GOP Governor Henry McMaster Proposes Massive Tax Relief While South Carolina Democrats Double-Down On Tax Hikes

While GOP Governor Henry McMaster has proposed tax cuts, Democrats running for governor have spent years pushing for tax hikes on South Carolina families. On Monday, Governor McMaster released a new plan to cut state income taxes by $750 million annually, in addition to tax cuts he proposed last week for retired military members, law enforcement officers, and firefighters in South Carolina.

In contrast, Liberal Politician James Smith, who is currently seeking the Democrat gubernatorial nomination, has spent years pushing for higher taxes in the state legislature, advocating for increases to the state’s gas tax and for bringing back the state sales tax on groceries, both of which would heavily burden South Carolina families and take the state’s economy backwards.

While Governor McMaster remains committed to easing the tax burden on the people of the Palmetto State, offering new tax breaks for veterans, police officers, and firefighters, Liberal Politician James Smith has made his career advocating for damaging tax hikes that would hurt South Carolina families.

James Smith’s Support For Tax Hikes:

“Rep. James Smith, D-Richland, argued that increasing the gas tax is the fiscally responsible thing to do, and suggested that House members should care more about doing your job than keeping your job, even in an election year.” (“Falling short on DOT reform,” Post & Courier, March 24, 2016)

“State Rep. James Smith, a Columbia Democrat, said some sales tax exemptions should be temporarily repealed. That includes adding the sales tax back onto groceries, which would generate about $400 million and cover the state’s essential needs… ‘We need to stop this temporary patchwork of fixes,’ Smith said.” (“State legislature begins budget debate,” Anderson Independent-Mail, March 16, 2010)