Greetings Friends and Neighbors,

After our week of furlough for House members, a time we used to strategically plan for what lies ahead, I returned to Columbia this week energized and ready to continue making progress on several key bills and initiatives. This week was full of significant legislative advancements, each reflecting our deep commitment to the prosperity and well-being of every South Carolinian. We tackled groundbreaking healthcare reforms and introduced innovative solutions to support our local businesses. My dedication to improving the lives of all our citizens drives every action I take. On that note, in case you received a text about me claiming that I am "not really a Republican" and am for "bloated government and inefficiencies," please be sure to read the first section of the details below to understand my vote on the healthcare bill. Hopefully, most of you know me well enough by now to know that such a claim is both preposterous and a complete lie, but unfortunately, the political season is upon us, and there are some people who would rather make a name for themselves to gain position or power even if it means lying about others.

This week, the House passed H.4927, which establishes the Executive Office of Health Policy. By consolidating five agencies that previously provided overlapping services, the purpose is to reduce inefficiency and improve the quality of healthcare for South Carolinians. The new Secretary of Health and Policy, who will be appointed by the Governor and serve in his cabinet, will lead this centralized framework. However, there was a significant problem with the way this bill was written and messaged that caused me to have to vote against it. When we voted unanimously to split DHEC into two parts last year, separating the Healthcare agencies from the Environmental ones, I knew we would need to put a new structure into place. H.4927 was introduced on January 14, 2024, and even with a week of furlough, was brought to the full House this past Wednesday. This process occurred in record time. Upon initial review, I saw this new Cabinet position as being similar to the Surgeon General and expressed my thoughts to this effect in our Caucus meeting. What I did not realize at that time, was that upon further review of the details of this 75-page bill, there were several powers that had already been available to the six agencies that were egregious, and would now be consolidated to this new Secretary. You will hear it said by Republican House Members who voted for this that it is merely a "restructuring bill," but when you are restructuring so that power is consolidated and effectively granted into the hands of one unelected position, even if he or she is answerable to the Governor, I believe it is our responsibility to also limit that power at the same time. The majority of House Members were comfortable with the notion that we can come back later to introduce a bill to "change policy" including limiting the powers granted to the new Secretary in H.4927, but I believe once those powers are granted, it will be harder to take them away. I offered an amendment to the bill to limit the problematic powers, but it was ruled, "not germane," which is very strange considering one of the precepts of my amendment ended up in an earlier amendment that was passed unanimously, so how could my amendment be "not germane" when it covered similar but different aspects of the same subject of limiting powers? Here was my amendment and the portions of the bill to change:

In Section 44-12-40 (3), the secretary shall be the sole advisor of the State concerning all questions involving the protection of public health within its limits; My amendment struck "sole advisor" and inserted "primary advisor" because we have already witnessed what happens when the Governor or even the President relies on one person alone as the advisor for health issues.