Tim Scott recently sat down in his Charleston office with the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN’s) David Brody, CBN News White House Correspondent.
They discussed the Tea Party movement as well as many other relevant topics.
Click here to read AND watch the interview.
from THE POST AND COURIER, By Robert Behre
Unlike current Rep. Henry Brown, Republican 1st Congressional District candidate Tim Scott said he is opposed to earmarks.
“The earmark system as we know it is dead from the Republican perspective,” he told the Charleston Rotary Club on Tuesday.
“The earmark system leaves us with crumbs while others get the loaves.”
Brown and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham have fought for a $400,000 earmark in the current budget that port officials have said is critical to maintain momentum on a plan to deepen the Port of Charleston for larger container ships.
But the allocation isn’t in the current budget, a fact that U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint chalked up to Washington politics. DeMint no longer seeks earmarks, and has praised Scott for his “courage to fight the culture of earmarks.”
State Ports Authority officials and others have said the earmark is the only way that the Army Corps of Engineers can proceed with planning to deepen the harbor.
If the earmark isn’t included this year, Charleston could fall behind competing ports in the Southeast, all of which already have earmarks in the budget for harbor-deepening projects.
Scott joked about how often he’s been asked about earmarks, but noted that the House Republican conference has placed a moratorium on them.
He also noted that Oregon has received three times the federal funding for its ports than South Carolina has, though Oregon’s ports are much less busy.
Scott’s appearance Tuesday before the club also solidified the perception that he is the front-runner in the crowded 1st District field.
His Democratic opponent, perennial candidate Ben Frasier, declined to appear before the club, which did not invite the five other candidates.
Those candidates are Green Party hopeful Robert Dobbs, Libertarian Keith Blandford, Working Families candidate Rob Groce, United Citizens candidate Mac McCullough and Independent Party candidate Jimmy Wood.
The election is Nov. 2.
Scott pledged to limit himself to four terms, if elected.
When club member and former Democratic 1st District candidate Andy Brack asked Scott if he would run for the U.S. Senate after that, Scott replied, “I might run home.
The debate about encouraging economic growth, lowering taxes and controlling the deficit has taken center stage as we approach the expiration of the tax cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003. I believe that we must take action to extend all the tax rates that have been in effect for almost ten years. There is never a good time to raise taxes if we want to encourage small business to grow and create jobs, particularly in a bad economy. According to Congress’ Joint Committee on Taxation, the proposed Obama tax increases will raise taxes on 50% of all small business income. And it is small business that has created 2 out of every 3 new private sector jobs over the last fifteen years.
In a recent CNNMoney.com survey, only 10% of the economists surveyed endorsed the Obama plan to extend the tax cuts for only the lower and middle class taxpayers and raise the tax rates on the top two brackets. The vast majority of the economists surveyed said that extending the tax cuts for all taxpayers is the most important thing that Congress can do to help the economy. High tax rates stifle economic growth and it is a good economy that makes everything else possible.
A growing economy allows companies to create jobs, encourages entrepreneurship and creates opportunity and upward mobility for all citizens. It provides the basis for a balanced budget and reduced government debt, enables us to maintain a strong national defense and allows us to keep our promises to our seniors, our veterans, our allies and business partners.
As a small business owner, I understand the economic challenges facing us today. First and foremost, we need to pursue policies that promote private sector job growth. We have a President and a Democrat-controlled Congress who believe that a policy of more spending and higher taxes is the answer. I strongly disagree. I know that higher tax rates will not put more Americans to work. We need to implement policies that encourage businesses to grow and expand by putting money in the private sector and not in the hands of the government.
I understand that business prospers when government gets out of the way. The federal government can ask business owners to either pay more taxes or hire more people. Small business cannot do both.
The prosperity of America is directly linked to a good economy. During challenging economic times, it is critical that our leaders focus first and foremost on tax policies that will encourage economic growth and job creation for the people of America. I am committed to fighting for principles I believe in – limited government, less government spending and lower taxes – and I believe a focus on these fundamental principles will result in a growing economy.