ratings of south carolinaacuratings.conservative.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/...6 americ onserva...

2018

Letter from the Chairman .......................................................2

ACU & ACUF Board Members ..............................................3

Selecting the Votes .......................................................................3

2018 Winners & Losers ................................................................4

SC Senate Statistics ......................................................................5

SC Senate Vote Descriptions................................................ 6

SC Senate Scores ........................................................................... 8

SC House Statistics ..................................................................... 10

SC House Vote Descriptions .................................................11

SC House Scores ............................................................................14

TABLE OF CONTENTS

RATINGS of SOUTH CAROLINARATINGS of SOUTH CAROLINA

ACUConservative @ACUFoundation | #ACURatings Conservative.org

2

AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION FOUNDATION’S 2018 Ratings of South Carolina

Dear Fellow Conservative,

The American Conservative Union Foundation is proud to present our ratings of the 2018 meeting of the South Carolina Legislature. Like our Ratings of Congress, which date back 47 years, our state ratings are meant to reflect how elected officials view the role of government in an individual’s life. We begin with our philosophy i.e., conservatism is the political philosophy that sovereignty resides in the person, and then apply our understanding of government (its essential role is to defend Life, Liberty and Property).

Because our ratings are designed to educate the public about how consistently elected officials adhere to conservatism, we carefully examine the entire docket of legislation introduced in each state every year. We select the most meaningful bills and publish the results after the dust has settled. ACUF state ratings—launched in 2011 with ratings for five states—have become a nationally recognized resource for evaluating over 8,000 elected officials comprising each of America’s 99 state legislative chambers.

Each election cycle, citizens choose leaders whose vision for the state most closely matches their own, hoping that candidates’ promises will be kept. ACUF’s ratings measure whether those promises were fulfilled or forsaken. With nearly a decade of data on state legislators’ voting records and average scores for every legislative chamber, citizens in every state can assess how effectively their lawmakers have applied conservative philosophy to the role of government.

We at ACUF believe, as Ronald Reagan once said, that freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We hope that by providing this unique tool, these ratings will empower Americans to exercise their right to protect our unique American democracy from tyranny.

Sincerely,

Matt Schlapp Chairman American Conservative Union Foundation

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN

ACUConservative @ACUFoundation | #ACURatings Conservative.org

TO SEE MORE ACU RATINGS, PLEASE VISIT: acuratings.conservative.org

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SELECTING THE VOTES

ACU researched and selected a range of bills before the South Carolina Legislature that determine a member’s adherence to conservative principles. We selected bills that focus on Ronald Reagan’s philosophy of the “three-legged stool”: 1) fiscal and economic: taxes, budgets, regulation, spending, healthcare, and property; 2) social and cultural: 2nd amendment, religion, life, welfare, and education; and 3) government integrity: voting, individual liberty, privacy, and transparency. This wide range of issues are designed to give citizens an accurate assessment that conveys which of South Carolina’s elected leaders best defend the principles of a free society: Life, Liberty and Property.

Matt Schlapp Chairman

Charlie Gerow Vice Chairman

Carolyn D. Meadows 2nd Vice Chair

Bob Beauprez Treasurer

Ron Christie Secretary

Ed Yevoli At-Large

Dan Schneider Executive Director

ACUExecutive Committee

Jackie Arends

Larry Beasley

Kimberly Bellissimo

Morton C. Blackwell

Jamie Burke

José Cárdenas

Muriel Coleman

Sean Fieler

Alan M. Gottlieb

Van D. Hipp, Jr.

Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser

Ed McFadden

Priscilla O’Shaughnessy

Ron Robinson

Mike Rose

Peter Samuelson

Sabrina Schaeffer

Terry Schilling

Matt Smith

Chris Turner

Bill Walton

Thomas Winter

Board Members

ACUFExecutive Committee

Matt Schlapp Chairman

Millie Hallow Vice Chair

Van D. Hipp, Jr. Treasurer

Kimberly Bellissimo Secretary

Dan Schneider Executive Director

Board Members

José Cárdenas

Gordon Chang

Jonathan Garthwaite

Charlie Gerow

Niger Innis

Adam Laxalt

Willes K. Lee

Mary Matalin

Carolyn D. Meadows

Randy Neugebauer

Thomas Winter

The ACUF Legislative Ratings Team

Francis Finnegan

Larry Hart

Fred McGrath

Tyler Muench

Luke Schneider

4


2018 WINNERS & LOSERS

SENATE

n/a

90-100% AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE EXCELLENCE

HOUSE

n/a

SENATE

McLeod

Sheheen

10% COALITION OF THE RADICAL LEFT

HOUSE

n/a

≤

SENATE

CLIMER

MARTIN

HOUSE

ATWATER

CHUMLEY

DANING

HOUSE

FORRESTER

HILL

LONG

80-89% AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE ACHIEVEMENT

5


SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE STATISTICS

41%OVERALL AVERAGE

LEATHERMAN 25%

LOWEST REPUBLICAN

54%REPUBLICAN AVERAGE

19%DEMOCRAT AVERAGE

MATTHEWS, J.27%

HIGHEST DEMOCRAT

SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE CONSERVATIVE RATINGS

RED = REPUBLICANS BLUE = DEMOCRATS

2018 ACUF PERCENTAGE

# OF STATE

SENATORS

12

10

8

6

4

2

090-100%0-9% 10-19% 30-39% 40-49% 50-59% 60-69% 70-79% 80-89%20-29%

6


1. S 866 Providing a Special Tax Advantage for Geothermal Energy. This bill expands the competitive advantage of the geothermal energy industry (furnished through federal tax credits up to 30 percent) by extending a 25 percent state tax credit for geothermal machinery and equipment through the year 2022. ACU supports all forms of energy, believes government should not favor one form of energy over another and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 1, 2018 by a vote of 40-0.

