South Carolina Club for Growth

Visit AntiReformAnnette.com for more information

SC Club for Growth PAC today announced its “Anti Reform Annette” education effort, intended to highlight the legislative record of Summerville’s Annette Young. Representative Young recently earned an “F” grade on SC Club for Growth’s “2009 Legislative Scorecard” (view scorecards) as a result of her voting record in the South Carolina House. Today’s campaign is the first in a series against low-scoring, status quo legislators.

Sponsored by SC Club for Growth PAC,  the currently Internet-only ad (view ad) highlights Annette Young’s successful effort in 2009 to defeat much-needed reforms at South Carolina’s Employment Security Commission (ESC).

On April 29, 2009, SC House members had a chance to pass important reforms to the ESC. Instead, Annette Young led a group of supposed Republicans and liberal Democrats to send H. 3442 back to committee, effectively killing the bill. The final vote was 56 to 54.

Why does it matter that Annette Young led the effort and cast the deciding vote against reform at an agency the Post and Courier later called a “train wreck” and a “debacle” for its “staggering incompetence”? Learn more by watching the video to at http://www.AntiReformAnnette.com

SC Club for Growth PAC is also seeking contributions to broadcast a version of the ad on Summerville television stations.  Individuals may contribute to the effort at http://www.AntiReformAnnette.com/contribute/

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SC Club for Growth released its 2009 South Carolina Legislative Scorecard today, awarding its Taxpayer Champion award to eleven senators and eleven representatives earning top grades.

Legislators’ ratings (view scorecards here) were based on critical economic and good government votes in the South Carolina House and Senate. The scorecards are publicized to the media, SC Club for Growth members, and South Carolina voters. Additionally, the scorecards serve as the basis for SC Club for Growth PAC endorsements. In the past two election cycles, SC Club for Growth PAC has a 70% win record and its members have contributed over $750,000 to reform-minded candidates.

Critical 2009 votes include:

- Ending taxpayer-funded lobbyists at state agencies. (House)

- Barring the use of tax dollars on TV ads featuring South Carolina’s nine constitutional officers. (House)

- Reforming the state’s Employment Security Commission, an agency newspapers have called a “train wreck” for its “staggering incompetence.” (House)

- Requiring a 24-hour review of the state budget before voting. (House)

- Decreasing executive branch accountability and input at the SC Ports Authority. (House and Senate)

- Supporting an unsustainable state budget bolstered by “stimulus” funds. (House and Senate)

- Supporting unsustainable levels of government spending using one-time funds. (House and Senate)

- Voting against cost-saving budget vetoes that would have lessened the need for spending cuts to core government services. (House and Senate)

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South Carolina Club for Growth strongly urges all members of the General Assembly to support H. 3279 and H. 3280, allowing South Carolina’s Secretary of State and Superintendent of Education to be appointed by the governor upon the advice and consent of the general assembly.

Wednesday’s (January 13, 2010) second reading vote on H. 3279 will be the first vote scored on the Club’s 2010 House Scorecard and any subsequent roll calls on H. 3279 and H. 3280 will also be scored.

South Carolina’s neighboring states have recognized that putting accountable cabinet members (appointed by the executive branch) in charge of day-to-day policy, administrative, and management decisions leads to success.  Likewise, despite recent battles between South Carolina’s current executive and legislative branches, future South Carolina governors deserve an opportunity to make their imprint on state government.

Taxpayers across South Carolina want accountable and efficient government through a true executive branch they can hold accountable for results – instead of an executive branch hamstrung by bureaucracy and competing political agendas.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

“Families are settling for smaller homes, individuals are opting for safer careers, businesses are slashing payrolls and benefits, lopping off tangential operations and even realigning their core missions…Everywhere, that is, except in government. In government, especially South Carolina’s state government, we’re still nibbling around the edges. Still making incremental cuts as revenue streams dry up. Still trying to do everything and be everything we’ve always done and been. Still acting as if this is a temporary blip, and any day now, tax revenues will start gushing back in, and all those agencies and programs that have been running on fumes will find themselves awash in money.” - The State calling on legislators to reform state government

“…the legislative year should not end without the ESC undergoing substantive reform aimed at removing political patronage in this state agency and making it accountable for helping unemployed workers find appropriate work…Running the agency with a three-person commission of ex-legislators who lack discernible qualifications just won’t cut it.” - The Greenville News on the need for ESC reform

“S.C. Club for Growth has become a financial force to be reckoned with in Republican primary elections, steering big bucks to fiscally conservative candidates and offering a coveted “Good Housekeeping” seal to their campaigns…a major player in the battle for the heart and soul of the GOP … or whatever party emerges from the taxpayer revolution that’s currently sweeping across our state and nation.” - From the FITSNews.com Power 100

FEATURES OF THE WEEK

The State: Legislature Can Fix Things

http://www.thestate.com/opinion/story/1102449.html

…calls on legislators to reform tax and budget systems, restructure government
http://www.thestate.com/opinion/story/1102560.html

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Below you’ll find a link to the Heritage Foundation’s “50 Examples of Government Waste.” How many similar stories could we find in South Carolina’s state government?

