“Some argue that we should not criticize members of either political party – especially Republicans. Fortunately,  there is hope outside of the political parties. S.C. Club for Growth represents a “special interest group” that has too often been taken for granted in Columbia – South Carolina’s taxpayers…” – SC Club for Growth Executive Director’s OpEd in The Sun News

“(Sembler) says he won’t build the project if he doesn’t get incentives. Taxpayers should be wary of an investor who cannot raise his own capital to build his project, and who isn’t willing to address environmental concerns unless he’s plied with public money. Other businesses in the area have invested their hard-earned dollars in their companies, and have abided by state and local environmental standards without public compensation. Now they will be forced to pay the cost of a competing company that has done neither…” – SCPC’s Ashley Landess and CCL’s Dana Beach railing against the Sembler handout

“South Carolina lawmakers have only just begun the work needed to get the state’s unemployment agency on sound financial footing. The state is looking down a $2 billion hole to pay back loans from the federal government and get the unemployment trust fund back to a fiscally responsible level. That’s quite an abyss, but the Senate and House took an important first step this month in passing bills to create a Department of Workforce, a Cabinet-level agency, whose director would report to the governor, to replace the Employment Security Commission. Direct accountability has been sorely missing for this agency…” – The Beaufort Gazette calling for continued diligence at the ESC

FEATURES OF THE WEEK

SC Club for Growth Executive Director’s OpEd in The Sun News – “Hold politicians accountable”:
http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/02/20/1325764/exposing-graft-waste.html

…and SC Club for Growth PAC ad appears in The Aiken Standard – “Fed Up with Out of Touch Politicians?”
http://www.scclubforgrowth.org/files/SCCFG-AikenStandard.pdf

Ill-advised Sembler incentives get special order in Senate
http://www.thestate.com/2010/02/26/1175591/malls-100-million-tax-break-fast.html
http://www.islandpacket.com/2010/02/25/1152281/senate-votes-to-fast-track-bill.html

…as Ashley Landess and Dana Beach rail against the handout
http://www.thestate.com/2010/02/23/1170959/landess-beach-sembler-subsidy.html

State Senate votes for ESC reform, restructuring
http://www.thestate.com/2010/02/25/1173738/senate-passes-esc-overhaul.html
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20100225/BUSINESS/2250316/State-Senate-drops-troubled-jobless-agency-in-governor-s-lap
http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/feb/25/esc-reform-pending/

…Beaufort Gazette calls for continued diligence at the ESC

http://www.islandpacket.com/2010/02/28/1153639/agency-reform-one-step-in-sc-unemployment.html

Herald Journal applauds Secretary of State restructuring bill
http://www.goupstate.com/article/20100228/ARTICLES/2281012/1128/OPINION?Title=A-sensible-change

COMMON-SENSE, GOOD GOVERNMENT

Island-Packet says DHEC should be put in governor’s cabinet
http://www.islandpacket.com/opinion/story/1139048.html

…as agency under fire over discarded documents
http://www.thestate.com/2010/02/27/1177305/discarded-dhec-documents-raise.html

SC Dems critical of Ways & Means budget process
http://www.thestate.com/2010/03/01/1180608/democrats-want-new-budget-process.html
http://www.thetandd.com/articles/2010/03/01/news/doc4b8b47e05a25e079226861.txt

EDUCATION REFORM

Post & Courier urges lawmakers to keep up the momentum on charter schools
http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/mar/01/maintain-charter-momentum/

Scoppe urges legislators to uphold Governor’s veto of Fairfield schools bill
http://www.thestate.com/2010/02/28/1176875/scoppe-the-wrong-way-to-fix-fairfield.html

OF INTEREST

Anne Peterson Hutto gets a Republican challenger
http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/feb/23/mccoy-runs-for-house/

Anti-Reform Annette Young to be challenged in primary
http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/feb/22/hargetts-primary-challenge-of-young-drawing/

Too often people in power see themselves as above criticism. Perhaps that explains why a recent opinion piece regarding S.C. Club for Growth’s 2009 legislative scorecards struck such a nerve. A few follow-up letters defending the status quo and mischaracterizing our work to defend taxpayers later appeared in these pages. As the group’s executive director, I feel compelled to write and set the record straight.