2. H 4950 Prohibiting State Employee Health Care Plans from Covering Abortion. Amendment 22 to the appropriations bill prohibits the State Health Insurance Plan from covering any expenses of an abortion, except in cases in which the life of the mother is at risk. ACU believes abortion is a human tragedy and supports restrictions on the practice and supported this bill. The Senate voted to table (defeat) the amendment on April 11, 2018 by a vote of 23-19. (A “No” vote supported the ACU position.)

3. H 4950 Ensuring Compliance with Immigration Laws. Amendment 70 to the appropriations bill calls for the collection and publishing of an annual report detailing county and municipal compliance with state and federal immigration laws. Furthermore, the amendment directs the State Treasurer to withhold funding for any local government that is not certified as “compliant” in the report. ACU supports efforts to help the federal government perform its constitutional role in enforcing the nation’s immigration laws and supported this amendment. The Senate passed the amendment on April 12, 2018 by a vote of 31-13.

4. H 4950 Defunding Abortion Providers and Planned Parenthood. Amendment 80 to the appropriations bill requires the state to request a waiver from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to ensure no family planning funds are provided to organizations that perform abortions, such as Planned Parenthood. ACU believes abortion is a human tragedy, supports restrictions on the practice and supported this amendment. The Senate voted to table (defeat) the amendment on April 12, 2018 by a vote of 23-18. (A “No” vote supported the ACU position.)

5. H 3548 Banning Dismemberment Abortion. This bill bans the practice of “dismemberment abortion,” which involves cutting apart the fetus for extraction. These types of abortions are performed as late as the 14th week of a pregnancy, when an unborn baby is fully formed and has developed a beating heart, functional brain, and motor skills in his/her arms, legs, hands and fingers. ACU believes abortion is a human tragedy and supported this version of the bill as the best opportunity to protect life. The Senate advanced the bill on May 2, 2018 by a vote of 25-17, but it was later amended and failed.

6. H 3038 Establishing New Licensing Mandates on Locksmiths. This bill creates a new bureaucracy to license locksmiths. Under the bill, individuals who engage in the business of installing or modifying locks must register with the state, pay fees, and undergo examinations and background checks. When entrepreneurship is suppressed, the resulting decline in economic growth leads to a reduction in family prosperity, as illustrated by the ACU Foundation’s Family Prosperity Index. ACU opposes the proliferation of licensing requirements that are primarily designed to restrict competition and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on May 9, 2018 by a vote of 43-0.

7. H 3139 Permitting Alcohol Sales at Soccer Sport Complexes. This bill adds “soccer complexes” to the list of establishments that are permitted to sell beer, wine and spirits, if approved in a public referendum in the local city or municipality. ACU supports expanding individual liberties and a freer market in alcohol sales and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on May 9, 2018 by a vote of 43-2.

8. H 3209 Reducing Employment Barriers by Expunging Low-Level Criminal Records. This bill is designed to reduce employment barriers for those with criminal records by expanding the list of low-level criminal offenses that a person can request to be expunged. ACU Foundation’s Center for Criminal Justice Reform is a leading authority on this issue and works to advance policies that improve public safety, cut costs, and responsibly reduce incarceration rates. ACU supports this effort to reduce recidivism and expand economic growth by reducing employment barriers and supported this bill. The Senate voted to override the governor’s veto of the bill on June 27, 2018 by a vote of 35-5.

SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS

7


9. S 1043 Extending and Expanding Numerous Special Interest Tax Breaks. This bill contains a grab-bag of special interest tax credits and exemptions and violates the Constitution of South Carolina’s single-subject rule due to its myriad provisions. For example, the bill includes sections ranging from a new income tax credit for businesses that purchase “S.C. Certified produce,” to an extension of a tax credit for select businesses that rehabilitate certain property. ACU supports a level tax field with the lowest possible rates for everyone and opposes these special carve outs that transfer tax burdens to portions of the tax base not favored by the government and opposed this bill. The Senate voted to override the governor’s veto on October 2, 2018 by a vote of 31-8.

10. H 4950 Providing $500k of Taxpayer Funding to a Private Theater. The original budget bill submitted to the governor included $500,000 to fund the SC Children’s Theatre, a nonprofit entity. The governor exercised his veto power with a line item veto, known as Veto 14, to eliminate the $500,000 of funding to the theatre. This provision sought to override Veto 14 and restore the $500,000 of funding to the SC Children’s Theatre. As a nonprofit, ACU would also benefit from government funding, but believes private entities should fund their own missions and supported the governor’s veto. The Senate voted to override the governor’s veto on October 3, 2018 by a vote of 36-5. (A “No” vote supported the ACU position.)

11. H 4950 Providing $4.5 Million for a Grant Program with No Purpose or Justification. The original budget bill submitted to the governor included $4.5 million to fund a “Tourism, Sales & Marketing, Sports Marketing Grant Program.” The governor exercised his veto power with a line item veto, known as Veto 26, to eliminate the $4.5 million of funding to the grant program, which he stated in his veto message lacks purpose, justification, or even a basic description. This provision sought to override Veto 26 and restore the $4.5 million of funding to the grant program. ACU believes all government spending should at least have a purpose and be as transparent as possible and supported the governor’s veto. The Senate voted to override the governor’s veto on October 3, 2018 by a vote of 35-5. (A “No” vote supported the ACU position.)

