Better Government

Honesty, Transparency, Accountability

Protecting lake greenwood!

One of the most important jobs of a legislator is finding solutions to difficult problems. The Conestee Dam is upstream from Lake Greenwood on the Reedy River. This dam is over 135 years and was only designed to last 50 years, but holds back toxic waste dating back to the Industrial Revolution.

Recently the dam has become more unstable and has been identified as a potential environmental hazard. I worked hard in the House while Senator Garrett worked hard in the Senate to get state funding for a new dam that will hold back buried sediment. Our work paid off and we were successful in getting full funding for the construction of a new dam to the tune of $36 million (plus some third-party contributions). Once constructed this will be a 100+ year fix and buys time for a complete clean up in later years. https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=642286207706305&set=a.302384681696461

FOIA reform

Citizens deserve to know how their taxes are spent.  I have consistently supported strengthening our Freedom of Information Act laws, including reform to make accessing public documents easier and faster.

Ethics and Transparency are more than words to me. Since my election, I have been offered campaign donations from powerful special interests. I have taken none of it because I believe avoiding the appearance of impropriety is important. I am in favor of the public’s right to information and have voted to strengthen FOIA laws.

BUSINESS IS BOOMING!

Government regulations and tax burdens should not get in the way of business and our state needs to stay economically competitive. Since I have been on the job, South Carolina has welcomed over $20 billion in new business investments. I voted to maintain a strong Commerce Department and have been pleased to welcome many new businesses and expansions to Greenwood County including:

• Teijin Ltd., a carbon fiber manufacturing company, to Greenwood, which will provide 220 jobs to Lakelands citizens at its new plant.

• Impressa Building Systems—modular factory with 180 new jobs

• Monti, Inc., creating copper and aluminum conductors, insulators, etc., building an estimated 300 homes per year

• E. A Sween Company, investing $38 million and creating 300 new jobs

• Lonza expansion investing $46 million

• Mumford Industries, creating 33 new jobs

• WC Fiber $42 million expansion over 5 years

• Velux expansion, $26 million investment

• Eaton Expansion, 30 new jobs

• Ascend Performance Materials, $16.2 million expansion

• Caterpillar, investing 13.5 million creating 85 new jobs

Greenwood County currently has record low unemployment rate (3.4%, Dec, 2022) and 1,000+ job openings.

Small business is also thriving in Greenwood and our state, and as a small business owner, I will always vote to reduce tax and regulation that stifle small business.

LOWER TAXES

Government must learn to do more with less.  High taxes are choking out small businesses in America, so we must hold state taxes to a bare minimum.

I have consistently voted to return surplus tax money to the taxpayers, to freeze in-state tuition at our state technical schools, colleges and universities and to give teachers a pay raise. We have also provided funding to put an SRO in every school to boost school safety, and ensure student access to mental health.

I have consistently voted to reduce taxes by lowering the SC income tax rate and voting to refund surplus taxes to the taxpayer. These efforts will continue to attract business and retirees to our state and grow our economy.

Conservative Judges

In South Carolina, the legislature elects our judges. Activist judges hurt us when they go beyond their constitutional mandate and make their own laws.

JUDICIAL REFORM

I have called for ethical governance and the avoidance of conflicts of interest. For example, currently, incumbent judges are prohibited from contributing to the campaign of legislators who will vote in their races, but judicial candidates are not.  I proposed legislation to end this appearance of impropriety and make judicial races fairer.

I also favor judicial reform. The Judicial Merit Selection Commission set up by our Constitution should not be dominated by attorney-legislators and this practice needs to end. I favor appointments made by the Governor and the Attorney General in addition to legislative appointments, and will vote for proposed reform to do just that.

First Responders

I support our law enforcement officers, firefighters, corrections officers, EMS employees, and emergency room personnel.  They sacrifice their nights, weekends and holidays to serve us in dangerous conditions. I make it a priority to recognize first responders in my district, especially those who have served us for 20 years or more.

I am determined to help the families of our fallen first responders in this state. I have sponsored a bill that will create a Fallen First Responder Survivor Advocate. This advocate’s sole job will be to help the families of fallen first responders through the difficult process that follows their loved ones’ death.

VETERANS

Our veterans fought for our freedom. We owe them our gratitude for their countless sacrifices. I support legislation to make their retirement free from state taxes as a small way to say thank you, and we finally passed that measure in 2022.

I sponsored and worked hard to pass a bill that elevated the SC Director of Veteran Affairs to a cabinet-level position to ensure excellent, consistent, accountable services to the 450,000 veterans in SC who deserve our thanks. This bill was signed into law, and promises to enhance services to our veterans throughout the state.

I also co-sponsored a bill that provides a tax credit for disabled veterans and several other veteran friendly bills. https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess124_2021-2022/bills/3352.htm