Haley talks job creation in Aiken

With South Carolina as a state facing 11 percent unemployment and ranking 45th in entrepreneurial activity, it's essential that jobs come first and that the state strengthen the businesses it already has, said Republican gubernatorial nominee Nikki Haley.

During a campaign stop in Aiken on Thursday, Haley outlined her job creation program for a small group of elected officials and supporters at Lionel Smith Ltd., the men's clothing store.

Haley, a three-term member of the S.C. House, is opposing Democratic Party nominee, Vincent Sheheen, a state senator.

Like other retail businesses, Lionel Smith remains in survival mode every day, Haley said. But government isn't doing its part to help businesses.

"We need less talk and more jobs," said Haley. "We need to start passing business-friendship legislation and stop passing government-friendly legislation."

She proposes to eliminate the corporate income tax, which comprises 3 percent of the budget. If the state gives businesses cash flow and improved profit margins, they will hire people and invest back in the state, she said.

"We already have a right-to-work state," Haley said. "If we eliminate that tax and people see South Carolina as a right-to-work state with no unions and as a no-corporate income tax state, we will be a magnet for companies that want to come to South Carolina."

Haley also supports a streamlined business-permitting approach, a one-stop structure that eliminate the need for businesses to get 10 permits in 10 different counties. No agency should be allowed to increase fees or fines without legislative action. Haley contends that fees are back-door tax increases and have increased by $1.3 billion since 2004.

Currently, one-stop workforce centers help unemployed people get work from businesses that need them. However, Haley wants to privatize that effort. Vendors will have incentives to put unemployed people to work.

"The unemployed people who are struggling will feel like they have a helping hand from people who really want to help them," Haley said. "They're doing this in Spartanburg, and it is phenomenal. We can carry this across the state."

The candidate proposes a revamped workers' compensation structure. She wants more objective standards to rectify what she said are large increase in premiums and to have more business people instead of lawyers with the S.C. Workers' Compensation Commission. Tort reform is also needed to stop high punitive damages in medical malpractice litigation.

True Value's Det Haislip said Haley seems to understand the need of small businesses.

"I expect she will not overreach as you might expect with somebody with new and innovative ideas," Haislip said. "She's disciplined and understands the workings in Columbia. She spoke about the fact of being patient and not trying to do too many things at one time. She said she has already been in contact with the legislative branches, and, if that's the case, she could really get things moving."

Ambition is good and job creation is even better, S.C. Sen. Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, said of Haley's plans.

"Folks in the General Assembly will listen to any type of idea that will increase jobs and promote economic development," Massey said. "We would be irresponsible if we don't look at everything and the kind of impact they would have."

If businesses do use funds saved by the elimination of corporate income tax to hire employees and expand their firms, "that's a pretty good impact," Massey said.

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.