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Q. I would like the candidates to address the issues of property taxes on automobiles and car insurance. I know this issue has come up many times in the past but I have never heard an answer nor a solution.

I have lived in SC for 15 years. I came from WI and have loved this state ever since coming here. I was shocked about the amount of property taxes we have to pay on automobiles.

There are not many states that use this for revenue. What does this money go toward? I have heard it assists with the schools. If that is true, then there are other issues that need addressing because it is not helping. The tax on automobiles is so much a deterrent for purchasing that we cannot afford a new car or a used car. Why do we not have the regular sales tax (6 percent) on the cars and be done with it? That way the amount of the car and the sales tax can be rolled into the loan. Cars are so expensive, it is rare to not have loans on them anyway. That way we wouldn't have to look forward to paying the astronomical amount each year for the property tax.

The other issue is the car insurance. The car insurance in SC is double what it is in WI. I was told by an insurance representative it was because there are so many uninsured drivers and there are many winding roads in this state. That is a ridiculous statement because there are just as many uninsured drivers all over the US. In comparison to WI, outside of Milwaukee and Madison, the rest of the state has winding country roads.

A. In 2001, I and others in the Legislature passed a phased-in reduction of automobile taxes. That reduction is in full effect this year, reducing the property tax burden by over 40 percent.

As for car insurance rates, some progress has been made in the past several years addressing this problem, though more work definitely needs to be done. The Governor appoints the Insurance Commissioner, and when I am elected, my appointee will be fully dedicated to addressing these concerns.

Q. Where do you stand on abortion, pro-life, pro choice?

A. My personal position on the question of a woman?s right to choose is that, for deeply felt religious reasons, I am opposed to abortion except in the cases of rape, incest, or when a mother?s life or health is threatened. That being said, I fully understand that the U.S. Supreme Court?s holding in Roe vs. Wade is the well-established law of the land and all elected officials are bound by their oath to obey and uphold the law.

Q. What will you do to resolve the DOT controversy, and how would you achieve the much-needed improvements without raising gasoline taxes?

A. Strengthening our transportation infrastructure is a critical element of my economic development plan, especially in our rural areas. I will create a Rural Infrastructure Bank to fund needed improvements in communities hardest hit by recent job losses.

This initiative will lay the foundation necessary for those communities to attract new, high-paying, technology-driven jobs and succeed in a 21st-Century economy.

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Q. What do you plan to do to fix the problems with the DSS and Family Court system in this state? I know of several cases where non-critical abuse or misconduct is alleged, though not proven, and DSS is involved. In one instance, it has been over a year and no abuse has been substantiated.

The excuse is that the Family Court system is too busy to try the case. Meanwhile, the children involved have their lives in limbo, and are in fear of what will happen to them. I thought the law stated that DSS cases must be settled within 90 days. If these agencies are too busy to settle the case, who is protecting our children?

A. Just this year, a comprehensive review of our family court system was completed, the first since its inception in the 1970s. Reform is sorely needed, as today our courts are so inundated that a judge has on average 20 minutes to give per case.

Several recommendations have come out of the committee?s work, including creation of a pilot program to use volunteer lawyers as hearing officers and mandating that certain kinds of cases try mediation before coming to Court.

As Governor I will work with the Legislature and our Family Court professionals to implement the recommended changes and improve the delivery of these critical services for South Carolina?s families.

Q. What is the single, specific action you would take or ask the Legislature to take, to reduce South Carolina?s chronically high unemployment rate?

A. There is crying need for properly trained professionals in the healthcare field in good paying jobs from registered nurses to medical records technicians. I would immediately convene the leaders of Technical Education and the appropriate colleges and universities to devise a plan to ramp up our ability to train and place these professionals and work with the General Assembly to get the resources to do it.

Q. What are your legislative priorities for the 2007 Legislature starting with the first three bills you would have introduced?

A. Under my leadership we will fully fund every public school and work together to make needed reforms so that every public school is a good choice. I will end the current governor?s assault on our public schools.

Beyond that, my plan for One South Carolina also calls for rebuilding our Commerce Department as one of the most effective job recruitment agencies in the nation; undertaking a comprehensive reform of South Carolina?s tax structure; and restructuring and streamlining state government to maximize efficiencies and minimize waste.

I will work with the Legislature to pass an increase in the cigarette tax and invest the resulting revenue in a major, multifaceted health care package for working families in South Carolina.

Q. Define your management style and approach to working with the Legislature?

A. In the business and construction world there is a process called ?partnering.? It is frequently used on large projects and creates a framework that allows partners to work together in a more collaborative and productive manner; it puts emphasis on participants? relationships with others. This process improves communications and enforces a common goal of problem solving and attaining the shared objective.

The Governor sets the course and defines priorities and goals for our state. Building our bridge to the future is a huge project, and I will effectively partner with the Legislature, and with business, community and local government leaders to lead us to that future.