12. H 4950 Over-Funding an Unneeded Governmental Entity. The original budget bill submitted to the governor included $4 million to fund a “Locate SC,” a division of the Department of Commerce, which advertises private commercial real estate in the state, but whose duties are already provided within the private sector by companies such as Zillow and Loopnet. The governor exercised his veto power with a line item veto, known as Veto 27, to eliminate the $4 million of funding to “Locate SC.” This provision sought to override Veto 27 and restore the $4 million of funding to the program. Furthermore, Locate SC already received $7 million elsewhere within the budget--despite the fact the entity only requested $4 million to meet operational needs—and its operations duplicate and compete with products of the private sector, including Zillow and Loopnet. ACU opposes over-funding governmental entities, especially ones which are unneeded and compete with the private sector, and supported the governor’s veto. The Senate voted to override the governor’s veto on October 3, 2018 by a vote of 29-12. (A “No” vote supported the ACU position.)

8


SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE VOTE DETAIL

Party Dist.

S 866

H 4950

(A

md. 22)

H 4950

(A

md. 70

)

H 4950

(A

md. 80

)

H 3548

H 30

38

H 3139

H 320

9

S 1043

H 4950

(Veto 14)

H 4950

(Veto 26)

H 4950

(Veto 27)

ACU Votes

Votes Cast

2018 %

2017 %

LIFETIME AVG

ALEXANDER R 1 - + + + + - + + - - - - 6 12 50% 19% 30%

Allen D 7 - - + - - - + + - - - - 3 12 25% 13% 11%

BENNETT R 38 - + + + + - + + - - - - 6 12 50% 19% 42%

CAMPBELL R 44 - + + - + - + + - - - - 5 12 42% 19% 29%

CAMPSEN R 43 X + + + + - + + + - - - 7 11 64% 31% 51%

CASH R 3 - + + + + - + + - + + + 9 12 75% n/a 75%

CLIMER R 15 - + + + + - + + + + + + 10 12 83% 44% 64%

CORBIN R 5 - + + + + - - - X X X X 4 8 50% 31% 54%

CROMER R 18 - + + X + - + + - - - - 5 11 45% 25% 35%

DAVIS R 46 - + + + + - + X + - - - 6 11 55% 38% 63%

Fanning D 17 - - - - - - + + - - - - 2 12 17% n/a 17%

GAMBRELL R 4 - + + X + - + + - - - - 5 11 45% 20% 43%

GOLDFINCH R 34 - + + X + - + + - - - - 5 11 45% 17% 46%

GREGORY R 16 - - + - + - + + - - - - 4 12 33% 23% 37%

GROOMS R 37 - + + + + - + + - - - + 7 12 58% 19% 52%

HEMBREE R 28 - - + - + - + + - - - + 5 12 42% 29% 42%

Hutto D 40 X - X - - - + + X X X X 2 6 n/a† 14% 14%

Jackson D 21 X - - - X - + + - X X X 2 7 n/a† 18% 14%

Johnson D 36 - - + - - - + + - - - - 3 12 25% 13% 12%

Kimpson D 42 - - - - - - + + X - - - 2 11 18% 14% 13%

LEATHERMAN R 31 - - + - - - + + - - - - 3 12 25% 19% 24%

Malloy D 29 - - - - X - + + - - - - 2 11 18% 20% 21%

MARTIN R 13 X + + + + - + X + + - + 8 10 80% 31% 60%

MASSEY R 25 - - + + + - + + + + X + 8 11 73% 33% 58%

Matthews, J. D 39 - - + - - - + + X - - - 3 11 27% n/a 9%

Matthews, M. D 45 - - - - - - + + X - - - 2 11 18% 15% 15%

Mcelveen D 35 - - + - - - + + - - - - 3 12 25% 19% 17%

McLeod D 22 - - - - - - + X - - - - 1 11 9% 8% 14%

SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE SCORES

9


SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE VOTE DETAIL

Party Dist.

S 866

H 4950

(A

md. 22)

H 4950

(A

md. 70

)

H 4950

(A

md. 80

)

H 3548

H 30

38

H 3139

H 320

9

S 1043

H 4950

(Veto 14)

H 4950

(Veto 26)

H 4950

(Veto 27)

ACU Votes

Votes Cast

2018 %

2017 %

LIFETIME AVG

Nicholson D 10 - - - - X - + + - - - - 2 11 18% 20% 15%

PEELER R 14 - - + + + - + - + - - - 5 12 42% 38% 46%

RANKIN R 33 - - + - - X + + - - - - 3 11 27% 19% 24%

Reese D 11 - - - - - - + + - - - - 2 12 17% 17% 15%

RICE R 2 - + + + + - - - + + + + 8 12 67% 31% 49%

Sabb D 32 - - - - - - + + - - - - 2 12 17% 13% 10%

Scott D 19 - - - - - - + + - - - - 2 12 17% 13% 10%

SENN R 41 - X + X - - + - - - - + 3 10 30% 20% 25%

Setzler D 26 - X - - - - + + X - - - 2 10 20% 20% 17%

SHEALY R 23 - X + + + - + + - - - + 6 11 55% 19% 48%

Sheheen D 27 X - - - - - + X - - - - 1 10 10% 25% 18%

TALLEY R 12 - + + + + - + + - - + + 8 12 67% 25% 46%

TIMMONS R 6 - + + + + - + + - - + + 8 12 67% 38% 52%

TURNER R 8 - + + + + X + + - - - - 6 11 55% 19% 48%

VERDIN R 9 - + + + + - + - + X X X 6 9 67% 27% 45%

Williams D 30 - - - - + - + X - - - - 2 11 18% 23% 16%

YOUNG R 24 - + + + + - + + - - - + 7 12 58% 38% 56%

“+” Member voted with ACU’s position“-” Member voted against ACU’s position“X” Member was absent for vote“E” Member was excused for vote

† Legislator did not vote on enough of the selected bills and as a result the 2018 percentage was not rated. 2/3rds of the selected bills must be voted on to receive a score.

