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Article published Oct 7, 2003
Sanford starts statewide tour in Greer
Associated Press
GREER -- Gov. Mark Sanford began a
three-day, nine-city tour of South Carolina on Monday, discussing jobs and the
economy with business owners and reporters.Sanford made stops at two small
Upstate businesses before holding a roundtable discussion with reporters at a
Greer restaurant.The governor said he would discuss specific job growth and tax
reform proposals closer to the beginning of the legislative session in
January.Sanford said he would continue to focus on recruiting new businesses to
South Carolina and growing small businesses.He also said he would continue to
work on reducing state income taxes, which he said are among the highest in the
nation.Lowering the income tax has been effective in creating jobs and
increasing income levels in other states, Sanford said."What you'd see when you
look at the average of those states that cut income taxes as opposed to raising
them during times like these is three times the job growth and 46 percent higher
personal income levels," Sanford said.The state faces a difficult budget year,
$350 million in the hole with an additional $155 million deficit left over from
two years ago. Sanford said he wants to completely erase the $155 million
deficit before his term ends because leaving it would set a "terrible precedent"
for future governors.Because of the budget situation, it's unlikely state
employees will receive a pay raise again this year, he said. "We'd like to build
it in our budget, but I don't know if we'll be able to."