March 2, 1998

Massive Grassroots Petition Drive Underway; House Leadership signed on board.

Columbia  --  Monday morning, Lieutenant Governor Bob Peeler, and STOP Plan (Stop Taxing Our Personal Property) sponsors, Senators John Courson, Joe Wilson and Rep. Rick Quinn announced their plan to eliminate $700 million in taxes on all cars, trucks, commercial vehicles and boats over the next seven years is moving to the frontburner.

In recent weeks, Speaker David Wilkins, Speaker Pro Tempore Terry Haskins, and Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee Henry Brown have all committed their key support to the STOP Plan. If enacted, the STOP Plan will comprise by far the largest tax cut in the history of South Carolina.

Lieutenant Governor Bob Peeler also announced that supporters of the STOP Plan will spearhead a massive petition drive with the South Carolina Republican Party to over 100,000 South Carolina voters statewide. "By the end of March we plan to deliver over 20,000 signed petitions and a loud and clear message to the General Assembly: The people of South Carolina demand the right to do away with their car taxes, not just a little bit, or halfway, but all the way. No ifs and or buts about it."

Standing behind stacks of petitions, Peeler pointed to the success of the drive Rep. Quinn has already begun in the Columbia area. "In just a couple of weeks, we have collected almost 6,000 petitions, mostly from my House District," noted Quinn. "To put that in proper perspective-- that=s more votes then I received in my last election."

Senator Courson emphasized the critical importance of tapping the widespread public support for car tax relief. "It was grassroots initiative that propelled residential property tax relief through the legislature before and marshaling that same type of support is the key to driving car tax relief home this year."

In addition to kicking off a massive grassroots campaign, STOP Plan proponents have been busy garnering legislative support. Over sixty sponsors in the House and Senate now support the STOP Plan.

Said Rep. Quinn, "Importantly, the House leadership has signed on to our bill as the best vehicle for tax relief. We have also mustered critical bipartisan support. As a result, the House leadership agreed last week to put STOP legislation on the frontburner and give it a full hearing as soon as the budget debate finishes up."

Key sponsors of the Quinn house bills include almost the entire House leadership. Sponsors of the Senate bill include five different committee chairman consisting of the approximately the same leadership that provided the original twelve votes for residential property tax relief in the Senate three years ago.

The STOP plan consists of two main elements. The first will dedicate 30% of new growth in the state budget toward personal property tax relief until the tax is eliminated. The second will give South Carolina voters the chance to amend the state constitution and freeze the amount of money local governments collect from the personal property tax at 1998 levels.

Although the STOP Plan originally called for $25 million in property tax relief this year, for constitutional reasons, this relief may be postponed until after an amendment passes the public vote to create a personal property tax relief fund. Peeler said that STOP Plan proponents were still looking for ways to start the relief immediately, but were not ready to divulge all their cards.

Said Senator Joe Wilson, "Based on the very successful residential property tax reduction of now almost a quarter of a billion dollars annually, new state budget funds can be adjusted by 30% without affecting services. In the past twelve fiscal years, there has always been an increase in the total budgeted funds ranging from $225 million to $821 million annually."

The lawmakers pointed out that state spending has grown from $2.6 billion to over $4.7 billion in the last ten years alone. Under the STOP plan, they said, the vast majority of new state revenues will still be available for items like education and infrastructure. The group also emphasized the constitutional freeze will apply only to personal property collection.

Ultimately the final say on STOP legislation would be left to the voters in November.