Raising the Cigarette Tax

We must raise our cigarette tax.  South Carolina’s cigarette tax is seven cents per pack -- the lowest in the nation, and far below the national average of $1.34.  Our failure to raise the cigarette tax has cost our taxpayers billions in lost matching federal dollars that could have been used to provide health care to our workers.  Criminals flock into our state to smuggle cigarettes for sale on the black market in other states.   Reasonable taxation would also reduce youth smoking and curb smoking-related health care costs of over $1 billion per year.  

Vincent has supported plans to raise our cigarette tax in the past, and as governor will accomplish this goal. 

Growing SC's Healthcare Economy

We must grow our healthcare economy.  With planning and vision, South Carolina can create jobs and increase per capita income for its citizens by growing the healthcare economy in our state. 

In recent years, we have turned away half of our applicants from our nursing and medical technician training programs for lack of open seats. Meanwhile, we recruit half our nursing needs from out of state.  It doesn’t make sense.  With proactive planning and investment, we can train our own citizens to fill good-paying nursing and medical technician positions. 

We can nurture job growth in health sciences, medical technologies, and medical specialties by providing a cohesive vision which integrates our health care training programs and our hospital systems.  Our growing population of retirees will need specialized care and services that present tremendous opportunities.  We must renew our investment in our hospital systems and universities to attract the best and brightest minds to our state for research and development that can move us forward in economic and healthcare growth.

Ensuring Mental Health Care Reform

We must restore accountability and oversight to our mental health care system.  Our disjointed and incohesive mental health system has resulted in higher costs to the taxpayers.  Our local emergency rooms and jails have become filled with acutely mentally ill persons who should be treated for their mental illness in appropriate facilities.  We must rebuild the partnership between state and local providers to adequately meet the needs of the mentally ill in a cost-conscious manner that does not impose the burden on local governments, who are often ill-equipped to deal with the challenge.