South Carolina Club for Growth

In 1999, when Senator David Thomas was halfway through his legislative career, our retirement system’s unfunded liabilities were less than $200 million dollars.  Since then the combined unfunded liabilities of our retirement systems have ballooned to over $20 billion. Senator Thomas did nothing to help solve the problem and actually voted to make it worse.

In 2002, Senator Thomas and other lawmakers passed S. 163 that allowed only legislators to begin taking their retirement while still in office.

In 2005, Senator Thomas began taking advantage of the special perk which allowed him to take home three times as much as other legislators.

Today, SC Club for Growth PAC announced its “Two Faced Thomas” education effort, intended to highlight the fact that Greenville’s Senator David Thomas is taking advantage of hardworking taxpayers.

Learn more by watching the video at www.twofacedthomas.com.

January 13, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Phillip Cease
803-622-5837
phillip@scclubforgrowth.org

The South Carolina Club for Growth Applauds Governor Haley’s Budget Proposal

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Today the South Carolina Club for Growth issued the following statement after the release of Governor Haley’s budget proposal:

“For too long the General Assembly has spent more and more in years of increased revenue resulting in astronomical budgets,” stated Executive Director Phillip Cease. “Governor Haley’s budget proposal gives lawmakers a great blueprint for using finite resources responsibly and effectively while staying within a budget cap.”

“South Carolina has six income tax brackets, ranging from seven percent to zero percent. Governor Haley’s proposal eliminates three of the brackets giving most taxpayers a reduction while not increasing taxes. The proposal also contains a plan to phase out the corporate income tax over the next four years – reducing it by 25 percent a year,” added Cease. “In addition, Governor Haley offers innovative ideas such as encouraging counties to take responsibility for road maintenance and more than doubling this year’s required payment to the General Reserve Fund. Along with other conservative ideas such as bringing parity for charter schools closer to that of traditional public schools and fully funding law enforcement, enactment of the concepts laid out in this budget will benefit the citizens of South Carolina and make our state a better place to live, work and play.”

South Carolina Club for Growth is a network of South Carolinians, from all walks of life, who believe that prosperity and opportunity come through economic freedom. We work to promote public policies that promote economic growth primarily through legislative involvement, issue advocacy, research, training and educational activity.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Phillip Cease
803-454-1134
phillip@scclubforgrowth.org

October 4, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Phillip Cease
803-454-1134
phillip@SCClubForGrowth.org

SC Club for Growth Announces a New Chairman of the Board and a new Executive Director

Columbia, SC – Today, the South Carolina Club for Growth (SCCG) announced Bill McAfee as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors and Phillip Cease as the new Executive Director.

Dr. Bauer Vaughters, outgoing Chairman, nominated McAfee at the last board meeting as his successor and introduced Cease as the new Executive Director.

Bill McAfee is the President and Chief Investment Officer of WMH Capital Advisors.  He graduated of the Citadel where he was a Battalion Executive Officer and Distinguished Naval Student and is an honor graduate of United States Marine Corps Officer Candidate School. McAfee has been published in professional journals and has been a featured guest on radio and television programs.

McAfee said, “I would like to thank Bauer for his service to the Board. He did an outstanding job promoting our core issues and helping elect true fiscal conservatives. I am looking forward to serving as Chairman and continuing to bring a more efficient, accountable and transparent government to the citizens of South Carolina.”

Phillip Cease, the new Executive Director of SCCG, graduated from the University of South Carolina. After graduation he worked in Governor Sanford’s office as a Policy Assistant and then the Washington Representative. After Governor Sanford’s term expired, Cease worked for Treasurer Curtis Loftis.

“I am very excited about working for the South Carolina Club for Growth,” stated Cease. “I strongly believe that limiting government spending, making state agencies more accountable and less red tape for small business and entrepreneurs will make South Carolina a better place to work, live and  play”

Vaughters said, “I would like to thank the Board the honor of serving as Chairman. We have built a strong foundation for 2012. Bill will do a wonderful job as chairman and Philip will bring a new perspective to the role of Executive Director.”

South Carolina Club for Growth is a network of South Carolinians, from all walks of life, who believe that prosperity and opportunity come through economic freedom. We work to promote public policies that promote economic growth primarily through legislative involvement, issue advocacy, research, training and educational activity.

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