Lorillard
870000 State of the States
Fields
- Type
- REPT, OTHER REPORT
- Alias
- 80420370/80420446
- Site
- G65
- Area
- SPEARS/OFFICE
- Characteristic
- OVER, OVER SIZE DOCUMENT
- Litigation
- Okag/Produced
- Date Loaded
- 28 Apr 1999
- Named Organization
- Amer Cigar
- Asheville City Council
- Assn or Industries
- Bismarck Chamber of Co
- Blue Cross Blue Shiel
- Cgi
- Cincinnati Health Boa
- Citicorp
- Citizens Against Tobac
- Citizens for Courtesy
- Consolidated Cigar
- Covington Burling
- First Bank
- Flue Cured Tobacco Coo
- Fraternal Order Police
- Friends of Tobacco
- Garber Brothers
- General Cigar
- Howard Rubenstein Ass
- Intl Brotherhood Fire
- Leaf Tobacco Exporters
- Los Alamos County Cou
- Middleton Tobacco
- NC Citizens for Busine
- NC Dept of Agriculture
- NC Farm Bureau
- NC General Assembly
- NC Grange
- NC House
- NC Senate
- NC Tobacco Growers Ass
- NC Trial Lawyers Assn
- Nd House
- Nd Lung Assn
- Nd Senate
- Nd Wholesale Grocers A
- Nj Assembly
- Nj Comm on Smoking or
- Nj Gasp
- Nj Health Dept
- Nj Public Affairs Divi
- Nm Assn of Tobacco +
- Nm Hotel Motel Assn
- Nm House
- Nm Human Services Dep
- Nm Municipal League
- Nm Restaurant Assn
- Nm Retail Merchants A
- Nm Senate
- Nonpartisan League
- Norwest
- Ny Assembly
- Ny City Council
- Ny Dept of Health
- Ny Dept Tax + Finance
- Ny Legislature
- Ny Public Health Coun
- Ny Senate
- Oh House
- Oh Senate
- Ok Assn of Tobacco Di
- Ok House
- Ok Retail Tobacco Dea
- Ok Senate
- Ok State Legislature
- or Lung Assn
- or Restaurants + Beve
- Pa Assembly
- Pa Consensus Conferenc
- Pa Fire Chiefs Assn
- Pa House
- Pa House Appropriaions
- Pa House Health + Welf
- Pa Interagecy Council
- Pa Restaurant Assn
- Pa Senate
- Pa Tavern Assn
- Pa Volunteer Firefight
- Pee Dee Tobacco Wareh
- Providence Journal
- Rand
- Restaurants of or Ass
- Ri Assembly
- Ri Coalition on Smokin
- Ri Dept of Public Heal
- Ri Housing Mortgage +
- Ri Senate
- Sandia Labs
- Savarese Associates
- SC Agricultural Commod
- SC Bankers Assn
- SC Budget + Control Bo
- SC Chamber of Commerc
- SC Commission on Alch
- SC Dept Health + Envi
- SC Dept of Agricultur
- SC Farm Bureau
- SC Heart Assn
- SC House
- SC Lung Assn
- SC Restaurant Assn
- SC Tobacco Warehouse
- Southwest Bell
- Teamsters
- TI Labor Management Co
- Tn House
- Tn House Commerce Com
- Tn Press Assn
- Tn Restaurant Assn
- Tn Retail Grocers Assn
- Tn Senate
- Tn Wholesale Grocers A
- Tobacco Associates
- Tobacco Associates US
- Tobacco Growers Inform
- Tx Assn of Business
- Tx Assn of Tobacco + C
- Tx Bowling Proprietors
- Tx Cancer Council
- Tx Gas + Pipeline
- Tx Hotel Motel Assn
- Tx House
- Tx Merchandise Vendors
- Tx Restaurant Assn
- Tx Retail Grocers Assn
- Tx Senate
- US Tobacco
- Ut House
- Ut Restaurant Assn
- Ut Retailers Assn
- Ut Senate
- Ut Taxpayers Assn
- Wall Street Journal
- Women Involved in Far
- Wv Lung Assn
- Named Person
- Cheney, R.
