South Carolina: Governor gives State of the State address
Updated: 10:18 PM EST Jan 25, 2023
ALL RIGHT, JOE, ABC IS PLEASED. I’M A LITTLE HOARSE. I HOPE MY VOICE HOLDS OUT. WAS SPEAKER. MR. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. MY FELLOW SOUTH CAROLINIANS, WE ARE HERE TONIGHT TO ADDRESS CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITIES. BUT FIRST, AS IN PRIOR YEARS, I’D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE, YOU KNOW, THOSE IN UNIFORM WHO LOST IN THE LINE OF DUTY IN 2020 TO OFFICER ROY ANDREW BARR OF THE CASEY POLICE DEPARTMENT, DEPUTY AUSTIN DEREK ALDRIDGE OF THE SPARTANBURG COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE. CORPORAL SARAH KAY WEAVER OF FLORENCE COUNTY EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AND MASTER POLICE OFFICER TERRELL OWENS. RILEY OF THE COLUMBIA POLICE DEPARTMENT. TO THE FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES OF THESE BRAVE SOUTH CAROLINIANS WITH ALL OUR HEARTS. WE OFFER OUR CONDOLENCES. WE ARE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE. I’M DELIGHTED TO HAVE WITH US ONCE AGAIN TONIGHT OUR FIRST LADY, MY BRIDE, PEGGY, WHOSE SON, HENRY JR, AND SON HENRY JR, WHOSE WIFE VIRGINIA IS AT HOME WITH THEIR FOUR MONTH OLD DAUGHTER, MARGOT GRAY, ALSO OUR DAUGHTER MARY ROGERS, WHOSE HUSBAND SAM, IS HOME WITH THEIR SEVEN MONTH OLD SON, JAMES DORGAN. WELL, YOU ALL PLEASE STAND IN. LET’S SAY HELLO TO YOU. THANK YOU. AND NOW, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PAMELA LEAVITT AND HER HUSBAND, DAVID ARE HERE TONIGHT. PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED. OUR STATE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS ARE HERE WITH US, TOO, TONIGHT, INCLUDING OUR NEW SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION, ELLEN WEAVER. WILL YOU PLEASE ALL STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED. FINALLY, WILL THE MEMBERS OF THE BEST CABINET IN THE NATION PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU. THE PEOPLE OF THIS GREAT STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA HAVE GIVEN ME THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE IN SERVING AS YOUR GOVERNOR FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS. MY FAMILY AND I THANK YOU. MY PLEDGE TO ALL IS THAT WE WILL NOT SQUANDER THIS OPPORTUNITY. WE WILL CONTINUE TO ACT BOLDLY, THINK BIG, AND CONTINUE BUILDING ON OUR SUCCESSES. SOUTH CAROLINA IS RICHLY BLESSED WITH A HARDWORKING AND TALENTED PEOPLE. OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND CULTURAL HERITAGE, ABUNDANT NATURAL RESOURCES AND PROSPEROUS ECONOMY MAKE US UNIQUE AND ATTRACTIVE TO ALL. IN FACT, SOUTH CAROLINA IS THE THIRD FASTEST GROWING STATE IN THE NATION, ACCORDING TO THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU. PEOPLE WANT TO BE HERE. OUR BOOMING ECONOMY HAS ONCE AGAIN CREATED A RECORD BUDGET SURPLUS THIS YEAR, TOTALING OVER THREE AND A HALF BILLION DOLLARS IN UNEXPECTED REVENUE. STATE GOVERNMENT IS IN SUPERIOR FISCAL SHAPE TODAY. WE HAVE THE LARGEST RAINY DAY RESERVE FUND BALANCE AND LOWEST AMOUNT OF DEBT THAN IN ANY OTHER TIME IN RECENT MEMORY. SO IT SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE THAT 2022 WAS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL YEAR FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH IN OUR STATE’S HISTORY. WITH THE RECORD FOR THE LARGEST CAPITAL INVESTMENT PROJECT BROKEN TWICE IN THE SAME YEAR, IN 2022, WE ANNOUNCED 120 PROJECTS WHICH WILL CREATE OVER 14,000 NEW JOBS,. WITH $10.27 BILLION, $10.27 BILLION IN NEW CAPITAL INVESTMENT. THAT’S ALMOST TWO AND A HALF TIMES AS MUCH IS 2021. AND MORE THAN EVER BEFORE AS ANOTHER SIGN OF OUR ECONOMIC STRENGTH. LAST YEAR, WE ALMOST QUADRUPLED OUR FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR EXCUSE ME, EVERY DAY. EMPLOYERS ARE CREATING NEW JOBS. ENTREPRENEURS ARE OPENING NEW BUSINESSES AND COMPANIES ARE DECIDING TO LOCATE IN SOUTH CAROLINA. THE PALMETTO STATE HAS ONE OF THE NATION’S FASTEST GROWING CONTAINER PORTS TO INNOVATIVE INLAND PORTS. 33 AIRPORTS, 2300 MILES OF RAIL LINES AND MORE THAN 41,000 MILES OF STATE MAINTAINED HIGHWAYS. THE PORT OF CHARLESTON HAS THE DEEPEST HARBOR 52 FEET ON THE EAST COAST. AND AS VOLUME WILL GROW EXPONENTIALLY THIS YEAR, THERE ARE 208 MILLION PEOPLE TO SERVES AS THE U.S. POPULACE AND WITHIN TWO DAYS DRIVE A SOUTH CAROLINA. OUR THRIVING TOURISM INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO BREAK RECORDS COMPARED TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS IN 2019. IN THE 2022 FISCAL YEAR, ACCOMMODATIONS, TAX COLLECTIONS WERE UP ALMOST 50%. OUR STATE PARKS SYSTEM REVENUES WERE UP 46% AND ADMISSIONS TAX COLLECTIONS WERE UP 28%. NOT ONLY DID WE DRIVE OUR WAY THROUGH A DEBILITATING PANDEMIC WITH OUR DECISIONS BASED ON COMMON SENSE AND THE CONSTITUTION, BUT WE THRIVED. TONIGHT, WE WILL RECOGNIZE SEVERAL OF THE BUSINESSES WHICH ANNOUNCED NEW INVESTMENTS IN SOUTH CAROLINA DURING THE RECORD BREAKING YEAR OF 2022. AS YOU WILL NOTICE, THE AUTOMOTIVE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY CONTINUES MOVING TOWARDS ELECTRIC VEHICLES. AND SOUTH CAROLINA IS MOVING ALONG WITH IT. LAST YEAR ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER PRIORITY TO RESUME THE RECRUITMENT OF THESE MANY FACTORS TO ENSURE THAT OUR STATE WILL CONTINUE TO BE SEEN AS AN IDEAL PLACE FOR MANUFACTURERS AND THEIR SUPPLIERS TO DO BUSINESS. SOUTH CAROLINA WILL CONTINUE TO ADAPT AS INDUSTRY INNOVATES AND GROWS. IN BERKELEY COUNTY, REDWOOD MATERIALS WILL INVEST THREE AND A HALF BILLION DOLLARS. THE LARGEST ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND CREATE. 1500 JOBS FOR A NEW BATTERY MATERIALS RECYCLING FACILITY IN UPSTATE BMW WILL INVEST $1.7 BILLION. THE SECOND LARGEST INVESTMENT IN STATE HISTORY, $1 BILLION OF WHICH WILL PREPARE PLANTS SPARTANBURG TO PRODUCE ELECTRIC VEHICLES. AND 700 MILLION TO BUILD A NEW HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY ASSEMBLY FACILITY IN WOODRUFF WHICH WILL CREATE THREE CREATE 300 MORE JOBS. ENVISION AEC WILL INVEST $810 MILLION IN FLORENCE TO BUILD A NEW STATE OF THE ART BATTERY CELL GIGAFACTORY AND EMPLOY OVER A THOUSAND RESIDENTS TO SUPPLY TECHNOLOGY, LEADING BATTERY CELLS TO POWER THE NEXT GENERATION OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE IN COLLEGE AND COUNTY CONTROLLED MAGIC. MEGA WILL BUILD A THREE GIGAWATT HOUR CAPACITY LITHIUM ION BATTERY FACTORY THAT WILL PRODUCE GRILLS, STAGE SCALE ENERGY STORAGE. THE COMPANY’S $279 MILLION INVESTMENT WILL CREATE APPROX. FINITELY 575 NEW JOBS. BOSCH MADE TWO ANNOUNCEMENTS IN 22 THAT CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THE COMPANY’S NEARLY 5050 YEAR HISTORY IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. AND ANDERSON COUNTY BOSCH PLANS TO INVEST $200 MILLION AND CREATE UP TO 350 NEW JOBS TO EXPAND OPERATION TO BECOME THE COMPANY’S FIRST PRODUCTION OPERATION OF FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN DORCHESTER COUNTY. BOSCH LAUNCHED THE PRODUCTION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS TO SUPPORT U.S. MARKET DEMAND FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES WITH PLANS FOR FUTURE GROWTH. BOSCH PLANS. BOSCH PLANS TO INVEST $200 MILLION AND CREATE UP TO 350 NEW JOBS TO EXPAND OPERATION TO BECOME THE FIRST TWO COUNTRY’S FIRST PRODUCTION OPERATION OF FUEL TECHNOLOGY IN THE UNITED STATES, AS I SAID. BOSCH PLANS TO INVEST $260 MILLION AND CREATE 350 JOBS IN NORTH CHARLESTON WITH A COMBINED INVESTMENT OF $625 MILLION IN 50 NEW JOBS. NUCOR STEEL IS EXPANDING BERKELEY COUNTY TO INCLUDE A NEW GALVANIZING LINE TO MEET THE INCREASED DEMAND FOR STEEL AND AIR SEPARATION UNIT. TOMORROW NIGHT, THE NEW AEC CHAIN, A LEADING SUPPLIER IN THE READY TO EAT SANDWICH INDUSTRY, WILL INVEST $38 MILLION AND CREATE 300 NEW JOBS IN GREENWOOD COUNTY IN GREENVILLE COUNTY HEALTH SUPPLY, THE US IS INVESTING. $150 MILLION AND CREATING 600 NEW JOBS FOR A NEW MANUFACTURING FACILITY THAT WILL PRODUCE AMERICAN MADE PERSONNEL, PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. KEY ON NORTH AMERICA WILL INVEST $400 MILLION AND CREATE 450 JOBS TO REASSURE THE MANUFAC STRING OF CORE COMPONENTS INDUSTRIAL LIFT TRUCKS FROM CHINA TO SUMMERVILLE. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAMES, THE LEADERS FROM THESE COMPANIES ARE HERE WITH US TONIGHT. PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED. AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IF WE PLEASE HOLD OUR APPLAUSE UNTIL THEY’RE ALL STANDING. EXCUSE ME, MR. JASON THOMPSON, THE CHIEF FINANCE OFFICER OF REDWOOD MATERIALS. MISS MACRO, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF HUMAN RESOURCE, IS OF BMW. MR. JEFF DAYTON, THE MANAGING DIRECTOR FOR NORTH AMERICA OF INVISION, AP ASC. MR. BADIA KEY, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF CONTROL MAGNET, MEGA. MR. MIKE SWEATY, THE PRESIDENT OF BOSCH, NORTH AMERICA. MR. NATHAN CRANE. GIL, THE VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER OF NUCOR STEEL. MS. CHRISTY BROWN. WALTER, THE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES FOR E ASIA. MR. CHRIS GARCIA, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF HEALTH SUPPLY US. MR. JONATHAN DONNELLY, THE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICE OFFICER OF KEONE, NORTH AMERICA. AND FINALLY, OUR SECRETARY OF COMMERCE, HAROLD AND HIS REMARKABLE TEAM, WHICH WERE WORKED AROUND THE CLOCK TO PRODUCE THESE SUCCESSES. AND THEY ARE HERE TONIGHT. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE THANK YOU ALL FOR MAKING 20, 20 TO A RECORD BREAKING UNIVERSAL SOUTH CAROLINA. AND THIS YEAR, LET’S DO IT AGAIN. THANK YOU. LAST YEAR PRESENTED NUMEROUS CHALLENGES FOR THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, INCLUDING THOSE RESULTING FROM THE MISGUIDED AND UNCOSTED ADDITIONAL POLICIES OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, SUCH AS DRAMATIC INFLATION AND SHARP INTEREST RATE HIKES. LEFT UNCHECKED. RUNAWAY FEDERAL SPENDING HAS CREATED THE SPECTER OF A RECESSION ON OUR HORIZON. YET I AM CONFIDENT ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR STATE BECAUSE I HAVE FAITH IN THE PEOPLE AND IN THOSE THEY ELECTED TO REPRESENT THEM IN THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY. AND I’M EXCITED TO RENEW OUR SUCCESS WITH PARTNERSHIP ONE BASED ON WORKING TOGETHER THROUGH COLLABORATION, COMMUNICATION AND COOPERATION. TODAY, WE ARE PRESENTED WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE BOLD, TRANSFORMATIVE ACTIONS THAT WILL BUILD PROSPERITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR SUCCESS RESTS ON THREE PILLARS ECONOMIC STRENGTH, EDUCATION, AND OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. THIS PAST NOVEMBER, SOUTH CAROLINIANS OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT INCREASING THE MINIMUM REQUIRED BALANCE IN THE RAINY DAY RESERVE FUND. IT WAS INCREASED FROM 5% TO 7% OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF GENERAL APPROPRIATE APPROPRIATIONS ACT FUNDS AVAILABLE TO BE APPROPRIATED IN ANY YEAR. I NOW ASK THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO SET ASIDE AN ADDITIONAL $500 MILLION TO VOLUNTEER TO INCREASE THE RAINY DAY RESERVE FUND MINIMUM BALANCE FROM 7% TO 10%. BY SAVING THIS MONEY INSTEAD OF SPENDING IT, WE CAN ONCE AGAIN BE PREPARED FOR ANY FUTURE ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY SHOULD THEY ARISE. UNTIL RECENTLY, SOUTH CAROLINA HAD THE HIGHEST PERSONAL INCOME TAX RATE IN THE SOUTH EAST AND THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION. LAST YEAR, WE WORKED TOGETHER TO PASS THE LARGEST INCOME TAX CUT IN STATE HISTORY. I THANK YOU FOR THAT. THIS MADE SOUTH CAROLINA EVEN MORE COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER STATES FOR NEW JOBS AND CAPITAL INVESTMENT. A TAX CUT HAS THE IMPACT OF A PAY RAISE, LEADING PEOPLE KEEP AND SPEND MORE OF THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY, WHICH ITSELF IS A CATALYST FOR EVEN MORE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROSPERITY. IN FEBRUARY, THE STATE BOARD OF ECONOMIC ADVISORS IS SCHEDULED TO ISSUE AN UPDATED REVENUE FORECAST. SHOULD AN INCREASED IN FUTURE REVENUES ALLOW, I ASK THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO USE A ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO SPEED UP THE INCOME TAX CUT SCHEDULE SO TAXPAYERS CAN KEEP EVEN MORE OF THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY. IN ADDITION, I RECOMMEND SETTING ASIDE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUNDS TO REINVEST IN OUR STATE’S RECORD BREAKING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS, RATHER THAN BORROWING IT THROUGH THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS, WHICH INCREASES OUR STATE’S DID A ONE TIME APPROPRIATION OF $500 MILLION WILL ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TO SATISFY ALL OUTSTANDING OBLIGATIONS AND INCENTIVES WITHOUT BORROWING MONEY. THE HOUSE RECENTLY APPROVED THIS APPROPRIATION AND IT IS MY HOPE THAT THE SENATE WILL FOLLOW SUIT. AN ADDITIONAL ONE TIME APPROPRIATION OF $200 MILLION WILL ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT TO IDENTIFY AND SECURE PROPERTIES FOR FUTURE MEGA SITE DEVELOPMENT. RURAL SOUTH CAROLINA IS BEAUTIFUL. RURAL SOUTH CAROLINA HAS EVERYTHING IT NEEDS FOR BEAUTY, PEACE AND TRANQUILITY. BUT WHAT IT NEEDS FOR GOOD PUBLIC AND ECONOMIC HEALTH IS WATER AND SEWER. THE RIGHT WATER AND