Gov. Sanford Thanks Senate 'Taxpayer Heroes'

Gov. Sanford Thanks Senate 'Taxpayer Heroes'

GOVERNOR PRAISES EFFORTS TO PROTECT TAXPAYERS DURING SENATE BUDGET PROCESS

Gov. Mark Sanford today thanked members of the Senate for offering amendments aimed at sending money back to South Carolina's hardworking taxpayers. The Senate passed a budget yesterday that grew state government by nearly $1 billion dollars without sending any new dollars back to the state's citizens, despite a recent report showing that over the past three years the state's revenues have grown the fifth-fastest in the country.

The governor specifically thanked Senators Kevin Bryant and Greg Ryberg who led the charge to return $250 million to the taxpayers, as well as Senators Harvey Peeler, Chip Campsen, John Courson, Ronnie Cromer, Larry Grooms, John Hawkins, Jake Knotts, and Danny Verdin for voting in favor of the amendment. Gov. Sanford also thanked Senators Peeler, Campsen, and Hawkins for their leadership in fighting against "wish list" budgeting. Joined by nine other Senators in an effort that was ultimately defeated, Gov. Sanford praised the group for standing against the fiscally irresponsible budget practice of spending money the state doesn't even have.

"These Senators really put their money where their mouths are when it comes to keeping an eye on the taxpayers of this state," Gov. Sanford said. "There's a growing core of Senators who realize that spending every dollar that comes in isn't good for the taxpayers, the economy, people served by government or people working in government. Even though their efforts ultimately proved unsuccessful, every taxpayer in this state owes them a 'thank you' for fighting the good fight on this front."

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