MY POSITION HAS BEEN CONSISTENT Several folks have questioned my vote for the roads bill claiming that I broke a promise made during my campaign or during an interview on WORD.  First, from the start of my campaign (please see my February 2016 FB post) and for the months leading up to the June primary, I was very clear that the number one issue I wanted to address was our state’s infrastructure.  Our mailings and posts repeatedly said that we must address our roads and bridges. In this radio interview just a week before the roads bill vote, I stated multiple times that I would vote for a bill that included a gas tax increase if it included reform. APRIL […]

At the onset of Covid, our leaders were right to hit the ‘pause’ button.  We needed more information and we needed to assess trends. We have done so. It is time to start opening the economy in South Carolina. Many have strong opinions on this, whether because of civil liberty, the economy, or safety concerns. Many still, will simply disagree out of fear.  Some are posturing while others are seeking to lead, but it’s critical that we seek solutions for not only the here and now, but for the next few months and years to come as we recover and plan for future crises. I respect all of these positions. However, social and mainstream media seem more interested in encouraging […]

COLUMBIA, SC (WSPA)- South Carolina lawmakers have been working all year to fix the state’s education system. For many years the state has ranked at the bottom nationally, and several districts in the state are struggling to meet the needs of their students. Well now the legislature is taking a deeper look into those problems starting with the earlier grades. On Tuesday morning a group of lawmakers met for the first time to discuss early childhood education. “Early childhood education is a huge part of what we’re trying to do to improves South Carolina. Not only making sure our kids are ready for kindergarten and first grade, but it also plays a role in reducing prison population and developing our […]

Since I was elected to the State Senate, one of my priorities has been to work toward meaningful education reform. Serving on the Senate Education Committee, I have been engaged each step of the way in seeking solutions to ensure money is better spent, directly impacting the classroom, and provide teachers with adequate resources to do their jobs well. Click here to watch a quick video update about where education reform stands right now.

A new bill I have authored will require all state funds and expenditures to be available online for all to see. Sounds like something that the state should already be doing, right? The Taxpayer Transparency Act will create a searchable online database so the public can see where every dollar is sent and for what purpose. I believe this will provide greater transparency in government and it will hold officials more accountable. Taxpayers have a right to see where every single dollar that is spent goes.

Because of the recently passed roads bill,  Greenville and Spartanburg will receive the first and second most new funds to fix roads. Without this bill, Upstate road funding would continue to languish behind other regions of the state. Now, Upstate residents will see increased funding for roads in the years ahead. Click on the image below to see an enlarged chart.  

Fixing our roads has been a priority for several years. As I stated last year during the campaign and in updates and media this session, I would only vote for a bill that contained a tax increase dedicated to roads if it also included meaningful reform.   This bill includes the following reform: – Commissioners serve at the pleasure of the Governor as he or she can now remove them at will, which is an amendment I introduced. – Increased transparency by mandating that reports and audits must be published online – Lists of contractors used and money dispersed must be reported online – Increase in the number of at-large appointments by the Governor to two – Commissioners must not […]

MY POSITION HAS BEEN CONSISTENT Several folks have questioned my vote for the roads bill last week claiming that I broke a promise made during my campaign or during a recent interview on WORD.  First, from the start of my campaign (please see my February 2016 FB post) and for the months leading up to the June primary, I was very clear that the number one issue I wanted to address was our state’s infrastructure.  Our mailings and posts repeatedly said that we must address our roads and bridges. In this radio interview just a week before the roads bill vote, I stated multiple times that I would vote for a bill that included a gas tax increase if it […]

Last night, I voted in favor of a roads bill that raises revenue for roads through an increased gas tax and that includes important DOT reform. While no bill is perfect, I feel we achieved the level of reform needed to make DOT accountable, transparent, and more efficient, while also providing badly needed funds to fix our crumbling roads and bridges. To add transparency, the bill states that all audit reports will be published on DOT’s website and the State Auditor’s website so that everyone can see how the money is being spent. To add accountability, I proposed and added an amendment that gives the Governor control of the commission, in that the Governor can remove commissioners at will. My […]