Listed below are the state’s sales tax exemptions, along with the official estimate of their values from the Board of Economic Advisors. Most estimates are from 2008, although the gasoline tax estimate was updated in 2009. Some numbers likely are much higher today. Exemptions that have been ruled unconstitutional or discontinued (such as the gun-tax holiday) and about a dozen exemptions whose value the BEA puts at zero have been omitted.

• 1951
• Publications and on-line access used in schools: $21.5 million.
• Livestock used as beasts of burden or to provide food, pelts or fur: $58.9 million.
• Feed for poultry and livestock: $16.3 million.
• Insecticides, chemicals, soil conditioners, seeds or nursery stock used in farming: $15.9 million.
• Containers and labels used for preparing agricultural products for sale: $600,000.
• Newsprint: $5 million.
• Newspapers: $7 million.
• Department of Agriculture’s “Market Bulletin”: $10,800.
• Religious publications: No estimate provided.
• Fuel sold to manufacturers, power companies and transportation companies: $102.9 million.
• School meals and food for the elderly, disabled or needy: $7 million.
• Water sold by public utilities: $27.3 million.
• Vessel bunkering: $1.5 million.
• Wrapping paper, twine, bags and containers for sale and delivery of products: $25 million.
• Motor fuel for highway use: $557.4 million. (A 16.75-cent-per-gallon excise tax raises $516.2 million per year. Many states levy both an excise and a sales tax.)
• Motor fuel for off-highway use: $29 million.
• Fuel for farm machinery and tractors: $4.4 million.
• Fuel for commercial fishing vessels: $12.7 million.
• Motor fuel for construction: $9.9 million.
• Motor fuel for military use: $2 million.
• Farm machinery: $7.3 million.
• Machines used in manufacturing, processing, recycling, compounding, mining or quarrying: $63 million.
• Fuel to cure agriculture products: $750,000.
• Electricity for cotton gins, manufacturers, miners or quarries: $87.6 million.
• Railroad cars, engines and parts: $353,000.
• Vessels and barges more than 50 tons burden: $170,000.
• Farm, grove, vineyard and garden products sold by producer: $412,000.
• 1976
• Medicine and prosthetic devices: $568.5 million.
• Diabetic supplies: $15.5 million.
• Disposable medical supplies for patients outside of hospital or skilled nursing facilities: $143,000.
• Prescriptions donated to S.C. medical schools: $44,000.
• Dental prosthetics: $1.1 million.
• 1979
• Vacation time shares: $5.3 million.
• Gas and electricity used in the production of poultry, livestock, swine and milk: $1.3 million.
• Electricity or other fuels for residential use: $188.2 million.
• 1980
• Half the gross proceeds of modular home sales: $1.9 million.
• 1983
• Motion picture film sold or rented to or by theaters: $2.8 million.
• Petroleum asphalt products used in paving, for use outside the state: $614,000.
• 1984
• Tangible personal property sold to the federal government: $253 million.
• Airplanes ($300 cap): $1.2 million.
• Motor Vehicles ($300 cap): $152.9 million.
• Motorcycles ($300 cap): $2.3 million.
• Boats ($300 cap): $5 million.
• Semitrailers and horse trailers ($300 cap): $826,000.
• Recreational Vehicles ($300 cap): $7.9 million.
• Manufactured Homes ($300 plus a 1 percent tax on amounts above $6,000): $26.6 million.
• Exemption from the 1 percent EIA sales tax for people 85 and older: $5.5 million.
• Self-propelled light construction equipment with a maximum of 160 net engine horsepower ($300 cap): $2.9 million.
• 1985
• Vehicles purchased by out-of-state military personnel stationed in South Carolina: $2.2 million.
• Hearing aids: $2.1 million.
• Musical instruments or office equipment purchased by religious organizations ($300 cap): $87,000.