- Kruger, T.
- Lancaster
- Neubauer, J.
- Sullivan, M.
- Master ID
- 80420206/0485
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SOUTH CAROLINA
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PREFACE
South Carolina has a population of 3.1 million. The state relies
heavily on the manufacturing industry and, to a lesser degree,
agriculture and aquaculture. The state's employment in
manufacturing is close to 30 percent, second highest in the
United States. For this reason, the General Assembly is business
oriented with a conservative bent.
South Carolina's market share is 1.5 percent.
STATE OVERVIEW
Economic Condition and Outlook
If the unemployment rate is an indicator of a state's economic
health, then South Carolina is in fair shape with a 5.4 percent
rate -- a rate lower than 29 of the 50 states.
However, unemployment rates do not necessarily indicate fiscal
problems. Spending has risen faster than revenue increases
causing a$60 million shortfall for fiscal 1986-87. When other
economic indicators for South Carolina are taken into "
consideration, it appears that the state legislature should not
be under pressure to raise taxes in the near future. A new
Republican governor has pledged and repledged not to increase
taxes.
On November 5, the State Budget and Control Board proposed and
sent to the General Assembly a $3 billion budget for fiscal year
1986-87. This represents a $181 million increase over the
current budget. Part of this increase - $27 million - will go
toward pay increases for state employees. In addition, the
budget board endorsed an Education Improvement Act Budget of $243
million, up $17 million over 1985. This is to be funded by a
one-cent increase in the sales tax passed in 1986.
There should be little need to consider raising other taxes
during the 1987 legislative session. .
Political Situation
South Carolina voters elected their second Republican Governor
since Reconstruction, meanwhile, changes in top leadership in the
state House of Representatives for the next session are expected.
The South Carolina legislature is overwhelmingly Democratic with
only 22 Republicans out of 124 members in the House and 6 out of
46 members in the Senate.
South Carolina, page 2
Traditionally, Republicans come from the more populous areas of
the state such as Charleston, Columbia, Greenville and
Spartanburg. As a whole,.the legislature could be considered
conservative to moderate in political philosophy.
Significant State Problems
A major problem was addressed with the passage of the Education
Improvement Act of 1984 as South Carolina took a step forward in
improving its low-ranking public education program as well as its
future economic growth. A study by the Rand Corporation of the
educational plans of all states ranked South Carolina as the most
comprehensive.
South Carolina is a much poorer state than is commonly
recognized.. Residents are taxed at a high level compared to
their ability to pay. In terms of per capita personal income,
South Carolina is one of the poorest states in the country.
Most of the recent economic and industrial growth in the state
has been concentrated in 20 counties, leaving the remaining,
mostly rural, 26 counties in bad economic health.
Other issues to be addressed will be disposal of hazardous waste,
more effective law enforcement, the cost of state government,
repeal of the so-called "Blue Laws" which prohibit Sunday
operation of retail stores, and enabling legislation for the
consolidation of political subdivisions. . -
RESOURCES: STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
Tobacco Segments
A major tobacco-producing state, South Carolina has a strong
coalition of agriculture-related organizations which have
maintained an active role in opposing smoking restriction and tax
increase legislation.
The South Carolina Agricultural Commodity Commission for Tobacco,
headed by State Senator Tom Smith, and the South Carolina Farm
Bureau Federation have been our strongest allies in legislative
battles at the state, local and federal levels. They are a
source for strong grass roots involvement, with members in every
county in the state.
Another important source of legislative support comes from
Commissioner of Agriculture Les Tindal who has opposed cigarette
tax increase efforts and public smoking restriction legislation.
