I am very thankful to the citizens of Blue Ridge, Greer and Taylors for allowing me to represent all of us in the South Carolina House these past 6 years. I remain mindful that the seat I hold belongs to all of you and not to me.
Since I went to Columbia in 2009, my voting record reveals the core beliefs that I originally campaigned with and have refined over the years.
Having taken office at the beginning of the Great Recession, I have voted to reduce government interference in people’s ability to make a living and run their own businesses. I don’t believe that government can create jobs, but I do believe that government meddling and incompetence can cost jobs. It can destroy opportunity by not fulfilling its core function. The condition of our roads and bridges are a perfect example. It can also destroy opportunity through an unfair tax code. I have introduced several bills to address these issues.
Speaking of governmental incompetence, I believe that government cannot run most of its own agencies in an efficient or competent manner. For every state agency like the DMV, which seems to fulfill its mission in a slow but consistent manner, there is a DSS, where children’s lives are lost. There is a valuable lesson in that comparison: agencies do a better job processing car titles than they do processing children – or any human being, for that matter. A truth that will become more apparent as government tries to manage our healthcare. I have voted for government restructuring and have introduced bills designed to actually reduce the overall size of state government.
As a life-long resident of Blue Ridge, I grew up with guns in the house. I’ve never hunted much, but we shoot a lot of sporting clays up near my house. We also shoot with target pistols for fun and I’m teaching my son how to be consistent with gun safety. He’s also turning into a pretty good archer. It almost goes without saying that we keep the type of firearms necessary for home protection – as did my dad when I was growing up. With this reality, I have consistently voted to protect our 2nd Amendment rights.
I have consistently voted to protect the unborn. I was just 7 years old when Roe v. Wade made abortions widely legal, so I don’t pay much attention to the old 1960’s political radicalism that was prevalent in 1973. As a person who lives in the 21st century and who has witnessed the rapid progression of medical technology, I understand that we now know much more about the development and viability of unborn babies. I believe it to be my ethical duty to protect them.
Finally, I have learned in no uncertain terms that for government to run properly, elected officials must demand transparency and ethical behavior from our leaders and from our colleagues. I intend to become much more vocal in demanding from my colleagues what you all, as my constituents, deserve to know.
I appreciate your continued support.