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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