SEWER SYSTEMS IN A COUNTY CAN TRANSFORM A TAX BASE. THAT MEANS JOBS, GOOD SCHOOLS, STRONG FAMILIES, AND A SAFE AND VIBRANT COMMUNITY. IN 2022, THE STATE RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE AUTHORITY RECEIVED $800 MILLION IN AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS. ARPA. THE PURPOSE REPLACE, REPAIR AND CONSOLIDATE OUR STATE’S AGING AND OUTDATED RURAL WATER AND STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGH COMPETITIVE GRANTS. THE DEMAND EXCEEDED THE SUPPLY IN ALL A RECEIVED GRANT APPLICATIONS IN 2022 FOR ALMOST $2 BILLION. GREATLY EXCESS. THIS YEAR I’M RECOMMENDING THAT A MINIMUM OF $380 MILLION IN REMAINING ARPA FUNDS BE USED TO CONTINUE MAKING THESE TRANSFORMATIVE WATER AND SEWER GRANTS IN OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES. THERE IS NO INFRASTRUCTURE MORE IN NEED OF BIG, BOLD AND CONTINUED INVESTMENT THAN OUR STATE’S ROADS, BRIDGES, HIGHWAYS AND INTERSTATES. OUR SUCCESS IS OUTRUNNING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. LAST YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION GOT ALMOST $1 BILLION TO ACCELERATE AND JUMPSTART CONSTRUCTION, EXPAND AND IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR STATE ON ROADS, BRIDGES, HIGHWAYS AND TO WIDEN INTERSTATE. HOWEVER, IN THE IMMORTAL WORDS OF JAMYA REED, WE’VE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO AND A SHORT TIME TO GET THERE. SO WE GOT TO INVEST MORE AND WE GOT TO MOVE NOW. THIS YEAR, MY EXECUTIVE BUDGET PROVIDES AN ADDITIONAL. $850 MILLION TO CONTINUE SPEEDING UP THE COMPLETION OF PROJECTS, WHICH WILL RELIEVE TRAFFIC CONGESTION ON INTERSTATES AND HIGHWAYS, REPAIR OR REPAVE LOCAL ROADS AND FIX OVER 400 BRIDGES ACROSS OUR STATE. EDUCATION. WORKING TOGETHER, WE’VE TAKEN BOLD STEPS TO IMPROVE THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN THAT THEY RECEIVE IN THE CLASSROOM. UNTIL LAST YEAR, SOUTH CAROLINA’S SYSTEM FOR FUNDING FOR K-12 EDUCATION WAS ARCHAIC AND CONFUSING. A PIECEMEAL SYSTEM CONSISTING OF 29 LINE ITEM APPROPRIATIONS. NOW ARKANSAS SOLIDARITY FUND WILL MAKE SURE THAT THE FUNDING FOLLOWS THE CHILD. IT KEEPS PACE WITH STUDENT REQUIREMENTS AND PROVIDES FINANCIAL RESOURCE TO SUPPORT A STATE AVERAGE. STUDENT TEACHER RATIO OF. 11.2 STUDENTS PER TEACHER WITH AN AVERAGE TEACHER SALARY, INCLUDING FRINGE BENEFITS OF. $72,991. MY EXECUTIVE BUDGET ALSO INCREASES STATE AGE AID TO CLASSROOMS. BY $254 MILLION TO INCREASE THE PERCENTAGE OF PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN WHO ENTER OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS READY TO LEARN. WE UNLEASH THE FREE MARKET AND EXPANDED FULL DAY FOUR YEAR OLD KINDERGARTEN TO ALL AT RISK CHILDREN IN THE STATE. PARENTS MAY NOW CHOOSE THE PUBLIC, PRIVATE OR FOR PROFIT CHILDCARE PROVIDER THAT BEST SUITS THE CHILD’S EDUCATIONAL NEEDS. TODAY, WE’RE. SERVING 16,103 AT RISK CHILDREN IN THAT PROGRAM, WHICH IS AN ALL TIME HIGH. LAST YEAR WE WERE AT 18 CHILDREN ELIGIBLE TO PETITION PAID IN THE STATE FUNDED FULL DAY FOR KINDERGARTEN AT SAINT MARTIN, THE POOREST SCHOOL LOCATED HERE IN COLUMBIA. SAINT MARTIN IS A PRIVATE SCHOOL PARTICIPATING IN THE FOUR DAY 4K PROGRAM THIS YEAR. PARENTS OF NINE OF THOSE CHILDREN FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR WANTED TO ENROLL THEIR CHILDREN IN FIVE YEAR OLD KINDERGARTEN AT THE SCHOOL, BUT THEY COULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY THE TUITION. THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, THEY ABLE TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION SO. MARTIN AT NO COST TO THE FAMILIES. JONATHAN MCMILLAN IS ONE OF THOSE CHILDREN. HE PARTICIPATED IN A FULL FOUR DAY PROGRAM LAST YEAR AND IS NOW ENROLLED IN THE FIVE YEAR KINDERGARTEN AT SAINT MARTIN. ACCORDING TO HIS MOTHERS AND TEACHERS, IS MORE THAN TEACHERS. JONATHAN HAS BEEN SAVED FROM FUTURE STRUGGLE AND CHALLENGE BY STAYING AT SAINT MARTIN. QUOTE HE HAD CHALLENGES UPON HIS ARRIVAL. HE HAD DIFFERENT SOCIAL SKILLS THAT REQUIRED THE INTENSE FINALITY OF AN EDUCATIONAL TEAM. JONATHAN IS NOT SHY. HE IS BRILLIANT. AND HE DETERMINED LEADER. END OF QUOTE. HIS TEACHER, MRS. HARE, SAYS THAT HER GOAL IS TO HELP HIM FIND HIS LIGHT SO HE CAN BRIGHTLY SHINE TO THE WORLD AROUND HIM. JOHN THUNE IS HERE TONIGHT, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS MOTHER, MISS JENNA BOOTH, ALONG WITH THE PRINCIPAL OF SAINT MARTIN, MISS DELORES GILLIARD. MISS GILLIARD HAS SERVED AS PRINCIPAL FOR FIVE YEARS. SHE COMPLETED A 40 YEAR CAREER AT PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN RICHMOND. ONE DISTRICT, WHICH ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT SPENDING 22 YEARS AS A PRINCIPAL BEFORE COMING TO SAINT MARTIN. JONATHAN AND LADIES, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU. MY EXECUTIVE BUDGET ALSO PROVIDES $25 MILLION IN LOTTERY DOLLARS FOR THE CREATION OF EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNTS, ALSO CALLED ESEA A’S, PENDING A CHANGE IN THE LAW BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. THESE FUNDS WILL ALLOW LOW INCOME PARENTS TO CHOOSE THE TYPE OF EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENT AND INSTRUCTION THAT BEST SUITS THEIR CHILD’S UNIQUE NEEDS. TEACHER PAY MY EXECUTIVE BUDGET ALSO PROPOSES TO CONTINUE THE REMARKABLE PROGRESS WE’VE MADE IN RAISING TEACHER PAY, AND WE MUST DO MORE. NEW TEACHING POSITIONS ARE BEING CREATED EVERY YEAR AT NEW SCHOOLS CONSTRUCTED TO KEEP UP WITH OUR GROWING POPULATION. SIX YEARS AGO, THE MINIMUM STARTING SALARY OF OUR TEACHERS WAS. $30,113. AN AVERAGE TEACHER SALARY WAS BELOW THE SOUTHEASTERN AVERAGE. TODAY, THE MINIMUM STARTING SALARY OF OUR TEACHERS IS $40,000, AND THE AVERAGE TEACHER SALARY NOW EXCEEDS THE SOUTH EASTERN AVERAGE. THAT IS PROGRESS. MY EXECUTIVE BUDGET PROPOSES INCREASING CTU SALARIES BY $2,500. AT EVERY STEP IN THE STATE SALARY SCHEDULE, MAKING A NEW MINIMUM, STARTING TEACHERS SALARY FOR 254 $2,500. MY GOAL BY 2026 IS A MINIMUM STARTING SALARY OF AT LEAST AT LEAST $500. 