By Megan Nichols
Anderson Independent-Mail
April 28, 2006

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford was in Anderson Friday to personally thank state Sen. Kevin Bryant, R-Anderson, who he called a "taxpayer hero."

Sen. Bryant introduced an amendment to the state’s budget that called for giving $300 million back to South Carolina taxpayers. The measure did not pass.

Gov. Sanford visited the senator Friday afternoon at his business, Bryant Pharmacy & Supply, on North Main Street in Anderson.

The state budget was approved on Friday and grew state government by nearly $1 billion without sending any money back to the state’s residents, despite the fact that South Carolina revenues have been the fifth-fastest growing in the nation over the last three years, Gov. Sanford said.

"As your regular taxpayer, I would be saying, ‘If my paycheck is only growing about 5 percent, why should government in South Carolina grow at about 13 percent,’" he said.

The $6.5 billion budget is to add new school buses, give state workers raises, hire more highway patrol officers, and add $250 million for public school spending. The new budget takes effect July 1.

Sen. Bryant said sending money back to residents made sense to him. He said he wished his amendment had passed.

"I feel like the taxpayer knows more about how his money should be spent than I do," he said.

Gov. Sanford has become known for vetoing budget items and he said that could be possible this year as well.
"There may well be vetoes in the budget; we’ll leave it at that," he said.

Gov. Sanford also said now is the time for South Carolina taxpayers to make their wishes known, before the budget is signed and adopted.

"The squeaky wheel gets greased in politics," he said. "When people make their voices heard, it can make a difference."

Efforts to reach Gov. Sanford’s opponents in the upcoming gubernatorial election were unsuccessful.

Megan Nichols can be reached at (800) 859-6397 or by e-mail at nicholsmg@IndependentMail.com.

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