands in our watersheds as my friends at the League of Women Voters, passing a good wetlands bill would be duck soup (maybe a poor comparison, but you get the point). And speaking of water issues, don't forget the Nautical Flea Market on Saturday morning, sponsored by the Friends of the Rivers. It will be held on Calhoun Street in beautiful downtown old Bluffton. We all need some more boat stuff. Also, many thanks to Karen Johansen and the folks at Rose Hill Plantation for including me in the traffic light ceremony this week. That light is one of many we are working on in the Greater Bluffton/Sun City area that will eventually make getting around by car a whole lot safer if not more efficient, time-wise. Whether it's traffic lights, wetlands, schools or budgetary concerns, let me hear from you. It's why they call it the House of Representatives. Bill Herbkersman represents District 118 in the South Carolina House of Representatives. He can be reached through his Web site at www.herbkersman.com or by telephone at 757-7900. Other state lawmakers are: Sen. Scott Richardson, R District 46 52 North Calibogue Cay Hilton Head Island, S.C. 29928 610 Gressette Bldg. Columbia, SC 29202-0142 (803) 212-6040 SR1@scsenate.org Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney, D District 45 P.O. Box 300 Ridgeland, S.C. 29936 613 Gressette Bldg. Columbia, S.C. 29202 (803) 212-6056 CCP@scsenate.org Rep. R. Thayer Rivers Jr., D District 122 P.O. Box 104 Ridgeland, S.C. 29936 532D Blatt Bldg. Columbia, S.C. 29211 (803) 734-3073 Rep. JoAnne Gilham, R District 123 21 Dune Lane Hilton Head Island, S.C. 29928 326C Blatt Bldg. Columbia, S.C. 29211-1867 (803) 734-2977 JG@scstatehouse.net Rep. Catherine Ceips, R District 124 1207 Bay St. Beaufort, S.C. 29902 326A Blatt Bldg. Columbia, S.C. 29211 (803) 734-3261 ceipsc@scstatehouse.net Rep. Walter P. Lloyd, D District 121 102 Rearden Lane Walterboro, S.C. 29488 (home) 549-5026 (fax) 549-1281 (office) 549-7586 434C Blatt Bldg. Columbia, S.C. 29211 (803) 549-5026 WPL@scstatehouse.net Click here to return to story: http://www.lowcountrynow.com/stories/092903/LOCherbkersman.shtml