NoHomeTax.org Advertising

This radio buy ran for two weeks, beginning Monday 4/28/08, through Friday, 5/09/08.

Stations are as follows…
Greenville          WORD-AM
Columbia           WVOC-AM
Charleston         WSCC-FM, WTMA-AM, WQNT-AM, WQSC-AM
(only market with more than 1 relevant News/Talk)
Florence            WJMX-AM
Myrtle Beach     WRNN-FM
Rock Hill           WRHI-AM
Hilton Head       WLOW-FM

Sounds of Press Conference:

Senator Seesaw: Alright, People—quiet down. I’m here. First Question.

Reporter: Representative Seesaw-- how do you respond to those who say property taxes are still too high?

Senator: I’d say they must be high. We’re lettin’ folks off way to easy.

Reporter: A number of legislators are considering an improved property tax relief plan—a plan to eliminate homestead taxes altogether, eliminate point of sale assessments, and give new relief to all 4% and 6% properties. NoHomeTax.org is meeting with these representatives, and say they’ll be posting who’s for tax relief and who’s against it on their website.

Senator: Where’s this flyer gonna be posted?

Reporter: It’s not a FLYER, Senator. It’s on the Internet, at NoHomeTax.org.

Senator: InnerNet? Is that like an inner tube? Now, how you post a flyer on an inner tube? You use a pin or a tack, you poke a hole in it, (fade) and tape don’t stick to rubber, and…

Announcer: To find out which lawmakers are a little more in touch,
and in touch with the need for additional property tax relief, visit NoHomeTax.org. That’s NoHomeTax.org!
Paid for by NHT.org , Emerson Read Chairman.

[Produced but not broadcast on radio yet]

Sound Effects: Phone Rings

Woman: County Council.

Man: Uh, yes, um, I just got my property tax bill, and it’s only gone down a little. The new South Carolina property tax relief laws were supposed to cut it by around 50%.

Woman: Hmm. Bummer.

Man: Well, what happened ??!!

Woman: Sir, the General Assembly gave you tax relief, but locally we decided to relieve you of that relief. Aren’t you relieved?

Man: So you raised taxes?

Woman: We prefer to say we tweaked some millage and adjusted some debt load and increased some expenses.

Man: You won’t get away with this.

Woman: Well, unfortunately for you most people will never notice. They’ll be excited that their property taxes went down at all.

Man: I’m gonna take action.

Woman: You do that. Start by sending in your tax payment. (Click. Dial Tone)

Announcer: All around South Carolina, school boards and county councils are artificially increasing expenses to undermine the new tax laws, and get their hands on more of your tax dollars. Call your state representative today, and ask them to take action against these obvious money grabs.

Paid for by NoHomeTax.org, Emerson Read, Sr, Chairman.

[Produced but not broadcast on radio yet]

Announcer: Somewhere, in a secret school district meeting near you…

Leader: The General Assembly has created a one penny sales tax to give property owners tax relief. That penny tax will easily fund our school district, but I want more! What can we do?

Weasel: Ooww, Superintendent! We could artificially increase our expenses and debt-load and budget demands! That way, we’d get all the new sales tax, but our costs would be so unbelievably high, they’d have to add schools back onto the property tax bills.

Leader: Why, our district would be swimming in money!

Weasel: Yeees.

Leader: Sounds sneaky.

Weasel: Yeees.

Leader: Sounds immoral.

Weasel: Yeees.

Leader: Sounds like we’re skirting the law.

Weasel: Yeees.

Leader: Dare we do something so treacherous?

Weasel: Oh, we must: We’re….uh… doing it for the children! They both crack up laughing.

Leader: I love you bean counters. Let’s do it!

Announcer: Sounds impossible? It’s already happened in 21 school districts and counties around the state. Call your representative today, and ask them to un-do this obvious money grab by local governments and school districts.

Paid for by NoHomeTax.org, Emerson Read Sr., Chairman.

Sound Effects: Murmurs of a press conference beginning.

Senator: Okay, okay, people… let’s get this party started. First question.