• 1986
• Long-distance phone service: $45.8 million.
• Telegraph messages: negligible.
• Phone access charges: $22.9 million.
• Automatic teller machine transaction fees: $5 million.
• Supplies and equipment bought by laundries, dry cleaners and carpet cleaners: $3.3 million.
• Concession sales at festivals by public or charitable organizations: $475,000.
• 1988
• Containers and chassis sold to international shipping lines in contract with State Ports Authority: $550,000.
• 1989
• Sales by nonprofits: $6.7 million.
• Depreciable assets of a business that is sold by the owner: $125,000.
• 1990
• Missile assembly materials used by U.S. armed forces: classified.
• Plants and animals sold to public zoos or gardens: $4,000.
• 1991
• Supplies and electricity sold to motion picture companies: $42,000.
• Electricity to irrigate crops: $53,000.
• Building materials and equipment for commercial housing of poultry or livestock: $63,000.
• War memorials or monuments on public property: $50,000.
• 1993
• Supplies, equipment and electricity sold to TV and radio stations: $9.2 million.
• 1994
• Tangible personal property sold to children’s charitable hospitals: $50,000.
• Trash bags that are specifically required by local governments: $39,000.
• Postage paid by people who sell advertising services for clients: $825,000.
• 1995
• Recycling property: $2.8 million.
• 1996
• Material handling systems and equipment used in distribution facilities: $1.4 million.
• Parts and supplies for repairing aircraft owned or leased by commercial carriers: $562,000.
• Motor vehicle extended-service contracts and warranties: $1.2 million.
• 1999
• Clothing for working in a Class 100 or better clean-room environment: $40,000.
• 2000
• Audiovisual masters: $60,000.
• Machines used in research and development: $2.6 million.
• August school sales tax holiday: $2.9 million
• Cooperative direct-mail promotional advertising materials sent to S.C. residents by chambers of commerce or convention and visitor bureaus: $800,000.
• 2001
• Lottery tickets: $47.6 million.
• 2002
• Copy fees for bills and legislative documents: $5,000.
• 2003
• Seventy percent of gross rental sales and leases for portable toilets: $333,000.
• 2005
• Prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines and supplies sold to charitable clinics: $230,000.
• Sweet-grass baskets made by S.C. artists: $30,000.
• Respiratory syncytial virus medicines: $2.1 million.
• 2006
• Construction materials for a single manufacturing or distribution facility with a capital investment of at least $100 million in real and personal property at a single site: $14.2 million.
• Property sold to the public through a sheriff’s sale: $332,000.
• Viscosupplementation therapies: $397,000.
• 2007
• Gold, silver or platinum bullion, legal tender coins and currency: $83,000. [This is one exemption that should remain in place. Gold and Silver coin and bouillon should be treated as currency, not subject to taxation.]
• Building materials for a building or any equipment located in a research district: $1.2 million.
• Amusement park rides and equipment: $3.9 million.
• Durable medical equipment purchased with Medicaid: $2.4 million.
• Groceries: $354 million.
• 2008
• Sales tax holiday on energy-efficient products for home or personal use: $1.2 million.
• 2009
• Several existing exemptions were amended so that Boeing could take advantage of them.
• 2010
• Machinery and equipment for insurance testing facilities. Official projection not available.
• Date unknown
• Equipment for firefighting vehicles: $870,000.
• Purchases made by museums: $51,000.
• Retailer discount for paying sales tax on time: $22.1 million.