South Carolina has serious problems that need serious solutions. Unemployment is rampant, special interests have too much influence in Columbia, and our state’s finances are a mess. Who is to blame? Unfortunately, we remain as one of the last legislatively controlled states; therefore legislators deserve much of the “credit” for our current situation.

Click here to read the whole OpEd…

“Polygraphs, missing millions and an executive director who knew nothing about the agency’s failure to timely pay $20 million in taxes withheld from the jobless are among the things JoAnne Payton remembers most from her short stint as a financial supervisor at the state Employment Security Commission.” – The Greenville News describing “chaos” at the ESC, highlighting the need for serious reforms

“Three analyses signed by South Carolina’s chief economist cast doubt on how much the public would benefit from granting tax incentives to developers of retail projects such as Okatie Crossings, a 280-acre shopping center and luxury outlet mall planned in Beaufort and Jasper counties…The past three statements question whether retail developments created with the help of incentives would generate new sales or merely shift sales from existing competitors.” – BEA analysis questions benefits of the Sembler deal

“The state Legislature needs to follow through with legislation that would allow gubernatorial candidates to select their running mate, just as presidential candidates select their partner on the national ticket…The ultimate winners of these two positions aren’t always from the same party, and sometimes they even work at odds. It can create a messy situation, and this is just one of many ways that the Legislature devalues the Office of Governor and leaves us with a weak chief executive.” - The Greenville News calling for the Governor and Lt. Governor on the same ticket

FEATURES OF THE WEEK

Editorial boards agree: Reform ESC now, put in Governor’s Cabinet
http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/feb/14/clean-house-now-at-esc/
http://www.thestate.com/opinion/story/1137901.html
http://www.timesanddemocrat.com/articles/2010/02/01/opinion/edit/doc4b6725f3aba80218373315.txt
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20100211/OPINION/2110315/1009/Push-ahead-with-ESC-reforms
http://www.goupstate.com/article/20100205/ARTICLES/2051001/1128/OPINION?Title=Unreasonable-benefits

…and State Chamber’s Rawl says ESC Commissioners should step down
http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/news/32904-state-chamber-calls-for-employment-security-commissioners-to-step-down

….while former ESC supervisor describes “chaos” at agency
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20100214/NEWS/2140313/Former-ESC-supervisor-describes-chaos-at-jobless-agency

Latest analysis questions benefits of Sembler deal…
http://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/story/1128551.html

…as Post & Courier urges General Assembly to reject it
http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/feb/15/retail-incentives-dont-pay/

…and Sen. Tom Davis says retail incentives plan may be unconstitutional
http://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/story/1125041.html

COMMON-SENSE, GOOD GOVERNMENT

Greenville News: Put Gov and Lt. Gov on same ticket
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20100201/OPINION/2010341/1009/Put-a-team-at-top-of-ticket

The Herald says Adjutant General should be appointed
http://www.heraldonline.com/opinions/story/1918830.html

The State: SC colleges should centralize governance
http://www.thestate.com/opinion/story/1154500.html

Herald-Journal ridicules tax break provision in property tax reform bill
http://www.goupstate.com/article/20100211/ARTICLES/2111006/1128/OPINION?Title=Nearly-criminal

EDUCATION REFORM

Harry Cato pens op-ed supporting school choice
http://www.thesunnews.com/opinion/story/1294744.html

List of SC failing schools released
http://www.fitsnews.com/2010/02/03/list-of-sc-failing-schools-released/

Legislature might scrap EOC
http://www.voiceforschoolchoice.com/2010/02/09/lawmakers-move-to-cut-eoc-from-state-budget/

OF INTEREST

Time Magazine profiles Mick Mulvaney as one of “10 More Scott Browns”
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1958119_1958112_1958124,00.html

Reform-minded Curtis Loftis to likely challenge Chellis
http://www.fitsnews.com/2010/02/02/loftis-likely-to-challenge-chellis/

Tim Scott running for Congress
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0210/32678.html

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/

*******

Full text of the Internet ad:

“Bailouts, boondoggles and bad decisions…government continues to fail us in Washington and in Columbia.

