Columbia, S.C. – Senator Glenn McConnell’s “Fiscal Fitness” agenda passed committee today and heads to the full South Carolina Senate for a vote. The agenda encompasses several legislative initiatives, including a state constitutional spending cap, a deficit prevention act and a trust fund protection act. The reforms will improve government function and save South Carolina taxpayers their hard-earned dollars.
Senator McConnell said “We must enact reforms that will create a fiscally fit state so that we are fair to taxpayers and we improve economic conditions for all South Carolinians.”
The more contested aspect of the agenda – needed reforms to the way government regulations are enacted, found some opposition but still passed the committee and went to the floor.
Senator McConnell said “We need the broad-based regulatory reform so that regulations and fees require an affirmative vote from the General Assembly. South Carolinians deserve better than increased costs from the state being tucked into budget provisos or being enacted because time ran out for the General Assembly to consider them. Regulations and fees need an up-or-down vote.”
“These reforms simply make sense, and South Carolinians know that,” said Senator McConnell.
A review of state government to streamline agencies and services has been carried over until the next committee meeting for additional amendments.
The “Fiscal Fitness” agenda is the result of the fiscal fitness subcommittee’s work since September. Members appointed by Senator McConnell to the subcommittee included Senator Tom Davis, Beaufort County; Senator Vincent Sheheen, Kershaw County; Senator Shane Massey, Edgefield County; Senator Jake Knotts, Lexington County; Senator Gerald Malloy, Darlington County; and Senator Phil Shoopman, Greenville County.
