Caucus Press Release: House GOP Finishes Work on Ambitious 2006 Agenda
Apr 6, 2006
SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS / PRESS OFFICE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
House GOP Finishes Work
On Ambitious 2006 Agenda
COLUMBIA -- The South Carolina House Republican Caucus finished work on its ambitious six-point 2006 agenda this week when it approved workers' compensation reform.
"The bills in this year's agenda provided substantial tax relief, protected private property, improved the state's business climate, and improved our state's education system," said House Speaker Bobby Harrell. "These are goals all South Carolinians share and your representatives worked hard to achieve them."
The completed agenda provides South Carolina with a broad slate of conservative reforms and were approved in the first 13 weeks of the 2006 session.
"This agenda was crafted to address critical issues to improve South Carolina's economy and increase protections of our personal freedoms," said Majority Leader Jim Merrill. "This conservative agenda improves the quality of life in South Carolina."
The GOP Caucus agenda items are:
* Property Tax Reform (H. 4449 and H. 4450). Approved 2/8/06. The House passed comprehensive tax reform legislation that removed nearly all property taxes from owner-occupied houses and eliminated sales taxes on food. A 2 percent sales tax was substituted for property taxes.
* Economic Development (Budget). Approved 3/30/06. The House provided critical funding for the Department of Commerce so it can effectively recruit new businesses to South Carolina.
* Eminent Domain (H. 4502 and H. 4503). Approved 3/15/06. The House overwhelmingly approved restrictions on how government could use eminent domain to seize private property.
* Workers' Compensation Reform (H. 4427). Approved 4/5/06. The House approved reforms to the state's workers' compensation system, re-affirming our commitment to the state's pro-business climate.
* Limiting Government Spending (H. 4449). Approved 2/8/06. The House included a provision that limits government spending in the property tax reform bill.
* Education Reform (H. 3010 and Budget). Approved 2/16/06. The House approved a bill creating a statewide charter school board, making it easier to create to these innovative schools, and expanded access to kindergarten programs in the budget.
"The members of the House Republican Caucus worked diligently and ushered this agenda through the House in less than three months," said Assistant Majority Leader Adam Taylor of Laurens. "Caucus members work hard every session to promote the conservative issues important to our constituents."
Note: For more information on the agenda and the individual items, go to schousegop.com.
For More Information:
Speaker Bobby Harrell
(803) 734-3125
Majority Leader Jim Merrill
(803) 734-3138
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Click for a PDF copy of this press release.
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