Dear Friends,

Thank you for all the responses you sent about what you wanted lawmakers focused on this session.  We were listening, and we heard you loud and clear.  Your recommendations were invaluable to us as we finalized the House Republican Caucus 2010 Legislative Agenda.

Here is a link to the finalized 2010 Caucus Agenda.  You played a major roll in creating this year’s Agenda and because of your input, this represents one of our most responsive Agendas to date.

There was an overwhelming consensus on a number of key issues that many of you expressed.  But one item - our economy - definitely stood out as an issue that you said must be a major focus for the Legislature this year.

Growing our state’s economy and creating jobs is the prism that all our Agenda items are viewed through.  We’ve worked very hard over the past several years to create a pro-business climate in our state.  Now, it is the time for us to build a proactive economic development strategy that promotes our state’s pro-business advantages and attracts the industries looking to create new jobs.

Boeing’s decision late last year to invest hundreds of millions of dollars and thousands of new jobs in South Carolina was the biggest economic development win our state has seen in over a decade.  It showed the world what South Carolina can accomplish.  Building on the proactive economic development strategies that helped land Boeing will make our state more competitive in today’s global economy.

Created entirely from private sector input, because it’s the private sector - not government - that must lead us out of these difficult economic times, the Economic Development Competitiveness Act we introduced this week will take the needed steps to improve our job creation efforts.

It was obvious in the responses we received that just about everyone recognized that the economy and education are linked together.  Improving one benefits the other.  Providing fair and flexible funding for school districts will help drive more dollars directly to the classroom and giving students and parents options - like charter schools - will provide a better education tailored to each child’s needs.

There is much more that we need to focus on this year.  We need to reduce the tax burden on families and small businesses, restrict government growth with spending limits, insure our workers the right to a secret ballot, protect our state’s rights from an unprecedented expansion of federal power and reform broken agencies like the Employment Security Commission.

To accomplish this, the House Republican Caucus has put forward an Agenda that is based on the principles we share and that will move our state forward.

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and helping us to shape this year’s Agenda.  I truly appreciate the trust and opportunity you have given me to serve as your House Speaker.  I will continue to do all that I can to ensure that your voice is heard and that our shared values are well represented.

Sincerely,



Bobby Harrell

Speaker, South Carolina House of Representatives

 

P.S. As the 2010 session progresses, please do not hesitate to contact me to let me know your thoughts or advice on legislation that is being debated.  You can reach me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or at (803) 743-3125.

 

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Contact Information:

 

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