Who Violated the No-New Tax Pledge

Today I was sitting at lunch with a friend of mine discussing taxes and I was reminded of the no new tax pledges signed by our Legislatures in the 2008 campaign.  Here is the text of the no new tax pledge:

“I, _______________, pledge to the taxpayers of the ______ District of the State of South Carolina, and to all the people of the State of South Carolina, that I will oppose and vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes.”

Read that last section of this pledge again:

“I will oppose and vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes.”

I bring this up because there was a bill passed by the House earlier this month that has been somewhat controversial.  That would be H. 3584, which passed 97-22, otherwise known as the Cigarette Tax Increase bill.

H. 3584 imposes a 2.5 cents surtax on each cigarette.  Last time I checked, there are 20 packs in a box resulting in a 50 cent tax increase on a box of cigarettes.  The overall intent of the bill is to really reduce smoking and the legislatures claim that they are going to help small businesses by providing an insurance plan.  Go read H. 3584 for more details.

If that is truly the case and they reduce the amount of smoking, then they will eventually increase the tax on all citizens when the consumption of cigarettes no longer funds the programs.  What’s next, tax the people who drink regular coke? the obese?

So looking at that line in the no new tax pledge, let us see who violated their pledges.  Below is a list of all no new tax pledge signers, the bill, and an asterick (*) to indicate that they voted for the tax increase.

Also, look for a “Tax Pledge” page coming soon to keep you up to date on all tax pledge violators.

Pledge Signer	House District	H. 3584
Bill Sandifer	2	*
Bryan White	6	*
Don Bowen	8	*
Michael Thompson	9
Dan Cooper	10	*
Harry Cato	17
Dwight Loftis	19	*
Glenn “Dan” Hamilton	20
Wendy Nanney	22
Bruce Bannister	24	*
Rex Rice	26	*
Garry Smith	27
Eric Bedingfield	28
Lanny Littlejohn	33	*
Rita Allison	35
Steve Parker	37
Marion Frye	39	*
Gary Simrill	46
Herb Kirsh	47	Leave
James Lucas	65	*
Murrell Smith	67	*
Thad Viers	68
James Harrison	75	*
Joan Brady	78	*
Jimmy Bales	80	*
Roland Smith	84	*
Chip Huggins	85	*
Kenneth Bingham	89	*
Annette Young	98	*
James Merrill	99	*
Tracey Edge	104	*
Mike Sottile	112	*
Tim Scott	117
William Bowers	120	*