Legislative Preview
Dear Friends:
As we enter the new year, political winds continue to blow at gale-force strength in America. Washington D.C. is a mess and the new Republican team is mandated to right the ship of state. It won’t be easy, but I pray they are able to shrink the federal behemoth on a foundation of Constitutional principles.
The good news in South Carolina is that voters added four additional Republican senators, giving Republicans a supermajority in the State Senate, where Republicans outnumber Democrats 34 to 12 (74% to 26%). There are 13 new senators (9 new Republicans and 4 new Democrats), the largest group of newly elected senators in the past 75 years.
In the South Carolina House, Republicans expanded their supermajority to 88, with Democrats holding only 36 seats (71% to 29%).
Election Consequences
In Columbia, state Representatives have been frustrated by Senate delays, lamenting that the House bills often go to the Senate to die. With this election, Senate Republicans can no longer claim they don’t have the votes to pass critical legislation since it only takes 24 Senate votes. There are no more excuses for allowing legislation sent to them by the House to linger or die. If Senators object to House bills, they are welcome to amend and improve them before returning them to the House for our reconsideration.
Consequential Session
The 126th legislative session gaveled in early this month to reorganize. The General Assembly reconvenes on January 14 to begin the first year of our two-year session. With the Republican super-majorities in both chambers, this could be one of the most consequential legislative sessions in decades.
Standing Up for
Several months ago, I wrote at length about upcoming legislative efforts to promote federalism, enforce the Tenth Amendment, and limit the federal government to its “few and defined” powers delegated to it in the Constitution while reserving the “numerous and indefinite” powers to the states.
With his election, President-Elect Donald Trump has a mandate to enact sweeping federal government reform and reverse the course where faceless, unelected bureaucrats, not the people you elect, make most of the rules and edicts we live by. Now is the optimum opportunity to reverse our nation’s decline.
Early this month, Vivek Ramaswamy, the co-head of the newly announced Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), told state legislators meeting in Washington, D.C., to seize what he described as a “once-in-a-generational opportunity” to remove burdensome federal regulations and restore the constitutional principles of self-governance. He emphasized the role of state governments in reclaiming their rightful authority, saying, “Without you, it doesn’t work.”
Ramaswamy said, “Federalism is the key to actually safely and soundly shutting down the overexpanded federal government.”
He concluded, “It is 1776 in America Right now. Our best days as a country are ahead of us.”
Federalism at Work
I have joined Speaker Murrell Smith in cosponsoring H.3007, calling for an Article V Convention of States to add a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to force them to curb federal government spending.
I have filed companion legislation (H.3558) setting forth the qualifications and duties for Commissioners appointed to represent South Carolina at a convention of states that would propose amendments to the Constitution to limit the federal government.
I have introduced legislation (H.3442) banning the use of central bank digital currency as money in South Carolina. This legislation protects our state’s citizens and businesses from the reckless and dangerous adoption of the ‘centralized digital dollar,’ which threatens personal economic freedom and security and has the potential forgovernment-sanctioned surveillance.
Just because any president can write a law with the stroke of a pen doesn’t make it legal. The question is always – does the federal government have jurisdictional authority? My bill (H.3600) provides a mechanism for the General Assembly to request the state’s Attorney General to review Presidential Executive Orders to determine their constitutionality and recommend whether to challenge the order for usurping state legislative authority.
The lure of federal dollars is irresistible for towns, cities, counties, and even state agencies. Funding grants from Washington always require spending those dollars according to the rules set by Washington’s administrative state. I liken it to legal extortion and a backdoor for federal bureaucrats to write state law without legislative approval. I have introduced a bill (H.3443) requiring state agencies to report federal grant requirements.
In recent months, I have also worked with Rep. Patrick Haddon in filing a bill (H.3408) to ban America’s foreign adversaries from owning, leasing, or possessing land in South Carolina.
Tax Cuts Lead House GOP House Caucus Agenda
House Republicans’ agenda begins with passing historic tax cuts. The goal is to substantially reduce the state income tax rate to be competitive with neighboring states. We want a simpler, fairer, and flatter tax system. We are also formulating legislation to lower the personal property tax burden on small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Business-Friendly Policies
We will pass legislation to sunset costly and burdensome regulations stifling economic growth. Addressing rising insurance costs and limited competition for restaurants, bars, and VFW posts is paramount. To support small business development and growth, regulatory barriers will be reduced.
Fuel Our Booming Economy
We will continue to invest in infrastructure to ease urban congestion and promote rural development. We must
increase affordable, reliable electric generation capacity while protecting natural resources. To help solve the childcare challenges for workers, we will propose a workforce retention tax credit for businesses offering childcare programs. Reforming unemployment programs will encourage able-bodied adults to get back into the workforce.
Prioritize Public Safety
I have long believed that public safety is the government’s chief responsibility. We will strengthen penalties for fentanyl-related crimes, retail theft, and juvenile crime. We will protect children from “deepfake” digital manipulation of images. We will crack down on illegal immigration and mandate local cooperation with immigration enforcement. We will support law enforcement needs and work to reform the process of selecting county magistrates.
Expand Educational Opportunities
We will restore school choice and education savings accounts to empower families. The Senate is also working on a plan to fund these scholarships through lottery funds. Proponents believe it addresses constitutional concerns raised by the state Supreme Court in September. The Republican House agenda calls for removing harmful DEI programs from educational institutions, increasing teacher pay, enhancing school board transparency, and strengthening parental rights. We will also invest in school safety to protect children and create safe learning environments.
Strengthen Families and Communities
Our agenda includes defending parental rights and supporting pro-life and Second Amendment policies. We also will strive to protect private property rights and reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies in public health. Finally, we want to ensure robust storm response and recovery efforts for fully restored communities.
My Legislative Initiatives
Legislators pre-file bills in December so committees can quickly get to work in January. Here are some of my legislative proposals:
Eyes Up, Phone Down
Reducing deaths and accidents on South Carolina’s roads will be helped with the passage of the Hands-Free bill (H.3536), which calls for drivers to put down their cell phones and keep their eyes on the road. I initially filed this legislation in 2018, but it has met legislative resistance. Citizens are far ahead of legislators in seeing the benefit of the Hands-Free bill; polling shows more than 80 percent of drivers favor its passage. Sen. Tom Young (R-Aiken) and I have again teamed up, and he is filing an identical bill in the Senate.
Free Speech
Protecting free speech on the campuses of our public colleges and universities. I filed the FORUM Act – Forming Open and Robust University Minds (H.3582), which aims to have students engage in lawful expression. In other words, speak freely without fear of being silenced by fellow students or school administrators.
Banning Ranked Choice Voting
Ranked Choice Voting would devastate election integrity. I have introduced legislation to ban RCV, which is intended to dramatically push our politics to the Left, elevate Left-leaning politicians, and weaken political parties to empower the Left-wing megadonors who are financing a nationwide campaign to promote this dangerous system.
Your Ideas
The best ideas often come from the people I serve. Please let me know if there are any issues or ideas you believe we’ve missed. Your feedback is essential as we continue to shape our legislative agenda. Together, we can ensure South Carolina remains a great place to live, work, and raise a family.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
I trust you enjoyed Christmas and that your heart continues to be filled with the holiday spirit throughout the new year. To those having difficulties, I pray that the spirit of this Christmas season provides you with the strength never to give up. With faith and courage, dreams are achievable. May God bless you with determination, health, and happiness. And, may God bless America and the Palmetto State.
|
|