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Article published Mar 31, 2003
Legislators seek breaks for those serving country

JIM DAVENPORT
Associated Press

COLUMBIA -- Legislators are trying to give the state's military personnel breaks as the U.S. wages war on Iraq.
The changes would include letting state workers use sick leave and vacation pay to supplement their active duty pay; allowing troops stationed overseas to delay paying property taxes and cutting income tax rates for service personnel stationed in South Carolina.
The legislation is helpful and necessary when there are 3,000 people deployed in support of homeland security, said Lt. Col. Pete Brooks, a spokesman for the South Carolina National Guard. Allowances, such as waiving tax deadlines is "one less thing they have to worry about," Brooks said.
On Thursday, the House passed a resolution that
lets people called to active duty use 45 days of sick leave and vacation pay as a salary supplement.
"It's another way we can support those who are serving at tremendous personal sacrifice for those of us who are here," said Rep. James Smith, D-Columbia. Smith, the measure's chief sponsor, is a lawyer and Army National Guard captain. "This is a very modest step we can do."
The property tax break, now headed to the governor's desk, allows counties to extend property tax payment deadlines for people in the military if they are serving in or near a hazard duty zone.
"If you're sitting in a dusty foxhole in Afghanistan, you're not worrying about making your" tax payment, Smith said.
Several years ago, a constituent asked Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Bonneau, for a change in the income tax laws. He wants a 25 percent state income tax deduction for people stationed in South Carolina, but in each of the past five years his proposal has failed, although other states offer similar breaks.
Grooms hopes the current support for soldiers will help move the bill forward.
More is needed, he said. A constituent called to active duty for nearly a year wrote him recently wanting help. The soldier was making far less on active duty than with his civilian job and now is in fear of losing his home and car because he can't cover payments.
"He's wondering if there's any kind of relief that I could suggest, and there is none," Grooms said. "For the guy whose wife may have to turn in the vehicle because they don't have the income to pay for it, it's a tragedy that he's risking his life ... and this mortgage company is closing in on his home and this title company is closing in on his car."
A federal law, the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940, protects active military personnel from creditors during war, Brooks said.
For instance, creditors can be required to drop interest rates on home, car and credit card borrowing and homes can't go into foreclosure, he said. However, those loans have to be in the name of the military member, Brooks said.