South Carolina Myrtle Beach Casinos for Transportation Funding Amendment (2016)
| Myrtle Beach Casinos for Transportation Funding Amendment | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 8, 2016 | |
| Topic Gambling | |
| Status Not on the ballot | |
| Type Constitutional amendment | Origin State legislature |
The South Carolina Myrtle Beach Casinos for Transportation Funding Amendment was not put on the November 8, 2016 ballot in South Carolina as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment. The measure, upon voter approval, would have allowed "well-regulated, upscale casinos" in and around Myrtle Beach. Tax revenue from the casinos would have been used to fund transportation infrastructure repairs and improvements.[1]
Background
Rep. Rutherford (D-74) proposed the legislatively referred constitutional amendment following the June 2014 Democratic Primary Advisory Questions. Question 2, an advisory question, asked:
| “ | The South Carolina Department of Transportation estimates more than $20 billion is required to fix South Carolina’s crumbling roads and bridges. Should gaming laws be modernized to fund the reapirs instead of a tax increase?[2] | ” |
Approximately 80 percent of Democratic Party primary voters approved the measure.
Support
Supporters
Arguments
Rep. Todd Rutherford (D-74) sponsored the amendment in the South Carolina Legislature. He argued:[1]
- "For those who oppose this idea, I challenge you to come up with another way to fund our road repairs without raising taxes. It's time for fresh ideas and Governor Haley continues to offer up nothing but rhetoric and policies that are as broken as our roads."
- "The people support this. Businesses support this. Many Republicans in the legislature are open to casinos. Anyone who loves individual freedom, personal liberty, and lower taxes should get behind this issue 110 percent."
Opposition
Opponents
Arguments
- Doug Mayer, a spokesperson for Gov. Haley (R), said, “Legalizing gambling doesn't solve any problems - it creates them and Governor Haley believes South Carolina simply deserves better ideas than that. The governor, like the majority of South Carolinians, doesn't support casino gambling and will never take any action that allows it to happen here.”[1]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Amending the South Carolina Constitution
The proposed amendment had to be approved by a two-thirds vote in both chambers of the South Carolina Legislature to be placed on the ballot. If approved by voters, the amendment would have gone back to the legislature for a second approval before becoming law.
Similar measures
See also
Footnotes
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State of South Carolina Columbia (capital) |
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