10


SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE STATISTICS

53%OVERALL AVERAGE

NEWTON, W.CLARYMCCOY44%

LOWEST REPUBLICANS

64%REPUBLICAN AVERAGE

33%DEMOCRAT AVERAGE

ANTHONY57%

HIGHEST DEMOCRAT

SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE CONSERVATIVE RATINGS

RED = REPUBLICANS BLUE = DEMOCRATS

50

45

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

090-100%

2018 ACUF PERCENTAGE

# OF STATE REPS

0-9% 10-19% 30-39% 40-49% 50-59% 60-69% 70-79% 80-89%20-29%

11


1. H 3529 Prohibiting Local Governments from Banning Plastic Bags. This bill prohibits local governments from banning or imposing taxes on plastic bags or other “auxiliary containers,” such as reusable bags, bottles or containers. ACU believes that government (including both state and local) should not limit an individual’s choice in how they take their groceries home and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on February 7, 2018 by a vote of 73-41.

2. H 4643 Exempting Direct Primary Care from Burdensome Insurance Regulations. This bill provides patients with more health care insurance options by establishing that primary care agreements do not constitute insurance, thus exempting such agreements from costly and burdensome health insurance regulations. These agreements allow physicians and patients to freely contract with one another for services, which are paid for through a set monthly fee. ACU supports a free market in health care and providing patients with greater flexibility to select the health care services that best suit their needs and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on February 14, 2018 by a vote of 100-0.

3. H 3139 Permitting Alcohol Sales at Soccer Sport Complexes. This bill adds “soccer complexes” to the list of establishments that are permitted to sell beer, wine and spirits, if approved in a public referendum in the local city or municipality. ACU supports expanding individual liberties and a freer market in alcohol sales and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on February 22, 2018 by a vote of 79-28.

4. S 105 Protecting Developers from Unnecessary Environmental Permit Delays. This bill reforms the state environmental permitting process to make it more difficult for outside parties to place unnecessary burdens and delays on construction projects. Under the bill, the burden to prove why the project should not proceed is shifted to the contesting party, and a judge is required to rule on legal maneuvers known as “automatic stays” (which prevent projects from proceeding) within 90 days. ACU Foundation’s Center for 21st Century Property Rights is a leading voice on issues such as this which harm the ability for individuals to develop their property. ACU supports strengthening property rights and protecting developers from costly and time-consuming delays and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on February 27, 2018 by a vote of 86-30.

5. H 4950 Providing Over $36 Million in Funding for Government-Run Television. Section 8 of the appropriations bill provides over $36 million for government-provided television and radio content, including cooking, gardening, and entertainment programming. ACU opposes the use of taxpayer funds for non-essential government functions that compete with the private sector and opposed the adoption of this section. The House adopted the section of the bill on March 12, 2018 by a vote of 105-0.

6. H 4950 Strengthening Protections Against Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying. Amendment 26 to the appropriations bill strengthens protections against the use of taxpayer funds for purposes of lobbying by ensuring all state funds are prohibited from being used for lobbying (as opposed to just general fund appropriations). ACU opposes the use of taxpayer funds for lobbying activities, which are oftentimes used to unnecessarily expand government, and supported this amendment. The House voted to table (defeat) the amendment on March 13, 2018 by a vote of 71-39. (A “No” vote supported the ACU position.)

7. H 3002 Eliminating Unnecessary State Agency Regulations. This bill amends the “Regulatory Freedom Act” by now requiring regulations imposed by state agencies to “sunset” (expire) every five years, as opposed to the current requirement that they are only “reviewed.” ACU supports this effort to eliminate costly and unnecessary regulations and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 21, 2018 by a vote of 107-0.

8. H 4304 Raising Electricity Costs by Subsidizing Offshore Wind Energy. This bill results in higher electricity costs for ratepayers by authorizing utility companies to recover the costs of investments in offshore wind energy development projects, which are more expensive than traditional energy sources. ACU supports all forms of energy, believes government should not support one form of energy over another, and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on April 3, 2018 by a vote of 104-1.

SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS

12


9. H 4421 Expanding “Net Metering” Solar Subsidies. This bill expands government interference in the energy market by removing a 2 percent cap on “net metering,” a process by which utility companies are forced to purchase excess energy from solar energy producers at full market prices. As a result, utility companies (and ultimately ratepayers) are forced to bear higher infrastructure costs imposed by solar energy producers. In addition, the bill will place higher tax burdens on the rest of the population through the expansion of the 25 percent income tax credit on solar energy installations. ACU supports all forms of energy, believes government should not support one form of energy over another and opposed this bill. The House failed to pass the bill on April 10, 2018 by a vote of 61-44 (a two-thirds vote was required).

