Largest GOP majority proposes sweeping conservative reforms

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The House Republicans unveiled their most ambitious agenda today, focused on the conservative reforms demanded by the voters of South Carolina during the 2010 election.

“This is a very ambitious Legislative Agenda that we announced today. We are responding to the issues South Carolinians told us were important to them, our aim is to create jobs, reform government and improve the lives of our state’s citizens,” said House Speaker Bobby Harrell. “Strengthening our economy, promoting responsible government and improving education are all issues the House Republican Caucus has been a leader in supporting. Our new, largest-ever Republican Majority will allow us to tackle these major issues and accomplish even more this session.”

The House Republicans won 76 seats in the General Assembly during the November election – constituting the largest majority held by conservatives since South Carolina’s voters gave control of the House to Republicans in 1994.

“The voters of South Carolina spoke loudly that these conservative reforms must be enacted,” said Majority Leader Kenny Bingham. “Many of these items are pieces of legislation that the House has approved numerous times, but have not become law. This year, it is essential that we approve Voter ID, tort reform, spending limits, and other critical conservative pieces of legislation. The Republican Caucus is committed to pushing our agenda into law.”

The agenda items are:

• Creating Jobs in a Stronger Economy: The House Republicans are committed to creating a business-friendly economic climate and help them create jobs. We will pass comprehensive tort reform, changes to our “point of sale” requirements, and incentives for South Carolinians to help fund the next great small business.

• Improving Education: Making education funding more equitable and efficient, and ensuring a vibrant and healthy charter school system is essential for the long-term success of our education system.

• Transparency and Government Reform: Transparency and efficiency in government is a critical conservative philosophy. We will fight for more on-the-record voting, more transparency in how our colleges and universities spend their money, and more efficiency in how state government is structured. We will also fight for strict spending caps for state government, a shorter legislative session, and the requirement to show photo ID when voting.

• Limiting Government Power: Limiting government power is essential to freedom and personal liberty, and is also a core Republican philosophy. The Caucus will support the Repeal Amendment, a federal constitutional amendment that will allow two-thirds of states to vote to repeal a federal law. The Caucus will also support a revamped South Carolina Taxpayer Bill of Rights and new requirements that the General Assembly approve new regulations by the unelected officials of state agencies.

• New Pro-Life Protections: Protecting life and protecting our most vulnerable citizens is an essential role of government. We will support the “Born-Alive” legislation, the Freedom of Conscience Act, and an opt-out for doctors who don’t want to perform abortions that may be required by Obamacare.

• Fighting Illegal Immigration: The House Republicans will use an expanded majority to push through an Arizona-style immigration bill – building on the successes of our 2008 immigration legislation. Early indications are this law is working, but we can do more to ensure we welcome legal immigrants and discourage illegal immigrants from settling in our state.

“This is the most expansive agenda the Republican majority has put forward during my entire time in the House,” Majority Leader Bingham said. “The House has passed many of these items in past years, and we will do so again this year. It is a rare thing in politics when a party receives a true ‘mandate’ from the public. The 2010 election, where the GOP gained three seats in the House, picked up all nine Constitutional Officers, and now control five of our six Congressional seats, was a mandate from the voters of South Carolina.”

“I look forward to working with our conservative, reform-minded, new governor on making these priorities law.”

2011-2012 Legislative Session Agenda

The House Republicans were trusted by South Carolina’s voters during the 2010 election to enact conservative reforms to create jobs, reform government, and make our state a better place to live. The House Republicans will fight for the conservative values we share with our constituents. Next to each is the name of a member of the Caucus who is the point person for that piece of legislation.

