Nikki Haley can't deny the importance of South Carolina ports

Governor Nikki Haley could not deny the importance of South Carolina's ports today as she addressed the amount of exports leaving from our state.

COLUMBIA, SC – Governor Nikki Haley, the South Carolina Department of Commerce and the State Ports Authority today announced the state's 2010 exports totaled more than $20.3 billion in goods sold to 192 countries around the world, representing a 23.22 percent increase over 2009 totals. In 2010, South Carolina's 23.22 percent export growth ranked it 17th in the U.S.

"A twenty-three percent increase in exports is only the beginning of what we will continue to see in South Carolina when we work on improving and modernizing our ports system and market our great state to the world," said Gov. Haley.

As more facts begin to come out, action is now the only item missing in regards to "improving and modernizing" the state's ports.

Republicans have been control of this state for decades. Now, the run everything statewide. The First Congressional District has been under Republican rule for more than a decade with minimal action on the Georgetown port.

A stalemate that is Rep. Tim Scott now has the state's governor proclaiming the importance - and success - of our ports and what they can produce when maintained.

"South Carolina continues to see an increase in exports to markets around the world. Both Canada and Germany remain very important trade partners for South Carolina, and China is increasingly becoming an important market for goods made in our state. We look forward to seeing these trends continue in the coming years and the jobs that come with them," said Bobby Hitt, Secretary of Commerce.

The one thing lacking here, though, is the same dedication to our ports in regards to government support. Nikki Haley has yet visited Washington to proclaim the importance of the Georgetown and Charleston ports. Rep. Tim Scott would rather hold fund raisers at home rather than voice his dire concern to President Obama or others in efforts to secure funds. More so, Scott remains against the earmark process designed to fund public ports.

Locally, state Rep. Kevin Ryan - the port resides in his district - has yet to put forth a bill or initiative to fund the dredging of the Georgetown port. 

Let's face it. The countries mentioned by Hitt fund and maintain their ports. The state of South Carolina postures for the people, even when admitting the facts. There's more that could be done.

Going as far back as 2005, Germany understood.

“Some parts of the federal government have realized how important the deepening of the shipping channels is for the economic growth and creation of jobs in Germany,” Uldall told Fairplay. 

Too bad we have Republicans who don't get that.

"Exporters in South Carolina's manufacturing and agricultural sectors benefit from competitive deepwater port facilities," said Jim Newsome, president and CEO of the South Carolina Ports Authority. "And export growth generates jobs in the maritime industry and across the state."

The truth begins to get harder and harder to ignore, especially when a Republican governor wants to exclaim excitement over the success of ports in the state.