Sen. Davis writes: My approach to spending taxpayers’ money

A constituent from Bluffton recently wrote a letter critical of my blocking a 75 percent gas-tax hike. His letter evinces a sentiment unfortunately shared by many politicians in Columbia; that is, if only we took more money from the people, then all our problems could be solved — roads would be repaired, kids would be better educated, people would be healthier, etc.

But I’ve learned, through my service in the legislative branch as a state senator and, prior to that, in the executive branch as the governor’s chief of staff, that things aren’t that simple.

Raising taxes is easy, but I’ve learned it is necessary to do the harder thing, to spend time figuring out why, despite already ever-increasing levels of spending, we aren’t getting better outcomes, the outcomes people deserve.

And when, as is the case with our state’s spending on roads and bridges, that inquiry reveals the inner-workings of a system of cronyism and horse-trading, then yes, I am going to insist on reforms to that system and block any proposal that simply increases taxes and dumps more money into it. That’s always been the approach I’ve taken when it comes to spending the people’s money, and it always will be.

This story was originally published March 24, 2016 at 8:00 PM with the headline "Sen. Davis writes: My approach to spending taxpayers’ money."