The Insiders: May 1, 2025
News 19 WLTX
[{'start': '3.360', 'end': '7.040', 'text': "It's time now for state house insiders."}, {'start': '5.359', 'end': '9.360', 'text': 'Joining us, Republican strategist Dave'}, {'start': '7.040', 'end': '11.759', 'text': 'Wilson and Democratic strategist Antoine'}, {'start': '9.360', 'end': '13.440', 'text': "Seight. Okay, it's May 1st, which means"}, {'start': '11.759', 'end': '15.040', 'text': 'there are just three days left of the'}, {'start': '13.440', 'end': '17.039', 'text': "legislative session, and it's going to"}, {'start': '15.040', 'end': '18.480', 'text': 'be busy. Lawmakers are pushing to get a'}, {'start': '17.039', 'end': '20.880', 'text': 'few bills over the finish line,'}, {'start': '18.480', 'end': '22.240', 'text': 'including education. As our state'}, {'start': '20.880', 'end': '24.240', 'text': 'continues experiencing teacher'}, {'start': '22.240', 'end': '26.560', 'text': 'shortages, lawmakers are considering a'}, {'start': '24.240', 'end': '28.160', 'text': 'bill to help fill classrooms by allowing'}, {'start': '26.560', 'end': '30.240', 'text': 'professionals with work experience to'}, {'start': '28.160', 'end': '32.320', 'text': 'earn higher starting salaries as'}, {'start': '30.240', 'end': '33.600', 'text': 'teachers. So my question to you all is'}, {'start': '32.320', 'end': '36.079', 'text': 'could that help when it comes to'}, {'start': '33.600', 'end': '38.000', 'text': 'enticing new teachers and really retain'}, {'start': '36.079', 'end': '40.000', 'text': "them and keep them around? My sister's"}, {'start': '38.000', 'end': '43.200', 'text': 'been high school principal. I come from'}, {'start': '40.000', 'end': '45.200', 'text': 'a family who not only value education'}, {'start': '43.200', 'end': '47.200', 'text': 'but know and understand the importance'}, {'start': '45.200', 'end': '49.520', 'text': 'of education, how it has become the'}, {'start': '47.200', 'end': '51.680', 'text': 'great equalizer for my family. So I'}, {'start': '49.520', 'end': '54.079', 'text': 'think anything we can do to make sure'}, {'start': '51.680', 'end': '55.920', 'text': 'that children are able to effectively'}, {'start': '54.079', 'end': '58.800', 'text': 'compete in an everchanging global'}, {'start': '55.920', 'end': '61.199', 'text': 'society that means having good quality'}, {'start': '58.800', 'end': '64.000', 'text': 'teachers with work experience in the'}, {'start': '61.199', 'end': '66.080', 'text': 'classroom only helps South Carolina as a'}, {'start': '64.000', 'end': '68.000', 'text': 'whole succeed. I think Dave and I will'}, {'start': '66.080', 'end': '69.840', 'text': 'both agree this should not be viewed'}, {'start': '68.000', 'end': '72.080', 'text': 'from a partisan lens and this should be'}, {'start': '69.840', 'end': '73.840', 'text': 'one of those rare examples where South'}, {'start': '72.080', 'end': '75.920', 'text': 'Carolina demonstrates to the country'}, {'start': '73.840', 'end': '78.400', 'text': "that we value something that's important"}, {'start': '75.920', 'end': '81.520', 'text': 'like public education and like playing'}, {'start': '78.400', 'end': '84.479', 'text': 'good playing teachers in the classroom.'}, {'start': '81.520', 'end': '86.720', 'text': 'The classroom of of experience is a huge'}, {'start': '84.479', 'end': '88.159', 'text': 'part of what brings that level of'}, {'start': '86.720', 'end': '90.400', 'text': 'professionalism and professional'}, {'start': '88.159', 'end': '93.119', 'text': 'experience to the classroom and actually'}, {'start': '90.400', 'end': '94.880', 'text': 'allows students to learn and grow from'}, {'start': '93.119', 'end': '97.520', 'text': 'what someone has done professionally.'}, {'start': '94.880', 'end': '99.360', 'text': 'Anything to to bring more people into'}, {'start': '97.520', 'end': '101.119', 'text': 'the teaching profession and bring that'}, {'start': '99.360', 'end': '103.439', 'text': 'level of experience is extremely'}, {'start': '101.119', 'end': '105.600', 'text': 'important. Absolutely. We also need to'}, {'start': '103.439', 'end': '107.759', 'text': 'go ahead and revisit lawmakers revised'}, {'start': '105.600', 'end': '109.759', 'text': "income tax plan. They're going with a"}, {'start': '107.759', 'end': '112.399', 'text': 'tier tax system for the next year and'}, {'start': '109.759', 'end': '114.960', 'text': 'the goal is to eventually have no income'}, {'start': '112.399', 'end': '116.720', 'text': 'taxes at all. So then my question is how'}, {'start': '114.960', 'end': '119.200', 'text': "long could it really take