Op Ed

By Rep. Bobby Harrell

This was a banner year in South Carolina. Members of the General Assembly worked together for the common good, largely setting aside partisanship for teamwork. This unique spirit of cooperation allowed us to pass important legislation and to make great strides for our great state.

We have addressed critical issues like job creation, education and health, and this is just the beginning. I am encouraged by what I have seen in the Legislature this year and am committed to fostering continued collaboration in the coming sessions.

Legislation passed this year will move South Carolina’s economy forward. The Job Creation Act allows a small business to qualify for a job creation tax credit after hiring only two people. The Tax Credit Carry Forward Act assists our state’s manufacturers. And the Corporate Income Tax Moratorium Act provides a tax break that will encourage companies to create jobs in the state’s rural communities.

Sparking economic development is a major focus of South Carolina lawmakers. The Legislature also passed the Venture Capital Investment Act to provide capital to early stage research and start-up enterprises as well as the South Carolina Innovation and Research Centers Act, which will leverage the state’s academic resources to increase research and drive economic development. And tort reform bills now limit lawsuit awards in medical malpractice cases with a $350,000 cap on pain and suffering awards.

With a strong focus on pro-business legislation, we are creating an environment where businesses can grow and create quality jobs in our state.

Nowhere is bipartisanship more important than in educational initiatives. Our children are our future, and South Carolina’s government has demonstrated its dedication to the next generation. Recently, we passed the Education and Economic Development Act. This bill enables students to begin a study focus such as health science, finance, information technology, or arts and humanities as early as the 10th grade. This law is an important means of addressing the quality of life and standard of living for our graduates.

Then there’s the Students Health and Fitness Act of 2005, which was widely supported by both parties. This legislation tips the scales in the favor of South Carolina’s youth with a renewed focus on physical education and well-rounded nutrition in our state’s schools. The goal of this bill is to combat obesity, reduce medical expenditures from state Medicaid funds and ultimately help students perform better in school.

Though a large focus of 2005 was on job creation, education and health, the Legislature did not neglect other key areas of importance to our state. The Highway Funding/Department of Commerce Set Aside Act passed this year redirects an estimated $70 million generated by the vehicle and driving-related taxes to repair our state’s secondary roads and to fortify our state’s infrastructure bank for future needs.

Most importantly, the 2005 legislative session was characterized by a spirit of cooperation and bipartisanship not seen in our state in more than a decade and rarely seen in a legislative body. This year, we were able to build a bridge between political parties to create and pass legislation that serves our citizens.

Perhaps the biggest indication of strong cooperation is the fact that the state budget was unanimously passed in the House, something that has not happened in more than 25 years. House members united behind a budget that prioritizes education and fully funds it to Education Finance Act levels. For the first time in several years, we have fully funded the base student cost at $2,290, which raises total per pupil funding to $9,826. This budget also provides for repaying the trust funds, hiring more law enforcement officers, giving raises to state employees, fully funding Medicaid and incorporating many of Gov. Sanford’s cost-saving strategies to help state agencies become more efficient.

Once again, I am encouraged. What we accomplished this year sets the stage for future sessions. We must continue with a spirit of bipartisan cooperation, and we will. I truly believe that both parties want the best for South Carolina. We are committed to working together to create a better educational system, a better business climate that generates jobs and a better quality of life for citizens across our state.

As we move forward, the S.C. General Assembly is charged with looking closely at where the state needs to go, making a plan to get there and turning the vision into reality.

This year’s tremendous progress on multiple fronts proves what we can accomplish when men and women, Democrats and Republicans, veterans and newcomers alike, work together to improve South Carolina.

Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, is speaker-elect, S.C. House of Representatives and former chairman of the Ways & Means Committee.

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