Week 8 Update
Sunday, March 5, 2023
Good Afternoon Neighbors and Friends,
Overview of the Week:
A common thread during Week 8 of this legislative session was protecting and supporting the next generation. On Wednesday, I joined my colleagues in giving voters the opportunity to decide to do away with a 150-year-old SC Constitutional Amendment that was steeped in prejudice and bias. This will be on the ballot in 2024. We also made strides in keeping criminals off the street by passing historic bond reform legislation that will stop the revolving door for repeat offenders. I am committed to making South Carolina the best and safest place to raise your family!
Increasing Educational Choices & Opportunity:
On Tuesday, I joined my Republican colleagues and voted to pass joint resolution H.3591
which would amend the SC Constitution, which currently prohibits the state from providing direct aid to certain private educational institutions. This came into stark focus during the pandemic when the State was blocked from providing any assistance to private schools related to COVID protocols and/or requirements. All students suffered during this time, which is why funds were made available for relief, yet the students at parochial and other private schools were not able to be helped. The Blaine Amendment was passed in 1895 for the express purpose of prohibiting state funds from being given to Catholic institutions along with schools and universities founded by northern missionaries to educate and serve freed former slaves. As with any effort to amend the State Constitution, the General Assembly must pass a resolution that puts this question on a statewide ballot for voters to decide in the next General Election. Accordingly, the House voted to put this question on the 2024 ballot.
Keeping Criminals Off the Street:
On Wednesday, I proudly voted for H.3532, a bond reform bill that will help make South Carolina a safer place for us all to raise our families by stopping the revolving door for repeat criminals. This bill creates sentence and bond enhancements for a person convicted of a violent crime while out on bond for a previous violent crime. The bipartisan vote was 92-20.
Education Bills on the Horizon:
Parents and their children deserve as much choice as possible regardless of their zip code. H.3843, the Open Enrollment Bill, will allow students to attend public schools outside of their attendance zone and school district. By providing more opportunities, parents can find the best school and fit for their child’s education. H.3360
will establish the Center for School Safety and Targeted Violence within the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. The purpose of the center is to provide extensive training, education, and expertise in the fields of school safety and targeted violence. Our state needs this program so we can ensure our schools are prepared for any kind of emergency. Next up was a bill to address the fact that our state is experiencing staffing shortages in schools, and not just with teachers. It is imperative that we recruit and maintain the necessary support staff to empower our teachers to do their jobs. H.3308
will make it acceptable for the State Board of Education to accept credentials of school psychologists issued by other states if the credentials meet the requirements for certification in South Carolina.
I voted for all three of these bills in the K-12 Subcommittee as well as the Education and Public Works Committee, and having passed favorably, they will head to the House floor soon.
Economic Investment = Jobs for South Carolinians:
Scout Motors, a US EV manufacturer subsidiary of Volkswagen Group, announced on Friday they will be establishing their first manufacturing plant in Blythewood, South Carolina. At the Midlands site, the company will build all-electric, next-generation trucks and rugged SUVs harkening back to the iconic Scout vehicles produced from 1960 to 1980. The company’s $2 billion investment has the potential to create 4,000 or more permanent jobs. At full capacity, more than 200,000 Scout vehicles may be produced annually at the facility. Read the full press release here. You can also watch an informative video
for more details.
Judicial Selection Process Reform:
Just yesterday, I drove back to Columbia to serve with 3 of my House colleagues and 3 Senators on a Legislative Panel to present information to the South Carolina Federation of Republican Women on the important subject of reforming our Judicial Selection Process. The current system has many weaknesses and is rife with potential conflicts of interest. There are several bills addressing possible solutions to this problem. I am a co-sponsor on H. 3006, H. 3022, and H. 3529, all of which have the potential to greatly improve our existing selection process. I will keep you updated on this topic and let you know of any areas where you might be able to help if interested. It was great to see several of my fellow members of the East Cooper Republican Women's group in attendance at this conference.
On The Horizon: Budget:
The House Ways & Means Committee wrapped up weeks of hearings and approved the preliminary 2023-24 state budget. This initial budget proposal (nearly $14 billion) is a starting point. The House will debate it the week of March 13 before sending it to the Senate. I’ll keep you informed as this year’s budget discussions make progress over the next few weeks. I look forward to applying my strong fiscal conservative values and 38 years of experience in financial planning, including budgeting to this process.