You know we're in legislative session when you get a multitude of updates on Calls-to-Action!
Before we get into updates, we want to preface that this will be the norm during the legislative session. Bills are constantly changing, there is a lot of nuance surrounding our legislative procedure, and Greenville Patriot Caucus is in constant contact with our legislators to make sure we're giving you the most up-to-date and accurate information. GPC strives to simplify the complexity of this season, to keep you well-informed, and in a position to make a difference. Choosing to be a part of Greenville Patriot Caucus means being a part of the solution - but that doesn't come without hard work and diligence. So while we understand it can be heavy to receive multiple updates to Calls-to-Actions, we need you to stay plugged in and remain active participants by acting on the CTAs we send out. The bills are moving rapidly this legislative season and our reps are saying they've been able to stop multiple bad bills already based on grassroots efforts. This is how we #AdvanceLibertyTogether! Thank you for choosing to be a part of Greenville Patriot Caucus.
Now, for the updates!
(WIN) The Greenville Library Board STRENGTHENED & PASSED the Parental Rights Policy restricting minors' access to materials that affirm, portray, or discuss changing gender to be inconsistent with biological sex. This is a huge success and was possible, in large part, from your active participation!
Here is the verbiage of the policy as passed by the board:
The Library recognizes parents/ legal guardians are the primary source of education for their children, and that they have a fundamental right and responsibility to direct the upbringing and education of children under their care including issues of moral, social, physical, civic, and spiritual development.
To that end, materials targeting audiences aged 0-12, in which the illustrations, themes or story lines affirm, portray, or discuss changing the appearance of a minor's gender in ways inconsistent with the minor's biological sex, will be located in the Parenting and Early Childhood (PEC) collection, including:
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Social transitioning: Pronouns or dress inconsistent with biological sex, for the purpose of affirming gender.
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Medical or surgical procedures: Puberty blocking drugs, cross-sex hormones, or surgical procedures for the purpose of affirming gender.
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Gender fluidity: The possibility of changing genders at will or being no gender at all.
We encourage you to do the following:
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Reach out to the Library Board members and thank them for taking a stand for Parental Rights and protecting children in Greenville County! (See emails lower in the blog)
"Health Czar Bills"
There has been some confusion around bills deemed "Health Czar Bills". This section is meant to provide some clarity regarding the confusion and pair that clarity with clear calls-to-action.
There are three bills in question: S915, H4927, & S975
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S915: This bill has already passed the Senate, therefore our focus is on its companion bill in the House, H4927. These are both unfavorable bills that would significantly impede Health Freedom. Both S915 and H4927 should be deemed "Health Czar Bills".
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The CTA is to contact Senator Tom Corbin and thank him for being the ONLY senator to stand firm and vote "No" against this bill!
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H4927: As mentioned, this is the companion bill to S915 that has passed the Senate. This bill would significantly impede Health Freedom in South Carolina. The bill would add Chapter 12 to Title 44 of the South Carolina Code of Laws to create the "Executive Office of Health and Policy", create a "Secretary of Health and Policy" who would serve as the head and governing authority of five different departments (Department of Health Financing; Department of Public Health (was part of DHEC); Department on Aging; Department of Intellectual and Related Disabilities; and Department of Behavioral Health), transfer powers from the Director of DHEC to the Secretary of Health and Policy, transfer powers from the Governor to the Secretary of Health and Policy, and more.
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The SCFC is hoping to introduce a "Strike and Replace" Amendment - this would effectively strike entire sections from the bill and replace with more conservative language. Even then, there is a low chance this will pass.
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The CTA is as follows: Encourage your House Reps to pass SCFC amendments. If the bill remains unchanged and no amendments accepted, vote NO on this bill! This bill needs to die in the House this session!
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S975: This bill supports Medical Freedom and puts protections in place for those who choose not to get a forced vaccine or gene therapy. This bill would add Section 16-17-780 to prohibit businesses, non-profit organizations, colleges, schools, and employers from mandating that employees, contractors, students, patrons, customers, clients, or guests must receive a novel vaccine or gene therapy.
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There has been concern around verbiage in Section 44-1-100 that states local law enforcement must assist the Director of the Department of Public Health during a public health emergency. This is already State Law, and while we do not support this language, we would prefer conceding this point as it is ultimately irrelevant in order to get the bill passed, knowing we can introduce another bill next session to further address this language if it is not amended out this session. This is the concept of risk vs reward. Pushing this irrelevant issue at the risk of potentially tanking the bill in its entirety is not worth losing the reward of a bill protecting South Carolinians from forced vaccination.
