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Letters to the Editor
Senate urged to pass asbestos bill
Dear Editor,
Asbestos use in the military was prevalent during and after World War II, particularly in insulation built into U.S. Navy ships.
Unfortunately, veterans have limited avenues to seek compensation for asbestos illness and injuries.
Veterans’ ability to recover compensation from our former “employer,” the federal government, is restricted by law. Sadly, many veterans die before their asbestos injury claims are resolved.
There’s no debate that today’s system fails veterans.
But finally our lawmakers are closing in on a solution that will provide veterans suffering from asbestos-related illnesses the compensation they need and deserve.
The Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act, S. 852, will provide veterans with asbestos-related illnesses with fair and certain compensation.
Under S. 852, veterans will no longer have to hire lawyers or chase down the companies that supplied the government with asbestos in order to get compensated.
What’s more, veterans would still be able to collect veterans’ benefits for their asbestos-related injuries.
The Senate Judiciary Committee recently completed work on this critical legislation for veterans.
As a South Carolina veteran, I thank Sen. Lindsey Graham, a member of the Judiciary Committee, for co-sponsoring this important bill and for his vote.
I’m sure Sen. Graham will do everything in his power to make sure this bill is approved when it comes to the Senate floor. I urge both South Carolina senators to vote yes for S. 852 on the floor.
Fran Williamson,
Past State Commander
South Carolina Department of the Veterans of Foreign Wars
Beaufort, SC
Save the American dream: Rein in property taxes now
Dear Editor,
Legislation that would radically reform the state reassessment law is on the floor of the state Senate.
The bill was pulled from the Senate Judiciary Committee and placed on the Senate calendar by a vote of 22 to 21. The legislation would modify the Constitution and is the first real attempt to control property taxes in our state.
There have been newspapers in this state that have attacked me for my leadership position on this issue.
The writers of those newspapers have not received the pleas for help from the citizens of our state, both middle and lower income, who live from paycheck to paycheck and are literally begging for property tax relief.
They have appealed to their government representative, and no action on our part could result in their losing their greatest asset, their homes, because of ever-increasing property taxes.
The reassessment law in South Carolina has been skewed. Citizens have been smacked by reassessment every five years that has amplified their property values far beyond the growth of their personal incomes.
This has created a tremendous financial burden on families across our state, particularly our senior citizens who are on fixed incomes.
Many concepts have been put forward in an effort to get the reassessment law under control. These efforts have largely been blocked in “do nothing” study committees. Last week the attempts by me and other conservatives in the state Senate were to bring this legislation out of committee, where it has been stalled without the benefit of subcommittee analysis, and to the forefront.
To achieve the attention that will be needed to bring about radical reform of property tax laws requires that this issue be presented to the entire Senate body. We, the lawmakers of our state, must come together to bring property tax relief. We can no longer be oblivious to the ever-despairing cry of the taxpayer.
My mission is nothing short of total war on the property tax system in this state. Anything other than true and lasting property tax relief will be unsatisfactory. I, along with many other state senators and House members, have dedicated myself to this proposition.
We need your help. Citizens can contact their legislators and let them know that they must have property tax reform. Legislators’ names and addresses can be accessed through the www.scstatehouse.net Web site under the Citizens’ Interests tab.
Sen. David L. Thomas, R-Greenville
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