Haley Brings Tax Reform Fight to Lowcountry

Gov. Nikki Haley questioned the sincerity of House tax reform proposals Tuesday as she criss-crossed the state, pitching her own proposal for tax relief.

Haley stopped in North Charleston at Banks Construction, suggesting her plan to cut the state's tax rates and slowly eliminate corporate tax liability will be a boon for business.

The first phase of her proposal comes with a $140 million price tag, but the S.C. House has not included it in the budget being debated this week.

So far, the House rebuttal has highlighted spending that the governor did not include in her proposed budget, including $180 million to deepend the Charleston Harbor (Haley only included $25 million for port improvements). 

The governor said Tuesday that you can deepen the harbor and provide tax relief.

"It can be done," Haley said. "It's just that hard decisions have to be made. We're asking the House to make those hard decisions."

Update, Wed., March 14, 3:20 p.m.: The S.C. House fired back at Haley on Wednesday, noting the House approved budget includes $600 million in tax relief through $549 million in property tax relief and $77 million through state unemployment tax relief for employers.

"While Governor Haley took off on a statewide fly-around this week to promote a one-year only tax cut for major corporations, the House cut taxes for every single South Carolina employer," said .