Other agricultural-related organizations which have played a role
in defending the industry are the South Carolina Tobacco
Warehouse Association, Pee Dee Tobacco Warehouse Association and
Women Involved in Farm Economics, (WIFE).
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South Carolina, page 3
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Member company sales representatives have assisted in legislative
contacts mainly in the more populous areas such as Columbia,
Charleston, Greenville and Spartanburg.
There is no wholesale distributor association in the state.
While the tobacco-producing area is geographically large, the
population, and as a result, the number of legislators
representing the area, is small compared to the remainder of the
state. In any event, the legislature can be looked upon as a
resource for strong tobacco allies. In the House, there are 25
members representing tobacco producing areas and in the Senate,
10 members.
Business
The South Carolina Restaurant Association has been the most
outspoken ally in opposing smoking restriction legislation
affecting restaurants. However, as soon as restaurants are
dropped from such legislation, the group disappears.
Other business-related associations which sometimes can be relied
on for assistance are the South Carolina Bankers Association and
the Chamber of Commerce.
In the past, the business community has taken a-backseat to farm
groups in opposing anti-tobacco legislation. Farmers tend to get
the "sympathy vote" because of the hard times they have
experienced in recent years.
Labor
Labor has very limited impact in South Carolina.
Fire Groups
These groups have very limited impact in South Carolina.
Institute Resources
T: I. economic impact studies on tobacco have been the major
issue-related resource requested and used by tobacco area
legislators in their efforts to debate anti-tobacco legislation.
The Farm Bureau and the Department of;Agriculture rely heavily on
T. I. for this type of support material as well.
Also playing an important part in our efforts are T. I. campaign
_contributions and financial support for agriculture-related
functions, such as the annual Salute to Agriculture and
Aquaculture attended by most legislators. '
South Carolina, page 4
ANTI-TOBACCO FORCES
Voluntary health groups including the South Carolina Lung
Association, South Carolina Heart Association and the American
Cancer Society are starting to take a more active role in efforts
to restrict smoking in public places.
As a result of their combined efforts, legislation was introduced
in both the House and Senate to restrict public smoking. In
addition, an ordinance patterned after the state bills has been
passed by the Richland County Council.
Another factor in the upsurge of this activity is the new South
Carolina Lung Association executive director, who came from the
West Virginia Lung Association and was actively involved there in
attempting to pass the West Virginia Clean Indoor Air Act.
Also supporting passage of anti-smoking bills: Blue-Cross and
Blue Shield, as well as two state agencies, the South Carolina
Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse and the Department of Health
and Environmental Control. The latter agency has- banned smoking
in all its offices across the state.
Representatives from each of the above-mentioned groups testified
in support of public smoking legislation at hearings held by a
Senate subcommittee and by the Richland County Council.
The danger from these groups is not their legislative influence,
which is lacking, but the publicity they have generated on the
public smoking issue.
TOBACCO INDUSTRY
Brief History of Successes and Problems
The last successful attempt to raise the cigarette tax was in
1977 when the legislature passed a one-cent increase to
seven-cents per pack. The extra penny was to fund agriculture
research in the state and was supported by former Commissioner of m
Agriculture Bryan Patrick. ~O
In recent years there have been several attempts in the House,
through amendments to appropriations bills, to raise the tax, but ,~
none has passed. lV
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A public smoking bill was reported by Senate Committee in 1986,
but died on the Senate contested calendar. This was one of
several restriction defeats since 1977.
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South Carolina, page 5
Major Issues - State and Local
In 1987, cigarette tax increases will not be a major concern in
the legislature, but public smoking restriction bills will be.
With the passage of the Richland County public smoking ordinance,
we can expect similar activity in Charleston, Greenville,
Spartanburg and Columbia.
Outlook
With respect to state bills to restrict smoking or increase the
cigarette tax, the prognosis is excellent for the industry.
Local issues, however, could become a growing concern.
December 1986
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