2017 - ACU Ratingsacuratings.conservative.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/07/Sou… · April 20, 2017 by a vote of 40-1. 14. H 3132 Hospice Licensure Reduction. This bill allows

2017

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

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

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

2017 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 ..................................................... 13

TABLE OF CONTENTS

RATINGS of SOUTH CAROLINARATINGS of SOUTH CAROLINA

ACUConservative Conservative.org@ACUFoundation

#ACURatings

2

AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION FOUNDATION’S 2017 Ratings of South Carolina

Dear Fellow Conservative,

The American Conservative Union Foundation is proud to present our ratings of the 2017 meeting of the South Carolina General Assembly. Like our Congressional Ratings, which date back 46 years, these ratings are meant to reflect how elected officials view the role of government in an individual’s life. We begin with our philosophy (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 their 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. The ACU Foundation is the only organization to score over 8,000 elected officials each year, including lawmakers from all 50 states and Congress.

The 2016 election dramatically impacted the political landscape of not only Washington but state legislative chambers all across the country. Republicans now have control of both legislative chambers in 32 states, more than double the number they controlled in 2010. With these victories comes an ability to implement policies that restore individual liberty and return us to a limited form of government run by and for “We the People.”

It is our hope that these ratings will serve as a guide showing who can be relied on to fight for conservative principles and restore the role of government to what our nation’s founding fathers envisioned.

Sincerely,

Matt SchlappChairmanAmerican Conservative Union

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN

3


SELECTING THE VOTES

ACU researched and selected a range of bills before the South Carolina General Assembly 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.

201 N. Union Street, Suite 370Alexandria, VA 22314(202) 347-9388

Matt Schlapp Chairman

Charlie Gerow First Vice Chairman

Bob Beauprez Treasuer

Amy Frederick Secretary

Ed Yevoli At-Large

Jackie Arends

Larry Beasley

Kimberly Bellissimo

Steve Biegun

Morton C. Blackwell

John Bolton

Jose Cardenas

Ron Christie

Muriel Coleman

Becky Norton Dunlop

John Eddy

Luis Fortuno

Alan M. Gottlieb

Van D. Hipp, Jr.

Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser

Michael R. Long

Ed McFadden

Carolyn D. Meadows

Priscilla O'Shaughnessy

Ron Robinson

Mike Rose

Ned Ryun

Peter Samuelson

Sabrina Schaeffer

Terry Schilling

Matt Smith

Thomas Winter

ACU BOARD MEMBERS

Matt Schlapp Chairman

Millie Hallow Vice Chairman

Van D. Hipp, Jr. Treasurer

Kimberly Bellissimo Secretary

Jose Cardenas

Jonathan Garthwaite

Charlie Gerow

Colin Hanna

Niger Innes

Adam Laxalt

Willes K. Lee

Mary Matalin

Carolyn D. Meadows

Randy Neugebauer

Thomas Winter

ACUF BOARD MEMBERS

4


2017 WINNERS & LOSERS

SENATE

n/a

90-100% AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE EXCELLENCE

HOUSE

n/a

SENATE

n/a

HOUSE

n/a

80-89% AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE ACHIEVEMENT

SENATE

McLeod

10% COALITION OF THE RADICAL LEFT

HOUSE

BrownMcknightSmith, J.

<=

5


SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE STATISTICS

23%OVERALL AVERAGE

LOWEST REPUBLICAN

26%REPUBLICAN AVERAGE

17%DEMOCRAT AVERAGE

SHEHEEN25%

HIGHEST DEMOCRAT

SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE CONSERVATIVE RATINGS

RED = REPUBLICANS BLUE = DEMOCRATS

12

10

8

6

4

2

090-100%

2017 ACU PERCENTAGE

# OF STATE

SENATORS

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

GOLDFINCH17%

6


1. S 58 Special Interest Tax Breaks. This bill expands the number and amount of tax credits going to specific government-favored businesses and industries in “port enhancement zones." ACU opposes the practice of granting tax breaks to select businesses, which transfers the tax burden to businesses not favored by the government and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on January 26, 2017 by a vote of 40-0.

2. S 44 Tax Exemptions for “Renewable” Energy. This bill exempts homeowners from paying property taxes on “renewable” energy products such as solar panels and provides an 80 percent property tax break to commercial solar developers. ACU supports all forms of energy, believes government should not support one form of energy over another and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 1, 2017 by a vote of 38-4.

3. S 218 Preventing Municipalities from Mandating Employee Benefits. This bill prevents local governments from mandating that employers provide certain employee benefits. ACU believes that employers and employees should be free to negotiate their own benefits and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 7, 2017 by a vote of 32-8.

4. S 315 Home Improvement Grants. This bill creates a new program that provides cash grants up to $5,000 to homeowners who make hurricane resistant upgrades to their properties. ACU opposes these cash grants that benefit select homeowners at the expense of other taxpayers and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 2, 2017 by a vote of 41-0.

