FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For More Information
Majority Leader Kenny Bingham
(803) 734-3139



Republican Caucus Unveils
Agenda Focused on Job Creation


COLUMBIA, S.C. -- House Speaker Bobby Harrell and House Majority Leader Kenny Bingham unveiled the 2010 Republican Caucus Agenda today -- an agenda focused on creating jobs and giving business the tools it needs to help improve the economy.

"We are all anxious to turn the page from the unfortunate distractions of 2009 and start 2010 with a laser-focus on improving our economy," said Rep. Bingham.  "Every decision on every bill the House Republican Caucus considers will be evaluated in how it improves the economy, whether that is an item on this agenda, or any other bill that comes through our committees or on to the House floor."

Joining Speaker Harrell and Rep. Bingham were Assistant Majority Leader Bruce Bannister of Greenville, Rep. Annette Young of Summerville, and Rep. Bill Herbkersman of Bluffton, as well as the rest of the 73-member Republican Caucus.

The four major Agenda points are:

Growing our Economy
"Today is the day when we turn the page from the difficult last few months and get our state focused on the issues that matter the most to our state’s citizens," said Speaker Harrell.  "South Carolina's economy is the biggest issue facing our state for the next two decades.  Lowering unemployment and increasing per capita income are issues that directly affect the lives of South Carolina families. This next legislative session will focus intensely on our state’s economic priorities.  Our Economic Development Competitiveness plan lays out steps we need to take to make our state more competitive in today’s global economy."
 
Improving Education
"Improving our education system -- from kindergarten through college -- is critical to Improving our economy.  Improving education is an issue that we can see clearly through the prism of economic development," said Rep. Bannister. "A quality education system is not a partisan issue -- it is something businesses believe is critical for the educated workforce they rely on to create good quality jobs."

Responsible and Limited Government
"When it comes to helping businesses plan for the future, there are few items more important that creating a responsible and limited government," Rep. Young said. "Today, businesses across the nation are saying they hesitate to grow and expand because they are unsure about what direction the federal government is headed in.  They won't have that hesitation in our state."

Protecting State's Rights
"Under the new administration, the federal government is undertaking an unprecedented power grab -- much of which is at the expense of state governments and personal freedoms," said Rep. Herbkersman. "In the past we have fought the federal government over items like REAL ID -- powers that are not granted the federal government in the constitution.  The House Republican Caucus will do everything in its power to limit federal intrusion into areas where power is reserved for the states, beginning with Obamacare."

During the press conference, the Caucus also released a list of "unfinished business" from 2009 -- items on last year’s Caucus agenda that have not seen any action in the Senate.

"There are a number of important reforms that still have a chance to become law because of our two-year legislative session," Rep. Bingham said.  "These pieces of legislation are conservative reforms that limit government, protect personal freedoms and will help improve the economy.  I hope Senate leaders will take action on these items during 2010 and we will work with them to ensure these items are completed."


- # # # -