Greetings and Welcome to the S.C. House Republican Caucus Website
Majority Leader Jim Merrill
Welcome to the official website of the South Carolina House Republican Caucus.
The 117th Session of the General Assembly has now finished. It was a two-year session loaded with victories for conservatives throughout South Carolina.
We completed our agenda on April 9th, though several Republican Caucus agenda items were killed by Senate inaction. The top achievement for House Republicans was our illegal immigration bill, H. 4400. We worked with the Senate leadershipâafter defeating special interestsâto combine the toughest aspects of the House and the Senate plans.
The House Republicans worked to reform state government by approving a House rule requiring spending items not requested by a state agency to have a sponsor and an explanation. The Caucus also approved legislation creating a Department of Administration and moving several state agencies under the control of the governorâs office.
The Republicans approved a plan to make insurance more affordable and available by letting small businesses band together to get leverage for buying health insurance. We also approved a measure dedicating the sales tax on cars to improving our roads and infrastructure, which is the second half of the Caucusâ two-year commitment to reforming the Department of Transportation.
The House Republicans also spearheaded the effort to scrap the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test. We replaced the PACT with a diagnostic exam that will give useful information to parents and teachers.
Our income tax cut for married couples, as well as a proposed constitutional amendment to reduce the number of constitutional officers we elect, died in the Senate.
We built on the tremendous successes of 2007, when the House Republicans fought for critical pieces of legislation including a grocery tax cut, an income tax cut, reforms to the Department of Transportation, and sweeping reforms to our workers' compensation system.
In the past two years, we have given $1 billion back to the taxpayers of South Carolina in the form of income, property, and grocery tax cuts.
This year is an election year, and I invite you to return to this website often to learn of the happenings within state government and how we are addressing the needs and concerns of the people of South Carolina.
I also encourage you to sign up for our e-mail lists and to contribute your comments, thoughts and suggestions on the issues of the day.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve the people of South Carolina, and we are committed to making our state an even better place to work and live.
Thank you again for visiting.
Sincerely,
Rep. Jim Merrill
Majority Leader
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