Gingrich appears to support SC Democrats’ tax receipt plan

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, known for viciously attacking Democrats at every turn during his quest for the Republican presidential nomination, seems to have developed a newfound spirit of bipartisanship.

Speaking at a homeownership rally outside the State House on Thursday — which was also headlined by Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn — Gingrich discussed his support for a publicly-available audit detailing how tax dollars are spent. “Every American should have the right to know where did every penny go and who got it,” Gingrich told the crowd.

Speaker Gingrich is in luck, because leading Democratic state senators on Thursday unveiled a plan that would do exactly that by giving each state income tax filer a receipt itemizing exactly where the government is spending their money.

“I’m very flattered that Newt Gingrich would endorse my proposal on the day I introduced it,” commented state Sen. Vincent Sheheen, who developed the tax receipt plan. “We hope it can get a hearing in the Finance Committee soon and that other Republicans will jump on board as well.”

Palmetto Public Record asked Republican state Treasurer Curtis Loftis, who also spoke at the rally, whether he intends to support the tax receipt proposal given Gingrich’s comments. Loftis said he was “behind the curve” on Sen. Sheheen’s plan, but added, “if it’s about accountability, I’m for it 100 percent.”

“This is true accountability,” said Sheheen. “Taxpayers deserve to know how their money is being spent.”

Watch video of Speaker Gingrich’s comments below: