| Income tax debate begins with losing round on
bingo COLUMBIA - "Bingo" was the one of the first words spoken Tuesday as senators began debating Gov. Mark Sanford's plan to lower the state's top income tax rate. Sen. Brad Hutto proposed an amendment to the tax plan that would let the Catawba Indian Nation open a high-stakes bingo operation in Orangeburg County near Interstate 95. "This will bring 1,100 jobs," the Orangeburg Democrat said. "We will be bringing money into the coffers of this state." The tribe wants to build an electronic bingo hall in Santee, but they need the General Assembly to pass legislation allowing the operation. The Catawbas have said that if the General Assembly does not pass the legislation before it adjourns, they will put video gambling machines on their reservation near Rock Hill. The Catawbas recently sued in federal court to assert they have the right to operate the video gambling machines, which the state outlawed in 2000. Mr. Sanford's spokesman Will Folks said the governor does not think a 1993 agreement allows a bingo operation in Santee to use video bingo terminals, and it would be illegal for the Catawbas to operate the machines on the reservation. After nearly three hours, Mr. Hutto's amendment was ruled out of order and an attempt to overrule that failed with a 17-25 vote. That vote, however, raised questions whether supporters of Mr. Sanford's plan would be able to muster the 28 votes needed to shut down a filibuster that loomed Tuesday night. Sen. John Land, a Manning Democrat expected to lead the filibuster, began talking just after 6 p.m. on another amendment. Mr. Land said the corporate income tax laws need to be changed, with smaller corporations getting $97 million in tax breaks - putting them at the same rate larger corporations pay. But Mr. Land's intent was clear as he railed against Mr. Sanford's income tax plan. He took aim at capping state spending growth for state agencies at $100 million a year. Limits like that "wouldn't even be keeping up with inflation. You'd be dying on the vine. ... You would be destroying your state," Mr. Land said. The Senate's version of the plan does a little better at $150 million a year, Mr. Land said. Sen. Greg Ryberg, R-Aiken, said $1 billion in lost tax collections over time is only a small part of the $10 billion that state budget will grow to. Government doesn't need all that money, he said. "How piggy can government be?" he asked.
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