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GOP leaders target job hunt
The State (Columbia, SC): GOP leaders target job hunt
Legislators blast governor, Commerce for 'missed opportunities' JOHN O'CONNOR, joconnor@thestate.com
Legislative, business and education leaders Tuesday announced a new partnership designed to draw high-paying technology and research jobs to South Carolina - the types of jobs, lawmakers said, Gov. Mark Sanford and the Department of Commerce have failed to bring to the state.
The new effort was the brainchild of House Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston; Rep. Dan Cooper, R-Anderson; Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston; and Senate Finance Chairman Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence - arguably the state's four most influential lawmakers. The idea was also endorsed by new University of South Carolina president Harris Pastides and others in the business community.
The plan would create a Knowledge Sector Council to brainstorm ways to foster young companies with good ideas and attract established high-tech firms. The bottom line? More pay for S.C. workers.
As outlined in the job plan:
Commerce would handle manufacturing, distribution and service jobs.
The Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism would handle the tourism industry.
And the South Carolina Research Authority would lead efforts in the emerging "knowledge sector."
The South Carolina Research Authority is a state-chartered entity whose goal is to help high-tech startups and other companies get up and running.
But Secretary of Commerce Joe Taylor and Sanford said they already are bringing those jobs to the state, and the criticism of their performance is politically motivated. In the past two years, the agency said it has helped create 30,000 jobs and $7 billion in capital investment.
Taylor rattled off a number of recent successes, including Monster.com, a BMW expansion and a DuPont Kevlar plant.
"I think those are pretty good jobs," Taylor said, adding that advanced manufacturing, such as DuPont and BMW, are likely "knowledge economy" jobs.
SANFORD FAILURES?
Harrell and Leatherman said more needs to be done. They said their plan would try to raise the average S.C. wage, now 82 percent of the national average.
"We've had a lot of missed opportunities and we're frustrated by that," Harrell said. He declined to name the failures, but Mercedes and Rolls Royce have chosen other states over South Carolina in recent years.
Those efforts, they said, have been hindered by Sanford's veto of bills designed to aid research or attract businesses. In many cases, Sanford vetoed those bills because of the cost, or because the tax breaks were targeted and were not offered to all competitors.
In addition, Sanford has vetoed funding for regional economic development groups in order to focus funding for Commerce's statewide work.
Those regional groups have been successful, Leatherman said, citing Heinz and Monster.com in Florence County.
"This administration simply does not care about creating jobs for our people," Leatherman said, adding he told Commerce officials they were "not fulfilling the goal."
Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer said those criticisms are based on political differences with the governor. Job figures, he said, show more state residents are working.
At its meeting earlier this month, the Board of Economic Advisors agreed. Job data, they said, showed the state's economy was more diverse and robust than during previous downturns.
"The criticism today is largely a fiction," Sawyer said, noting neither Sanford nor Taylor was invited to the announcement. "I can't think of anyone less qualified to pick the industry of tomorrow than the South Carolina Legislature."
NEW IDEAS
Academic and business groups said they were interested in what might come from regularly meeting about high-tech jobs.
"Knowledge economy investment works," said Bill Mahoney, president of the South Carolina Research Authority. "It's still early, but it works."
Businesses assisted by the S.C. Research Authority have contributed $1.4 billion to the state's economy, Mahoney said, and pay an average wage of $77,000.
John Parks, executive director of the Innovista research campus at the University of South Carolina, said Commerce has been helpful, but the new council can help shape policy.
"One of the things we need to look at," Parks said, "is how our incentives are better geared toward knowledge workers and knowledge-based jobs.
"Things evolve ... they'll all come up with ideas and concepts."
Reach O'Connor at (803) 771-8358. ###
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Links
General Information
Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce
Anderson School District 1
Anderson County South Carolina
Anderson Independent-Mail
City of Anderson
South Carolina Appalachian Council of Governments
Town of Pendleton
US Census Bureau for Anderson County
Williamston Journal
Tourist Information
Anderson Convention and Visitors Bureau
Anderson Jockey Lot and Farmers Market
Anderson Motor Speedway |
