With the new Leatherman Terminal open this month at the port of Charleston, the pressure for state legislators to find new avenues to support and grow South Carolina’s port infrastructure is mounting. One such proposed avenue is Senate Bill 491—currently in the House – which proposes $550 million in bonds to be borrowed by the state to support the Port of Charleston and its new terminal. As I researched the issue to write this post, I couldn’t help but sing Britney Spears’s “Baby One More Time” with some slight Port themed modifications. The tune stuck in my head, as did the issue and thus I now present to you… Ship Me Baby One More Time.  

Oh baby, baby
Oh baby, baby

Oh baby, baby, how is the House supposed to know
If ports need so much funding?
Oh baby, baby, they’ll never let you go
But SC needs new infrastructure, yeah

$550 million is a lot of money
Tell em’, baby, 'cause they need to know now, oh, because

Old rail lines are killing me (And I)
I must confess I still believe (Still believe)
When I think of new barges, I lose my mind
Give me a sign (491)
Ship me baby one more time

Oh baby, baby, the reason I need new cranes
they, move freight more efficiently
Oh House baby, there's nothing these bonds couldn’t do
And you can still have oversight 

Show SPA how you want it to be
Tell em’, baby, 'cause sessions almost over, because

My lack of roads is killing me (And I)
I must confess I still believe (Still believe)
When I'm improved, I’ll provide new business of all kinds
Give me a sign (491)
Ship me baby one more time

Oh baby, baby
They have concerns
Oh baby, baby, is it the installment payback?
Oh House baby, you shouldn't let me go

I must confess that Ways and Means is killing me now
Don't you know I still believe
That you will support me and give me a sign (491)
Ship me baby one more time

My lack of funding is killing me (And I)
I must confess I still believe (Still believe)
When I am passed, I’ll create new infrastructure
Give me a sign (491)
Ship me baby one more time

I must confess that not being read is killing me now
Don't you know I still believe?
That you will come through and give me a sign (491)
Ship me baby one more time

You can find more detailed information on the importance of the SC Ports Authority on the Upstate here: https://upstatebusinessjournal.com/op-ed/op-ed-sc-ports-expansion-projects-worthy-of-state-funding/

Editor's Note: Jillian Johnson is the Greenville Chamber’s Spring 2021 Business Advocacy Intern. She is a senior at Furman University.