Note from our Governor

Dear Friend:

A vote was taken this week in Columbia that again illustrates why it's never been more important for you to make your voice heard on the need for change in state government.

On Tuesday, the state Budget and Control Board approved a total of $117,000 in salary increases - a more than 20 percent increase for some - for 10 agency heads, despite no performance review for the raises, despite some of those affected only being on the job for a few months, and despite no one asking for the raises.

It's something that seems like it could only happen in state government. Imagine this if you will: your boss walks in after you've been on the job for just a few months and says 'I'm going to increase your salary by 20 percent.' You'd be surprised, given there were no performance requirements, no time yet to have proven your work, and not even something that you've requested. Yet this is exactly what happened Tuesday, which is especially amazing considering the deficit we're going to be walking into next year. Our state is heading into what will be about a $220 million deficit because the winning position in Columbia over the last three years was to grow state government by about 40 percent. It would seem with decisions like yesterday's, some in Columbia appear almost intent on making that deficit even larger.

This is exactly why it is so critical that you get involved and tell your elected officials that this kind of decision-making is not what you sent them here to do. If you live in the Charleston area, I'd ask you talk to Converse Chellis who holds the key third vote on the Budget and Control Board and to date has been voting against me and Richard Eckstrom on taxpayer issues like this. I've included a news story about the vote at the end of this email. Please forward this to a friend if you have a minute, and thanks again for your willingness to be involved.


Mark