Greg Duckworth | Budget Week, Foster Care, Automatic Stay Reform, CCU/HGTC Joint Briefing
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19 Mar Budget Week, Foster Care, Automatic Stay Reform, CCU/HGTC Joint Briefing

The focus of the House this past week was almost exclusively on the budget. Democrats were seeking to raise taxes on the people of South Carolina in two ways. The first was an increase in taxes for firearms, which would have unfairly penalized lawful gun owners. Republicans soundly defeated the Democrats’ firearm tax increase. The second tax hike push by Democrats was their effort to repeal the Homestead Exemption for one year, also known as Act 388. The Homestead Exemption exempts taxes on the first $50,000 in fair market value for homeowners over age 65, the totally and permanently disabled, or legally blind. House Republicans successfully defeated this tax hike measure put forward by the Democrats.

House Republicans were also successful in pushing through virtually all of our budget priorities. First and foremost, the full budget was passed without a tax hike. Major House Republican wins include nearly $600 million in tax relief for citizens of our state, nearly $20 million to our technical schools to train students for high-skill and well-paying jobs businesses are looking to fill, $60 million for teacher salary increases, new public school buses, funding to help our agriculture industry, opioid abuse prevention funding, and much more.

This past Thursday morning, Governor McMaster signed the Automatic Stay reform into law – crucial legislation led by your Horry-Georgetown Delegation – which will result in a shortened amount of time radical environmental groups are able to hold up important state infrastructure projects and business development projects in court. Under the previous law, environmental groups had the ability to petition the Administrative Law Court for a “stay” on new construction of roads and highways and private businesses. That law had been exploited by radical groups who would threaten to delay vital projects in court unless state government and private businesses effectively “paid them off.” Projects that have been threatened by environmental groups include the Boeing facility in North Charleston, the deepening of the Port of Charleston, and International Drive here in Horry County.

Your Horry-Georgetown Legislative Delegation attended a joint briefing from CCU and HGTC this past Friday morning. The unique synergies developed between these two institutions of higher learning are a model for others in SC – working in unison to provide: increased high school graduation rates, access for better educated families, and helping us to fill much needed workforce training for in-demand jobs in our area. The support and advocacy for this important work is inline with the goals of our delegation – improving the lives of those who live and work in our communities.
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.
 
PS – Having now served you for 3 1/2 years in the South Carolina House of Representatives, I filed for reelection this past week and the June 12 Republican Primary Election is just around the corner. Will you please help me and my campaign team win reelection so that I can continue working hard for our district? We really need your help – thank you in advance!