10. H 4489 Exempting Kidney Treatment Centers from the Competition-Reducing “Certificate of Need” Law. This bill exempts kidney disease treatment centers from the state’s “Certificate of Need” law, which is designed to restrict competition by allowing new medical facilities to open only if it can be proven that there is a “need” for them. ACU supports a free marketplace and supports the complete elimination of the Certificate of Need, which drives up health care costs, but supported this bill as a step in the right direction. The House passed the bill on May 2, 2018 by a vote of 109-0.

11. H 4950 Ensuring Compliance with Immigration Laws. Amendment 61A to the appropriations bill calls for the collection and publishing of an annual report detailing county and municipal compliance with state and federal immigration laws. Furthermore, the amendment directs the State Treasurer to withhold funding for any local government that is not certified as “compliant” in the report. ACU supports efforts to help the federal government perform its constitutional role in enforcing the nation’s immigration laws and supported this amendment. The House passed the amendment on May 2, 2018 by a vote of 65-37.

12. H 4950 Defunding Abortion Providers and Planned Parenthood. Amendment 25A to the appropriations bill requires the state to request a waiver from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to ensure no family planning funds are provided to organizations that perform abortions, such as Planned Parenthood. ACU believes abortion is a human tragedy, supports restrictions on the practice and supported this amendment. The House passed the amendment on May 2, 2018 by a vote of 66-26.

13. H 4950 Expanding Medicaid under Obamacare. Amendment 57A to the appropriations bill expands Medicaid under Obamacare to those making up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, including work-ready adults who do not have children. Increasing per capita Medicaid spending has a negative impact on the economy and family prosperity, which illustrated by the ACU Foundation’s Family Prosperity Index. ACU opposes expanding a program rife with waste and fraud with no reforms and opposed this amendment. The House tabled (defeated) the amendment on May 2, 2018 by a vote of 69-28. (A “Yes” vote supported the ACU position.)

14. S 810 Interfering in Contracting Agreements between Pawnbrokers and Borrowers. Amendment 2 to a bill relating to pawnbroker transactions interferes in private contracting rights by forcing pawnbrokers to prorate the interest that is owed to them if a borrower redeems the goods they pawned before the agreed redemption date. Furthermore, the bill prohibits a pawnbroker from charging any additional fee or interest for an early redemption. ACU opposes this government interference in the right to contract which ultimately harms both pawnbrokers and consumers by limiting loan options and opposed this amendment. The House voted to table (defeat) the amendment on May 9, 2018 by a vote of 71-26. (A “Yes” vote supported the ACU position.)

15. H 3209 Reducing Employment Barriers by Expunging Low-Level Criminal Records. This bill is designed to reduce employment barriers for those with criminal records by expanding the list of low-level criminal offenses that a person can request to be expunged. ACU Foundation’s Center for Criminal Justice Reform is a leading authority on this issue and works to advance policies that improve public safety, cut costs, and responsibly reduce incarceration rates. ACU supports this effort to reduce recidivism and expand economic growth by reducing employment barriers and supported this bill. The House voted to override the governor’s veto of the bill on June 27, 2018 by a vote of 108-1.

13


16. S 1043 Extending and Expanding Numerous Special Interest Tax Breaks. This bill contains a grab-bag of special interest tax credits and exemptions and violates the Constitution of South Carolina’s single-subject rule due to its myriad provisions. For example, the bill includes sections ranging from a new income tax credit for businesses that purchase “S.C. Certified produce,” to an extension of a tax credit for select businesses that rehabilitate certain property. ACU supports a level tax field with the lowest possible rates for everyone and opposes these special carve outs that transfer tax burdens to portions of the tax base not favored by the government and opposed this bill. The House voted to override the governor’s veto on October 3, 2018 by a vote of 112-4.

17. H 4950 Providing $500k in Taxpayer-Funding to a Private Theater. The original budget bill submitted to the governor included $500,000 to fund the SC Children’s Theatre, a nonprofit entity. The governor exercised his veto power with a line item veto, known as Veto 14, to eliminate the $500,000 of funding to the theatre. This provision sought to override Veto 14 and restore the $500,000 of funding to the SC Children’s Theatre. As a nonprofit, ACU would also benefit from government funding, but believes private entities should fund their own missions and supported the governor’s veto. The House voted to override the governor’s veto on October 3, 2018 by a vote of 93-25. (A “No” vote supported the ACU position.)

18. H 4950 Providing $4.5 Million for a Grant Program with No Purpose or Justification. The original budget bill submitted to the governor included $4.5 million to fund a “Tourism, Sales & Marketing, Sports Marketing Grant Program.” The governor exercised his veto power with a line item veto, known as Veto 26, to eliminate the $4.5 million of funding to the grant program, which he stated in his veto message lacks purpose, justification, or even a basic description. This provision sought to override Veto 26 and restore the $4.5 million of funding to the grant program. ACU believes all government spending should at least have a purpose and be as transparent as possible and supported the governor’s veto. The House voted to override the governor’s veto on October 3, 2018 by a vote of 99-13 (a “NO” vote supported the ACU position).

19. H 4950 Over-Funding an Unneeded Governmental Entity. The original budget bill submitted to the governor included $4 million to fund a “Locate SC,” a division of the Department of Commerce, which advertises private commercial real estate in the state, but whose duties are already provided within the private sector by companies such as Zillow and Loopnet. The governor exercised his veto power with a line item veto, known as Veto 27, to eliminate the $4 million of funding to “Locate SC.” This provision sought to override Veto 27 and restore the $4 million of funding to the program. Furthermore, Locate SC already received $7 million elsewhere within the budget--despite the fact the entity only requested $4 million to meet operational needs—and its operations duplicate and compete with products of the private sector, including Zillow and Loopnet. ACU opposes over-funding governmental entities, especially ones which are unneeded and compete with the private sector, and supported the governor’s veto. The House voted to override the governor’s veto on October 3, 2018 by a vote of 89-28. (A “No” vote supported the ACU position.)

