Pork - it’s not just for big spenders!
October 29, 2007
As everyone knows, when it comes to spending your hard-earned tax dollars, there aren’t many in the SC Legislature tighter than I am. In my freshman year, I was singled out by our Governor when he named a small handful of elected officials as Taxpayer Heroes. The next year, another organization recognized me as a Friend of the Taxpayer. To me, it’s common sense and it’s just doing the job I was sent to do. If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it one million times - elected officials should treat your money just as we would our own personal budgets at home.
For me, that means my wife and I continue to drive cars with 135,000+ miles and 195,000+ miles (my odometer broke in February and still hasn’t been repaired). It also means when we go out to eat, I try to do so on-the-cheap.
Yesterday in Knoxville,TN (yes, I’m a glutton for punishment by being a lifelong Gamecock), me, my wife, and our friends Robbie and Kim sat down to eat at Calhoun’s. When I read they had “The World’s Best Ribs” and they were only $11, I said “I gotta try those. I can see how it tastes and it won’t cost the taxpayers one dime!”
I’ve shared with you over the past few months that I’m very hopeful we will see some version of “Earmark Reform” in the SC Legislature this year. There’s been a small group of us in the House that have taken our lumps but I think this year we may start to see some results from our efforts.
Stay tuned because it’s going to be another interesting budget year! Since I’ve been elected we’ve had surplus budgets…this year, it appears that’s not going to be the case.
Time to tighten up the belt, big spenders. I’ll join you for ribs in town somehwere but not on the tax payers’ dime!
Comments
4 Responses to “Pork - it’s not just for big spenders!”
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Mo, Some of your fiscal conservative friends think its time for a new car.
We all have seen them and I sometmes joke about guys who drive cars with rims that are worth more than the car. in your situation you didn’t have to buy new rims and I am pretty sure the rims are now worth more than your car.
You failed to mention about the drivers side visor which want go up so you have to move it to the side to see or the compression problem with the engine so at the first stop light it is like waiting on the runway to be cleared for takeoff.
The Gov wears blue blazers with holes in them but I don’t think he would drive your car. “That noise will stop after we get going.”
Makes me wonder how you are going to sell the one with the broken odometer…
I can recommend a terrific Hyundai dealer.
Dang if those ribs don’t look goooood! I’ll bet ol’ Rocky Top thought chicken tasted good on Saturday night, eh?
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