Changes in tax exemptions The Taxation Realignment Commission, soon after making a recommendation that a number of sales tax exemptions should be repealed, played host to a question– and–answer forum regarding its most recent announcement of what it may suggest to the General Assembly. Naturally, most who showed up were against TRAC’s ideas.A few major ideas included returning to sales taxes on groceries and prescription drugs, which aren’t very politically popular.

rep. anton gunn resigns

The resignation of State Rep. Anton Gunn, D–Richland, threw a wrench in the works of the S.C. Democratic Party’s efforts to maintain its position in the House, and finding new, popular candidates to run in a conservative state. Gunn, who earlier in the summer was still looking at running for reelection, chose to accept a job recently to head up the southeastern administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Gunn took House District 79 in 2008, which had been held by GOP Rep. Bill Cotty for years. Sheri Few, a social conservative leader in education, is the Republican nominee and expected to win the seat unless the SCDP can put an attractive candidate on the ballot quickly. Few would be a decided departure from the moderate conservatism of Cotty and the moderate liberalism of Gunn.

gov. says for universities to stop building

Gov. Mark Sanford came out this past week to address tuition increases among public colleges and universities. Over the past decade, many universities, like USC, have invested a lot of money in new dorms and other capital improvements. At the same time, the state government has been dramatically decreasing the amount of money it gives to public universities. Sanford suggests that schools should not be improving their facilities.

In a statement, Sanford said, “I’d call on every member of the Budget and Control Board to pass a moratorium on state colleges and universities undertaking capital improvements. In these tough economic times, and with tuition at stratospheric levels, calling a time out on pricey new buildings at the state’s higher education institutions will do three things: allow schools to focus more funds on classroom instruction, better protect the taxpayer, and finally make the college dream of so many young South Carolinians out there indeed more achievable.”

Wolfe is the proprietor of WolfeReports.com and

has written for 11 publications in five states.