14


SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE VOTE DETAIL

Party Dist.

H 3529

H 4643

H 3139

S 105

H 4950

(Sec. 8)

H 4950

(A

md. 26)

H 30

02

H 430

4

H 4421

H 4489

H 4950

(A

md. 61A

)

H 4950

(A

md. 25A

)

H 4950

(A

md. 57A

)

S 810 (A

md. 2)

H 320

9

S 1043

H 4950

(Veto 14)

H 4950

(Veto 26)

H 4950

(Veto 27)

ACU Votes

Votes Cast

2018 %

2017 %

LIFETIME AVG

Alexander D 59 + + + X - X + - X + - - - - X - - X - 5 14 36% n/a 15%

ALLISON R 36 + + + + - + + - + X + + + + + - - - + 13 18 72% 50% 67%

Anderson D 103 X X X + - - + - - X - - - - X - - - - 2 14 14% 17% 15%

Anthony D 42 + + X + X - + X - + X + + X + - - - - 8 14 57% 38% 46%

ARRINGTON R 94 + X + + - + + - - + + + + + X - - - - 10 17 59% 45% 52%

Atkinson D 57 + + + + - - + - + + - + X + + - - - - 10 18 56% 52% 54%

ATWATER R 87 + + + + - X + - X + + + + + + X + + + 14 16 88% 53% 69%

Bales D 80 + + + + - - X X - + X X X X + - - - - 6 13 46% 21% 33%

BALLENTINE R 71 + + + + - + + - - + + + + + + - + + + 15 19 79% 55% 63%

Bamberg D 90 - X X - - X X X X X X - X + X - - - - 1 9 n/a† 13% 20%

BANNISTER R 24 + + + + - - + - + + + + + + + - - - - 12 19 63% 50% 53%

BENNETT R 114 + X X + - + + X - + + X + + + - - + + 11 15 73% 57% 65%

Bernstein D 78 - + + - - + + - - + X X X + + - - - - 7 16 44% 21% 25%

BLACKWELL R 81 + + + + - - + - - + + X + + + - - - - 10 18 56% 48% 52%

Bowers D 122 X + + - X X X X - + - X - - + - - - - 4 13 31% 35% 30%

BRADLEY R 123 - + + + - + + - - + + + + + + - + - + 13 19 68% 52% 56%

Brawley D 70 - + + - - - + - - + - - - - + - - - - 5 19 26% n/a 26%

Brown D 116 - X X - - - + - - + X X X - + - - - - 3 14 21% 10% 19%

BRYANT R 48 + X - + - + X - + + + + + + - + + X + 12 16 75% n/a 75%

BURNS R 17 + + - + - + X - + + + + + + + - + - - 12 18 67% 65% 59%

CASKEY R 89 - + + + - + + - - + - X + + + - - - + 10 18 56% 45% 51%

CHUMLEY R 35 + + - + X + + - + + + + + + + - + + + 15 18 83% 63% 77%

CLARY R 3 - + + X - - + - - + - + + + + - - - - 8 18 44% 30% 40%

CLEMMONS R 107 + X - + - - + - X + + + + X + - - - - 8 16 50% 55% 50%

SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE SCORES

15



Party Dist.

H 3529

H 4643

H 3139

S 105

H 4950

(Sec. 8)

H 4950

(A

md. 26)

H 30

02

H 430

4

H 4421

H 4489

H 4950

(A

md. 61A

)

H 4950

(A

md. 25A

)

H 4950

(A

md. 57A

)

S 810 (A

md. 2)

H 320

9

S 1043

H 4950

(Veto 14)

H 4950

(Veto 26)

H 4950

(Veto 27)