5. S 321 Recreational Vehicle (RV) Sales. This bill establishes draconian regulations that dictate how a large RV dealership must operate and forces individuals to obtain special licenses every time an RV is displayed at an event or convention. Furthermore, the bill interferes in the private contracting agreements between RV manufacturers and dealers. ACU opposes these regulations which are designed to enrich large RV dealers through government regulations and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 8, 2017 by a vote of 39-0.

6. S 185 Funeral Provider Bans. This bill prevents a local funeral service provider from contracting with an internet-based company in order to provide a service. ACU opposes bans that are simply intended to restrict competition and raise the cost of funerals and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 15, 2017 by a vote of 41-0.

7. S 404 Tax Breaks for Agribusiness. This bill provides up to $2 million per year to government-favored agricultural packing businesses that purchase South Carolina grown agricultural products. The tax credit amount is determined entirely by government bureaucrats. ACU opposes the practice of granting tax breaks to select businesses, which transfers the tax burden to businesses not favored by the government and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 16, 2017 by a vote of 41-1.

8. S 116 Liability Insurance Mandate. This bill forces any business that sells alcohol for on-site consumption to purchase a $1 million liquor liability insurance policy. 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 regulations that attempt to punish smaller competitors and drive up costs and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 16, 2017 by a vote of 40-2.

9. S 275 Permitting Breweries to Sell Liquor. This bill permits breweries to sell liquor in addition to beer at their establishments for on-site consumption. The brewery would have to obtain a special permit and would have to abide by certain regulations, such as having a dining area separate from the brewing operation. ACU supports commonsense reforms that promote business growth and supported this bill as a step in the right direction. The Senate passed the bill on March 22, 2017 by a vote of 37-1.

10. S 115 Alcohol Server Training Mandate. This bill forces individuals who serve alcohol to obtain a training certificate. The training must follow a specified curriculum, include an examination, and be conducted by a government-approved entity. ACU believes individuals know how to serve a beer and discuss drinking abuse without obtaining a government degree and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 22, 2017 by a vote of 29-10.

11. S 261 Government Financing of Renewable Energy. This bill allows commercial property owners to purchase “clean energy” equipment and finance the costs through an assessment on their property tax bill. ACU does not believe it is within the proper role of government to be in the lending industry and opposes the associated costs and risk the program places upon taxpayers and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 22, 2017 by a vote of 40-0.

SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS

7


12. H 3726 State Pension System Bailout. This bill attempts to bailout the state’s failing pension system by providing a cash infusion of $826 million per year, all while failing to make any reforms to the system. ACU opposes punishing taxpayers for the state’s mismanagement of the pension system, supports the transition to a “defined contribution” system, and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 5, 2017 by a vote of 33-7.

13. S 446 Expansion of State-Funded Venture Capital Firm. This bill doubles the funding of a state-owned venture capital firm known as the South Carolina Research Authority by funneling money through a tax credit gimmick. ACU does not believe it is the proper role of government to become a business investor, opposes tactics that reduce government transparency and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 20, 2017 by a vote of 40-1.

14. H 3132 Hospice Licensure Reduction. This bill allows hospices to open more locations by reforming the state’s licensing law. ACU supports efforts that reduce regulatory burdens and expand business growth and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on May 9, 2017 by a vote of 43-0.

15. H 3516 Gas Tax Hike. This bill imposes the single largest tax increase in state history by raising the gas tax by over 71 percent and drastically increasing vehicular fees. ACU opposes this dramatic tax hike to help subsidize the incompetence of the Department of Transportation—an entity that has received a funding hike of over 40 percent in the past five years but has shown little improvement and remained unaccountable—and opposed this bill. The Senate voted to override the governor’s veto on May 10, 2017 by a vote of 32-12.

16. H 3041 Real Estate Licensing Regulations. This bill forces real estate brokers, salesmen, and property managers to undergo a fingerprint-based background check and establishes continuing education requirements. ACU opposes these regulations which are primarily designed to restrict competition and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on May 11, 2017 by a vote of 38-0.

8


SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE VOTE DETAIL

Party District S 58 S 44 S 218 S 315 S 321 S 185 S 404 S 116 S 275 S 115 S 261 H 3726 S 446 H 3132 H 3516 H 3041ACU

VotesVotes Cast

2017 %

2016 %

LIFETIME AVG

ALEXANDER R 1 - - + - - - - - + - - - - + - - 3 16 19% 21% 25%

Allen D 7 - - - - - - - - + - - - X + - - 2 15 13% 9% 8%

BENNETT R 38 - - + - - - - - + - - - - + - - 3 16 19% 39% 40%

CAMPBELL R 44 - - + - - - - - + - - - - + - - 3 16 19% 17% 26%

CAMPSEN R 43 - - + - - - - - X X X + - + + - 4 13 31% 29% 48%

CLIMER R 15 - - + - - - - + + + - + - + + - 7 16 44% n/a 44%

CORBIN R 5 - - + - - - - - - + - + - + + - 5 16 31% 61% 56%

COURSON R 20 - - + - - - - - X X X X X X X X 1 8 n/a† 36% 42%

CROMER R 18 - + + - - - - - + - - - - + - - 4 16 25% 23% 33%

DAVIS R 46 - - + - - - - - + + - + - + + - 6 16 38% 67% 65%

Fanning D 17 X + - X X X X X + + - - - + - - 4 10 n/a† n/a n/a

GAMBRELL R 4 - + + - - - - - + - - - - X - - 3 15 20% n/a 42%

GOLDFINCH R 34 - - + - - - - - X X X - - + - X 2 12 17% n/a 46%

GREGORY R 16 X - + - - - X X + - - - - + - - 3 13 23% 43% 38%

GROOMS R 37 - - + - - - - - + - - - - + - - 3 16 19% 50% 50%

HEMBREE R 28 - - + - - X - - + - - - X + + - 4 14 29% 27% 42%

Hutto D 40 - - X - - X - - + - - - - + - - 2 14 14% 13% 14%

Jackson D 21 X X X X - - - - + - - - - + - X 2 11 18% n/a 14%

Johnson D 36 - - - - - - - - + - - - - + - - 2 16 13% 13% 8%

Kimpson D 42 - - - - - - X X + - - - - + - - 2 14 14% 5% 11%

LEATHERMAN R 31 - - + - - - - - + - - - - + - - 3 16 19% 21% 24%

Malloy D 29 - - + - X - - - + - - - - + - - 3 15 20% 18% 22%

MARTIN R 13 - - + - - - - - + + - - - + + - 5 16 31% n/a 53%

MASSEY R 25 - - + - - - - - + + - X - + + - 5 15 33% 43% 54%

Matthews, J. D 39 X X - - X X - - X - - X X + - X 1 8 n/a† 11% 4%

Matthews, M. D 45 X - - X X - - - + - - - - + - - 2 13 15% 11% 13%

Mcelveen D 35 - - + - - - - - + - - - - + - - 3 16 19% 17% 15%

McLeod D 22 - - X - - - - - X X X - - + - - 1 12 8% 11% 15%

Nicholson D 10 - - + - - - - - + - - X - + - - 3 15 20% 9% 14%

“+” 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 2017 percentage was not rated. 2/3rds of the selected bills must be voted on to receive a score.

SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE SCORES

9


SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE VOTE DETAIL

Party District S 58 S 44 S 218 S 315 S 321 S 185 S 404 S 116 S 275 S 115 S 261 H 3726 S 446 H 3132 H 3516 H 3041ACU

VotesVotes Cast

2017 %

2016 %

LIFETIME AVG

PEELER R 14 - + + - - - - - + - - + - + + - 6 16 38% 39% 47%

RANKIN R 33 - - + - - - - - + - - - - + - - 3 16 19% n/a 23%

Reese D 11 - X + - - - - - X X X - - + - - 2 12 17% n/a 15%

RICE R 2 - - + - - - - - + - - + - + + - 5 16 31% n/a 31%

Sabb D 32 - - - X - - - - + - - - - + - - 2 15 13% 19% 8%

Scott D 19 - - - - - - - - + - - - - + - - 2 16 13% 14% 9%

SENN R 41 - - X - - - - - + + - - - + - - 3 15 20% n/a 20%

Setzler D 26 - - + - X - - - + - - - - + - - 3 15 20% 25% 16%

SHEALY R 23 - - + - - - - - + - - - - + - - 3 16 19% 38% 46%

Sheheen D 27 - - X - - - + - X X - - + + - X 3 12 25% 14% 20%

TALLEY R 12 - - + - - - - - + + - - - + - - 4 16 25% n/a 25%

TIMMONS R 6 - - + - - - - + + + - - - + + - 6 16 38% n/a 38%

TURNER R 8 - - + - - - - - + - - - - + - - 3 16 19% 33% 46%

VERDIN R 9 - - + - - - - - + - - - - + + X 4 15 27% 37% 40%

Williams D 30 - - + - X - - - + - - X - + - X 3 13 23% 14% 15%

YOUNG R 24 - - + - - - - - + + - + - + + - 6 16 38% 46% 55%




10


SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE STATISTICS

40%OVERALL AVERAGE

CLARYCOGSWELL30%

LOWEST REPUBLICANS

50%REPUBLICAN AVERAGE

22%DEMOCRAT AVERAGE

ATKINSON52%

HIGHEST DEMOCRAT

SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE CONSERVATIVE RATINGS

RED = REPUBLICANS BLUE = DEMOCRATS

# OF STATEREPS

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

090-100%

2017 ACU PERCENTAGE

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

11


1. S 321 Recreational Vehicle (RV) Sales. This bill establishes draconian regulations that dictate how a large RV dealership must operate and forces individuals to obtain special licenses every time an RV is displayed at an event or convention. Furthermore, the bill interferes in the private contracting agreements between RV manufacturers and dealers. ACU opposes these regulations which are designed to enrich large RV dealers through government regulations and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 8, 2017 by a vote of 103-3.

2. H 3720 (Section 8) Government-Funded Television. This vote in the state appropriations bill grants over $30 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 voted to adopt this section on March 13, 2017 by a vote of 97-0.

3. H 3720 (Amendment 12) Government Funding Transparency. This amendment to the state appropriations bill eliminates funding to the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) until the organization provides state auditors access to its entire client database. The SBDC is primarily funded by the state government and has been cited for its poor management. ACU supports the auditing of a wasteful entity to ensure the proper use of taxpayer funds and supported this amendment. The House voted to kill the amendment on March 14, 2017 by a vote of 79-34. (A “No” vote supported the ACU position.)

4. H 3270 (Amendment 15) Banning Funding for Purchase of Aborted Fetuses. This amendment to the state appropriations bill prohibits state funding from being used to purchase fetal tissue obtained from an abortion to perform scientific or laboratory research. The ACU Foundation Center for Human Dignity engages heavily on these issues and believes abortion is a human tragedy, supports restrictions on the practice and believes the human remains from this tragedy should be treated with the utmost respect and supported this amendment. The House voted to kill a motion to defeat the amendment on March 14, 2017 by a vote of 22-88. (A “No” vote supported the ACU position.)

5. H 3270 (Amendment 18) Cutting Wasteful Spending. This amendment to the state appropriations bill cuts funding to several wasteful programs devoted to tourism, conservation and real estate promotion. ACU supports efforts to streamline government and eliminate unnecessary programs which waste taxpayer funds and compete against the private sector and supported this amendment. The House voted to kill the amendment on March 14, 2017 by a vote of 101-13. (A “No” vote supported the ACU position.)

6. H 3270 (Amendment 23) Hiring Freeze Implementation. This amendment to the state appropriations bill prevents a state agency from hiring any additional employees than currently authorized under the bill. A more robust private sector leads to greater opportunity, increasing the prosperity of the family, which is illustrated by the ACU Foundation’s Family Prosperity Index. ACU supports this effort to protect taxpayers and limit the overall growth of government and supported this amendment. The House voted to kill the amendment on March 14, 2017 by a vote of 93-14. (A “No” vote supported the ACU position.)

7. H 3270 (Amendment 54) Obamacare Preservation. This amendment to the state appropriations bill preserves Obamacare by preventing the law’s provisions from being eliminated in the event Congress passes a repeal and replace measure at the federal level. ACU has long opposed Obamacare and its many disastrous and costly provisions and opposed this amendment. The House voted to kill the amendment on March 14, 2017 by a vote of 84-27. (A “Yes” vote supported the ACU position.)

8. S 218 Preventing Municipalities from Mandating Employee Benefits. This bill prevents local governments from mandating that employers provide certain employee benefits. ACU believes that employers and employees should be free to negotiate their own benefits and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 22, 2017 by a vote of 73-29.

9. H 3666 Mental Health Facility Expansion. This bill allows mental health facilities to freely operate by eliminating the state’s “certificate of need” requirement. ACU opposes certificate of need programs which restrict competition and lead to higher consumer costs and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 23, 2017 by a vote of 102-0.

10. H 3417 Licensing for Mobile Barbershops. This bill forces already-licensed barbers to obtain a separate license to operate a “mobile” barbershop. In order to obtain a license, a barber must pay an annual fee, maintain an official business address and telephone number, and if there is a trailer or other unit involved, they must be inspected annually. 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 House passed the bill on March 30, 2017 by a vote of 99-1.

11. H 3548 Banning Dismemberment Abortion. This bill prohibits anyone from performing a dismemberment abortion that entails cutting apart a fetus. ACU Foundation’s Center for Human Dignity engages heavily on this issue and believes abortion is a human tragedy, supports efforts to ban the practice and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 30, 2017 by a vote of 83-17.

SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS

12


12. H 3038 Licensing Mandate for Locksmiths. This bill creates a new bureaucracy to license locksmiths. Under the bill, individuals who engage in the business of installing or modifying locks would have to 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 House passed the bill on March 30, 2017 by a vote of 102-0.

13. H 3809 Taxpayer-Funded Birth Control. This bill forces Medicaid and all private insurance plans to dispense 12-month supplies of contraceptive drugs. ACU opposes insurance mandates and believes the use of contraceptives is a matter of individual liberty and not something others should be forced to pay for through higher insurance premiums and taxes and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on April 4, 2017 by a vote of 64-38.

14. H 3865 Workplace Mandates. This bill forces employers to make certain workplace accommodations for pregnant workers and interferes with the leave of absence policies established by companies. ACU supports employers freely negotiating these kinds of benefits and opposes employment mandates which lead to increased business costs and reduced hiring and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on April 4, 2017 by a vote of 52-50.