Yet out of touch politicians like Summerville’s Annette Young just don’t get it.

Some lawmakers recently tried to reform the state’s Employment Security Commission – an agency the media has called a “train wreck” and a “debacle” for its “staggering incompetence.”

But Annette Young led a group of liberal Democrats to protect the status-quo and she even cast the deciding vote against reform.

Cronyism? Corruption? Or just incompetence? Whatever it is, Anti-Reform Annette should feel less secure about her OWN job in Columbia.”

Sources:

(1) SC Club for Growth 2009 Legislative Scorecards – http://www.scclubforgrowth.org/legislative/scorecards

(2) H. 3442 – http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess118_2009-2010/hj09/20090429.htm

(3) Charleston Post and Courier – http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2009/dec/01/more-egg-on-escs-face/

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)

The 2009 scorecard also includes a House vote to finally end the Competitive Grants program, a program editorial writers have frequently referred to as a “legislative slush fund.” The program spent tens of millions in recent years on a variety of festivals, parades and other wasteful pork projects.  Lowlights of competitive grants spending include wasting taxpayer dollars on an “Elvis impersonator,” a hot-air balloon festival, and a beach vacation for 100 German tourists.

SC Club for Growth Executive Director Matt Moore, commenting on the 2009 scorecards, said, “SC Club for Growth has again created an incredible guide for taxpayers. It’s too easy for legislators to say they are a fiscal conservative during election years and then act completely different once in Columbia – that’s why we diligently track how legislators are really voting. South Carolina taxpayers continue to watch their wallets and deserve to know who is really fighting for them. We are happy to help.”

Legislators earning the SC Club for Growth Taxpayer Champion award deserve considerable praise for their efforts to protect taxpayers. Their “A” or “B” grades over the past two years (one year for freshmen) place them in the very top percent of South Carolina legislators:

Senator Lee Bright (R-Spartanburg County)
Senator Kevin Bryant (R-Anderson County)
Senator Chip Campsen (R-Charleston County)
Senator Tom Davis (R-Beaufort County)
Senator Larry Grooms (R-Berkeley County)
Senator Shane Massey (R-Edgefield County)
Senator Mick Mulvaney (R-Lancaster County)
Senator Mike Rose (R-Dorchester County)
Senator Greg Ryberg (R-Aiken County)
Senator Phil Shoopman (R-Greenville County)
Senator Danny Verdin (R-Laurens County)

Rep. Nathan Ballentine (R-Lexington County)
Rep. Eric Bedingfield (R-Greenville County)
Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-Laurens County)
Rep. Nikki Haley (R-Lexington County)
Rep. Dan Hamilton (R-Greenville County)
Rep. Joey Millwood (R-Spartanburg County)
Rep. Wendy Nanney (R-Greenville County)
Rep. Ted Pitts (R-Lexington County)
Rep. Tim Scott (R-Berkeley County)
Rep. Tommy Stringer (R-Greenville County)
Rep. Thad Viers (R-Horry County)

Over half of legislators earned a grade of “F” or “F-.” Moore continued, “Many legislators continue to protect the status quo and work against common-sense reforms in Columbia. As we saw in the 2008 election cycle, where nearly a dozen incumbent legislators were defeated, South Carolinians have no patience for poor performance. It goes without saying that those earning ‘F’ grades should be mindful of an electorate fed up with wasteful spending, no accountability, and out of control government.”

Other Interesting Facts:

- About 24% of senators earned a grade of “A” or “B,” while just 11% of representatives earned an “A” or “B.”

- In the Senate, the average Republican scored a 46 out of 100 (grade C-) while the average Democrat scored a 4 (grade F-).

- Scores were slightly lower in the House, where the average Republican scored a 41 (grade D) and the average Democrat scored a 10 (grade F).

