One thing is clear – with word coming out last week that unemployment is at 9.4% nationally – it is obvious that government stimulus is not the solution. So what is the answer? What will grow our state and create jobs and put people back to work? What will it take to make South Carolina more prosperous?

As somebody who’s run a business, I like to think I know a thing or two about what businesses need to grow and flourish. And right now, what they need is for us to reform the outdated and punitive tax and regulatory structure in this state. Just two quick examples; businesses in South Carolina pay the highest property tax rate in the country for industrial property and the seventh highest rate in the nation for commercial property.

If we want to attract new employers, who in turn bring in new jobs, and if we want to help grow businesses that are already operating in S.C., then we’ve got to make our state more business friendly.

I’ve got some ideas about how we can do that, and I’ll be sharing those thoughts in the weeks and months ahead. But, right now, I’d like to hear what you think. How do you think we can create jobs in SC? What reforms do you think are needed to make our state more attractive to prospective employers?

I look forward to hearing what you have to say.