15. H 3930 Expanding Concealed Carry of Firearms. This bill removes the requirement that an individual obtain a concealed weapons permit in order to lawfully carry a firearm. ACU supports the founders’ belief in the Second Amendment and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on April 5, 2017 by a vote of 64-46.

16. H 3726 State Pension System Bailout. This bill attempts to bailout the state’s failing pension system by providing a cash infusion of $826 million a year, all while failing to make any reforms to the system. ACU opposes punishing taxpayers for the state’s mismanagement of the pension system, supports the transition to a “defined contribution” system and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on April 5, 2017 by a vote of 105-1.

17. H 3720 Medicaid Expansion. Amendment No. 9A to the state appropriations bill expands Obamacare to those with an income of up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. Increasing per capita Medicaid spending has a negative impact on the economy and family prosperity, which is illustrated by the ACU Foundation’s Family Prosperity Index. ACU opposes the expansion of a program that has cost thousands their health care through skyrocketing premium increases and opposed this amendment. The House voted to kill the amendment on April 26, 2017 by a vote of 66-25. (A “Yes” vote supported the ACU position.)

18. S 315 Home Improvement Grants. This bill creates a new program that provides cash grants up to $5,000 to homeowners who make hurricane resistant upgrades to their properties. ACU opposes these cash grants that benefit select homeowners at the expense of other taxpayers and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on May 4, 2017 by a vote of 89-5.

19. H 3929 Property Rights Expansion. This bill protects the right of individuals to raise livestock on their property. Under the bill, only residents within a mile of a property would be able to challenge the approval of an animal facility, and the government would have less influence over where a structure is placed on a property. The ACU Foundation Center for 21st Century Property Rights staunchly defends the property rights of American citizens, which are inherently protected by the U.S. Constitution. ACU supports the “right to farm” and the protection of property rights and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on May 9, 2017 by a vote of 77-12.

20. S 275 Permitting Breweries to Sell Liquor. This bill permits breweries to sell liquor in addition to beer at their establishments for on-site consumption. The brewery would have to obtain a special permit and would have to abide by certain regulations, such as having a dining area separate from the brewing operation. ACU supports commonsense reforms that promote business growth and supported this bill as a step in the right direction. The House passed the bill on May 9, 2017 by a vote of 83-0.

21. H 3516 Gas Tax Hike. This bill imposes the single largest tax increase in state history by raising the gas tax by over 71 percent and drastically increasing vehicular fees. ACU opposes this dramatic tax hike to help subsidize the incompetence of the Department of Transportation—an entity that has received a funding hike of over 40 percent in the past five years but has shown little improvement and remained unaccountable—and opposed this bill. The House voted to override the Governor’s veto on May 10, 2017 by a vote of 95-18.

22. S 116 Liability Insurance Mandate. This bill forces any business that sells alcohol for on-site consumption to purchase a $1 million liquor liability insurance policy. 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 regulations that attempt to punish smaller competitors and drive up costs and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on May 10, 2017 by a vote of 85-5.

23. H 3041 Real Estate Licensing Regulations. This bill forces real estate brokers, salesmen, and property managers to undergo a fingerprint-based background check and establishes continuing education requirements. ACU opposes these regulations which are primarily designed to restrict competition and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on May 11, 2017 by a vote of 82-0.

13


SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE VOTE DETAIL

Party District S 321

H 3720 (Sec.

8)

H 3270 (Amd.

12)

H 3270 (Amd.

15)

H 3270 (Amd.

18)

H 3270 (Amd.

23)

H 3270 (Amd.

54) S 218 H 3666 H 3417 H 3548 H 3038 H 3809 H 3865 H 3930 H 3726

H 3720 (Amd.

