Education, economic development top concerns of
T&D Region lawmakers
As lawmakers from all over the Palmetto State returned
to Columbia Tuesday, some of the key issues facing them
were the cigarette tax, restructuring of state agencies
and the workers compensation law.
In addition to addressing these legislative priorities,
Orangeburg area lawmakers shared their visions and the issues
that are ON THEIR AGENDAS AS THE 2007 SESSION BEGINS:
--District 66 Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, said
her legislative priorities for the upcoming year come under
three main categories: education, economic development and
health care.
Economic slowdown slams brakes on trucking sector
A sudden, dramatic drop in freight demand has sucked the
air out of a trucking sector pumped up by several years
of growth.
"For the trucking industry, the first half of this
year is likely to be the toughest environment we have seen
since the last recession," Bob Costello, chief economist
and vice president of the American Trucking Associations,
said in a telephone interview Wednesday.
That's bad news for the rest of the economy, for which
trucking is considered a bellwether.
"Trucking sees slowdowns and recovery first,"
Costello said. "I do anticipate that we will start
to recover before the general economy."
Economic expert warns of impact of global competition
on New Hampshire
CONCORD -- New Hampshire's low-tax and low-cost reputation
as a place to do business is not enough to succeed in a
global economy, a leading New England economist told legislative
budget and tax bill writers Tuesday.
The new legislative leaders in charge of writing the next
two-year budget -- and finding the money to pay for it --
got this sobering forecast from Ross Gittell, vice president
of the New England Economic Project.
"Low taxes, low real estate taxes and relatively low
costs, except for energy, that's been a source of economic
advantage for some time," Gittell began.
2%
economic growth seen in '07