End of Session Wrap-Up
These recent developments, along with our comprehensive efforts throughout the session, underscore our commitment to a prosperous future for South Carolina. Our legislative efforts in the 125th Session have centered around bolstering economic growth, reforming education, reducing government intervention, promoting conservative values, and ensuring public safety. These priorities have guided our actions, laying the groundwork for a stronger and more prosperous South Carolina:
Protecting Life and Public Safety:
- Fetal Heartbeat Bill: Restricts abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, with exceptions. Along with this, we also passed a number of bills specifically designed to streamline and facilitate the adoption process in our state. Women have a true choice of life when they can raise a child or know they are providing a loving family with the child they greatly want to raise as their own.
- Help Not Harm Bill: Addresses critical issues around gender transition procedures for minors.
- Gavin’s Law: Anti-sextortion law to protect teenagers and adults from online exploitation.
- Prison Cell Phone Ban: Prohibits inmates from possessing illegal cell phones in prisons.
- Targeted Fentanyl Trafficking Legislation: Strengthens penalties against fentanyl trafficking.
- Bail Reform: Implements reforms in bail practices.
- Crackdown on DUIs: Requires ignition interlock systems for drunk drivers.
- Banning Non-Citizens from Voting: Constitutional referendum to ensure voting rights.
Education and Workforce Development:
- Expanded School Choice - Education Savings Accounts (ESA): Empowers parents with educational options.
- Expanded Family Leave for Teachers: Increases family leave benefits for teachers.
- Increased Teacher Salaries: Ensures regular raises for teachers, including the most experienced.
- Universal School Choice - ESA Expansion 2.0: Expands Education Savings Account programs.
- Frozen Tuition for State Colleges and Universities: Maintains frozen tuition rates.
- Repeal of the Medical Certificate of Need: Removes healthcare access barriers.
- Telehealth Expansion: Enhances access to healthcare services through telehealth.
- Substance Control - Xylazine Regulation: Regulates xylazine as a controlled substance.
- Restructured DHEC: Divides DHEC into separate environmental and health entities.
- ESG Pension Protection Act: Protects state pensions against woke ideology and policy.
- Constitutional Carry (2A): Allows constitutional carry of firearms.
- Banning DEI at State Universities and Colleges: Prohibits Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives at state educational institutions.
- Defining Anti-Semitism: Defines anti-Semitism in legal terms.
- Tax Relief: Reduces the state income tax rate to 6.2% for economic competitiveness. One of my major goals for the next two years is to revamp the budget so that our rate is competitive with those in neighboring states. 5% would be a great goal to achieve, without increasing property taxes. As a side note, those states in the southeast with no income taxes typically either have higher property taxes, which is a huge burden especially to retirees and low income residents, or they have extremely high tourism so that they collect a tremendous amount of their revenue from sales tax and accommodation taxes. We think we have a lot of tourists, but the numbers for Florida, for example, are gigantic compared to ours, which provides a lot of their revenue to pay bills in their state.
- Education Funding: $200 million increase for teacher salaries and tuition freezes at colleges and universities.
- Infrastructure: $400 million for bridge repairs and rural road enhancements.
- Public Safety: Investments in prison upgrades, Highway Patrol salaries, and healthcare access.
- Universities: Funding for Clemson and USC’s new medical schools and SC State’s campus upgrades.
- Other Investments: Veterans Nursing Homes, rural infrastructure, school buses, instructional materials, and a robust reserve fund.
As we look forward, these achievements underscore our commitment to a prosperous future for South Carolina.
Around the District and the Lowcountry:
To all of you in Charleston County who came out to vote for the Primary Runoff Election for Sheriff, thank you! Chief Carl Ritchie had a fantastic result, winning 60% of the vote. On Thursday evening following the Tuesday runoff, the Charleston County Republican Party held a "Meet the Republican Ticket" event in downtown Charleston to highlight all of the candidates to face the Democrats in November. It was truly heartwarming to see Chief Ritchie introduce Greg Kitchens and invite him to come up to the front of the room. After a hearty handshake and hug, Carl referenced Teddy Roosevelt's "Man in the Arena" excerpt from his speech called "Citizenship in a Republic" delivered in April 1910. He thanked Greg as well as the candidates for being in the arena with him, and told Greg that their effort in the primary and runoff has made him far more prepared to defeat our incumbent Democrat Sheriff in November. He even offered for Greg to address the group about the November election. I am so happy and proud to have such an honorable individual representing our Republican ticket for the role of Sheriff. Working together, we can look forward to a great victory in November and a safer Charleston County and Lowcountry for all our residents in the future!
In addition to Sheriff, each one of our candidates including myself were invited to share a few thoughts on the upcoming election. Almost all of us have a Democrat running against us. I will be working very hard to continue to serve you throughout the campaign season, and ask for your help and support as I seek reelection against the same woman who ran against me in 2022. Already I have received a number of postcards at my house from Democrats, starting with someone who ran for seat 99, which represented us, in the special election in 2018. The postcard said they are, "coming after me" for my conservative voting record. As a strong Conservative myself, I represent a predominantly conservative District, so anything less would be unacceptable. Our quarterly financial filing cuts off at midnight tonight, so if you are able to support my efforts to hold this seat and continue to represent you for the next two years, please donate through this link.
How did you celebrate Carolina Day on Friday, June 28th? My husband Joe represented the Landing Family in the official downtown Charleston celebration by playing his bagpipes and marching with the Charleston Pipe Band. Official photo shared from the Charleston Pipe Band. In case you aren't familiar with the history of Carolina Day, here's a link from the SC State Museum with all the details.
Meanwhile, at the same time as the Carolina Day Parade, I was attending the retirement celebration for a long-time dedicated employee and wonderful public servant with the Town of Mount Pleasant, Barbara Ashe. Barbara served in several roles over the years, assisting both the Town Council and the Mayor in administrative and communication matters. It was great to visit with Barbara and her husband, Tom, a Radiologist at St. Francis Hospital. They recently moved from Rivertowne but resettled elsewhere in District 80. I always enjoyed my conversations with Barbara, and she was a great resource for help on many issues when I served on the Town Council. Please join me in wishing Barbara a wonderful retirement!
Finally, what do potholes have to do with public service? Plenty, especially when they develop so frequently as they do on our roads throughout the District. This past week on the way home from work, I hit a deep pothole on the right side of Bessemer Road just before the roundabout. When I arrived home, I checked for damage to the tire or wheel as it was a pretty nasty bump. The next morning I texted the Town to determine whether this was a road maintained by the Town, the POA, the County or the State. Having confirmed it was the Town, a crew was sent out the same day to fill it. You may think this would be the responsibility of a Town Council Member, but oftentimes it falls under Charleston County or SCDOT jurisdiction. Please always let me know if you experience problems with any maintenance or infrastructure issues, because I am usually able to find out who can fix it and get it done as soon as possible.
Please continue to share this email with friends, family, neighbors and colleagues who can benefit from being kept informed about matters affecting our state and the Lowcountry. Over the summer and fall while we are out of session, I will send a monthly rather than weekly email. Anyone can sign up either by emailing this address or submitting their email on our website here. If you have any questions or need assistance on anything, don't hesitate to email me at this address.