5 TO 15000 TO. IN ADDITION, MY EXECUTIVE BUDGET PROVIDES EVERY ELIGIBLE PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR WITH A ONE TIME $2,500 RETENTION SUPPLEMENT, HALF IN DECEMBER. THE OTHER HALF IN MAY. MISS MCKENNA, BLANKENSHIP SCHIP IS A FIRST YEAR TEACHER AT BEIRUT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN DARLINGTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. SHE TEACHES THE FIRST GRADE MISS BLANKENSHIP, WHO WAS A TEACHING FELLOW AT FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY, WHERE SHE COMPLETED HER BACHELOR’S DEGREE. SHE IS THE DAUGHTER OF MS. JENNIFER BLANKENSHIP, ALSO A TEACHER AND THE DARLINGTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. SHE TEACHES ENGLISH AND THE TEACHER CADET PROGRAM AT THE MAYS HIGH SCHOOL FOR MATH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. THE TEACHER CADET PROGRAM IS A HIGH SCHOOL COURSE WHICH ENCOURAGES ACADEMICALLY TALENTED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO CONSIDER TEACHING AS A CAREER. MCKENNA ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A TEACHER AS SHE SAID, QUOTE, MY MOM WAS A LOT OF INSPIRATION FOR MY JOURNEY. I ENJOY SEEING STUDENTS MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH THEIR LIFE AND WHAT THEY ARE LEARNING IN SCHOOL, BUT ALSO THE AHA MOMENT WHEN THEY TRULY UNDERSTAND IT. CONCEPT. MY FIRST YEAR IS GOING AWESOME AND I COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE BLESSED WITH THE COMMUNITY I CHOSE. THESE STUDENTS ARE BRIGHT AND ALWAYS BEGIN THE DAY WITH A SURPRISE. I LEARNED MORE AS A TEACHER AND A PERSON EVERY DAY. THIS CAREER AND OPPORTUNITY WITH THE STUDENTS FULFILLS MY LIFE IN MORE THAN ONE WAY. END OF QUOTE. MCKENNA AND HER MAMA ARE HERE WITH US TONIGHT. LADIES, WILL YOU PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED. PLACING AN ARMED CERTIFIED SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER KNOWN AS AN SRO IN EVERY SCHOOL, IN EVERY COUNTY, ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, HAS BEEN ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES. AT MY REQUEST, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BEGAN FUNDING A GRANT PROGRAM ADMINISTRATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY. PUBLIC SAFETY, DPS TO PROVIDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH FUNDS TO HIRE MORE RESOURCE OFFICERS. FOR 1283 SCHOOLS. THE GRANT PROGRAM HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AND IS MORE THAN DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO A SCHOOL GOING FROM 406 TO 982 IN JUST FOUR YEARS. THIS YEAR I’M RECOMMENDING AN ADDITIONAL $27.3 MILLION TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL 188 SCHOOLS WITH A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER. WITH THIS APPROPRIATION, 90% OF SOUTH CAROLINA’S PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL HAVE A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER ASSIGNED TO THEIR CAMPUS. IN JULY OF 2021. MICHAEL TUCKER WAS NAMED PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE SRO PROGRAM AT DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY DURING MR. TUCKER’S FIRST YEAR WORKING WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. THE NUMBER OF STATE FUNDED SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS INCREASED BY 74% FOR HIS EXEMPLARY WORK TO IMPROVE SCHOOL SAFETY IN OUR STATE. MR. TUCKER WAS RECOGNIZED IN OCTOBER AS THE DPS PUBLIC SERVANT OF THE YEAR. JOIN MICHAEL JOINING MICHAEL TONIGHT IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, ROB WOODS. AND CHIEF OF STAFF MICHAEL OLIVER. GENTLEMEN, PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU. TO TRAIN OUR STATE’S SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, I RECOMMEND PROVIDING THE STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION WITH A THREE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS TO CREATE THE CENTER FOR SCHOOLS SAFETY AND TARGETED VIOLENCE LOCATED AT GILBERT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LEXINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL PROVIDE A STATE OF THE ART TRAINING CENTER IN A RURAL, LIVE SETTING LONG FORESMAN OFFICERS AND SCHOOL PERSONNEL. LAST YEAR, WE EXPANDED THE INVESTIGATIVE JURISDICTION OF THE STATE INSPECTOR GENERAL TO A CONCERNS THAT SOUTH CAROLINA UNIONS HAVE REGARDING THE MANAGEMENT OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY THE MANAGEMENT OF TAXPAYER FUNDS BY PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARDS. IT WAS A GOOD FIRST STEPS TOWARDS RESTORING THE PUBLIC’S CONFIDENCE IN THE ACTION OF SCHOOL BOARDS. WE SHOULD EXPAND THIS TRAINING AS PARENTS. TO THIS END, THE PUBLIC SHOULD ALSO KNOW WHO’S GETTING PAID TO INFLUENCE DECISIONS MADE BY COUNTY, MUNICIPAL OR SCHOOL BOARD OFFICIALS. THESE LOBBYISTS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REGISTER WITH THE STATE ETHICS COMMISSION, JUST LIKE THOSE WHO ARE PAID TO LOBBY THE LEGISLATURE. WHAT’S GOOD FOR THE STATE HOUSE IS GOOD FOR THE SCHOOLHOUSE. MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SEND ME THIS LEGISLATION AND I WILL SIGN IT INTO LAW. WE KNOW THAT ACCESS TO AN AFFORDABLE DEGREE OR SKILLED TRADES CERTIFICATE IS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURE THAT OUR STATE HAS THE TRAINED AND EDUCATED WORKFORCE TO COMPETE FOR JOBS AND INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE. MANUFACTURERS IN PARTICULAR VIEW THE AVAILABILITY OF SKILLED LABOR AND AS CRITICAL TO THEIR DECISIONS TO INVEST HERE TO ADDRESS THE CRITICAL LABOR SHORTAGE AFFECTING KEY SECTORS OF OUR ECONOMY. I’M ASKING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO INVEST AN ADDITIONAL $78 MILLION IN A LOTTERY. FUNDS TO EXPAND WORKFORCE SCHOLAR SHIPS FOR THE FUTURE THROUGH THE SOUTH CAROLINA TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM. IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, THIS HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM HAS EMPOWERED OVER 10,000 SOUTH CAROLINIANS TO EARN AN INDUSTRY CREDENTIAL IN HIGH DEMAND CAREERS LIKE MANUFACTURING, HEALTH CARE, COMPUTER SCIENCE, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, TRANSPORTATION, LOGISTICS AND CONSTRUCTION. GINA RACANIELLO, A GRADUATE OF AIRPORT HIGH SCHOOL AND LEXINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT TWO, IS PURSUING AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD AND ELEMENTARY EDUCATION FROM MIDLANDS TECHNICAL COLLEGE IN THE AFTERNOONS. SHE WORKS IN AN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM, CARE FOR PRESCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY AGED STUDENTS. AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS PROVIDE ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS AND ALLOW MOTHERS AND FATHERS TO WORK. AFTER COMPLETING HER ASSOCIATE DEGREE, MS. RACANIELLO PLANS TO TRANSFER TO A FOUR YEAR COLLEGE TO COMPLETE HER TEACHER CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENT AND BECOME A TEACHER. SHE RECEIVED A WORKFORCE SCHOLARSHIP TO ATTEND MIDLAND’S TECHNICAL COLLEGE. BECAUSE ALL REGIONS OF OUR STATE FACE A CRITICAL SHORTAGE OF CHILDCARE WORKERS, ACCORDING U.S. CENSUS BUREAU, LABOR STATISTICS, THERE ARE 100,000 FEWER CHILDCARE WORKERS TODAY IN AMERICA THAN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC. THEY ARE IN HIGH DEMAND. MOROCCANOIL IS JOINING US TONIGHT. AND WITH HER IS DR. RONALD REAGAN’S PRESIDENT OF MIDLAND TECHNICAL