9a) S 315 H 3929 S 275 H 3516 S 116 H 3041ACU

VotesVotes Cast

2017 %

2016 %

LIFETIME AVG

Alexander D 59 - X + - - X - X + - X - X X - - X X X X - X X 2 11 n/a† 7% 8%

ALLISON R 36 - - + + - - + + + - + - X X + - X - + + + - - 10 20 50% 65% 65%

Anderson D 103 - - - - - - - X + - + - X - - X - - + X - X - 3 18 17% 13% 15%

Anthony D 42 - - + + - - + X + - + - - - - - + - + + - X - 8 21 38% n/a 42%

ARRINGTON R 94 - - + + - - + + + - X X - + + - X - + + - - - 9 20 45% n/a 45%

Atkinson D 57 - - + + - - + + + - + - - + + - + - + + - + - 12 23 52% n/a 52%

ATWATER R 87 - X - + + - + X + - + X + + + - X - + + - - - 10 19 53% 47% 65%

Bales D 80 - - + - - - + + + - - - - - - - - X X X - - X 4 19 21% 20% 30%

BALLENTINE R 71 - X + + - + + + + - + - - + + - + - + + - - - 12 22 55% 47% 59%

Bamberg D 90 - - + - - - X - X - - X - - - - - X X + - X X 2 16 13% 20% 20%

BANNISTER R 24 - - + + - - + + + - + - X X + - + - + + - - X 10 20 50% 33% 51%

BEDINGFIELD R 28 + - X X X X X + X - + - + + + - + X + + + + X 11 15 n/a† n/a 88%

BENNETT R 114 - - + + - - + + + - + - + + + - X + + X + - - 12 21 57% n/a 57%

Bernstein D 78 - - + X - - - + + - - - - - - - X - X + - - X 4 19 21% 6% 20%

BLACKWELL R 81 - - + + - + + + + - + - - + - - + - + + - - - 11 23 48% n/a 48%

Bowers D 122 - X + + - - X X + X + - - X - - X - + + - - - 6 17 35% 16% 30%

BRADLEY R 123 - - - + - + + + + - + - + + + - + - + + - - - 12 23 52% 33% 51%

Brown D 116 - - + - - - - - X X - - - - - - - - - + - - - 2 21 10% 18% 18%

BURNS R 17 - - - + + + + + + - + - + + + X + - + X + X - 13 20 65% 37% 57%

CASKEY R 89 - - - + + X + + + - + - - - + - + - + + - - - 10 22 45% n/a 45%

CHUMLEY R 35 - - - + + + + + X - + - + + + X + - + X + X - 12 19 63% 69% 76%

CLARY R 3 - - + + - - + + + - + - - - - - - - - + - - - 7 23 30% 30% 38%

CLEMMONS R 107 - - + + - - + + + - + - + + + - + X X + - - X 11 20 55% 35% 49%

Clyburn D 82 - - + X - - - - + - X - - - X - - - + + - - X 4 19 21% 13% 21%

Cobb-Hunter D 66 - - + - - - - - + - - - - - - - X - X + - - - 3 21 14% 11% 15%

COGSWELL R 110 - - + + - - + + X X X - - - - - + - - + - - - 6 20 30% n/a 30%

COLE R 32 - - + + - - + + + - + - - - + - + - + + - - X 10 22 45% 42% 58%

COLLINS R 5 - - + X - - + + + - + X - - + X + - + + + - X 10 19 53% 37% 49%

CRAWFORD R 68 - X - + - - + + + - + - + + + - + - + + - - - 11 22 50% 35% 46%




SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE SCORES

14




H 3720 (Sec.

8)

H 3270 (Amd.

12)

H 3270 (Amd.

15)

H 3270 (Amd.

18)

H 3270 (Amd.

23)

H 3270 (Amd.

54) S 218 H 3666 H 3417 H 3548 H 3038 H 3809 H 3865 H 3930 H 3726

H 3720 (Amd.

