"GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO BECOME ACCOUNTABLE TO THOSE THEY SERVE. THIS CAN BE SOLVED THROUGH INCREASED TRANSPARENCY. THE WORKING FAMILY HAS BEEN HURT BY THE CURRENT LEGISLATURE AND HAVE LESS MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS AS A RESULT. IT'S TIME TO PUT THE PRIORITY BACK TO PEOPLE INSTEAD OF POLITICS AND LOBBYISTS."
PLATFORM
TERM LIMITS
I will fight to impose term limits on our state legislature. I believe that members of the House should serve no more than 3 terms (6 years) and that the members of the Senate should serve no more that 2 terms (8 years). I believe this so strongly that even if I am unable to pass a bill to create term limits, I will impose them on myself. This means that I will not seek reelection after my 3rd term.
TRANSPARENCY
SC ranks one of the worst in transparency. I would propose that the current budget website for the state to be reworked in order to help you understand where your tax dollars are going and how much of it is being wasted. Currently many legislative members are afraid to do this because it will then make it easier for you to realize how much of your money is being wasted.
ACCOUNTABILITY
When the government is more transparent then we will be able to hold them accountable for any fraudulent activity. Did you know that over 65% of House members run UNOPPOSED! This means that there is no option but to reelect them and that they can vote however they want without any repercussions. My opponent has been in the House for 17 YEARS and has run unopposed a majority of the time. This may be why he felt like it was okay for him to raise the SC Gas Tax by 72%!
TEACHERS, FIREFIGHTERS, AND POLICE OFFICERS
Too long have our teachers been thrown to the wayside. These educators are responsible for educating our kids and future CEO's and lawmakers. It seems like we should treat teachers with respect and give them better opportunity to educate our kids. I believe that each teacher should receive a stipend in which they can use to provide supplies for their students. Classroom supplies should not have to come out of their own pockets. In some cases they must choose between paying a bill and buying supplies for their students.
Firefighters and Police officers have been neglected as well. While these public servants put themselves in danger every day they are constantly using dated uniforms and equipment. This has resulted in their jobs becoming even more dangerous than they already are. We need to equip them with the best so that they can be safe while protecting us.
JOBS
Lastly, I want to bring higher paying skilled jobs to the Pendleton/Anderson area. Anderson was once a place in which people loved to visit. However, over the years, Anderson County has lost out to Greenville in that category. Greenville has grown and offers many opportunities for skilled jobs while Anderson has slowly gone downhill. This is because the politicians in this county have not fought hard enough to bring those jobs here and that can no longer be accepted.
Taxes
I believe that in order to have a strong economy and a strong middle class then we need to keep more money in South Carolinians' pockets. I plan on creating legislation that would prevent counties from raising property tax over 1%. The only way it can go higher is if voted for by referendum. Any increase over 1% would then return to 1% unless it is raised again by referendum. This puts taxes in the hands of those paying them and it also prevents the local government from keeping taxes raised indefinitely.