When Jim DeMint stated some time back that he would rather have a small core group of true conservatives that a majority of RINOs, he drew sharp criticism from the GOP establishment and raised concern  in the minds of others, many of whom considered him on an impossible Don Quixote-esque mission against impossible odds.

However, Jim DeMint didn’t listen. Not only has he been taking his case straight to the American people (angering the leadership of his own party by doing so – go figure), but he formed a PAC to support true-blue conservatives get elected. And what are the results?

According to a Bloomberg article,

Since then, DeMint’s money and manpower have upset Senate Republican nomination contests in Colorado, Utah, Kentucky, and Delaware. Of the 13 candidates he’s endorsed, only three have lost. Last year he raised $1.3 million. This year his PAC has pulled in more than $4 million, says spokesman Matt Hoskins.

According to this article, DeMint has “vaulted from backbencher to conservative kingmaker.”

Here’s more of the media buzz following his latest Delaware victory:

Once again, DeMint’s candidate prevailed over the candidate boosted by the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee.  He set out to transform the Republican party and it looks like he just might be pulling it off. (ABC News)

“Based on the number of Republicans DeMint has helped get elected this year, I would say he’s done quite a bit to elect a majority,” Hoskins told CNN. “Perhaps the real reason some unnamed leadership aides are upset is that these Republicans actually have principles.” (CNN)

DeMint, whose endorsement boosted O’Donnell late in her primary race, cited other tea party favorites who are doing well in polls, including Florida Senate candidate Marco Rubio and Kentucky Senate candidate Rand Paul. Both defeated better-established Republicans in primaries. (MSNBC)

Christine O’Donnell’s upset win in Delaware’s GOP Senate primary put Sen. Jim DeMint back on TV and in the headlines. The South Carolina Republican has been taking on the GOP establishment this election season, backing a number of candidates who have challenged incumbents from the right. (Wall Street Journal)

All of this success, because DeMint chose the path of unwavering principle and initiative. As Scripture says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” (Isaiah 55:8)

This approach seemed backwards to so many, but in the end it has resulted in more success than the establishment methods could approach. And, DeMint himself stands poised to be a powerful force in the 2010 Senate, bypassing the ordinary route of the senority ladder.

Through it all, DeMint has remained devoid of personal ambition.

“DeMint is a modest man, and he always makes clear that he is by no means the only force behind the seismic shift of power in the Republican party this year.” (Wall Street Journal)

All of this, because one man refused to sit by and do nothing, and because he refused to sacrifice his principles in the process.

“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” (2 Chron. 16:9)

The bloodbath continues along our southern border and now word is coming in that Los Zetas, the highly trained killers formerly with the Gulf Cartel, have crossed into the United States and taken over at least two ranches in the Laredo, Texas area. I am receiving word that the owners of the ranches have evacuated without being harmed.

Founder of the San Diego Minutemen Jeff Schwilk tipped me off to this story and passes along the following information on the location. The ranches are said to be “near Mines Rd. and Minerales Annex Rd about 10 miles NW of I-35″.

Update – Statement from Mr. Schwilk)

I can personally vouch that this info came in late last night from a reliable police source inside the Laredo PD. There is currently a standoff between the unknown size Zeta forces and U.S. Border Patrol and local law enforcement on two ranches on our side of the Rio Grande. The source tells us he considers this an “act of war” and that the military is needed on the border now!

Whether it is lone members or squads is not certain.

Anonymous sources in law enforcement in the Laredo area tonight have passed on word that US law enforcement agencies are in the area and are weighing their options regarding the ranches. The media has been silent on this incident and some law enforcement in the area says that they are furious that the media is not reporting the whole story of the continued violence along the border. Their frustrations are understandable because keeping the truth suppressed continues to hamper law enforcement from receiving the true support they need along the border.

The ranch assaults come on the heels of attacks in Nuevo Laredo that shut the city down as a gun-battle raged in the streets. Los Zetas blocked off intersections with vehicles and used fragmentation grenades to attack Mexican law enforcement. In the end 12 were killed and 21 injured in the assaults. Citizens in the area were told to stay in their homes and bullets whizzed all around.

Cypress Times

The U.S. Consulate in Nuevo Laredo had posted warnings on its website hours before the gunfire was reported by Texas citizens, “We have received credible reports of widespread violence occurring now between narcotics-trafficking organizations and the Mexican army in Nuevo Laredo.”

The U.S. Consulate went on to say, “The consulate confirmed that fragmentation grenades were used in the attacks and that suspected drug-gang members had blocked several roads, adding that it advised ‘all U.S. citizens in Nuevo Laredo to remain indoors until the security situation improves.’”

US Citizens in Laredo called 911 after hearing gunfire and explosions just across the border. Laredo police spokesman Joe Baeza deflected the concerns of citizens with what I see as utter contempt. He said there was no spillover violence onto the US side and “We were getting reports from people who live on the river’s edge that they could hear gunfire and explosions from the Mexico side,” Baeza said, “We didn’t have any incidents on the American side. It’s hard for people to understand who don’t live here … They’re not Vikings, they’re not going to invade us, it doesn’t work that way.”

This was said just a day before the reported breaking news on the ranches being taken above.

Violence has been on the rise along the border. In April 2010 a Border Patrol agent in Laredo shot and killed an lllegal alien drug smuggler near the Rio Grande

The Los Zetas are highly trained killers initially trained by United States Special Operations forces to combat the drug cartes within Mexico. As the drug war heated up the Zetas saw more money in working for the cartels and joined up with the Gulf Cartel.