9a) S 315 H 3929 S 275 H 3516 S 116 H 3041ACU

VotesVotes Cast

2017 %

2016 %

LIFETIME AVG

CROSBY R 117 - - + + - - + + + X X X + + - - + - + X - X - 9 18 50% 30% 54%

DANING R 92 - - + + + - + + + - + - + X - - + - + + - - - 11 22 50% 41% 52%

DAVIS R 100 - - + + - - + + + - + - + + - - + - + + - X - 11 22 50% n/a 50%

DELLENEY R 43 - - - + - - + + + - + - - - + - + - + X - - - 8 22 36% 32% 46%

Dillard D 23 X - + - - - - - + - - - - - - - X - + + - X - 4 20 20% 17% 16%

Douglas D 41 - - + + - - - - + - + - - - - - X X + + - + - 7 21 33% 17% 28%

DUCKWORTH R 104 - - - + - - + + + - + - + + + - X - + + - - X 10 21 48% 58% 48%

ELLIOTT R 22 X - + + + + + + + - + - - + + - + - + + + - X 14 21 67% n/a 67%

ERICKSON R 124 X - + + - - + + + X X X + + + - X - + + - - X 10 17 59% 38% 60%

FELDER R 26 - - + + - - + + + - + - - + + - X + + + - - X 11 21 52% 60% 66%

FINLAY R 75 - - + + - + + X + + + - - X + - X - + + - X X 10 18 56% 39% 52%

FORREST R 39 - - + + - - + + + - + - - - + - + - + + - - - 10 23 43% n/a 43%

FORRESTER R 34 - - + + - - + + + - + - + + + - + X + + - - X 12 21 57% 53% 66%

FRY R 106 - - - + + X + + + - + - - + + - X - + + - - - 10 21 48% 53% 50%

Funderburk D 52 X - + + - - + - + - + - - - - - X - + + - - - 7 21 33% 20% 35%

GAGNON R 11 - - - + - - + + + - + - + + + - + - + + - - - 11 23 48% 33% 51%

Gilliard D 111 - - + - - - - - + - - - - - - X - - - + - - - 3 22 14% 16% 17%

Govan D 95 - X + + - - - - + - X - - - - - - - - + - - - 4 21 19% n/a 24%

HAMILTON R 20 - X + + - - + + + X X X + + + - + X + + X X X 11 15 n/a† n/a 80%

HARDEE R 105 - - - + - - + + X - + - - + + - X X X + - - X 7 18 39% n/a 50%

Hart D 73 - - X - X X X - + X - X X - - X X X X + - X X 2 10 n/a† n/a 57%

Hayes D 55 - - + + - - + + + - + - - - - - + - + + - - - 9 23 39% 16% 33%

HENDERSON R 21 - - + + - - + + + - + - X + + - + - X + - - X 10 20 50% 35% 56%

Henegan D 54 - - + - - - - - X - + - - - - - X X + + - - - 4 20 20% 12% 21%

HERBKERSMAN R 118 - - - + - - + + + - X - X + + - X - X + - - X 7 18 39% 29% 45%

HEWITT R 108 - - - + - - + + + - + - - + + - + - + + - X - 10 22 45% n/a 45%

HILL R 8 + - - + + X + + + - + - + + + + + - + + + + - 16 22 73% 94% 87%

HIOTT R 4 X - + + - - + + + X X X + + + X + - + X + X - 11 16 69% 37% 57%

HIXON R 83 - - X + - - + + + - + - + - X X + - + + - - - 9 20 45% 31% 53%

Hosey D 91 - - + X - - - - + - - X - - - - - - + + - - - 4 21 19% 15% 18%

Howard D 76 - X + - - X X - X X X X - - - - X - + X - X - 2 13 n/a† 14% 23%




15




H 3720 (Sec.

8)

H 3270 (Amd.

12)

H 3270 (Amd.

15)

H 3270 (Amd.

18)

H 3270 (Amd.

23)

H 3270 (Amd.

54) S 218 H 3666 H 3417 H 3548 H 3038 H 3809 H 3865 H 3930 H 3726

H 3720 (Amd.