Create Jobs in a Stronger Economy

• Lawsuit Abuse Reform – The Caucus will fight to protect our state’s businesses from the threat of an unjustified, debilitating lawsuit, while preserving everyone’s access to our legal system. (Chairman Harrison)

• “Bill Wylie Entrepreneurship Act” – This legislation will allow “Angel Investors” to claim an income tax credit for providing funding to small business start-ups in our state. (Reps. Loftis, Stringer)

• “Point of Sale” – Reforming our Point of Sale reassessment requirements will jump-start our real estate market. (Rep. Merrill)

Improving Education

• Education Funding Reform – Making education funding more equitable is a priority for our state. (Chairman Cooper)

• Charter School law revisions – Ensuring a healthy and vibrant charter school choice for parents is essential for a strong education system in our state. (Chairman Owens)

Transparency and Government Reform

• On the Record Voting – The House will again approve a statute providing for more recorded votes. (Rep. Ballentine)

• Higher Education Transparency – The Caucus will fight to open the books of state colleges and universities. (Speaker Harrell)

• Agency Restructuring – We will search for cost savings and operational efficiency in state agencies. (Maj. Leader Bingham)

• Spending Caps – The House Republicans will pass spending caps for the sixth time in 15 years. (Rep. Garry Smith)

• Voter ID – Voters should be required to present a photo ID a proof of their identity when they vote. (Rep. Clemmons)

• Shorten the Legislative Session – The House will work to shorten the legislative session, work more efficiently, and save taxpayers money. (Maj. Leader Bingham)

Pro-Life Protections – (Rep. Delleney)

• Born Alive legislation – This legislation ensures that babies born alive after an abortion procedure must be saved.

• Freedom of Conscience Act – This Act will require healthcare providers to not be held liable if they do not provide a service that is against their conscience.

• Obamacare Abortion Opt-Out – S.C. Doctors will not be required to perform abortions if required to by Obamacare.

Limiting Government Power

• Repeal Amendment – A federal constitutional amendment where two-thirds of states can vote to repeal a federal law. (Speaker Harrell)

• Taxpayer Bill of Rights – We will expand and update our state’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights to ensure law-abiding taxpayers are treated with respect by government agencies. (Rep. Murrell Smith)

• Regulatory Reform – The General Assembly must vote, up or down, new agency regulations. (Rep. Bedingfield)

Illegal Immigration Reform – (Rep. Bedingfield)

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Dear Friends,

My colleagues on the House Judiciary Committee approved a major priority of not only the Republican Caucus, but for the state Republican Party as well – the so-called “Voter ID” bill.

In South Carolina, you must present a photo identification to purchase Sudafed. You must present a photo identification to board an airplane. You have to present one to cash a check. If you are of a certain age, you have to have one to buy alcohol or cigarettes. You have to have one to purchase a firearm.

Currently, you do not need to have a government-issued identification to vote in South Carolina. We believe that it is critical to the integrity of our election process that you prove who you are when you cast your ballot to elect your public officials. Voting is a constitutionally protected right – as is owning a firearm – and cannot be abridged.

But I believe voting is more than a right. It is a responsibility of all of our citizens, and it is a responsibility that too many of us do not take seriously.

For the past two years, the House Republicans have ushered through legislation that would require voters to present valid government-issued photo identification when they vote. Despite the vocal opposition from Democrats, this bill has nothing to do with voter suppression or abridging someone’s right to vote. This legislation protects the “one person, one vote” right for those of us who are not trying to game the system. As one Republican lawmaker said, we are ensuring “one person and ONLY one vote.”

Currently, almost anybody could vote as somebody else, as long as they have that person’s voter registration card. This is a major hole in our election laws, and one that the U.S. Supreme Court said could be closed.

Do we have to wait until we have proof of widespread fraud before we close a loophole that we know exists? Today, anybody could grab your voter identification card, which does not have your photo on it, and cast a ballot as you, and then do it again, and again, and again provided they have other people’s identification cards.

There are fees that you must pay to get these cards. So, the House bill abolishes the $5 fee for anybody who can’t afford the fee for an identification card. That way, money will not prevent anyone from getting these cards and therefore prevent someone from voting because they can’t afford one.

This legislation also creates a more streamlined absentee voting process, so we can ensure the precinct books are updated in a timely fashion before Election Day. This will ensure a secure, regulated, and orderly voting process.

It is not the intention of the Republicans to disenfranchise anybody. As Republicans, we want every legally eligible person to vote. It is what makes our democracy strong, but the key word here is “legally.”

As always, thank you for the privilege of serving you in Columbia. If I can ever be of assistance to you, or if you have ideas on issues you want me to share with the rest of the General Assembly, please don’t hesitate to contact me at 803-212-6880 (Columbia office) or at 843-886-8759 (home).

