South Carolina Association of Taxpayers

The South Carolina Association of Taxpayers (SCAT) is an anti-tax group that accepts corporate funding. On its website it ststes that it is "an independent, privately funded research group whose purpose is to encourage government to work more efficiently." The "helpful websites" page on its website includes links to the National Taxpayer's Union, the Cato Institute, and the Heritage Foundation.

Opposition to Tobacco Taxes
In 2008 SCAT was reported as being anonymously funded by the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company to mail out 10,000 postcards to Republican activists asking them to oppose an increase in South Carolina's cigarette tax to help fund healthcare for uninsured workers.

SCAT was listed as a "stakeholder" in a 2001 Philip Morris Field Action Team list of allies to be briefed about a proposal to allow the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulate cigarettes. SCAT was also listed in a 1999 Philip Morris "Tobacco Allies Notebook"

SCAT opposed a federal lawsuit to seek government reimbursement for Medicaid costs of treating sick smokers.

Officers

 * Don Weaver, President
 * Jim Keasler, Vice-President
 * Dan Harvell, Vice-President
 * David James,Vice-President
 * Mark Johnson (South Carolina), Treasurer
 * Stephanie Haile, Executive Assistant

Board of Directors

 * Mary Williams, 2nd Cong. District
 * Lonnie Shealy, 2nd Cong. District
 * Don Bowen, 3rd Cong. District
 * Dan Winchester, 3rd Cong. District
 * Butch Taylor, 4th Cong. District
 * Aurelia Hood,4th Cong. District
 * Lucille Dismukes, 4th Cong. District

Funding
On its website, SCAT provides no details of its funding sources.

Contact details
SCAT PO Box 50799 Columbia, SC 29250 Phone: Phone: (803) 748-9198 SCAT Blog: www.scatsc.org/blog Website: http://www.scatsc.org/

Related SourceWatch Articles

 * Tobacco industry