Columbia-- Lt. Governor Bob Peeler issued the following statement today regarding the cover-up involving potentially a half million inflated car tax bills in South Carolina:

"I am happy the Governor has stated that he will remedy the problem at SCDOR and make sure there are consequences for those responsible. However, this seems to me like more talk and no action. The Governor’s claim of ignorance is reminiscent of his reaction to disclosures that SCDOR was working hand-in-hand with video poker lawyers last year. The taxpayers affected by these tax hikes deserve an answer and action.

The Governor says he only found out about these mistakes earlier this week. Yet, in the Wednesday edition, the Herald-Journal reported that the Spartanburg County Auditor brought the errors to the attention of state officials back in November. And the fact of the matter is these mistakes were only brought to the public’s attention after local media began asking serious questions this week.

The agency that sets tax policy for all South Carolinians is out of control. Apparently, the Hodges administration covered up the car tax scandal as long as they could, but they had to know the taxpayers would find out sooner or later.

Either the Governor is feigning ignorance again with one of his most powerful cabinet agencies or something much worse has happened. I call on the Governor to release all information on this inexcusable matter and demand the immediate resignation of the head of SCDOR.

This appears to be a classic cover-up. The public deserves to know what the Governor knew and when he knew it."