- For the first time, SC Club for Growth’s Legislative Scorecard incurred a penalty to any legislator who sustained a veto and then quickly voted to support, or was absent from, motions to reconsider or vote to override. Of special note is Representative George Hearn, who earned the 2009 “Flip Flopper” Award for being penalized the maximum for 14 points for his effort (or lack thereof).

SC Club for Growth’s annual scorecards are made possible through the generosity of hundreds of South Carolina taxpayers who are concerned with the direction of our state.

Visit SC Club for Growth online at http://www.SCClubforGrowth.com.

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.

“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

Greenville News says meaningful reform a must at ESC

http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20100111/OPINION/1110304/1009/Focus-on-improving-state-s-workforce

Post and Courier advocates gov’t streamlining using Governor’s Executive Budgets, GEAR Report

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/jan/03/start-streamlining-now/

Post and Courier columnist tells legislators to not grandstand this year

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/jan/13/no-time-for-grandstanding/

Upstate legislators say censure quickly, or not at all…

http://www.upstatetoday.com/news/2010/jan/12/upstate-lawmakers-want-vote-censure/

Post & Courier report: ‘Triumvirate of legislators’ runs South Carolina
(Part 1) http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/jan/11/whos-in-charge/
(Part 2) http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/jan/12/trio-of-lawmakers-slowly-built-clout/

COMMON-SENSE, GOOD GOVERNMENT

State revenue continues to fall…

http://www.fitsnews.com/2010/01/09/sc-revenue-going-down-down-down/

…as SC agencies pass $1 billion in stimulus funds received…

http://www.fitsnews.com/2010/01/06/sc-stimulus-spending-tops-1-billion/

…and AP analysis says unemployment unaffected by stimulus

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/jan/12/jobless-rate-unaffected-by-projects/

Lawmakers say state spending must be capped…

http://www.heraldonline.com/109/story/1852636.html

…while Texas governor calls for “population plus inflation” cap

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/business/6802019.html

Post & Courier makes the case for single-ticket Governor/Lt. Gov. race

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/jan/11/give-governor-loyal-lieutenant/

EDUCATION REFORM

Legislation would reform charter school laws

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/jan/11/changes-for-state-charter-schools/

Bailey: Move Superintendent to Cabinet

http://www.thesunnews.com/news/local/story/1242001.html

Teachers remain unimpressed with PASS

http://www.voiceforschoolchoice.com/2010/01/05/teachers-remain-unimpressed-with-pass/

Rep. Boyd Brown rebukes local school board

http://www.voiceforschoolchoice.com/2009/12/10/fairfield-representative-rebukes-local-school-board/

Link to Heritage.org

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

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.

This week the South Carolina Association of School Administrators (SCASA) is putting on a massive, weeklong conference and meeting at the luxurious Kingston Plantation resort complex in Myrtle Beach. According to SCASA, rooms for the conference range from $134 to $369 per night. There are also conference registration fees for the “Leadership Institute,” the “Palmetto Priority Schools Conference” and other events throughout the week. There will be travel expenses for transportation to and from the conferences, per-diem, and extra perks like catered meals – all at taxpayer expense.

As a self-described “professional organization,” SCASA is funded through membership dues.  In the case of public school district superintendents and other high level administrators, these dues are funded directly by the district as a stipulation of the officials’ contracts.  Any expenses for the conference not included in these dues are, usually as a matter of course, reimbursed by the school districts.  SCASA as enjoys taxpayer subsidized health and dental benefits for its full time staff members. The organization similarly uses public funds to pay the salary of a full time lobbyist in Columbia.

“If public schools are cutting jobs and forcing teachers into unpaid furloughs, parents and taxpayers needs to know that superintendents and other administrators are leading by example and pinching pennies too,” explained Matt Moore, Executive Director of South Carolina Club for Growth, a taxpayer watchdog group. “This is yet another frustrating example of how many politicians and bureaucrats calling for higher taxes remain personally and professionally insulated from the painful economic pressures that teachers, parents, and businesses across the Palmetto State are now enduring.”