Link to Heritage.org

Keep an eye out this winter for SC Club for Growth’s 2009 Legislative Scorecards.  Our scorecards will again detail where South Carolina legislators stand on key issues including state government spending, accountability, and transparency.

The Club’s 2009 (and prior) scorecards will undoubtedly influence SC Club for Growth PAC’s activities in the 2010 election cycle.

SC Club for Growth PAC played a significant role in helping reform-minded challengers defeat status-quo opponents in 2008.  The Club PAC again needs your contributions to fund research and support candidates with TV ads, radio spots, and mail pieces in the key 2010 races for Governor, Treasurer, Comptroller General, and State House.

The Club PAC has NOT yet endorsed candidates in any of those races.  However, please consider contributing to our PAC as we prepare for 2010.

Sincerely,
Matt Moore
Executive Director, SC Club for Growth

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday 6/24/09
Contact: Matt Moore
South Carolina Club for Growth

Even as the drama of the stimulus/bailout fight in South Carolina fades from newspaper and blog headlines, public education officials continue to insist their budgets are dangerously tight and student instruction is suffering.

On Tuesday, Lexington-Richland District 5 reported that despite an infusion of $4.5 million in stimulus dollars, it would need to fire 14 staffers and 62 teachers (The State 6/23). Last Thursday, Lexington District 2 announced similar layoffs for eight teachers and five staffers (The State 6/18). Other districts, such as Dorchester 2 and Charleston, are thinning their ranks through the process of attrition without replacement (Post and Courier 6/22).

Taxpayers might expect school officials to demonstrate fiscal leadership by keeping administrative and non-instructional spending down to a bare minimum. This would ensure the greatest sum of public money actually reaches teachers and students in the classroom.

Those taxpayers would be very disappointed.

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SC Club for Growth says “sustain” S. 351

Click here to FIND your Senator
Click here to CONTACT your Senator

South Carolina Club for Growth strongly urges all members of the SC Senate to sustain S. 351, R. 64, which makes detrimental changes to the State Ports Authority. S. 351, R. 64 will be the final scored vote before the Club releases its 2009-2010 Interim Legislative Scorecard.

In summary, the bill is essentially “restructuring in reverse” through increased bureaucracy and the potential for undue political influence. South Carolina needs an effective and well-managed ports system to remain competitive in the 21st century. However, S. 351, R. 64 will make much-need reforms very difficult by effectively eliminating the governor’s ability to remove board members.

South Carolina’s neighbors, including Georgia, have recognized that putting accountable board members (appointed by the executive branch) in charge of day-to-day policy, administrative, and management decisions leads to success.  Likewise, despite recent battles between South Carolina’s current executive and legislative branches, future South Carolina governors deserve an opportunity to make their imprint on our state government.

Taxpayers across South Carolina want accountable and efficient government through a true executive branch they can hold accountable for results – instead of an executive branch hamstrung with even more unaccountable bureaucracy.

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The South Carolina Club for Growth is a network of thousands 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.

SC Club for Growth
PO Box 11909
Columbia, SC 29211
twitter: SCClub4Growth
phone: 803.454.1134

Many of our members have asked The Club to list the SC Senators and Representatives who yesterday attempted to force Governor Sanford to apply for $350 million in federal stimulus dollars.  SC Club for Growth firmly believes the legislature’s attempt to ignore Executive Branch policy decisions clearly violates the separation of powers defined in our state’s constitution.  The three independent branches of state government exist to safeguard against one branch having too much power.

As we said in our Key Vote Alert yesterday:

“the amendments to the budget forcing the acceptance of $700 million in stimulus funds are in violation of our state’s constitution.  This is backed up by public opinions from South Carolina’s Attorney General, the Congressional Research Service, and the federal Director of the Office of Management and Budget, who have all argued that only the governor can apply for and accept these stimulus funds. SC Club for Growth firmly believes the legislature’s efforts clearly violate federal law and will score any associated veto overrides.”

SC Club for Growth encourages you to contact your legislator to either ask them “Why did you support violating the state’s constitution?” or to say “Thank you for defending responsible government.”

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SC Club for Growth to Score All Votes on Budget Vetoes

The South Carolina Club for Growth urges all Representatives and Senators to vote “NO” on overriding Governor Mark Sanford’s budget vetoes.  We will be scoring every budget veto vote as part of our 2009 Legislative Scorecard.

Unlike the alternative budgets presented in the House and Senate, we believe this year’s budget inadequately funds the core functions of government.  Much of this budget was crafted by staff members along with the finance committee chairmen and passed the House in a mere two hours – with not even the minimal 24 hours of review for legislators and the public.  South Carolinians deserve open and accountable government, instead of one that is crafted behind closed doors.

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