A quick update.
We’re nine weeks into the legislative session. The focus has been on enhancing several bills prior to them moving to the floor of the House for debate.
Today begins one of the busiest and most important weeks in the House: Budget Week.
The theme of this year’s budget is four R’s:
Improving our roads
Increasing our reserves
Tax relief
Raises for teachers, law enforcement officers, and state employees
I will work long and hard to ensure that the House budget allocates appropriate dollars to fund core state functions and improvements while ensuring South Carolinians have more money back in their pockets.
Our economy is booming, with American Rescue Plan Act funds, infrastructure money, and years of conservative planning, we have a historic $3 billion surplus.
The budget bill cuts taxes by $1 billion, putting $600 million back in the pockets of South Carolinians in the first year.
If this Budget Week is like those of the past, it will involve casting hundreds of votes on budget line items, making for a challenging week.
Last Wednesday was Alzheimer’s Advocacy Day at the State House. I was glad to meet with constituents to talk about Alzheimer’s related issues, including the important Caregiver Respite Program funded by the state. More than 95,000 South Carolinians have this terrible disease, with nearly 200,000 family members and friends providing care for them.
I hope you have a good week. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.
Rep. Lee Hewitt