Greenville County Council is the perfect example of “Watch what they DO, not what they SAY” … or at least what letter the members have behind their name.
Greenville County Council has 10 Republicans and 2 Democrats. That sounds pretty conservative … right?
Well, not so much.
This past month the Greenville County Council passed a two year budget which includes a substantial PROPERTY TAX INCREASE. (This is on top of a similarly large School Board Tax increase … but we will worry about that later.) If the funds were needed, that would be one thing, but the budget and corresponding tax increase is jam packed with “pork” and leftist big government programs … certainly contrary to the Republican Platform the 10 “Republicans” are supposed to uphold.
This tax increase is exacerbated given the MASSIVE new Greenville County Administrative Building (and Parking Deck) … many calling the “Golden Palace”.
#SellTheGoldenPalace!!!
STEP #1: THE DETAILS
Obviously the new “Golden Palace” was a bad optic, but a lot of research and review of the proposed budget (which was published last minute – another political tactic) to determine if the tax increase was necessary.
This is where it really got interesting … and scary.
It became clear that not only was there a substantial amount of “pork” in the budget, but the budget items themselves were taking on a very distinctive “left turn” with funding more for social and “feel good” projects as opposed to core government functions and services.
What was worse however is the expectation to fund those core government functions such as “roads” will be the subject of future TAX INCREASES in the form of “fees”. This is a growing issue across South Carolina, not just a Greenville County issue so beware.
One special guest at Monday’s GCRP Meeting was local taxpayer advocate Michelle Shuman. Her research and service was praised by council members present as well as the entire GCRP body.
In fighting this tax increase, the Greenville County Republican Party (GCRP) worked closely with several councilmen, first on the details to determine if the tax was needed (which it wasn’t) … the push to defeat the property tax increase was on!!!
In Greenville, you need a two-thirds vote to pass a tax increase. That means it takes 8 (out of 12) to pass the tax increase … and only 5 to kill it.
Five Republican council members did step up for the initial vote and killed the increase … but on a second vote one member “flipped” on his constituents and the tax increased passed.
Who flipped? Newly elected in 2022, Councilman Joey Russo … now not so affectionally known in his community as “Traitor Joey”.
But the first step of the GCRP was to commend the actions of the four council members who held true to the SC Republican Platform and did not cave to the monied special interest.
NOTE – PRAISE ACTIONS , NOT INDIVIDUALS: One key point taught in political advocacy schools is you do not put forth blanket praise for elected officials. You commend ACTIONS … specific actions … not the individuals.
Why? Because even the good one will “flip” on you. Look at Congressman Jeff Duncan (R – 3rd Congressional District). Everyone thinks he is a great conservative … but he VOTED WITH JOE BIDEN & Congressman Jim Clyburn (D – 6th Congressional District) to increase the debt ceiling.
Now what do you do with a congressman like Jeff Duncan which so many blanketly praised as a good conservative?
STEP #3: THE CENSURE
Next step was to formally censure the six “Republicans” that caved.
Technically, under the Greenville County Party Rules (2017), in order to censure an elected official, you must initially have a “First Reading”. The rule was added years ago by the “old guard” establishment in order to protect elected officials from rogue “Tea Party Patriots” … but it is in the rules currently and as such must be followed.
Chairman of the GCRP Legislative Committee Harrison Musselwhite led the censure resolution … and the support in Greenville was overwhelming.
Congratulations Harrison!!!
A formal vote to finalize the censure is forthcoming at an expected “special meeting” of the GCRP.
But a censure is just a piece of paper … so in Greenville this is not the end of the story … in fact it is just the beginning.
Next steps:
(1) DOOR KNOCKING: Specially designed door hangers and fliers will be left on voters doors in the precincts of these 6 “Republicans” council members. Getting the word out to the general voting public … especially June 11, 2024 Republican Primary Voters is key. Too many have no idea … but they will know this fall when their tax bills come out … so the timing is perfect to rally voters.
(2) PETITIONS: We do not have recall elections in South Carolina … although perhaps we should … but a petition is a good conversation starter for precinct members when they reach out to their neighbors. Following the general literature drops, rounds of door knocking and petition drives will begin in order to further raise public awareness.
