Lower income levies would benefit economy

Recently, Gov. Mark Sanford met with S.C. House Speaker David Wilkens, R-Greenville, to announce his plan to cut South Carolina's income tax by nearly a third over the next 10 years.

Under this plan, our state income taxes would be reduced gradually at 0.225 percent each year [if state revenue forecasters predict revenue growth of at least 2 percent].

South Carolina's income tax rate is the second-highest in the Southeast. The result? People are leaving our state or moving to states with lower taxes, or no income tax at all, such as Florida. To become more competitive, stimulate business and increase job growth, we must reduce state income taxes.

I urge all South Carolinians to contact their state House members and their Senators to encourage them to work with the governor and help the state by lowering income taxes to raise our standard of living, create jobs and help grow the economy.

President Bush's tax relief package has nipped the recession in the bud and already resulted in a high rate of growth for the national economy. The same can happen here in South Carolina.

I support Sanford's stand on the income tax relief. I hope everyone else will do likewise.