Q. South Carolina has perhaps the nation?s lowest tax on cigarettes, at 7 cents, compared to a U.S. median of 80 cents. Given smoking?s cost in health care, under what conditions would you support a substantial increase in the per pack tax and how would you use the additional revenue?

A. There are an estimated 625,000 men, women, and children in South Carolina who face sickness without health insurance.

Earlier this year I offered the Small Business and Rural Health Care Assistance Act, which laid out the basis for raising the cigarette tax and a plan for how to invest the additional revenue to expand SCHIP, providing tens of thousands more children with healthcare; to make prenatal health services more available; to expand the presence of rural health clinics; and to help small businesses provide health insurance to employees and their families.

Q. Consumer groups and the Pentagon have criticized payday loans, some with triple-digit interest rates. North Carolina and Georgia have banned them. Would you, as governor, seek to outlaw or limit their operations?

A. In 2003, we passed landmark legislation that strengthened the regulation of the payday loan industry. I helped lead that effort and continue to support further reform because we must protect South Carolinian families from anyone who would take advantage of them.


Q. The recent controversy over the Department of Transportation accepting a contract from a company that offered the state $1 million less than a competitor for administering a sign program raised anew issues with South Carolina?s still decentralized state government. What changes, if any, would you work for to strengthen the executive branch?s authority?

A. We restructured state government in the early 1990s, and I believe I can be successful within that framework. If not, I?ll convene a group of business professionals to assess our system?s strengths and weaknesses and together we will develop a fair and workable plan for change.

We can immediately maximize efficiencies by centralizing our purchasing and IT services, and consolidating services now duplicated across agencies.

Our current governor keeps asking for more power, but what has he accomplished with the power he already has? For example, South Carolina?s governor has the line item veto, but instead of exercising that tremendous power and making tough choices, Mark Sanford vetoed the entire budget this year, a complete abdication of responsibility.

Q. Do you support or oppose offshore drilling for oil and natural gas?

A. I oppose any efforts to drill off South Carolina?s coast.

Q. What legislation would you propose to control coastal sprawl?

A. When considering development, communities must promote and protect quality of life while finding a middle ground on growth. Environmental planning and protection is a critical part of the process, but too often costs rise prohibitively while complying with regulatory requirements. Costs are passed through to consumers, so we all have a stake in streamlining the process to both protect our environment and promote responsible development. I would propose policies to do so.

I believe we must also revisit the Comprehensive Planning Act, which was passed in 1994. Changes in our state and communities in the 12 years since the law was passed could very well mean that changes to the law are in order.

Q. Every election for governor includes calls for development programs for the state?s poor, rural counties, but over the years they?ve fallen further and further behind, not sharing in the general prosperity of the larger cities and their suburbs. What is your priority program?specifically targeted to these areas? for increasing jobs and incomes?

A. Most of our hard-hit rural areas lack the updated infrastructure that would attract new, high-paying, technology-driven jobs.

We must lay the groundwork to make every community in South Carolina a viable option for 21st-Century industries. I will create a Rural Infrastructure Bank to build the necessary foundation.

My plan also removes the obstacles blocking creation of a deep water port in Jasper County, which will bring tens of thousands of jobs to some of our most rural areas.

In addition, education and health care are critical building blocks for a successful economy. We must improve, reform and retool our education system to prepare future workers for real-world employment and we must provide greater access to quality, affordable health care.


Q. Almost since the inception of the republic, South Carolina as a small state, has depended on upon seniority of its delegation to Washington for protection from the bureaucracy or largesse from the treasury. As a U.S. House member, Gov. Sanford limited himself to three terms and has criticized Sen. Moore as a ?28-year insider.? Are seniority and experience beneficial or detrimental to a state?

A. Clearly experience is a wise teacher but it?s effectiveness that benefits the state.

Mark Sanford has been in elected office for nearly ten years, so he is not an outsider. Over that time, he has had few accomplishments. As one of 400+ U.S. Congressmen, he may have had the luxury of being contrary to make a political point. As Chief Executive Officer of the state, you must work effectively with people across all lines to accomplish real and measurable goals. I am proud of my record of doing just that.

In my months of traveling around the state I have learned this: South Carolinians don?t care if you are inside or outside; they want to know if you?re on their side.


Q. What executive action?if any?would you take to curtail the growing numbers of illegal aliens in South Carolina?

A. Issues surrounding immigration, legal or otherwise, are primarily the responsibility of the Federal Government. But border protection is only part of the solution. Undocumented workers would not be coming to South Carolina if someone wasn?t eager to hire them.

This is where the state can have a real impact and, as governor, this is where I will focus my efforts to curb illegal immigration. By working with the South Carolina Department of Revenue, the Department of Commerce, and county tax officials I will increase enforcement efforts that find out who these employers are and punish them accordingly.

Border protection and deportation are the Federal Government?s job, ours is to protect every hard-working South Carolinian.