(3) CANDIDATE RECRUITING: This is 24 / 7 / 365 all the time … but specialty recruiting drives and coordination with other groups on “who” is the SC Patriot candidate to primary the censured “Republicans” is essential.
(4) JUNE 11TH, 2024: This is where it is all building … primary election day 2024!!! In Greenville FOUR of the SIX censured council members will be up for re-election.
PROCESS, PROCESS, PROCESS … PLAN, PLAN, PLAN: This is how it is all done. It is not easy, especially when fighting on the liberty side of the fence … but it is easier when you have right on your side. It is going to be an exciting 2024 primary election season … so keep up the good work and GET INVOLVED LOCALLY!!!
Yesterday we shared with you the CALL TO CONVENTION for the 7 SCGOP Congressional District Conventions coming up in April (HERE). All America FIRST SCGOP State Delegates should REGISTER … and attend!!! Consider it mandatory to #SaveSouthCarolina!!! 😉
Well, guess what … there are 3 1/2 pages of “Rules” about these 7 SCGOP Congressional District Organizations … including details on the conventions.
We won’t repeat the entire Rule 6 here … it is 3 1/2 pages … but click below … read Rule 6 … and let us know if you have any questions or see anything interesting. It is critical to know the RULES!!!
READ RULE 6: “Congressional District Organization” – HERE
$55 MILLION for “real” School Choice READY TODAY!!!
S285 has already PASSED the SC Senate (28 to 9 vote)!!!
S285 is just sitting in the SC House waiting to be passed.
Could be passed, AS-IS, No Changes and be law within a week.
$11,000 scholarships for special needs … not $6,000 like ESA.
$11,000 scholarships for low income … not $6,000 like ESA.
100% Constitutional … not like the ESA.
No Gov’t Strings Attached … not like the ESA.
Approved by Homeschoolers / HSLDA … not like the ESA.
All sides say they support it … not like the ESA.
Nearly UNIVERSAL School Choice!!!
All families up to 400% of poverty are eligible ($124,800 for a family of 4).
ESA Supreme Court Oral Arguments: This past Wednesday March 6th, the SC Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the lawsuit claiming (as we believe) that the ESA / Education Scholarship Trust Fund (ESTF) program is UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
You all recall that a substantially similar ESA program was twice ruled UNCONSTITUTIONAL back in 2020 … both decisions were unanimous 5 to 0 opinions … and that point was made very clear by Chief Justice Donald W. Beatty (HERE) as the hearing began. The Chief Justice was unrelenting in his disdain for the ESA program … probably more that a judge should be in open court … but the other Justices were not very easy on the matter either.
Acting Justice, Chief Judge James E. Lockemy (HERE) of the SC Court of Appeals made a huge issue of whether the Superintendent of Education could even administer the program … based on the fact that her Constitutional Duty was to represent Public Schools. That was a new twist, and not a good sign for the ESA pushers.
Watch the 1 hour & 7 minute video of the hearing yourself: HERE
You never know what may happen … and we are sure the “politicians” electing these SC Supreme Court Justices have been working them hard to rule their “monied special interest” ESA bill is legal … but it could very well be that the SC Supreme Court rules this program unconstitutional for a third time.
The 2020 ESA decision was originally heard on September 18th, 2020, with the decision filed on October 7, 2020 … just 3 weeks later. Legislators (and families / schools) need to know before the 2024 legislative session ends in early May, so the clock is ticking.
Surprisingly, very few mainstream media outlets are reporting on this … but you can see what Alexander Thompson of The Post & Courier (HERE) and Seanna Adcox of the SC Daily Gazette (HERE) and Jeffrey Collins of the Associated Press (HERE) had to say about the oral arguments.
PASS S285 – “real” School Choice: S285 has already passed the SC Senate and is objectively “better” than the 100% Government Run / government strings attached ESA program … so why are legislators delaying??? What do we say … #FollowTheMONEY!!!
The 2020 ESA Program using the same ClassWallet (HERE) online portal was ruled UNCONSTITUTIONAL as a prohibited “direct” benefit to private schools.
