Anti-tax cheap shot

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State Rep. Bobby Harrell, the Charleston Republican who heads the House Ways and Means Committee, has been attacked by a national anti-tax group in a manner that can be described as vicious and curious. The Americans for Tax Reform is running ads across this state — except in the Charleston area, Harrell said — associating Harrell with pork-barrel spending because he successfully got money in the state budget to expand the football stadium at The Citadel in hopes of landing a college football bowl game.

Granted, the expenditure seems a bit odd in a budget year when state lawmakers had less state revenue than the state needs. But peel back this budget request, and it doesn't seem outrageous — especially not the type of state spending that should attract the attention of a national group.

The state has agreed to spend about $5 million on the stadium, but not all at once. The money is allocated in annual chunks of $380,000, and then only if the deal is finalized for the college bowl game. And based on some projections, a college bowl game could bring in between $1 million and $2 million in tax revenue.

Harrell has been the architect of some tax cuts included in this year's state budget. The budget brings the state income tax code into compliance with federal income tax laws. Between the marriage tax penalty and the estate tax, South Carolinians will save about $52 million in state taxes.

When Harrell proclaims that "something's just not right" about this advertising attack on him by a national group, he makes a persuasive argument.