Growing South Carolina’s Economy & Creating Jobs

South Carolina Republicans believe, and hold dear, the principles that made this country great. We’re for liberty, freedom, limited government, and empowering individuals and business without government interference. In this tough economic time, we believe the only way to grow our economy and create jobs is to remain true to these core conservative principles.

A priority for Republicans this year has been to come through on restructuring our state government. The way our state is governed is inefficient and wastes tax dollars at a time in which we cannot afford it. The General Assembly needs to pass legislation to remove the secretary of state, adjutant general, commissioner of agriculture, comptroller general state treasurer and superintendent of education as elected positions and allow them to be appointed by the governor. We also support putting the governor and lieutenant governor on one ticket and abolishing the state Budget & Control Board. By accomplishing these policies, we can streamline government and reduce the burden on the state’s residents.

We’re dedicated to cutting spending and fewer regulations. Outrageous spending in Washington and here in South Carolina only harms the ability of businesses to start up and expand. To this end, we support zero-based budgeting to ensure that the government doesn’t spend more than absolutely necessary. This will help address the massive national debt and the runaway growth of our state government. Making government, on the state and national levels, deal with only the most necessary of expenses will put more money in everyone’s pockets. We feel similarly about reducing regulation. When President Ronald Reagan went after decades of regulatory build-up under Democrats, the economy took off. It’s important to ensure government doesn’t stand in the way of business.

By drawing down spending and reducing the regulatory burden on business, we can empower businesses to perform at a higher level and bring in more workers. The Party is a strong defender of the right to work, giving workers the freedom to move about and move up to make better lives for themselves and their families. It also takes power out of the stranglehold unions have on companies in other states that hinders economic growth. By passing a constitutional amendment against card-check, we can further protect workers’ rights and defend them against union intimidation.

As always, as conservatives we robustly maintain that lower taxes are better for everyone. It’s been consistently shown that higher taxes stunt business growth and encumber citizens from exercising their personal economic freedoms. Whether it’s eliminating the “death tax,” cutting capital gains and reducing personal and corporate income taxes, they are necessary reforms. Lower taxes, without fail, prove to be the correct type of stimulus the economy needs.