COLLEGE. AND THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE TREMENDOUS LEADERSHIP OF DR. TOM HARDY, PRESIDENT OF THE STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM, WHO IS ALL SO HERE TONIGHT. WILL YOU ALL PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED? OH, YEAH. NOW, EXECUTIVE BUDGET MARKS THE FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR THAT I’VE AS A GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO FREEZE COLLEGE TUITION FOR ANY STATE STUDENTS WITH AN APPROPRIATION TO INSTITUTE OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND $43 MILLION. THIS REPRESENTS THE 5.2% INCREASE IN HIGHER EDUCATION PRICE INDEX FOR 2022 AND IS BASED ON THE NUMBER OF IN-STATE STUDENTS ENROLLED IN EACH PUBLIC INSTITUTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS TAYLOR. WELL, WE’RE ALSO PROVIDING A SCHOOL, A RECORD AMOUNT OF FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIP FOR STUDENTS IN NEED. I PROPOSE PROVIDING $80 MILLION SO THAT EVERY SOUTH CAROLINIAN WHO QUALIFIES FOR FEDERAL NEED BASED FINANCIAL AID, AS MEASURED BY THE FEDERAL PELL GRANTS, RECEIVES SUFFICIENT STATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ATTEND ANY IN-STATE PUBLIC COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OR TECHNICAL COLLEGE. AND STUDENTS IN PRIVATE, INDEPENDENT AND HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WILL RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL $20 MILLION FOR TUITION AND GRANTS AND ASSISTANCE. IN JUST TWO YEARS, THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA HAS ALMOST DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF INTERSTATE STUDENTS RECEIVING NEED BASED GRANTS FROM 2000 STUDENTS TO MORE THAN 3900 FROM EVERY COUNTY IN OUR STATE. WITH US TONIGHT IS JASMINE LAURA GUERRERO, A JUNIOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, MAJORING IN POLITICAL SCIENCE. UPON GRADUATING, SHE PLANS TO PURSUE A PH.D. IN POLITICAL SCIENCE. FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, SHE HAS RECEIVED EVEN A NEED BASED GRANT. MS. GUERRERO IS A FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENT. SHE IS AN OPPORTUNITY SCHOLAR. IRAN LEE MCNAIR, SCHOLAR AND A MAJOR MAGELLAN SCHOLAR. SHE IS PART OF THE GAMECOCKS WIN GUARANTEE PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES FINANCIAL AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT TO FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS. AND SHE WILL GRADUATE HAVING NO STUDENT LOAN DEBT BEFORE ENTERING USC. MISS GUERRERO ATTENDED THE ACADEMY FOR THE ARTS, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, A PUBLIC MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL IN MYRTLE BEACH. JASMINE, PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE MUST CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THE REPAIRS NEEDED AT THE AGING STATE OWNED BUILDINGS AND INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE CAMPUSES OF FOUR YEAR COLLEGES, TECHNICAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. I ASKED THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO JOIN ME IN PAYING DOWN THE STATE’S DEFERRED MAINTENANCE LIABILITY. WITH $209 BILLION MILLION DOLLARS IN CAPITAL RESERVE FUNDS TO BE DISTRIBUTED PROGRAM BASED ON EACH AND INSTITUTION’S IN-STATE ENROLLMENT. LET’S PAY FOR THIS RIGHT NOW RATHER THAN BORROWING IT AND CREATING MORE DID. IN ADDITION, I ASKED THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY COMPLETE THE FUNDING OF THE BATTELLE ALLIANCE, A COLLABORATIVE NUCLEAR SCIENCE RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, CLEMSON UNIVERSITY, SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE SAVANNAH RIVER NATIONAL LABORATORY WITH AN APPROPRIATION OF $100 MILLION. IN ADDITION TO THE $20 MILLION APPROPRIATED LAST YEAR. THIS ALLIANCE WILL DEVELOP WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO DEVELOP A PIPELINE OF NEW TALENT TO FILL ENGINEERING, SCIENCE, RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT POSITIONS FOR PRIVATE INDUSTRY AND NUCLEAR FACILITIES, INCLUDING THOSE OPERATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY. THE IMPACT ON OUR RESEARCH CAMPUSES WILL BE FAR REACHING AND DRAMATIC HEALTH CARE IS CLEAR THAT THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS EXISTS IN SOUTH CAROLINA FOLLOWING THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC. ESPECIALLY AMONG OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, MANY ARE STILL STRUGGLING WITH THE EFFECTS OF DISRUPTIONS. VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION, ISOLATION AND CONSTANT CHANGES TO NORMAL ROUTINES. SOUTH CAROLINIANS IN CRISIS MUST HAVE ACCESS TO PROFESSIONAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING AND SERVICES TO MEET THE GROWING DEMAND FOR THESE SERVICES. I’M RECOMMENDING AN ALLOCATION OF NEARLY $45 MILLION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH. THESE FUNDS WILL SUPPORT THE AGENCY’S ABILITY TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSORS ARSENALS, PROVIDE INPATIENT SERVICES, INCREASE ACCESS TO CRISIS SERVICES SUCH AS SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINES, INCLUDING ONE SPECIFICALLY FOR VETERANS AND COMMUNITY BASED TREATMENT SERVICES. LAST YEAR, I DIRECTED HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR ROBERT KERR TO INITIATE AN IMMEDIATE REVIEW OF OUR STATE’S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FUNDING AND DELIVERY SYSTEM. IT BECAME CLEAR FROM DIRECT OCCURS EFFORTS THAT THE TIME HAS COME TO MODERNIZE AND RESTRUCTURE. SOUTH CAROLINA’S SILOED HEALTH CARE DELIVERY. DELIVERY AGENCIES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL, AMONG OTHERS. MY EXECUTIVE BUDGET INCLUDES A $5 MILLION APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROCURING THE PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE NECESSARY TO ANALYZE AND AND PROVIDE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BY JUNE 30, 2024, WITH A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO RECRUIT RESTRUCTURE THESE AGENCIES, CONSOLIDATING AND PRIVATIZE AND WHEREVER POSSIBLE, OUR BOOMING ECONOMY. SOMETIMES PUTS OUR STATE AGENCIES AS A DISADVANTAGE NICHE WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN RECRUITING AND RETAINING GOOD EMPLOYEES. MY EXECUTIVE BUDGET PROVIDES $78 MILLION FOR RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION SALARY INCREASES FOR STATE EMPLOYEES. $2 MILLION FOR A ONE TIME, 20 $500 SIGN ON BONUS FOR FIRST TIME STATE GOVERNMENT HIRES. AND $2 MILLION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MINISTRY SO THEY CAN ASSIST SMALLEST STATE AGENCIES WITH MARKETING AND ADVERTISING EFFORTS TO FILL THOSE HARD TO HIRE POSITIONS. I’M