our state's"}, {'start': '116.720', 'end': '121.439', 'text': 'economy to grow in order to pull this'}, {'start': '119.200', 'end': '123.119', 'text': "off? I think it's a very dangerous game"}, {'start': '121.439', 'end': '125.680', 'text': "we're playing when we start playing"}, {'start': '123.119', 'end': '127.680', 'text': 'around with the tax system because'}, {'start': '125.680', 'end': '129.759', 'text': 'usually when Republicans talk about'}, {'start': '127.680', 'end': '132.640', 'text': 'playing around with the tax system and'}, {'start': '129.759', 'end': '134.319', 'text': 'returning money back to the t taxpayers'}, {'start': '132.640', 'end': '136.480', 'text': 'that means the wealthy, the welloff and'}, {'start': '134.319', 'end': '138.319', 'text': 'the well-connected somehow benefit and'}, {'start': '136.480', 'end': '140.560', 'text': 'the burden in the bill is somehow'}, {'start': '138.319', 'end': '142.640', 'text': 'another stuck with middle class working'}, {'start': '140.560', 'end': '144.560', 'text': "South Carolinians. So the devil's always"}, {'start': '142.640', 'end': '146.480', 'text': "in the details. We'll see what that"}, {'start': '144.560', 'end': '148.319', 'text': 'looks like. At the end of the day, I'}, {'start': '146.480', 'end': '150.319', 'text': 'think that South Carolina will have a'}, {'start': '148.319', 'end': '152.160', 'text': 'revenue problem going forward. And so,'}, {'start': '150.319', 'end': '154.640', 'text': 'we have to look at strategic'}, {'start': '152.160', 'end': '156.720', 'text': 'opportunities in a bipartisan way to'}, {'start': '154.640', 'end': '159.519', 'text': 'generate revenue for our state because'}, {'start': '156.720', 'end': '161.440', 'text': 'no one retires and moves up north, our'}, {'start': '159.519', 'end': '163.200', 'text': "state continues to grow. And so, we're"}, {'start': '161.440', 'end': '165.280', 'text': 'going to have to put the resources there'}, {'start': '163.200', 'end': '167.040', 'text': 'to support the growth, but also make'}, {'start': '165.280', 'end': '169.280', 'text': 'certain that certain that hardworking'}, {'start': '167.040', 'end': '171.920', 'text': 'South Carolinians can continue to afford'}, {'start': '169.280', 'end': '173.120', 'text': "to live in our state. It's a very"}, {'start': '171.920', 'end': '175.200', 'text': 'important thing to start taking a look'}, {'start': '173.120', 'end': '178.000', 'text': 'at because we had a multi-tier system'}, {'start': '175.200', 'end': '180.400', 'text': 'for a long time. We had five or six'}, {'start': '178.000', 'end': '182.239', 'text': "different tax brackets. We've now gotten"}, {'start': '180.400', 'end': '185.120', 'text': 'down to two. But folks at home, if'}, {'start': '182.239', 'end': '188.720', 'text': "you're making under $40,000 a year, you"}, {'start': '185.120', 'end': '190.319', 'text': 'understand very well that you are oftent'}, {'start': '188.720', 'end': '193.280', 'text': 'times getting a lot of money that comes'}, {'start': '190.319', 'end': '195.519', 'text': 'back in your taxes. Erica, where this is'}, {'start': '193.280', 'end': '197.440', 'text': 'actually going is the fact that if they'}, {'start': '195.519', 'end': '199.680', 'text': 'did some sort of leveling out to a flat'}, {'start': '197.440', 'end': '201.840', 'text': 'tax, it actually did hurt the lower'}, {'start': '199.680', 'end': '204.720', 'text': 'income families in South Carolina'}, {'start': '201.840', 'end': '206.720', 'text': "because 40% plus of our state's"}, {'start': '204.720', 'end': '209.200', 'text': "residents don't pay any income tax at"}, {'start': '206.720', 'end': '211.760', 'text': 'all. And any sort of change in that'}, {'start': '209.200', 'end': '213.840', 'text': 'system is going to end up hurting the'}, {'start': '211.760', 'end': '215.840', 'text': 'lower end of the economic system rather'}, {'start': '213.840', 'end': '218.560', 'text': "than the higher end. And that's a real"}, {'start': '215.840', 'end': '220.560', 'text': 'thing that lawmakers had to go back'}, {'start': '218.560', 'end': '222.720', 'text': 'after they had introduced this flat tax'}, {'start': '220.560', 'end': '224.319', 'text': 'and go, "Okay, wait a minute. This isn\'t'}, {'start': '222.720', 'end': '226.319', 'text': 'working. What are we going to do'}, {'start': '224.319', 'end': '228.400', 'text': 'differently because people are looking'}, {'start': '226.319', 'end': '230.239', 'text': 'for ways to offset taxes and make South'}, {'start': '228.400', 'end': '232.080', 'text': 'Carolina more competitive to