ACU Votes

Votes Cast

2018 %

2017 %

LIFETIME AVG

Clyburn D 82 - X + + X - + - - + - X - X + - - - - 5 15 33% 21% 24%

Cobb-Hunter D 66 - + + - - - X - - + - - - - + - - - - 4 18 22% 14% 17%

COGSWELL R 110 - + + - X - + X X + - X + X + X - - - 6 13 46% 30% 38%

COLE R 32 + + + + - - + - X + + + + + + - - - - 11 18 61% 45% 59%

COLLINS R 5 + + X + - - + - + + - + + + + - - - - 10 18 56% 53% 50%

CRAWFORD R 68 + + + + - - + - + + + + X + + - - - - 11 18 61% 50% 49%

CROSBY R 117 - + + + - - + - X + + + - + + - + - + 11 18 61% 50% 56%

DANING R 92 - + + + X + + - X + + + + + + - + + + 14 17 82% 50% 58%

DAVIS R 100 - + + + - X + - + + + + + X + - + + + 13 17 76% 50% 63%

DELLENEY R 43 + + + + - - + - - + + + + + + - - - - 11 19 58% 36% 49%

Dillard D 23 - + - - X - + - - + - - - - + - - - - 4 18 22% 20% 17%

Douglas D 41 - + - + - - X X - + - - - - + X X X X 4 13 31% 33% 29%

DUCKWORTH R 104 + + + + - - + - + + + + + + + - - - - 12 19 63% 48% 52%

ELLIOTT R 22 + + + + - - + - + + + + + X + - - - - 11 18 61% 67% 64%

ERICKSON R 124 - + + + - X X - - + + + + + + - - - - 9 17 53% 59% 59%

FELDER R 26 + + - + - + + - + + - + + + + - + - + 13 19 68% 52% 66%

FINLAY R 75 X X + X - + X - X + + + + X + - - - - 7 13 54% 56% 52%

FORREST R 39 - + + + - - + - + + + + + + + - - - - 11 19 58% 43% 51%

FORRESTER R 34 + + + + - + + - + + + + + + + - + + + 16 19 84% 57% 70%

FRY R 106 + + + + - - + - + + + + + + + - - - + 13 19 68% 48% 56%

Funderburk D 52 - X + - - + + - - + - - - + + - - - - 6 18 33% 33% 34%

GAGNON R 11 X + + + - + + - + + + + + + + - - - - 12 18 67% 48% 54%

Gilliard D 111 - + + - - - + - - X - - - - + - - - - 4 18 22% 14% 18%

Govan D 95 + + X + - + + - - + - X - - + - - - - 7 17 41% 19% 28%

HAMILTON R 20 + + - X X + + - + + X X X + + - - - - 8 14 57% n/a 72%

HARDEE R 105 X + + + - - + - + X X X X X + - - - + 7 13 54% 39% 51%

16



Party Dist.

H 3529

H 4643

H 3139

S 105

H 4950

(Sec. 8)

H 4950

(A

md. 26)

H 30

02

H 430

4

H 4421

H 4489

H 4950

(A

md. 61A

)

H 4950

(A

md. 25A

)

H 4950

(A

md. 57A

)

S 810 (A

md. 2)

H 320

9

S 1043

H 4950

(Veto 14)

H 4950

(Veto 26)

H 4950

(Veto 27)

ACU Votes

Votes Cast

2018 %

2017 %

LIFETIME AVG

Hart D 73 X + X - X X X - - + X X X X + X - - - 3 9 n/a† n/a 57%

Hayes D 55 + + - + - - + X + + - + X + + - - - - 9 17 53% 39% 37%

HENDERSON R 21 + + + + - - + - + + X + X + X - - - - 9 16 56% 50% 56%

Henderson-Myers D 31 - + + - - - + - - + - - - - + - - - - 5 19 26% n/a 26%

Henegan D 54 + + X - - - + X - + - - - - + - - - - 5 17 29% 20% 23%

HERBKERSMAN R 118 - + + - - - + X - + X + X + + X X X X 7 12 n/a† 39% 45%

HEWITT R 108 - + + + - + + - X + + + + + + - - - - 11 18 61% 45% 53%

HILL R 8 + + + + - + + + - X X X X - + + + + + 12 15 80% 73% 85%

HIOTT R 4 + X - + - - X - + + + + + + + - - - - 9 17 53% 69% 56%

HIXON R 83 + + + + - - + - + + + + + + + - + - - 13 19 68% 45% 56%

Hosey D 91 + + + - - - + - - + - X - - + - - X X 6 16 38% 19% 22%

Howard D 76 - X + - X X + - - + - - - X X - - - - 3 14 21% n/a 23%

HUGGINS R 85 + + + + - + + - - + + + + + + - + - + 14 19 74% 48% 67%

Jefferson D 102 + + X + X - + X - + - - - + X - - - - 6 15 40% 22% 19%

JOHNSON R 58 + + - + - - + - + + + + + X + X X X X 10 14 71% 45% 56%

JORDAN R 63 + + - + - - X - + + + + + + + - - - - 10 18 56% 43% 49%

King D 49 - + + - - - + - - + - - - - + - - - - 5 19 26% 15% 24%

Kirby D 61 + + + + - - + - - + - - - - X - - - - 6 18 33% 22% 28%

Knight D 97 + + + X - - + - - + X X X + + - - - - 7 15 47% n/a 32%

LOFTIS R 19 + + - + - + + - - + + + + + + - - - - 11 19 58% 50% 55%

LONG R 37 + + - + X + + - + + + + + + + - + X + 14 17 82% 60% 71%

LOWE R 60 + + + + - - + - + + + X + + + X X X X 11 14 79% 45% 61%

LUCAS R 65 + + + + - - X - + + + + + + + - - - - 11 18 61% 41% 47%

MACE R 99 - + + + - + + - - + + X + X + - + + + 12 17 71% n/a 71%

Mack D 109 - + + - - - + - - + - - - + + - - - - 6 19 32% 15% 20%

MAGNUSON R 38 - + - + - + + - X + + + + X + + + + + 13 17 76% 67% 72%

17



Party Dist.

H 3529

H 4643

H 3139

S 105

H 4950

(Sec. 8)

H 4950

(A

md. 26)

H 30

02

H 430

4

H 4421

H 4489

H 4950

(A

md. 61A

)

H 4950

(A

md. 25A

)

H 4950

(A

md. 57A

)

S 810 (A

md. 2)

H 320

9

S 1043

H 4950

(Veto 14)

H 4950

(Veto 26)

H 4950

(Veto 27)

