I wanted you to know that I’ve been promoted to Assistant Chief Majority Whip, which is the second highest whip position in the House of Representatives.
Wednesday was Alzheimer’s Advocacy Day at the State House. I was glad to meet with, from left to right, Ruth Keilen, Patty Younts, and Dr. Jon Bowman, to talk about Alzheimer’s related issues.
More than 95,000 South Carolinians have this terrible disease, with nearly 200,000 family members and friends providing care for them.
It’s important that we give flexibility to parents to make the best choice for their child's education.
On Tuesday, I voted to pass joint resolution H.3591, which would amend the SC Constitution through repeal of the “Blaine Amendment,” which currently prohibits the state from providing direct aid to certain private educational institutions.
Repeal of the amendment, which will be decided by voters in a statewide ballot question in 2024, will also help protect many state funded education programs, such as the SC Tuition Grants Program, LIFE Scholarship, Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, CERDEP/CDEPP (full day 4K programs), and the Office of First Steps.
I’m pleased the Army Corps of Engineers announced last week the awarding of $14 million for Pawleys Island and $57 million for North Myrtle Beach through Garden City Beach in disaster relief funds to repair damages to our beaches after Hurricane Ian.
On Wednesday, I proudly voted for H.3532, which creates an additional criminal offense and penalty for committing an additional violent crime while out on bond. This bill will help make South Carolina a safer place by stopping the revolving door for repeat criminals. It creates sentence and bond enhancements for a person convicted of a violent crime while out on bond for a previous violent crime. The bipartisan vote was 92-20.
I’m pleased Scout Motors, a US electric vehicle manufacturer backed by Volkswagen Group, announced Friday they will be establishing their first manufacturing plant in Blythewood, South Carolina. The company’s $2 billion investment has the potential to create 4,000 or more permanent jobs. At full capacity, more than 200,000 Scout vehicles may be produced annually at the facility.
The House Ways and Means Committee wrapped up our hearings and approved the preliminary 2023-24 state budget. This initial budget proposal (nearly $14 billion) is a starting point. The House will debate it the week of March 13th before sending it to the Senate.
I hope you have a good week. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.
Rep. Lee Hewitt