Gary Simrill

Rep. Gary Simrill Legislative Update

wesleydonehue — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:44:50 +0000

Rep. Simrill discusses the effects of 183 individuals being stricken from South Carolina public office ballots last week, as well as the nature and status of the House’s and Senate’s attempts to remedy the situation.

Legislative Update from Rep. Gary Simrill

wesleydonehue — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:57:19 +0000

Rep. Simrill discusses the Department of Administration Bill that the House and Senate are both working on this week. It was proposed by Governor Haley and Rep. Simrill voices his agreement with her on the necessity of the new department. It will serve to eliminate the Budget Control Board which Simrill says has actually taken power away from the people when it comes to matters such as money and budgeting. The Bill they are working on will restore much of that power to a new cabinet position for the governor, and will provide a great deal of legislative oversight that has recently been absent from the budgetary process.

Rep. Gary Simrill’s Legislative Update

wesleydonehue — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:25:42 +0000

Rep. Gary Simrill discusses a few important facets of the tax reform that the House is working on this week, including a more balanced and fair income tax as well as examining the tax exemptions. He says just this week they have looked at 78 exemptions that are currently in statute to decide if they remain to be viable and fair. He then goes on to say that his litmus test for an exemption is its effect on the economy. He believes if it helps businesses and creates new jobs then the exemption should stay, but it certainly should not if it is putting a strain on South Carolina businesses. He says that the House continues to realize that creating jobs is their number one priority in the state, and wants to make sure that everything they do with tax reform bolsters the economy through job creation.

Representative Gary Simrill’s Legislative Update

wesleydonehue — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 19:17:21 +0000

Rep. Gary Simrill discusses the tax reforms coming on the floor this week. Three bills have passed out of sub-committee which entail a collapsing of the income tax brackets, a decrease in business and rental property tax from 6% to 5% which will better enable South Carolina small business owners to make a living, and lastly cut the commercial and industrial property tax to 6% which will make South Carolina more competitive in bringing in industry, as well as help our existing companies thrive. His is hopeful that these reforms will be in the Senate by the end of April.

Rep. Simrill’s Legislative Update

garysimrill — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 20:07:05 +0000

Rep. Gary Simrill talks about current and upcoming legislation in the South Carolina Statehouse:

Making Progress on the Budget

garysimrill — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:59:48 +0000

Rep. Gary Simrill discusses the progress being made on the State Budget in committees and is also happy to report the decline in the unemployment rate.

Representative Gary Simrill’s Legislative Update

garysimrill — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:29:39 +0000

Rep. Gary Simrill voices his excitement for the House’s first step toward supporting economic growth in the Port of Charleston and is pleased to report that the unemployment rate is falling.

Rep. Gary Simrill Discusses State of the State Address

garysimrill — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:40:13 +0000

Rep. Gary Simrill gives his reactions to Gov. Nikki Haley’s State of the State Address.

Conservative Hopes for 2012

garysimrill — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:55:39 +0000

Rep. Gary Simrill speaks of his optimism for the 2012 legislative session and for the work to be accomplished this year.

Rep. Gary Simrill on a solution for DOT’s finances

simrill — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 20:08:09 +0000

Some major contractors doing road work in South Carolina are struggling to pay their employees. State lawmakers told Eyewitness News that the reason is a holdup of millions of dollars in federal money.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation is behind on payments to these contractors, but Eyewitness News has learned that state officials say the real problem is in Washington, not Columbia.

It’s not clear how much money is owed, or how many contractors haven’t been paid. However, some payments are weeks and even months overdue.

State Rep. Gary Simrill is hearing some of the complaints.

“I’ve talked to businesses that say they’re going to have to close their doors or start firing people, because they literally can’t operate,” Simrill said.

Much of the budget of the state DOT is paid through reimbursement from the federal government. The state took on a large number of road projects this summer, and those reimbursement dollars have been delayed.

DOT spokesman Pete Poore said the state is now working with individual companies to try and repay them quickly, and urging Washington to speed up its payments to the state.

Poore said $28 million in federal money was expected Monday to help the agency pay its bills, and millions more in the coming weeks.
However, Simrill said the state has the money to pay the contractors now by transferring the money from a reserve fund immediately, then replacing it when the reimbursement check comes in from Washington.

“This is not an agency that’s running in the red. The money’s there,” he said.

He said anyone who does business with the state government should not have to face such a crisis that could cost jobs.

“There is no reason that these contractors who are hiring people, paying people, folks with meals that need to be on the table, who have legitimately worked, for them to be waiting like they’re doing now,” he said.

Every gallon of gas sold in South Carolina includes a 16-cent state tax. That money is used to fund DOT road projects. The tax hasn’t been raised in 25 years, but most lawmakers do not favor an increase.

Simrill believes a long-term solution is more accountability between Washington and South Carolina, not a higher tax burden.

Courtesy of WSOCTV.com