Haley distinguishes herself from other gubernatorial candidates

Republican gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley said there are clear differences that separate her from her three opponents.

During a reception that drew more than 100 people at the Aiken County Historical Museum on Wednesday, Haley said she supports workers' compensation reform and tort reform, unlike Attorney General Henry McMaster.

Congressman Gresham Barrett supported the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), Haley said, and that program led to Wall Street bailouts, the automobile bailouts and increasing federal intrusion.

Regarding Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, "There are differences ... and I'm not going to say anything about that," Haley said.

She cited one of her main themes, how she has taken on the Republican leadership as a representative from Lexington County. Haley had quickly risen through the ranks since her upset victory over a veteran incumbent in 2004 but lost committees and leadership roles after insisting on pursuing transparency in voting in the House two years ago.

"They stripped me of everything," Haley said. "I was trying to tell my colleagues that this is what happens when you step out of line. The good news is that we passed a bill overwhelmingly in the House this year to make every single bill on the record. But we still have the Senate ahead."

Haley also supports income disclosure among legislators so that they will have to recuse themselves from voting whenever conflicts are revealed.

"We need to help citizens, not the wallets of the legislators they represent," she said.

With 12 percent unemployment, Haley said, South Carolina needs business-friendly regulations and reform, not more band-aids, for the tax system. The state needs to look at all sales tax exemptions and reducing the personal income tax, she said.

While Boeing is a great addition to the state, the company came to South Carolina because of its right-to-work status and the extensive tax incentives.

"But why not take care of the businesses we have first and create a strong business environment?" Haley said.

Education consumes 47 percent of the state budget, and money goes first to 1,000 State Department of Education employees and 85 school districts before it reaches the classroom. That must change, Haley said. Rural school districts should have the resources of wealthier districts, but it wouldn't require more funding to do that, she said.

Aiken resident and Haley supporter Jane Page Thompson said she's backing the candidate for her forthrightness and insistence on transparency and fiscally conservative policies.

"When you interact with her," Thompson said, "she doesn't give you the Republican platform first. It's about the hard choices in cutting back on some of our state agencies that may not be acting most responsibly for the state."

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.