Gov. Mark Sanford (R) repeated his goals for the state during his Jan. 16 speech before the Republican-controlled Legislature: restructuring the government, installing tougher drunk-driving laws and increasing tax cuts.
Sanford, who perennially tries to cut spending, pushed for lawmakers to pass a law limiting government spending. He also proposed again to end the state budget board and bring its duties under the executive branch.
The governor proposed tightening the state’s DUI laws and increasing the state’s 7-cent, lowest-in-the-nation cigarette tax to be able to cut state income taxes.
Sanford also asked the Legislature to repeal tax breaks aimed at specific businesses, calling them unfair to small businesses. Last year, lawmakers passed an incentives package to draw mega-sporting goods store Bass Pro Shops to the state.
Sanford backed incentives for high school students to graduate early: $2,000 to each student who finishes high school a year early and $1,000 for a semester early. This would cost the state less than keeping these students in school, he said.
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