9a) S 315 H 3929 S 275 H 3516 S 116 H 3041ACU

VotesVotes Cast

2017 %

2016 %

LIFETIME AVG

HUGGINS R 85 - X - + - + + + X - + - - + + - + - + + - - - 10 21 48% 50% 66%

Jefferson D 102 - - + - - - + - + - - - - - - - - - + + - - - 5 23 22% 20% 14%

JOHNSON R 58 - - - + - - + + + - + - + + + - + - + X - - - 10 22 45% 50% 51%

JORDAN R 63 - - - + - - + + + - + - - + + - + - + + - - - 10 23 43% 40% 46%

King D 49 - - + X - - - - X - + - - - - - - - + X - - - 3 20 15% 11% 24%

Kirby D 61 X - + + - - + - + - X - - - - - - - X X - X - 4 18 22% 24% 26%

Knight D 97 - - - + - - + - + X X X - - - - X X + X - X X 4 15 n/a† 18% 27%

LOFTIS R 19 - - - + - X + + + - + - + + + - + - + X X - - 10 20 50% 40% 54%

LONG R 37 - - + + + + + X + - + - + + + - + - X X + - - 12 20 60% n/a 80%

LOWE R 60 - - - + - - + + + - + - - + + - + - + + - - X 10 22 45% 50% 57%

LUCAS R 65 - - - + - - + + + - + - X - + - + - + + - - - 9 22 41% 28% 44%

Mack D 109 - - + - - - - - + - - - X X - - - - - + - X - 3 20 15% 12% 17%

MAGNUSON R 38 + - - + + + + + + - + - + X + - + - + + + X - 14 21 67% n/a 67%

MARTIN R 40 - - + + - - + + + - + - + - + - + - + + - - - 11 23 48% n/a 48%

MCCOY R 115 - - + + - - + + + - + - - - X - + - + X - - - 8 21 38% 33% 48%

MCCRAVY R 13 - - - + - - + + + - + - - - + - + + X + - - - 9 22 41% n/a 41%

Mceachern D 77 - - + + - - - - + - + - - - - - - - X X - - - 4 21 19% 20% 23%

Mcknight D 101 - X X - - - - X + - - - - X - - - X X X - - - 1 16 6% 18% 17%

Mitchell D 31 X X + - - - - X X - - - X X X - X X X X X X X 1 9 n/a† 14% 14%

MOSS, D. R 29 - - + + - - + + + - + - + + - - + X X + + X - 11 20 55% 35% 58%

MOSS, S. R 30 - X + + - X + + + - + - + + + - + - + + - - - 12 21 57% 33% 57%

MURPHY R 98 - - + + X X + + X X X X - - + - + X X + - - - 7 15 n/a† n/a 74%

NEWTON, B. R 45 - - + + - - + + + - + - + + + - + + - + - - - 12 23 52% n/a 52%

NEWTON, W. R 120 - - - + - - + + + X + - - - + - + X X X - - - 7 19 37% 33% 48%

Norrell D 44 - X + + - - - - X X + - - - - - X - X + - - - 4 18 22% 20% 29%

Ott D 93 - - - + + - + - + - + - - - - - - - + X - X - 6 21 29% 22% 31%

Parks D 12 - - + - - - - - + - - - - - - - X - + X - - X 3 20 15% 18% 15%

PITTS R 14 - - + + - - + X + - + - - + + - + X + X - - - 9 20 45% 29% 43%

POPE R 47 - - + + - - + + + - + - X X + - + - + + - - - 10 21 48% 29% 50%

PUTNAM R 10 - X - + - + + X + - + - X X + - + - + X + - - 9 18 50% 67% 75%

QUINN R 69 - X X X + X + + X X X X X X X X + X X + + - - 6 9 n/a† 55% 65%




16




H 3720 (Sec.

8)

H 3270 (Amd.

12)

H 3270 (Amd.

15)

H 3270 (Amd.

18)

H 3270 (Amd.

23)

H 3270 (Amd.

54) S 218 H 3666 H 3417 H 3548 H 3038 H 3809 H 3865 H 3930 H 3726

H 3720 (Amd.

9a) S 315 H 3929 S 275 H 3516 S 116 H 3041ACU

VotesVotes Cast

2017 %

2016 %

LIFETIME AVG

Ridgeway D 64 - - + + - - - - + - + - - - - - - - X + - - - 5 22 23% 15% 25%

Rivers, M. D 121 - X + - - - - X + - - - - - - X - X - + - - X 3 18 17% n/a 17%

RIVERS, S. R 15 - - + + - - + + + - + - + + + - + - + + - - X 12 22 55% 53% 64%

Robinson-Simpson D 25 - - + + - - - - + - + - - - - - X - - + - - - 5 22 23% 24% 15%

Rutherford D 74 X X + - X - X - X X - X X X X X - - - X - X X 1 9 n/a† 19% 30%

RYHAL R 56 - - X + - - + + + - + - - + - X + - + + - - - 9 21 43% 44% 46%

SANDIFER R 2 X - + + - - + + + - + - X X + - X X X X X X X 7 13 n/a† 37% 52%

SIMRILL R 46 X - + + - + + + X - + - - + + - + X X + - X X 10 17 59% 35% 55%

SMITH, GARRY R 27 - - - + - - + + + - + - + + + - + - + + + + X 13 22 59% 44% 64%

SMITH, GEORGE R 67 X - + + - - + + + - + - - - X - + - + X - - - 8 20 40% 37% 55%

Smith, J. D 72 - X + - - - - - X - - - - - - - - - X + - - - 2 20 10% 12% 15%

SOTTILE R 112 - - + + - - + + + - + - + X - - + - + + - - X 10 21 48% 37% 53%

SPIRES R 96 - - + + - - + + + - + - X - + - + - + + - - X 10 21 48% 28% 49%

Stavrinakis D 119 - X + X - - X + + - X - - - X - - X - + - - - 4 17 24% 17% 26%

STRINGER R 18 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X + X X X X X X 1 1 n/a† n/a 91%

TALLON R 33 - X + + - - + + + X X X + + + - + - + + - - - 11 19 58% 44% 52%

TAYLOR R 86 - - + + - + + + + - + - - - + - + - + X + - - 11 22 50% 35% 61%

THAYER R 9 - - - + - - + + + - + - + + + - + - X + + X - 11 21 52% 56% 71%

Thigpen D 79 - - + X X X - X + X + - - - - - - - X + - - - 4 17 24% n/a 24%

TOOLE R 88 - - - + + + + X + X X - + + + - + - + X X X X 10 16 63% 50% 64%

Weeks D 51 - - + - - - - - + - + - X X X X - - X X X - - 3 16 19% 17% 31%

WEST R 7 - - - + - - + + + - + - + + + - + - + + - X - 11 22 50% n/a 50%

Wheeler D 50 X X + + - - - X + - + - - - - - X - X X - - X 4 16 25% n/a 25%

Whipper D 113 - X + - - - X - + X X - - - - - - X - + - - X 3 17 18% 21% 19%

WHITE R 6 - - - + - - + X + - + - + + + - + X + X - X X 9 18 50% 28% 45%

WHITMIRE R 1 - - + + - - + + + - + - + + + - + - + X - - - 11 22 50% 40% 52%

Williams D 62 - - + - - - - - + - + - - - - - - - + + - - - 5 23 22% 21% 20%

WILLIS R 16 - - - + - - + X + - + - + + + - X - + X + - - 9 20 45% 45% 63%

YOW R 53 X - - + - - + + + - + X + + + - + + X X - - - 10 19 53% n/a 54%




Documents

2017 - ACU Ratingsacuratings.conservative.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/07/Sou… · April 20, 2017 by a vote of 40-1. 14. H 3132 Hospice Licensure Reduction. This bill allows