Reporter #1: Senator, we’re being told that the taxpayers of South Carolina are being financially devastated by their skyrocketing property taxes. Your thoughts?

Senator: Couldn’t be that bad. I haven’t heard from the voters. Besides- heh, heh- the government needs the money.

Reporter #2: Senator, how do you respond to working class folks who say they are going to have to sell their home because they can’t afford the yearly increases?

Senator: Unless the voters scream bloody murder, or vote me out, this is a dead issue. I’ll need to get calls, letters, emails, and personal visits from the public before I change my stance. The people can speak up, or pay up.

Reporter #1: Senator, are you even listening to the voters?

Senator: Kinda hard to… when you’re up to your “ears” in special interest money! Heh heh. Uh, Wait, don’t print that.

Announcer: If you want property taxes eliminated, you MUST contact your legislator today. For information, go to NoHomeTax.org. That’s NoHomeTax.org. If we fight together, we’ll win. Paid for by NoHomeTax.org, Emerson Read, Chairman

This radio spot ran April 18-20 and April 25-27 in Charleston, Columbia, Florence, Greenville-Spartanburg, Hilton Head, and Myrtle Beach every hour from 6:00 A.M. – 10:00 P.M.

SFX: Press Conference starting

Senator: All right press boys, listen up. Thanks to last week’s press conference about eliminatin’ property taxes, I been getting’ calls, and letters… I even got people showin’ up in my office askin’ for property tax relief. My office! I’m a state senator! I ain’t got time for you people! Listen: I got Senators Alexander, Rankin and Martin on my side… and I even got the big dawg, Senator Leatherman on my side, and he’s the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. So forget it, people! No property tax reform! I don’t want to hear about losin’ your home, or needin’ clothes for the kids, or wantin’ to buy a new car. And I don’t wanna hear about how yooou need the money. It ain’t your money! It’s the gubmints! Oww. Dat sounded bad. Let’s leave that part out.

Announcer: If you disagree with the Senator, now is the time to act. We can eliminate property taxes, but we’ve got to be heard. So call. Write. Email. Contact your Senator, AND Senator Leatherman. Go to nohometax.org for info. Paid for by nohometax.org. Emerson Read, Chairman.

This radio spot ran May 1-3 in Columbia - Rock Hill, Charleston, Greenville-Spartanburg, Pickens and May 3-5 in Beaufort - Hilton Head, Florence and Myrtle Beach
every hour from 6:00 A.M. – 10:00 P.M.

Sound effects: Phone Rings.

Woman: “Assessor’s office.”

Taxpayer: “Hi. I just got my tax bill, and I think ya’ll made a mistake. It’s twice as high             as it was last year.”

Woman: “No mistake, Sir. Your property went up in value.”

Taxpayer: “How did it go up in value? I didn’t do anything to it.”

Woman: “It was re-assesed.”

Taxpayer: “What does that mean?”

Woman: “It means we said it went up in value.”

Taxpayer: “I didn’t do anything to it.”

Woman: “We did. We re-assessed it.”

Taxpayer: “But Ma’am, my salary didn’t go up last year.”

Woman: “And yet, your taxes did. Isn’t it exciting?”

Taxpayer: “How am I supposed to pay more taxes?”

Woman: “Shouldn’t be a problem. You’re rich.”

Taxpayer: “I’m what?”

Woman: “You’re rich. Your property is skyrocketing in value.”

Taxpayer: “That doesn’t help me pay the taxes.”

Woman: “You could sell it.”

Taxpayer: “Then what?”

Woman: “Buy something bigger.”

Taxpayer: “And pay even higher taxes?

Woman: “Oh, quit griping. You’re rich.”

Announcer: If you’re fed up with skyrocketing property taxes, help get them under
control.  Vote “Yes” to the Property Tax Cap Referendum.  That’s “Yes” on the             Property Tax Cap Referendum. 

Paid for by NoHomeTax.org, Emerson Read, Chairman.

Advertisement that ran in the Charleston Mercury newspaper October 26, 2006

Advertisement that ran in the Pickens Sentinel newspaper March 22, 2006