Apr. 4, 2005
Week in Review
State
Last week, the Senate Finance Committee amended a House bill (H 3007) that would give small businesses a tax break over four years by gradually reducing income taxes to 5 percent. This is a slightly more aggressive plan than the governor's proposed tax-break over 10 years.
A bill (H 3682) addressing eligibility for unemployment compensation where substance abuse led to the employee's discharge was passed out of a subcommittee.
The Senate Finance Committee voted to level all liquor taxes at the wholesale level. Under current law, the true wholesale tax for liquor is $6.42 per liter: Wholesale taxes for off-premise alcohol equates to $1.42 per liter, plus the additional 25 cents per minibottle tax paid by bars and restaurants. The Senate is looking for a logical approach to imposing a fair tax and ensuring collection. This new proposal would change all wholesale taxes to $1.92 per liter, equalizing the taxation at all levels and eliminating any incentive to cheat.
Two smoking bills have been introduced in the House. On the Senate side, S 374 would eliminate the current South Carolina law that prevents cities and counties from having tougher smoking laws than what is under state law. If this pre-emption were to be lifted, each city and/or county could impose their own smoking ordinances. On the House side, bill H 3795 has been introduced that would ban smoking in restaurants.
Federal
A U.S. House subcommittee narrowly passed an act (HR 525) allowing chambers of commerce and trade associations to offer fully insured health plans to their members. This same legislation has been proposed in the Senate (S 406) but is held up in a subcommittee.
Upcoming Events
Join the region’s top business and community leaders as we journey to our nation’s capital for the 2005 Washington, D.C. Fly-In “The Grand Strand Goes to Washington” on April 12 and 13. Talk with your state’s congressional delegation on important legislative issues affecting our area, including I-73, transportation, airport expansion, beach renourishment, proposed international trade center and deepwater ocean outfalls. Read More
Join fellow South Strand chamber members at a breakfast meeting to discuss road issues affecting the South Strand area. The South Strand Roads Initiatives Meeting will be held April 18 starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort, 1601 N. Ocean Blvd., Surfside Beach. Talk with local and state elected officials and learn about issues affecting this area, such as the southern hurricane evacuation route, South Strand connector and other road concerns. Call our South Strand Welcome Center for reservations at 651-1010. A complimentary breakfast will be served.
This year's Hospitality Day at the State House featuring "A Taste of South Carolina" will be held April 27. The event provides business leaders with the opportunity to talk with their lawmakers. Read More
Legislative Agenda (More Bill Tracking)
| Bill Name | Summary of Bill | Chamber's Position | Status |
| State Legislation | |||
| Sale of Alcoholic Liquor | |||
| >Bills pertaining to alcoholic liquors and beverages regulates liquor sales, distribution and tax. |  The chamber supports these regulations. |
Approved by Senate Judiciary and moved to Finance Committee; House Ways and Means Committee holding hearings | |
| Tort Reform | |||
| S 83 H 3008 |
Various provisions of the Economic Development, Citizens and Small Business Protection Act of 2005, which provides diverse measures of tort reform. Includes various provisions relating to liability for damage, wrongful death; frivolous lawsuit sanctions; elimination of joint and several liability. |
|
Passed Senate and House |
| Highway Funding | |||
|
H 3134 H 3137 H 3220 H 3296 |
Various measures to alter and/or increase state highway funding. |  The chamber desires highway funding for new projects. |
Referred to Ways and Means Committee |
| Federal Legislation | |||
| Surface Transportation Legislation | |||
| HR-3 | Funds six-year reauthorization of highway bill. | The chamber supports this measure, which includes interstate funding. |
Passed House (417-9); Senate begins debate |
| H-2B Visa | |||
| S352 | Allows students previously working summer jobs to return to same employer. | The chamber supports this measure. |
Referred to Judiciary Committee |
| Association Health Plans | |||
|
HR 525 S 406 |
Allows nonprofit chambers and associations to sponsor and offer health plans | The chamber supports these bills |
Passed House subcommittee; sent to Senate subcommittee |
Hit or Miss
Hit to Senate Finance Committee for recognizing that small businesses need tax relief and, better yet, for recognizing that business tax reduction can lead to job creation
In the News
The private school tax credit bill is back in the news. A bill that would give tax credits to parents who transfer their children from public schools got its first official hearing in the House last week. The bill would allow parents with taxable incomes up to $75,000 to take a tax credit for a portion of the cost to home school their children or to send them to private school or another public school. (H 3012, H 3204 and H 3652)
IRS Issues More Information Just in Time for Tax Day - New releases from the IRS provide taxpayers with more information about vehicle depreciation, schedules K-1 for income reporting, tracking tax refunds and an opportunity to improve the IRS. Read More
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Commonsense Regulations - Every time the U.S. Chamber of Commerce asks its members about the challenges facing their businesses, government regulations always top the list, and it's not hard to understand why. The cost to comply with U.S. regulations is $850 billion annually and currently there are more than 190,000 regulations on the books. How is the U.S. Chamber fighting for sensible regulations that protect workers and consumers without imposing unnecessary burdens on businesses? Read More