The House Ways and Means Committee recently completed a $5.8 billion spending plan that offers more funds for education, law enforcement, Medicaid, and restoring our state's trust funds.

It is a great day for South Carolina when parties who have held such differing views on past political issues have unanimously passed this budget out of the House Ways and Means Committee. The level of cooperation between the political parties and the desire to work together was unprecedented.  Then again, it shouldn't be hard for legislators to agree on a budget that focuses on the issues South Carolinians tell us are priorities. What brought us together is a commitment to making the very best choices for South Carolina's future, and a spirit of cooperation that we have not seen in several years.

Education is the top priority of this budget. [As it has been every year for the past ten? years? And we are still on the bottom. Students in high school cannot read or write and elementary school students are out hugging trees and assisting in lobbying the Legislature. School starts earlier and earlier and pupils are in school LEARNING - less and less]During the past few difficult years, we said when times got better we wanted to focus even more on education, and we were pleased to announce that we are fully funding education to the Education Finance Act (EFA) level.  At the same time, we are repaying trust funds, hiring more law enforcement officers, and giving raises to state employees.

With this budget, the total per pupil funding for South Carolina will be $9,826, which includes the "base student cost" being fully funded at $2,290.  {Where are the funds that corporations and businesses contribute to school funds? Somehow that is never mentioned in the accounting of school dollars. Taxes are raised by autonomous school boards.]That is good news for students, parents and teachers.  [Teacher certification based on NEA standards prove "Basic Education" is not what is taking place.]What's more, teacher supply money was increased to $250, and teacher salaries will be increased so that they will continue to be $300 above the Southeast average.  Furthermore, the budget fully funds our state's scholarship programs:  LIFE, Palmetto Fellows and HOPE scholarships and continues to provide funding for tuition assistance to two-year institutions. [check into the Lottery funds and see where it is REALLY going].

In addition to education, law enforcement is also a priority.  The budget adds 100 new Highway Patrol officers, 124 corrections officers, 20 SLED agents, 118 SC Department of Juvenile Justice officers, 10 SC Department of Natural Resources agents and four new criminal prosecutors.  State employees will receive a 4 percent pay raise for the first time in years with many law enforcement officers getting 10 percent raises, bringing their salaries more in line with the rest of the Southeast.  Medicaid is fully funded.  And, the House budget includes more than 170 of the Governor's cost-saving strategies, which require state agencies to operate more efficiently.

One very important aspect of this budget is that it completely restores forty of the trust funds from which money was borrowed over the last few years, including the Pinewood Fund, the Heritage Land Trust Fund, the Superb Fund, and the Patients Compensation Fund.  In addition, the budget puts $25 million back in the Barnwell Extended Care Maintenance Fund.  It is important that the General Assembly set a course to make sure that all trust funds are completely restored. 

A strong educational system is critical to a successful economy.  For our state to compete in the increasingly complex global economy, our citizens need top-notch training and academic preparation.  The rules to become successful are changing.  Most of today's jobs require higher-level skills and that means higher-level education.  As South Carolina continues to attract better, higher paying jobs, we must provide the skilled workforce to fill those. [When will the SC Legislature admit their approach to more money to schools is not the answer? STOP the socialization of students and TEACH them basics. When students are not required to read before the third grade - it becomes abuse, neglect, and lack of integrity on the part of our so-called representatives.]

It all begins in the elementary, middle and high schools of our great state. While education initiatives will require additional resources from the state, the return on the investment will be significant and will help ensure prosperity for decades to come. [We have gone through plan after plan - all very expensive - not only in dollars but loss of several generations of students...changes have shown no progress in students knowledge......but the SC Dept of Education continues to fool the public and Legislature.]

When the budget is debated in a couple of weeks by the full SC House of Representatives, you will hear state officials negotiate budget priorities. Some of us will make education our number one priority. Others will focus on paying back trust funds as the top initiative.  The bottom line is that both of these can and should be priorities.

It may look like a difficult choice to some, but it really isn't a choice at all. Our future depends on every South Carolinian contributing to the productivity of the state. We cannot afford to leave any child behind. [They were left behind a long time ago. The only ones not left behind have been the hard hit taxpayers. many of whom are having to pay double for their children's education]. It has been very gratifying to see everyone working so hard together on this budget.  This is the first time in a long time that we have seen such unified and overwhelming support from virtually everyone in the House of Representatives. Democrats, Republicans, men, women, veterans and newcomers alike are pulling together to ensure that South Carolina's children are our top priority and are well prepared for the future. [If this statement was more than the usual rhetoric, we would see a complete turn around re. education in SC. Politicical hot air, same as last year, the year before....etc.]