ALSO RECOMMENDING THAT THERE BE NO INCREASE IN THE EMPLOYEE PAID PREMIUMS FOR STATE HEALTH PLAN PARTICIPANTS AND THAT WE ADD AT NO COST TO STATE EMPLOYEES. AN ANNUAL BGA, AN EXAM FOR ALL FEMALES. SIMILAR TO THE EXISTING NO COST ADULT WELLNESS VISIT, WHICH WAS ADDED TWO YEARS AGO. FINALLY, THE SOUTH CAROLINA RETIREMENT SYSTEM ALL OFTEN CALLED THE STATE PENSION PLAN, HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST UNFUNDED LIABILITIES IN THE NATION. NEARLY. $24 MILLION. THE SYSTEM ONLY HAS ASSETS EQUAL TO 64% OF WHAT IS REQUIRED TO PAY BENEFICIARIES, WHICH PLACES OUR PENSION SYSTEM. FIFTH WORST IN THE NATION. ONCE AGAIN, I ASKED THE STATE PENSION PLAN BE CLOSED TO NEW BENEFICIARIES. AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2023, AND THE NEW EMPLOYEES BE PROSPECTIVELY ENROLLED IN THE STATE OPTIONAL RETIREMENT PROGRAM, WHICH IS A DEFINED CONTRIBUTION FOR A1K PLAN. ANOTHER YEAR OF INACTION IS ANOTHER YEAR IN WHICH UNDERFUNDED LIABILITY WILL BE IN THE PENSION PLAN WILL INCREASE. WHAT THIS MEANS IS WE CANNOT KICK THIS CAN DOWN THE ROAD ANY FURTHER. PUBLIC SAFETY KEEPS SOUTH CAROLINIANS SAFE. WE MUST MAINTAIN A ROBUST LAW ENFORCEMENT PRESENCE AND PROPERLY FUND THE POLICE, OUR STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES CONTINUE TO LOSE VALUABLE AND EXPERIENCED PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY’RE UNABLE TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE WITH PAY AND BENEFITS OF OTHER AGENCIES AND PRIVATE SECTOR. THANKS TO THE COMPENSATION REVIEW CONDUCTED BY MARSHA ADAMS, DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATION, OUR STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES HAVE BEGUN TO STEM THE TIDE OF PERSONNEL LOSS WITH A $40 MILLION IN RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION PAY RAISES PROVIDED IN LAST YEAR’S GENERAL APPROPRIATION ACT. I’M PROPOSING THAT WE CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THIS MOMENTUM BY PROVIDING AN ADDITIONAL 21 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS FOR RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION PAY RAISES THIS YEAR, WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WILL CONTINUE DOING IT. I’M ALSO PROPOSING A $2,000 STATE INCOME TAX CREDIT FOR EVERY ACTIVE DUTY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, A FIREFIGHTER, FIRST RESPONDER AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN. THIS NON REFUNDABLE TAX CREDIT WILL PROVIDE A TOTAL OF $38.4 MILLION IN INCOME TAX RELIEF FOR THOSE WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE EACH DAY TO PROTECT AND SERVE OUR PEOPLE. IN ADDITION, I RECOMMEND THAT WE MAINTAIN THE PROVISO. SO SUSPENDING THE $10,000 RETIREMENT CAP FOR ANYONE ENROLLED IN THE POLICE OFFICERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM. THIS WILL ALLOW RETIRED OFFICERS TO RETURN TO WORK AND FIRE AND FILL EXISTING VACANCIES. AND IT WILL MAKE OUR STATE SAFER. HOW ABOUT THE REVOLVING DOOR. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS KNOW WHO THE REPEAT CRIMINALS ARE. THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE. THE REPEAT CRIMINALS COMMIT OVER 80% OF THE CRIMES, AND THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE. SIX CIRCUIT SOLICITOR KEVIN BRACKETT SHARED A SHOCKING EXAMPLE OF HOW A PROBLEM AS BAD AS PROBLEM IS AND HOW YOU NOW. ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2018, A REPEAT CRIMINAL WHOSE NAME I WILL NOT MENTION WHO HAD A PRIOR RECORD OF DRUGS, ASSAULT AND BATTERY, BURGLARY AND ILLEGAL GUN POSSESSION, WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF TWO STOLEN PISTOLS, POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE CRACK AND FENTANYL AND TWO DISTRIBUTING TO A PARK OR SCHOOL, RESISTING ARREST AND POSSESSION OF A STOLEN M16, A FOUR MACHINE GUN. AS SEPTEMBER 30, 2018, HE WAS RELEASED ON A $10,000 BOND LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS LATER, HE WAS CHARGED WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OF A HIGH AND AGGRAVATED NATURE. FOR WHAT? FOR VIOLENT. HE ASSAULTED ASSAULTING HIS PREGNANT GIRLFRIEND. ONCE AGAIN, HE WAS RELEASED ON BOND. THEN A FEW WEEKS AFTER THAT, THIS REPEAT CRIMINAL OUT ON BOND SHOT TWO PEOPLE, KILLING ONE. THE THE SURVIVOR AND GUNSHOT VICTIM WAS THE SAME PREGNANT GIRLFRIEND HE ASSAULTED WEEKS EARLIER. HE ALSO HELD FOUR PEOPLE AT GUNPOINT, ASSAULTING THREE OF THEM WITH A HAMMER. HE FLED AND THEN SHOT A THIRD VICTIM. LATER THAT SAME DAY. BUT SHE SURVIVED. FINALLY, AFTER ALL, HE WAS ARRESTED, CONVICTED, AND WAS EVENTUALLY SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON. UNFORTUNATELY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS HAS HAPPENED. AND EVERY DAY MY QUESTION IS, HOW LONG ARE WE GOING TO LET THIS KEEP HAPPENING? HOW LONG. WHAT DO WE TELL THE FAMILIES? WHAT DO WE TELL THEM? LAW ENFORCEMENT NEEDS OUR HELP. THEY NEED STRONGER LAWS TO KEEP ILLEGAL GUNS OUT OF THE HANDS OF CRIMINALS AND JUVENILES. THEY NEED NEW LAWS TO CLOSE THE REVOLVING DOOR AND KEEP CAREER CRIMINALS BEHIND BARS AND NOT OUT ON BOND. THAT MEANS WE NEED NO BOND. NO BOND FOR RECRUIT REPEAT CRIMINALS, THOSE WHO COMMIT A CRIME WHILE OUT ON BOND SHOULD RECEIVE AN AUTOMATIC MANDATORY FIVE YEAR FELONY SENTENCE WITH NO EARLY RELEASE OR PAROLE ON TOP OF THE SENTENCE FOR THEIR PREVIOUS CRIMES. CURRENTLY, THERE ARE NO GRADUATE RATED CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR ILLEGAL GUN POSSESSION IN STATE LAW. THAT MEANS THE PENALTIES ARE SAME NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES THE CRIMINAL GETS CAUGHT. THIS PROVIDES NO DETERRENT. GRADUATING FELONY PENALTIES WITH NO BOND WILL HELP KEEP REPEAT CRIMINALS BEHIND BARS AND NOT OUT ON BAIL. WHERE THEY CAN COMMIT MORE CRIMES. BUT THAT’S NOT ALL. WE ALSO NEED TO STOP SHADY BOND BAIL BOND PRACTICES. LAST OCTOBER, I DIRECTED THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE TO CRACK DOWN ON THESE PRACTICES WITHIN THE LIMITED AUTHORITY THAT IT HAS. TODAY, I PROPOSE TO YOU THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR COURT ORDERED JEEPS OR ELECTRONIC MONITORING AND THE IMPOSITION OF PENALTIES ON BONDSMEN WHO FAIL TO MAINTAIN ELECTRIC MONITORING OR FAIL TO REPORT VIOLATIONS OF BOND CONDITIONS TO THE COURT. ANOTHER POINT WE HAVE TODAY NO MEANS TO CARRY OUT A DEATH SENTENCE IN SOUTH CAROLINA. AND NOBODY KNOWS THAT BETTER THAN THE MURDERERS AND THE KILLERS, THEIR FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES. THESE MURDERS KNOW WHAT? TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CARRY OUT THE DEATH PENALTY BY LETHAL INJECTION LETHAL INJECTION SINCE 2011 BECAUSE THE COMPANIES THAT MAKE THE DRUGS ARE NOT SELLING UNLESS THEY’RE DERIVATIVES OR SHIELDED BY STATE LAW FROM ANTI-DEATH PENALTY ACTIVIST. 