Monday letters:We were warned about Richland penny tax

After the so-called penny tax in Richland County was rejected by voters in 2010, the proponents circled the wagons and contrived another plan to make it happen, in the 2012 election.

Endorsements were garnered from Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott, Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin, the Richland County legislative delegation, Richland County Council, Columbia City Council, United Way of the Midlands, Sustainable Midlands, Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, Greater Irmo Chamber of Commerce, River Alliance, Eau Claire Community Council, Midlands Business Leadership Group, S.C. Progressive Network, League of Women Voters, Conservation Voters of South Carolina, The State and many others.

After the initiative passed in 2012 the “watchdog” committee with no power was installed as a front to fool the taxpayers. Make no mistake: This initiative was never about what it was sold as, but a giant slush fund to be doled out by the power brokers to their cronies.

Enter the S.C. Department of Revenue, aka the blind hog. This particular breed known as the bureaucrat rarely if ever finds acorns without help.

I hope this means there is at least one honest employee in Richland County who pointed the Revenue Department to the right tree. Remember Michael Letts warned us to beware. So far only the tip of the iceberg has been exposed.

This story was originally published February 8, 2016 at 5:19 AM with the headline "Monday letters:We were warned about Richland penny tax."