ACU Votes

Votes Cast

2018 %

2017 %

LIFETIME AVG

MARTIN R 40 + + - + - - + - + + + + + + + - - - + 12 19 63% 48% 55%

McCOY R 115 - X + - - + + - - X + X + + + - - - - 7 16 44% 38% 47%

McCRAVY R 13 + + - + - + + - + + + + + - + - - + + 13 19 68% 41% 55%

McEachern D 77 + + - + - - + - - + - - - - X - - - - 5 18 28% 19% 24%

McGINNIS R 56 + + + + - - + - + + + + + + + - - - - 12 19 63% n/a 63%

McKnight D 101 - X + + X - + - - + X X X X + - - X X 5 11 n/a† 6% 17%

MOSS, D. R 29 + + - + - + + - + + + + + X + - + - - 12 18 67% 55% 60%

MOSS, S. R 30 + + + + - - X - + X X X X X + - - - - 6 13 46% 57% 54%

MURPHY R 98 + + + + - + + X X + + + + + + - - - - 12 17 71% n/a 73%

NEWTON, B. R 45 + + + + - - + - + + + + + + + - - - - 12 19 63% 52% 58%

NEWTON, W. R 120 - + + - - - + - - + + + + X + - - - - 8 18 44% 37% 47%

Norrell D 44 - + - - - + X - - + - X X X X - - - - 3 14 21% 22% 28%

Ott D 93 - + + + - - + - - + - - - - + - - - - 6 19 32% 29% 31%

Parks D 12 - + + - - - + - - X X X X - + - - - - 4 15 27% 15% 17%

Pendarvis D 113 - + + - - - + - - + - - - - + - - - - 5 19 26% n/a 26%

PITTS R 14 + X X + X - + - + + + X + + + - X - - 9 14 64% 45% 47%

POPE R 47 + + + + - + + - - + + + + + + - - - - 12 19 63% 48% 53%

PUTNAM R 10 + X + + X + + - + + + + + - + - + - + 13 17 76% 50% 75%

Ridgeway D 64 - + - - - - + X X + - - - - + - - - - 4 17 24% 23% 24%

Rivers, M. D 121 + X X - - X X - - + - - - X + - - - - 3 14 21% 17% 19%

RIVERS, S. R 15 + + X + - + + - X X + + + X X - + + + 11 14 79% 55% 67%

Robinson-Simp-son

D 25 + + - - - X + - - + X - X X + - - - - 5 15 33% 23% 19%

Rutherford D 74 + X X + - - + X - X - - - - + - - - - 4 15 27% n/a 30%

SANDIFER R 2 + + + + - - + - + + + + + + + - - - - 12 19 63% n/a 55%

18



Party Dist.

H 3529

H 4643

H 3139

S 105

H 4950

(Sec. 8)

H 4950

(A

md. 26)

H 30

02

H 430

4

H 4421

H 4489

H 4950

(A

md. 61A

)

H 4950

(A

md. 25A

)

H 4950

(A

md. 57A

)

S 810 (A

md. 2)

H 320

9

S 1043

H 4950

(Veto 14)

H 4950

(Veto 26)

H 4950

(Veto 27)

ACU Votes

Votes Cast

2018 %

2017 %

LIFETIME AVG

SIMRILL R 46 + + + + - + + - - + + + + + + - - - - 12 19 63% 59% 56%

SMITH, GARRY R 27 + X + + - + + - - + + + + + + - - X - 11 17 65% 59% 64%

SMITH, GEORGE R 67 + X - + - - + - + + + + + + + - + - - 11 18 61% 40% 57%

Smith, J. D 72 - + + - X X + X - + - X X X + - - - - 5 13 38% 10% 20%

SOTTILE R 112 - + X X - - + - X + + + + + + - - - - 8 16 50% 48% 52%

SPIRES R 96 + + + X - - + - X + + + + + + - - - - 10 17 59% 48% 51%

Stavrinakis D 119 - + + - - - + - - + - - X + + - - - - 6 18 33% 24% 27%

STRINGER R 18 X X + + X X + X + + X X X X + + + + - 9 10 n/a† n/a 91%

TALLON R 33 + X + + - - + - + + + + + + + - - - - 11 18 61% 58% 54%

TAYLOR R 86 + + + + - - + - X + + + + + + - + - - 12 18 67% 50% 62%

THAYER R 9 X + - + - + + - + + + + + + + - + - + 13 18 72% 52% 72%

Thigpen D 79 - + + - - + + - - X - X - X + - - - - 5 16 31% 24% 27%

TOOLE R 88 - + - + - + + X - + + + + + + X X X X 10 14 71% 63% 66%

TRANTHAM R 28 - + - + - - + - - X X X X + + - + - + 7 15 47% n/a 47%

Weeks D 51 + + X + - - + - - + X X X + + - - - - 7 15 47% 19% 34%

WEST R 7 X + + + - X + - + + + X + + + - - - - 10 16 63% 50% 56%

Wheeler D 50 + + + - - - + - - + X - X - + - - - - 6 17 35% 25% 30%

WHITE R 6 + + + + - - + - + X + + + X X - - - - 9 16 56% 50% 47%

WHITMIRE R 1 + + + + - - + - + + + + + + X - - - - 11 18 61% 50% 54%

Williams D 62 + + + + - - + X - + - - - - + - - X - 7 17 41% 22% 24%

WILLIS R 16 + X - + - + + - + + + + + + X - - - + 11 17 65% 45% 63%

WOOTEN R 69 X X X X X X X X X X X X X + + - - - + 3 6 n/a† n/a n/a

YOUNG R 84 + + + + - - + - - + X X X + + - - - - 8 16 50% n/a 50%

YOW R 53 + + - + X - + - X + + + + X X - - - - 8 15 53% 53% 54%

“+” Member voted with ACU’s position“-” Member voted against ACU’s position“X” Member was absent for vote“E” Member was excused for vote

† Legislator did not vote on enough of the selected bills and as a result the 2018 percentage was not rated. 2/3rds of the selected bills must be voted on to receive a score.

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