14 STATES HAVE ENACTED SUCH A SHIELD LAW DIRECTED BY STERLING. AND I’VE ASKED THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ADDRESS THIS. FOR OVER FOUR, FIVE YEARS, IN AN EFFORT TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, YOU WILL REMEMBER THAT WE AMENDED THE DEATH PENALTY LAW TO MAKE THE ELECTRIC CHAIR THE DEFAULT METHOD IF A ILLEGAL INJECTION WAS UNAVAILABLE AND ADDED THE FIRING SQUAD AS A NEW MEANS OF EXECUTION. IT WAS IMMEDIATELY CHALLENGED IN COURT. SCHEDULED EXECUTIONS WERE HALTED AND WE NOW ONCE AGAIN AWAIT A DECISION BY OUR STATE SUPREME COURT. ONCE AGAIN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE CANNOT KEEP WAITING. I ASK THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO PASS A SHIELD LAW. WE MUST GIVE THESE GRIEVING FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES OF JUSTICE AND CLOSURE. THEY ARE OWED BY LAW. UNTIL THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH CAROLINA THAT THEIR GOVERNMENT BELIEVES IN THE RULE OF LAW, JUST LIKE THEY DO. WE MUST ALSO READ, EXAMINE THOSE ISSUES, PRACTICES AND LAWS THAT MAKE OUR STATE LESS COMPELLED TO DO AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR FAMILIES, BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS TO INVEST, GROW AND THRIVE. ONE ISSUE WE NEED TO REEXAMINE THE NATION IS IN THE AREA OF CIVIL LITIGATION KNOWN AS JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY. NOBODY, INCLUDING BUSINESS OWNERS, SHOULD BE PENALIZED FOR THE ACTIONS OF OTHERS SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE MONEY. NOR SHOULD ANYONE BE ABSOLVED. THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN ACTIONS. I AM CONFIDENT WE CAN FIND A COMMON SENSE FORMULA WHICH WILL PROVIDE ACCOUNTABILITY AND JUST COMPENSATION WITHOUT DAMAGING OUR ECONOMY. AND WE MUST DO IT. IN ADDITION, I SUGGEST IT IS TIME FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHO ARE ATTORNEYS TO STOP SUING THE BODIES IN WHICH THEY SERVE. STOP SUING STATE AGENCIES, INCLUDING FOR ACTIONS AND STOP SUING ELECTED OFFICIALS. THIS IS ABSURD. IT DIMINISHES THE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE, NOT ONLY IN LAW, THE LEGISLATURE DOES, BUT IN THE REST OF STATE GOVERNMENT AS WELL. WE MUST ALSO ENSURE THAT THE PUBLIC HAS CONFIDENCE IN WHO AND HOW OUR STATE’S JUDGES ARE SELECTED BY MAKING THE PROCESS MORE TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE. SOUTH CAROLINA IS ONE OF TWO STATES IN WHICH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SELECTS THE MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY. IT APPEARS THAT THE CONFIDENCE IN THIS ARRANGEMENT IS WANING. TOO OFTEN THE PEOPLE’S BUSINESS IS UNATTENDED. JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED. I SUGGEST THAT OUR FOUNDING FATHERS PRESCRIBED THE METHOD FOR JUDICIAL SELECTION THAT HAS SERVED OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WELL AND WITH WHICH THE PUBLIC IS QUITE FAMILIAR. GUBERNATORIAL APPOINTMENT OF ALL JUDGES WITH THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF THE SENATE REQUIRES NO REINVENTION OF THE WHEEL WILL INSPIRE THE CONFIDENCE OF OUR PEOPLE, AND WILL ENCOURAGE ENCOURAGE MORE. EXCELLENT ATTORNEY TO SEEK PUBLIC SERVICE. WE SHOULD DO THAT. LAST YEAR, THE U.S. SUPREME COURT RULING IN DOBBS AGAINST JACKSON WOMEN’S HEALTH ORGANIZATION GAVE US CAUSE FOR CONFIDENCE WHEN IT RECOGNIZED THAT RULE AGAINST WADE WAS EGREGIOUSLY WRONG AND, QUOTE, ON THE DAY IT WAS DECIDED AND THAT THE U.S. CONSTITUTION DOES NOT PROHIBIT STATES FROM REGULATING OR PROHIBITING ABORTION. UNFORTUNATELY, THE SOUTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT DELIVERED A TEMPORARY SETBACK EARLIER THIS MONTH IN A32 DECISION, THE COURT STRUCK DOWN THE FETAL HEARTBEAT AND PROTECTION FROM ABORTION ACT. OUR COURT CONCLUDED THAT IT VIOLATED A SOUTH CAROLINA CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION THAT WAS PROPOSED AND ADOPTED BEFORE RUBY WADE AT A TIME WHEN NEARLY ALL ABORTIONS ILLEGAL IN SOUTH CAROLINA. I SAY RESPECTFULLY, RESPECTFULLY, THE COURT’S DECISION IS AT ODDS WITH THE LAW AND THE FACTS AND THE LEAD OPINIONS RESULTS ORIENTED REASONING THREATENS TO DISRUPT OUR CONSTITUTION. NATIONAL SEPARATION OF POWERS. WHEN I SIGNED THE HEARTBEAT ACT INTO LAW, I ALWAYS CONFIDENT THAT IT WAS CONSTITUTIONAL. I STILL AM. THEREFORE, I WILL BE FILING A PETITION FOR REHEARING NEXT WEEK, ALONG WITH OTHER STATE OFFICIALS. AND I REMAIN AFTER MYSTIC THAT WE WILL PREVAIL IN OUR HISTORIC FIGHT TO PROTECT AND DEFEND THE RIGHT TO AND THE SANCTITY OF LIFE. FINALLY, OUR SHARED CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE ABOUND IN NATURAL RESOURCES IN A PROSPEROUS ECONOMY. MAKE US THE ENVY OF OTHERS AND ATTRACTIVE TO ALL, ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY AND THE WORLD. EXPLORERS FOR KINGS AND QUEENS MARVELED AT OUR MOUNTAINS, BEACHES, SEA ISLANDS AND MARSHES. THEY REPORTED BACK TO THEIR SOVEREIGN THAT THE LAND WAS LUSH, FERTILE AND BRIMMING WITH ABUNDANCE. AND I HAVE NO DOUBT IF THEY WERE HERE NOW, THEY WOULD HAVE THE SAME REACTION AND SAY THE SAME THING WHEN THE FRENCH, SPANISH AND ENGLISH SETTLERS BEGAN ARRIVING IN SOUTH CAROLINA. OVER 450 YEARS AGO, THERE WERE ABOUT TWO DOZEN GROUPS OF TRIBES OR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, INDIANS, NATIVE AMERICANS, RESIDING IN THE LOWCOUNTRY. THE ASHE PROVED, THOUGH HE COULD COME BE IN A STROKE. YOU SEE, WE SEE THE LENA AND WANDA AMONG OTHERS, LIVED AND THRIVED HERE, AND THEIR NAMES LIVE ON TODAY AS MAJESTIC RIVERS. SEE ISLANDS, TOWNS AND OTHER ENTITIES. CURRENTLY, A NUMBER OF THESE TRIBES ARE OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED. THE CATAWBA INDIAN NATION, THE BEAVER CREEK INDIANS. THE EDISTO NATCHEZ CRUSOE TRIBE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. THE INDIAN NATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA. THE INDIAN TRIBE. THE PIEDMONT AMERICAN INDIAN ASSOCIATION. THE SANTEE INDIAN ORGANIZATION. THE SUMTER TRIBE. SHILOH INDIANS. THE WALK THEM ALL INDIAN PEOPLE AND THE WALK OF MORE SOUL TRIBE OF VARNER TOWN INDIANS. MANY OF THESE LEADERS OF SOUTH CAROLINA AS TRIBES ARE HERE WITH US TODAY. WILL YOU PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED. BY THE TIME THE ENGLISH ESTABLISHED A PERMANENT SETTLEMENT, CHARLES TOWN ON THE BANKS OF THE ASHLEY RIVER IN 1670, A GLOBAL WAR NETWORK FOR TRADING AND SELLING WEST AFRICANS INTO SLAVERY WAS WELL ESTABLISHED. EUROPEAN NATIONS SENDING ENSLAVED PEOPLE TO BRAZIL. THE WEST INDIES AND AMERICAN COLONIES. BETWEEN 1717 75, 40% OF THE ENSLAVED WEST AFRICANS ENTERING THE COLONIES DID SO THROUGH GLADSTONE’S WHARF IN CHARLESTON, WHICH TODAY IS THE LOCATION OF THE NEW INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM. THEY CAME FROM THE WINDWARD COAST. IVORY COAST AND THE GOLD COAST, AREAS OF WEST AFRICA KNOWN TODAY AS SENEGAL, SIERRA LEONE, THE REPUBLIC OF CONGO AND GHANA. THIS IMPORTATION OF ENSLAVED PERSONS WAS CRIMINALIZED IN THE UNITED STATES IN 1808. MANY DESCENDANTS OF THESE PEOPLE ARE PROUDLY REPRESENTED TODAY BY THE GULLAH GEECHEE NATION. SOME LIVING IN SOUTH CAROLINA ON THE SEA ISLAND PROPERTIES OWNED BY THEIR ANCESTORS, THE PEN CENTER ON ST HELENA ISLAND. WITH THIS NATIONAL LANDMARK DESIGNATION, SERVES AS THE CULTURAL CAPITAL AND HISTORIC REPOSITORY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF OUR GULLAH HERITAGE. QUEEN MARGARITA ALE. GOOD WINE CHEAPNESS OF THE GULLAH TEACHING NATION IS WITH US TONIGHT. MA’AM, PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED. IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE FIRST EUROPEAN JEWISH SETTLERS ARRIVED IN CHARLESTON AROUND 1700 FROM ALL OVER EUROPE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY AFFORDED IN THE COLONY OF SOUTH CAROLINA. THE CONGREGATION OF CAHOKIA, DOCE, BETH ELOHIM HAS BEEN THE OLDEST SYNAGOGUE IN CONTINUOUS USE IN NORTH AMERICA AND IS KNOWN AS THE CORNERSTONE OF AMERICAN REFORM JUDAISM. BY 1800, SOUTH CAROLINA HAD THE LARGEST JEWISH POPULATION OF ANY STATE IN THE UNITED STATES. MORE BATTLES AND SKIRMISHES WERE FOUGHT DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR IN SOUTH CAROLINA THAN ANY OTHER STATE. OVER 200. THE VICTORY CONTINUES OVER THE BRITISH ARMY TURNED THE TIDE OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION AND SECURED LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS FOR A NEW NATION. AND THE TERM SANLIURFA WAS BORN FROM A COLLOQUIAL NICKNAME BESTOWED UPON SOUTH CAROLINIANS BY RETREATING, I REPEAT, RETREAT. BRITISH, BRITISH TROOPS EFFORTS ARE NOW UNDER WAY TO PRESERVE THE STORES AND PLACES OF ALL THESE HISTORIC EVENTS AND PEOPLE THAT I MENTIONED AND OTHERS CLEARLY. SOUTH CAROLINA HAS AN INCOMPARABLE CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE AND DISTINGUISHES OUR STATE AND PEOPLE FROM OTHERS. WE MUST HONOR, PRESERVE AND BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THAT WHICH WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN. ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PRESERVATION OF OUR SHARED HERITAGE ARE NOT OPPOSING OBJECTIVES WHICH MUST BE BALANCED AS A COMPETITION, ONE AGAINST THE OTHER. INSTEAD, THEY ARE COMPLEMENTARY, INTERTWINED AND INSEPARABLE. EACH DEPENDENT ON THE OTHER TO STRENGTHEN ONE IS TO STRENGTHEN THE OTHER. THE QUESTION TODAY BEFORE US IS WILL ANYBODY RECOGNIZE SOUTH CAROLINA IN 100 YEARS FROM NOW? WILL WE ALLOW OUR STATE’S CULTURAL, CULTURALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SIGNIFICANT PLACES, STRUCTURES, MONUMENTS, LANDS, ISLANDS AND WATERS TO BE LOST TO OVERDEVELOPMENT, TO MISMANAGEMENT, TO FLOODING, EROSION OR STORM DAMAGE? OR WILL WE PRESERVE AND PROTECT OUR HISTORY, OUR CULTURE AND OUR ENVIRONMENT? AND THE PUBLIC’S ACCESS TO THEM BEFORE THEY ARE LOST FOREVER? THIS IS OUR MOMENT TO ACT WHILE WE STILL CAN. TO THAT END, I’M RECOMMENDING THE TOTAL OF $266 MILLION BE APPROPRIATED TO THE CONSERVATION LAND BANK. THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE OFFICE OF RESILIENCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF IDENTIFYING AND PRESERVING CULTURALLY OR ENVIRONMENTALLY SIGNIFICANT PROPERTIES IN TRACTS IN WHICH THE PUBLIC ACCESS IS IN JEOPARDY OF BEING LOST FOREVER. IN. IN CLOSING TO THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, I SAY LET US CONTINUE OUR SUCCESSFUL PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP. ONE THAT IS BASED ON COMMUNICATION, COLLABORATION, COOPERATION AND TRUST. LET US EMBRACE CIVILITY AND COMITY THROUGH OUR THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS AND OUR WORDS AND URGE OUR PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG PEOPLE, TO BE PROUD OF THEIR WONDERFUL STATE AND LET US SET OUR STATE ON A COURSE THAT WILL PROVIDE THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROSPERITY, SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS. FOR GENERATIONS OF SOUTH CAROLINIANS TO COME, OUR SONS, OUR DAUGHTERS AND THEIRS AS WELL. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE BEST IS YET TO COME IN SOUTH CAROLINA. MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS AMERICA AND CONTINUE TO BLESS THE GREAT STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
Advertisement
South Carolina: Governor gives State of the State address
Updated: 10:18 PM EST Jan 25, 2023
Gov. Henry McMaster told state lawmakers South Carolina “will continue to act boldly, think big and continue building on our successes.”McMaster delivered his sixth State of the State address to state senators and representatives at the Statehouse Wednesday night.(Watch full address above)McMaster started off by addressing saying that 2022 was the most successful year for economic growth in the history of the Palmetto state. He said for 2023, he wants to build off of that success focusing on three pillars; economic strength, education and our natural environment. “South Carolina is richly blessed with hardworking and talented people. Our quality of life and cultural heritage, abundant natural resources and prosperous economy make us unique and attractive to all. In fact, South Carolina is the third fastest-growing state in the nation, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. People want to be here,” McMaster said.At the end of the term, McMaster will have been the longest-serving governor in South Carolina’s history.
Gov. Henry McMaster told state lawmakers South Carolina “will continue to act boldly, think big and continue building on our successes.”
McMaster delivered his sixth State of the State address to state senators and representatives at the Statehouse Wednesday night.
Advertisement
(Watch full address above)
McMaster started off by addressing saying that 2022 was the most successful year for economic growth in the history of the Palmetto state.
He said for 2023, he wants to build off of that success focusing on three pillars; economic strength, education and our natural environment.
“South Carolina is richly blessed with hardworking and talented people. Our quality of life and cultural heritage, abundant natural resources and prosperous economy make us unique and attractive to all. In fact, South Carolina is the third fastest-growing state in the nation, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. People want to be here,” McMaster said.
At the end of the term, McMaster will have been the longest-serving governor in South Carolina’s history.