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RESCIND South Carolina's Applications for a Federal Constitutional Convention (Con-Con)
- Details
- By The John Birch Society
Members of the South Carolina General Assembly are attempting to pass a resolution to rescind every live application to Congress calling for a convention to propose amendments, under Article V of the Constitution, otherwise known as a federal constitutional convention (Con-Con).
House Joint Resolution 3395 (H.3395) is sponsored by Representative Steven Long (R-Spartanburg) and three other representatives. If enacted, it would rescind every live, or extant, application by the General Assembly for an Article V constitutional convention. H.3395 declares:
Most S.C. Municipalities Don't Livestream Regular Meetings
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- By Rick Brundrett - The Nerve
[Editor’s note: This is another story in a planned series of stories on livestreaming and other transparency issues affecting local or state government in South Carolina.]
More than two-thirds of the 271 incorporated towns and cities in South Carolina do not livestream their regular council meetings, The Nerve found in a review of official websites and social media accounts.
The 187 municipalities that weren’t livestreaming as of mid-November – 166 towns and 21 cities, or 69% of the total 271 – range in population from 32 residents in the town of Cope in Orangeburg County to 42,766 residents in the city of Sumter in the Sumter County, according to the July 1, 2023, population estimates by the state Revenue and Fiscal Affairs (RFA) Office, based on U.S. Census data.
Standing for Conservative Leadership in South Carolina
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- By SC Freedom Caucus
This week, the South Carolina Freedom Caucus offered a clear alternative to business as usual in the South Carolina House of Representatives. Representative Bill Chumley was nominated to challenge incumbent Speaker Murrell Smith, reflecting our commitment to advocating for the conservative values South Carolinians expect from their leaders.
During the nomination speech, SCFC Chairman Jordan Pace highlighted key issues that have been overlooked under the current leadership:
Reject Dr. Simmer's Appointment as Head of South Carolina’s New Public Health Agency
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- By SC Freedom Caucus
The people of South Carolina have spoken clearly: they want leaders who reflect their values, protect their freedoms, and prioritize evidence-based policies over political ideologies. Yet, the appointment of Dr. Edward Simmer to lead the newly created Department of Public Health signals a continuation of the troubling trajectory established under his tenure as head of the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).
In 2024, the legislature split DHEC into two agencies—the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Public Health—to address concerns over inefficiency, lack of accountability, and overreach. However, appointing Dr. Simmer to lead the Department of Public Health ensures that the same failed policies of DHEC will continue to plague South Carolina.
Citizens Can Now See Salaries of Higher-Paid SC Judges
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- By Rick Brundrett - The Nerve
The S.C. Supreme Court’s new chief justice has reversed the court system’s longstanding policy of keeping secret the salaries of higher-paid judges and department employees – years after The Nerve’s reporting on the issue.
The $200,000-plus salaries of state appellate, circuit and family court judges, as well as court staff making at least $50,000 annually, are now included in the state salary database, which is maintained by the S.C. Department of Administration. The move occurred after The Nerve in late July submitted a formal request under the state’s open-records law for the salaries.
South Carolina Poised to Oppose RFK Jr’s Health Policy with New Appointment
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- By Palmetto State Watch
On Tuesday, November 19th, 2024, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster appointed Dr. Simmer (the previous head of the DHEC) as the Department of Public Health director. This appointment came after the recent split of Department of Health and Environmental Control into two agencies due to Act 60 that became effective July 1st, 2024.
This appointment came as a shock to South Carolinians since many legislators tried to convince the public that they needed to pass the Executive Office of Health Policy legislation, also known as the Health Czar bill (S.915/H.4927) so Governor Henry McMaster could hold appointed health officials “accountable” and remove bad actors like Dr. Simmer. Check out this audio between one of the authors of the bill, Senator Tom Davis, and our co-founder Janis Price at Palmetto State Watch’s fundraiser on April 27, 2024. In this audio, Senator Davis states that the reason they split the two departments (Act 60) was to hold Dr. Simmer accountable since he “was a Health Czar” during COVID-19 pandemic. However, it seems McMaster sees nothing wrong with Dr. Simmer and unconstitutional use of power as DHEC director during the pandemic.
The Moderates Strike Back
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- By SC Freedom Caucus
House Leadership spent millions of dollars in the past two years attempting to defeat members of the Freedom Caucus. In every single instance, House Leadership lost, and the Freedom Caucus won. The same House leadership that gave away billions of our tax dollars to woke corporations to build electric trucks and hundreds of thousands of dollars for Orangutans and football podcasts just did something even more audacious.
Despite their negative campaign, the Freedom Caucus recently extended an olive branch in good faith to the House leadership in order to work together to advance conservative policy in the state. We suspected that SC House leadership would dig in their heels on the loyalty pledge that they implemented into the last session’s caucus rules, but they have done more than that…they've escalated.
South Carolina Policy Council’s Plan for 2025
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- By SC Policy Council
As the dust from the election settles, SCPC is gearing up for the new legislative session beginning in January. We are excited to advance issues that will allow South Carolina to become a state with less regulation, more individual liberties, and limited government intervention in our lives and businesses.
Our 2025-2026 Legislative Agenda (which can be viewed on our website) illustrates our priorities as an organization. Lowering the state income tax, addressing the SCDOT and our roads and bridges, expanding school choice, and ending joint-and several-liability are just a few of the goals that we will pursue. While we know that the road to change is bumpy and long, our dedicated staff is committed to drive these needed changes so that every South Carolinian can reap the benefits.
