Mark Sanford in Survey of Gubernatorial campaign websites, 2001-2009
On Budget & Economy:
Limit spending increases to population growth plus inflation
Our number one priority has been and continues to be to cut income taxes for individuals & small businesses in South Carolina. The proposed FY ‘06-07 Executive Budget limited state government spending increases to population plus inflation, and proposed
returning more than $380 million to South Carolinians in the form of a tax rebate.With our unemployment rate continuing to lag the national average, we will persist in our push for a lower income tax rate for all South Carolinians so we can reverse
this trend. We have effectively the highest income tax rate in the Southeast and the 5th highest rate in the nation and we believe that a lower rate will give South Carolina a competitive advantage when it comes to attracting jobs and encouraging
business start-ups. Whether attracting new jobs and capital or looking to grow from within, we must remain competitive with other states (Florida has no income tax) and other nations (even Russia & China are lowering rates) if we are to compete globally.
Source: 2006 Gubernatorial website, SanfordForGovernor.com, “Issues”
Nov 7, 2006
On Education:
Supports merit pay for teachers
One of the bedrock principles of any market-based system is the notion of pay for performance. While we have been successful at raising the average pay for teachers in South Carolina and providing bonus pay for teacher certification,
we need to do more to directly tie improved results in the classroom to increased pay for those results. Merit pay has shown positive results; instituting some form of merit pay for teachers is a goal of this administration.
Source: 2006 Gubernatorial website, SanfordForGovernor.com, “Issues”
Nov 7, 2006
On Environment:
Market-based incentive for private land conservation
We’ve proposed funding to bolster water quality efforts & expedite hazardous site cleanup, and we successfully pushed for full funding of the South Carolina Conservation Bank, providing a market-based incentive for private land conservation. In addition,
Governor Sanford has proposed $10 million for a Timber Conservation Fund in this year’s Executive Budget to take advantage of a once in a lifetime chance to create a legacy of land conservation and conserve our forests for future generations.
South Carolina was recently able to save 39,000 such acres of wildlife habitat, including over 38 miles of river frontage on the Big PeeDee and Little PeeDee Rivers, the largest land protection deal of its kind in South Carolina history. Finally,
Governor Sanford recently petitioned the US Department of Agriculture to keep more than 7,600 acres of national forestland in South Carolina roadless, part of the administration’s ongoing effort to protect ecologically significant land in the state.
Source: 2006 Gubernatorial website, SanfordForGovernor.com, “Issues”
Nov 7, 2006
On Government Reform:
Bring horse-and-buggy government into the 21st century
Bringing South Carolina’s horse-and-buggy government into the 21st century is key to providing savings to the taxpayer and improving government services. SC currently spend 130% of the national average on the cost of government, due in large part to
a government structure that is duplicative, unresponsive and inefficient. We also believe the best way to increase government-wide accountability is to reduce the number of elected constitutional officers and have them appointed by the governor instead.
Source: 2006 Gubernatorial website, SanfordForGovernor.com, “Issues”
Nov 7, 2006
Page last updated: Dec 02, 2018