other'}, {'start': '230.239', 'end': '234.640', 'text': 'states out there?" And Erica, let me'}, {'start': '232.080', 'end': '236.879', 'text': "just say it's important for the media to"}, {'start': '234.640', 'end': '239.200', 'text': 'continue to play its role because had'}, {'start': '236.879', 'end': '241.439', 'text': 'not been if it had not been for the post'}, {'start': '239.200', 'end': '243.599', 'text': 'and courier coming out with the article'}, {'start': '241.439', 'end': '245.439', 'text': 'outlining how this would be detrimental'}, {'start': '243.599', 'end': '247.200', 'text': 'to middle class working families in'}, {'start': '245.439', 'end': '248.799', 'text': "South Carolina, I'm not sure lawmakers"}, {'start': '247.200', 'end': '250.640', 'text': 'would have reversed course. It would'}, {'start': '248.799', 'end': '252.640', 'text': 'have been a ram jam and screw strategy.'}, {'start': '250.640', 'end': '254.000', 'text': 'Ram it and jam it down the throats of'}, {'start': '252.640', 'end': '255.840', 'text': 'the American people and middle class'}, {'start': '254.000', 'end': '257.199', 'text': 'South Carolinians get screwed. Real'}, {'start': '255.840', 'end': '259.120', 'text': 'quick, I do want to touch this topic'}, {'start': '257.199', 'end': '261.280', 'text': 'here. local restaurants and bars facing'}, {'start': '259.120', 'end': '262.479', 'text': 'some real big financial uncertainties if'}, {'start': '261.280', 'end': '264.160', 'text': 'the House and Senate cannot get'}, {'start': '262.479', 'end': '266.400', 'text': 'something done about liquor liability'}, {'start': '264.160', 'end': '268.000', 'text': "insurance. I mean, it's a tough topic,"}, {'start': '266.400', 'end': '269.680', 'text': 'but what is your take on this? Where do'}, {'start': '268.000', 'end': '271.199', 'text': 'they need to move forward with this?'}, {'start': '269.680', 'end': '272.960', 'text': 'There has to be something done on this'}, {'start': '271.199', 'end': '274.160', 'text': 'right now because over the last seven to'}, {'start': '272.960', 'end': '276.080', 'text': 'eight years, there have been more than'}, {'start': '274.160', 'end': '278.160', 'text': '5,000 restaurants and bars that have'}, {'start': '276.080', 'end': '279.840', 'text': 'closed across South Carolina. We have'}, {'start': '278.160', 'end': '282.160', 'text': 'some of the highest insurance rates.'}, {'start': '279.840', 'end': '285.840', 'text': "You're talking restaurants and bars out"}, {'start': '282.160', 'end': '287.680', 'text': 'there spending tens, 20, $30,000 a month'}, {'start': '285.840', 'end': '289.199', 'text': 'just for insurance because of the high'}, {'start': '287.680', 'end': '290.800', 'text': "insurance rates in this state and it's"}, {'start': '289.199', 'end': '292.479', 'text': 'going to strangle the industry if they'}, {'start': '290.800', 'end': '294.960', 'text': "don't do something in the last three"}, {'start': '292.479', 'end': '296.880', 'text': 'legislative days. I agree. Sometimes our'}, {'start': '294.960', 'end': '298.800', 'text': 'best work is done under pressure. I say'}, {'start': '296.880', 'end': '300.560', 'text': 'that as a student who done his best work'}, {'start': '298.800', 'end': '302.160', 'text': 'towards the end of the school term. So,'}, {'start': '300.560', 'end': '304.160', 'text': 'I hope that applies here with our'}, {'start': '302.160', 'end': '305.840', 'text': 'lawmakers in South Carolina. But I agree'}, {'start': '304.160', 'end': '307.840', 'text': 'with Dave. Something has to be done'}, {'start': '305.840', 'end': '309.520', 'text': 'because those are small businesses. They'}, {'start': '307.840', 'end': '311.600', 'text': 'tend to be the heartbeats of our'}, {'start': '309.520', 'end': '313.520', 'text': 'communities, particularly small minority'}, {'start': '311.600', 'end': '315.280', 'text': 'businesses like bars, restaurants, and'}, {'start': '313.520', 'end': '317.120', 'text': 'so forth. And so I think we have to do'}, {'start': '315.280', 'end': '319.120', 'text': 'everything we can to position them to'}, {'start': '317.120', 'end': '320.639', 'text': 'win. So I hope this Republican majority'}, {'start': '319.120', 'end': '323.280', 'text': 'will step up to the plate and do the'}, {'start': '320.639', 'end': '325.039', 'text': 'right thing as Spike Lee says. Well,'}, {'start': '323.280', 'end': '326.080', 'text': 'Antoine Dave, thank you so much for your'}, {'start': '325.039', 'end': '330.000', 'text': "time. We're going to have much more on"}, {'start': '326.080', 'end': '330.000', 'text': 'News9 after this quick break.'}]