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There are amendments being proposed to further strengthen the bill and address concerns around the language above. We support those amendments.
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The CTA is to contact your Senators urging them to accept Corbin or Martin’s amendments and vote "Yes" on this bill to protect Medical Freedom and citizens from forced vaccines.
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The Constitutional Carry Bill CTA REMAINS THE SAME: The bill was significantly watered down and amended by the SC Senate to negatively impact 2A rights. The House rejected their Bill and sent the Senate back the clean version of the Constitutional Carry Bill. The Senate refused to accept it. We encourage you to do the following:
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Contact your SC Senate Rep as soon as possible and respectfully let them know you want the clean House Bill to be passed or nothing at all. Senate members should accept the clean version of the bill.
If an Unconstitutional Carry Bill passes, we would fully support members of the SC Legislature filing a lawsuit and elevating the unconstitutional nature of the Bill to the Supreme Court.
Thank you as always for putting in the time and effort to be politically involved. We know it's not always easy but Keeping our Republic is worth it.
Call to Action: 3 Important Action Items
**Update (2/25)** Regarding the “Health Czar Bill”. We have heard from South Carolina Freedom Caucus members that this bill is unfixable, even with their proposed amendments. The CTA now is to urge your reps to vote “No” on this bill!
The Greenville Library Board will be voting on a Parental Rights Policy on Monday, February 26th. If adopted in its current format it will go a long way in restricting minors' access to materials that affirm, portray, or discuss changing gender to be inconsistent with biological sex. We encourage you to do the following:
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Email the Greenville Library Board, and copy the County Council members, and let them know you support all the wording in the current policy draft and do not want any weakening that would strike wording that addresses social transitioning, such as changing pronouns or cross dressing.
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For those who are able, please attend the Library Board Meeting at the Greenville Hughes Main Library at 12 pm on 2/26/24. You will not be able to speak but your presence will be important.
Here is a draft email you may use:
Dear Greenville County Library Board of Trustees,
Thank you for everything you are doing to protect the children of Greenville County. I am aware that you will be voting on February 26th on a Parental Rights Policy that would move all gender identity materials for target audiences aged 0-12 yr out of the children's section and into an area for parents.
Please know that I support the policy being passed as written. Removing the language that addresses social transitioning would mean children as young as 5 yrs. old would have unrestricted access to picture books that encourage the use of different pronouns or dressing opposite of their biological sex. These books should not be in the children's areas and parents' rights to address these topics with their children based on their child's development should be respected.
I ask you to join us now in protecting our children and the sacred duty of their parents to protect and educate them. Thank you for standing with us in this fight.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
To: Library Board of Trustees
CC: Greenville County Council Members
**Update (2/25)** Regarding the “Health Czar Bill”. We have heard from South Carolina Freedom Caucus members that this bill is unfixable, even with their proposed amendments. The CTA now is to urge your reps to vote “No” on this bill!
The "Health Czar Bill" (S 915 in the Senate and H 4927 in the House) has passed through the SC Senate and is headed to the House. After a thorough reading by the GPC and SC Freedom Caucus, we can confirm this is a bad bill that greatly expands government and does not improve accountability or the healthcare system. The SCFC plans to bring forward amendments to correct the issues in the bill when it's brought to the floor. We encourage you to do the following:
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Call your House Rep on Monday and urge him/her to vote YES for the SCFC amendments that are brought to the floor. Find your Rep's contact information here and here.
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Respectfully let your Rep know that if those amendments are not accepted, and the bill remains unchanged, then you expect him/her to vote NO.
The Constitutional Carry Bill was significantly watered down and amended by the SC Senate to negatively impact 2A rights. The House rejected their Bill and sent the Senate back the clean version of the Constitutional Carry Bill. The Senate refused to accept it. We encourage you to do the following:
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Contact your SC Senate Rep as soon as possible and respectfully let them know you want the clean House Bill to be passed or nothing at all. Senate members should accept the clean version of the bill.
If an Unconstitutional Carry Bill passes, we would fully support members of the SC Legislature filing a lawsuit and elevating the unconstitutional nature of the Bill to the Supreme Court.
Thank you for taking action on these important items. #AdvancingLibertyTogether