South Carolina - One of 8 States to Vote on Citizen-Only Voting
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- By Americans for Citizen Voting
SC to Stop Spread of Legal Non-Citizen Voting
COLUMBIA, SC - Voters in eight states, including South Carolina, will decide in November whether to reserve voting for only U.S. citizens. The Citizen Only Voting Amendments come as a result of the growing trend of municipalities allowing citizens of foreign countries to vote in municipal and school board elections. Foreign citizen voting is legal in at least nineteen cities across the country.
“Citizen Only Voting is the one thing we can all agree on,” South Carolina Senator Josh Kimbrell stated. “We disagree on many things but not on this. Americans of all stripes agree that only citizens of the United States should be voting in the United States.”
The Truth About Columbia
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- By SC House Freedom Caucus
The Congaree isn't the only swamp in the capital...
A few weeks ago, one our Democrat colleagues penned an op-ed on the website of a Democratic campaign manager, alleging that the Republican majority in the SC House makes all of the decisions while cutting out the voices of Democrats like him. However, his assertion is wide left and 20 yards short. While it may appear that a Republican supermajority reigns over the General Assembly, the reality is far more complex—and far more troubling. In truth, moderate Republicans and House Democrats often work together behind the scenes to grow budgets, expand bureaucracies, elect liberal judges, deal out hundreds of millions of your confiscated dollars to their pet projects, and consistently fail to deliver on the conservative promises that the Republican majority was elected to fulfill.
Ethics Commission Order Reveals New Details about Scout Motors Project
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- By Rick Brundrett - The Nerve
The $1 billion subsidy to Scout Motors is about $300 million to $500 million more than what states normally would have to offer in grants for comparable projects, The Nerve found in a review of a newly released State Ethics Commission order.
After learning in late January 2023 that the Scout electric-vehicle assembly plant now under construction near Columbia was one of four finalists for the project, S.C. Department of Commerce Secretary Harry Lightsey informed Gov. Henry McMaster and state House Speaker c that “similar projects typically required a commitment of between $600-$800 million in grant funding,” according to the commission’s Sept. 8 written order.
The Save America Election Integrity Act
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- By Palmetto State Watch
United Patriots Alliance Announces 2025 Legislative Agenda: The Save America Election IntegrityAct
The United Patriots Alliance is committed to the preservation of every American’s God-given rights protected by the Constitution. We expect all elected officials to honor their oaths and fulfill their responsibilities to preserve those unalienable rights as free men and women in order to advance americanist (truly conservative) policies in the public square.
The United Patriots Alliance (UPA) announced their Legislative Agenda today for the 2025 legislative session in Columbia. The agenda is anchored by the South Carolina Save America Election Integrity Act.
“Most Americans see the path the constitutional federal republic is on is a dangerous one, and they’re moving to states like South Carolina to escape the rapid descent into communism,” said Evan Mulch, UPA’s Tactical Strategist.
Low Bidders Bypassed for State Contract to Probe Mystery $1.8B
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- By Rick Brundrett - The Nerve
A global consulting firm hired by the state to investigate the mystery $1.8 billion and related financial questions was not the low bidder for the “potential” $3 million contract, records obtained by The Nerve show.
But under state law, procurement officials don’t have to accept the lowest bid but instead can use other purchasing procedures depending on the situation, including issuing a “request for proposals,” which was done by the S.C. Department of Administration in awarding a contract in July to New York-based AlixPartners in connection with the investigation of the $1.8 billion.
Senators Won't Let Go of Magistrate Control
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- By Rick Brundrett - The Nerve
S.C. senators this year apparently had no interest in legislation to end the longstanding practice of allowing county magistrates to serve months or even years after their terms expired.
There's probably good reason for their lack of enthusiasm: Senators largely control who becomes a magistrate and how long they stay on the bench.
Statewide, 38 county magistrates in 17 counties are in “holdover” status – two of them serving more than 18 years past their terms in the home county of the Senate president, according to a list released this month by the S.C. Judicial Department after The Nerve filed a state Freedom of Information Act request, Governor's Office records obtained earlier, and Senate journals.
SCFC Elects New Leadership
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- By SC Freedom Caucus
The SCFC is excited to announce our new leadership team heading into the 2025 session. SCFC members held elections in July of 2024 and elected Representative Jordan Pace (Berkely) as Chairman, April Cromer (Anderson) as Co-Vice Chair, and Josiah Magnuson (Spartanburg) as Co-Vice Chair.
These three newly elected leaders have exhibited tremendous leadership skills during their time in the South Carolina House, leading on key issues like education, taxes and regulations, and government reform. Additionally, all three have demonstrated a willingness to fight for the people of South Carolina and their individual liberties even when it is difficult.
State Superintendent Ellen Weaver Gives Educational Progress Report to First Monday
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- By Terry M. Thacker
South Carolina Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver spoke recently to a gathering of Republicans at the First Monday Club, which is held every month at the Poinsett Club.
Weaver gave a brief overview of the state of affairs of K-12 education in the Palmetto State and discussed the goals that she is pursuing to improve student achievement.
Weaver said ahe prays “every day that we will be able to speak words of life and hope and promise into the lives of our students, into the lives of our teachers.”
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