Sincerely,

Mike Sottile

I recently received news that I will have the honor of serving on two more committees in the next legislative session: the Veterans Affairs Study Committee and the Joint Legislative Committee on Municipal Incorporation. I humbly accepted the Speaker’s request that I join these important committees, as they will allow me to serve as your voice in new capacities.

The Veterans Affairs Study Committee was established to research issues related to veterans in South Carolina. It is a crucial task to ensure that we properly nurture and attend to the needs of our brave men and women who served in our nation’s military.

The Joint Legislative Committee on Municipal Incorporation was formed to review petitions submitted by areas seeking municipal incorporation, and to make recommendations to the Secretary of State as to whether such areas meet standard incorporation requirements.

I am excited at the opportunity to serve my fellow South Carolinians in this regard and will dutifully seek to make the most of this great privilege. Also, I have been reappointed to serve on the Judiciary Committee, and look forward to continuing this service for the people.

If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions about matters that relate to these committees, then please do not hesitate to contact my office.

I was pleased to receive this endorsement from the NRA. It is vital that our constitutional rights remain protected.

The big spending policies of Washington’s liberal elite aren’t the only things stinging Charleston area residents. The jellyfish have been busy too- click here to see article. I wanted to do something a little different today and tell you what you should do in case you get stung by a jellyfish while out enjoying our area’s beaches.

According to the Isle of Palms Fire Chief, Ann Graham, a mix of alcohol and baking soda normally quells the pain and allows the wound to heal nicely. However, on rare occasions there may be a need to go to the hospital if the sting victim goes into shock.

Graham also warned against picking up the jellyfish or stepping on them. Sometimes they wash up on shore and are still able to sting you long after they are dead. The tentacles can even fall off and cause a sting if you come into contact with them.

Let’s all be sure to be extra cautious when visiting our beautiful beaches this summer, and avoid harmful run-ins with nature and her little critters.

As for the Washington liberals, my advice is to send strong conservatives like Tim Scott and Jim DeMint to Washington this November. After all, conservatives are not known for stinging taxpayers with reckless spending…

Sincerely,

Mike Sottile
State House Representative
District 112

Conservative Friends – It happens every year. The nasty attacks start the weekend before the election. I hope you’ll take the chance to read the press release below in which I respond to Joe Bustos’ disgusting attacks.

I ask for your vote tomorrow. As always, please call my cell phone at 224.9260 if you have any questions.

Sottile Calls On Bustos To Retract Statements

Sottile: “Gutter politics is running our state into the ground.”

Isle of Palms, SC – This weekend Mt. Pleasant voters received a mailing from State House candidate Joe Bustos encourging Mount Pleasant voters to vote against Mike Sottile because he lives in Isle of Palms. Bustos claims that Mount Pleasant voters need to elect one of their own. Today Sottile demanded that Bustos retract his comments and apologize to all Charleston area voters.

“The entire Charleston area needs to work together to restore economic growth and create jobs for our unemployed families. Boeing might be centered in North Charleston, but employees will live on Daniel Island, James Island and Mount Pleasant. They’ll visit downtown restaurants, enjoy the beaches of Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island and Folly Beach. Every part of the Charleston area must work together,” SC Representative Mike Sottile said. “Pitting one area against the other is a recipe for failure.”

Bustos also attacked Sottile for voting for the cigarette tax. Sottile quickly answered Bustos’ accusations.

“This is the kind of gutter politics running our state into the ground. Joe Bustos tells voters that I voted for billions of dollars in tax increases, but he gives a ten year sum. Why not twenty years or fifty years? These types of dishonest attacks must top,” Sottile replied.

“Yes, I voted for the cigarette tax increase. We had the lowest cigarette tax in the nation and when polled, 85% of our district’s Republican voters said that they supported the tax increase. Smokers are driving up health care costs and its only right that they help foot the bill instead of making non-smoking families pay these exorbitant costs. This is the ONLY tax increase I will ever vote for.”

As our State Representative, Mike Sottile has been pushing for comprehensive tax reform that reduces the burden on working families instead of funding Columbia special interests. He has also been strongly pushing more roll call voting and he has pushed a specific spending caps plan that won’t let politicians spend more than a formula equal to population + inflation increases.