Governor Sanford's agenda

Moving South Carolina forward next session

From day one, this administration’s goal has been to make South Carolina more competitive in attracting jobs and capital investment and our administration to date has seen great results from our efforts.

Progress to Date:

•  We’ve had back to back record breaking recruitment efforts at the Department of Commerce - $4.05 Billion and 15,666 jobs in 2007, $4.1 Billion and 19,000 jobs in 2008 — a 270% increase in capital investment from when we took office.
• Through the Department of Commerce’s work recruiting there at 86,000 more people working in South Carolina than in 2003 - a job growth rate of 4.7% ranking 14th in the nation
• At the same time, South Carolina gained more than 215,000 new residents growing our labor force at an even faster rate of 11.4% - ranking 6th in the nation.
• In 2003, a US Department of Education study found South Carolina had the 2nd worst high school graduation rate in the nation. Today, we target at risk youth with our Jobs for America’s Graduates program – a Tech prep dropout prevention program – recently ranked one of the top 5 in the country with 92% graduation rate.   

Constitutional Amendment—Spending Caps

S.1 (McConnell) / H.3037 (Garry Smith)

• The rate of government growth is now far outpacing the growth of most South Carolinians' incomes. It is for this reason we've continuously pushed to cap state spending to the state's rate of growth * population plus inflation.
• While we passed the first ever Tort Reforms in state history in 2005, South Carolina still has the 8th worst Liability System ranking according to the US Department of Commerce. This highlights the need to pass Tort Reforms that cap punitive damages and establish capped guidelines for pain and suffering awards.

Restructuring State Government

Our proposals for putting more efficiency and accountability into state government for the taxpayers.

• Department of Administration, South Carolina is the only state with a 5  member Budget and Control Board  handling the basic administrative duties of state government. We want to make clear lines of authority in government by making the central administrative functions of  government accountable to the governor.
• Shorten the Statewide Ballot: We propose giving the voters the power to choose the management style of their government – specifically to decide whether the Governor should have the power to appoint the Lieutenant Governor, Superintendent of Education, Secretary of State, and Commissioner of Agriculture.

Department of Administration 

S.208 (L. Martin) / H.3147 (Garry Smith)

Constitutional Amendment—Governor/Lt. Governor

H.3231 (Ted Pitts) / S.203 (Peeler)

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