In March, 2010 there was a fracture between the Los Zetas and the Gulf Cartel when a Zetas leader was said to have been assassinated by the Gulf Cartel. They demanded that the killer be turned over to them. When the Gulf Cartel refused the Zetas captured 16 Gulf Cartel members.

Since March Los Zetas abandoned their stronghold in Reynosa and moved to Nuevo Laredo, just across from the border with Laredo, Texas. There are estimated to be over 1,000 Zeta members there.
Additional Sources: Houston Chronicle, Borderland Beat

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE:  This article is re-published in its entirety from DiggersRealm.com, any requests from media, or others, wishing to learn more about the content of this article should contact DiggersRealm.com HERE – Thank you, John G. Winder, Publisher – The Cypress Times

Additional Source Reporting on Laredo Siege -

AllVoices.com reports the following -

In what could be deemed an act of war against the sovereign borders of the United States, Mexican drug cartels have seized control of at least two American ranches inside the U.S. territory near Laredo, Texas.
Two sources inside the Laredo Police Department confirmed the incident is unfolding and they would continue to coordinate with U.S. Border Patrol today. “We consider this an act of war,” said one police officer on the ground near the scene. There is a news blackout of this incident at this time and the sources inside Laredo PD spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Word broke late last night that Laredo police have requested help from the federal government regarding the incursion by the Los Zetas. It appears that the ranch owners have escaped without incident but their ranches remain in the hands of the blood thirsty cartels.
Laredo Border Patrol is conducting aerial surveillance over the ranches to determine the best way to regain control of the U.S. ranches, according to the Laredo Police department.
See the entire article at AllVoices.com

By JOHN O’CONNOR of thestate.com

Lexington County Republicans voted to rebuke state Sen. Jake Knotts and ask him to resign his office after he used a racial slur last week against state Rep. Nikki Haley.

South Carolina State Senator Jake Knotts (R-Lexington) answers a question during a news conference at the Statehouse Friday, June 26, 2009. Knotts confirmed that SLED has agreed to open an investigation into governor Mark Sanfordaïs actions.

Both lawmakers are from Lexington County and the dispute was a feud between old guard Knotts and Haley, who represents the rising conservative wing of the party. Knotts referred to Haley, whose parents are Indian immigrants, as a “raghead” on an Internet political talk show.

Knotts said Thursday night he would not resign, and said the resolution was pushed by supporters of Haley and Gov. Mark Sanford, Knotts’ longtime adversary.

The following remarks by Senator Harvey Peeler were ordered printed in the SC Senate Journal of April 29, 2010.

…This amendment I have before you now just suspends the beach nourishment program for one year and here’s why. I’m serious about this when I tell you about this. Don’t let this be you in a few years:

“Granddaddy,”

“Yes son.”

“My teacher tells me that you were a South Carolina State Senator.”

“Well, yes son, I was.”

“I understand you were a Senator in 2010.”

“Yes, son, I was.”

“Our teacher told us that it was the toughest economic time in the State of South Carolina since the War and since a thing called the Great Depression.”

“Yes, son, it was a very, very tough time in the State of South Carolina. It was a terrible recession. People were out of work. School teachers were losing their jobs. Sick, hungry children were left unattended. Mean people were walking the streets.”

“Well, Granddaddy, what did you do when you were in the Senate?”

“Well, let me tell you what I did, son. I paid millions of dollars to dump sand into the ocean.”

“You did what, Granddaddy?”

“I spent millions of dollars of hard earned, tax payers’ money to dump sand into the ocean.”

“Granddaddy, you mean like when we go to the beach and we make this thing called a sandcastle and it’s so pretty and then after a few hours, no matter how hard we work and no matter how hard we try to protect that castle, that ocean comes up and washes that sand away?”

“Millions of dollars, in the toughest economic time in the State and we dumped sand into the ocean.”

“Well, Granddaddy, why aren’t you still in the Senate?”

“Well, son, I think I just gave you the answer.”

Now, you’re going to hear how great dumping sand in the ocean is and what it’s going to do to our tourism in the State of South Carolina. I don’t care how pretty a sandcastle you build tonight; that ocean’s going to wash it away. I’ve put that just as plain as I can put it. If you can vote against this amendment and get re-elected, I’ll worry about your constituents.

Thank you.