Election Day Countdown (as of 03/11/2024):
Saturday, March 16th @ Noon – 5 days (SC Filing Opens)
Monday, April 1st @ Noon – 21 days (SC Filing Closes)
Tuesday, June 11th, 2024 – 92 days (SC Primaries)
Tuesday, Nov. 5th, 2024 – 239 (ELECTION DAY)
Send us your opinion on this great debate … and how you would like to see it solved … by hitting REPLY or emailing us at team@mySCGOP.com.
HAVE AN OPINION?
Have an opinion? Different or in agreement? About the above or something else? If so, speak up as we want to hear from you! Send your letters to team@mySCGOP.com and we will be happy to share it with our readers. #SaveSouthCarolina!
We have seen A LOT of “Call To Action” alerts going out on social media and via email about defeating H5164 as it includes homeschoolers in the 100% Government Run ESA Program (aka ESTF Program).
Well … that is nice … but realize if we simply get the home school provision removed … THAT IS NOT A VICTORY!!!
If H5164 … the 100% government run school choice program is bad for homeschoolers … it is equally as bad for ALL K-12 education … that includes Private & Christian Schools as well. Right?
It may feel like an “easy” win to remove homeschoolers from H5164 … heck the uniparty may have included homeschoolers just as a “red herring” to give grassroots a perceived (yet fake) win if legislators do ultimately remove homeschoolers.
Stand up for ALL kids … oppose H5164 for the right reasons … for ALL the reasons. Don’t miss the big picture in order to “feel good” about a fake win.
We don’t want 100% government control of our education system … PERIOD!!! 100% government control is the problem … not just the fact homeschoolers are included in this v02 of SC Superintendent Ellen Weaver & her monied special interest (i.e., ClassWallet) ESA / ESTF Program.
#LearnTheirTRICKS!
#FollowTheMONEY!
– PASS S285 –
PASS S285: Whether some folks like it or not … the “only” solution to fighting back against 100% government run school choice is for the SC House of Representatives to pass S285 (HERE). The SC Senate has already passed it … we are just waiting for the SC House to DO SOMETHING … to pass S285 as-is, with not changes … and send it straight to the Governor for signing!!!
The (P)ACE Tax Credit Scholarship Bill is the grandaddy of school choice in our nation … and it is the “only” school program designed to FIGHT BACK against government overreach into our private schools & homeschoolers. Wouldn’t that be a good thing for SC Patriots to have on their side fighting government overreach everywhere?
Why else do you think SC House Legislators on both sides are trying to defeat it? 😉
DEFINITION: red herring (noun), something intended to distract attention from the real problem.
Saturday, March 16th @ Noon – 8 days (SC Filing Opens)
Monday, April 1st @ Noon – 24 days (SC Filing Closes)
Tuesday, June 11th, 2024 – 95 days (SC Primaries)
Tuesday, Nov. 5th, 2024 – 242 (ELECTION DAY)
Send us your opinion on this great debate … and how you would like to see it solved … by hitting REPLY or emailing us at team@mySCGOP.com.
HAVE AN OPINION?
Have an opinion? Different or in agreement? About the above or something else? If so, speak up as we want to hear from you! Send your letters to team@mySCGOP.com and we will be happy to share it with our readers. #SaveSouthCarolina!
As expected, President DONALD TRUMP had a swath or crushing victories in yesterday’s SUPER TUESDAY primaries.
Haley did however win one state … VERMONT … home of Socialist US Senator Bernie Sanders. Like her victory over the weekend in Washington, DC … it’s nothing to be super proud of (HERE).
Nikki Haley’s Campaign went “dark” for hours last night … and this morning they announced she will be suspending her campaign today at 10AM.
Saturday, March 16th @ Noon – 10 days (SC Filing Opens)
Monday, April 1st @ Noon – 26 days (SC Filing Closes)
Tuesday, June 11th, 2024 – 97 days (SC Primaries)
Tuesday, Nov. 5th, 2024 – 244 (ELECTION DAY)
Send us your opinion on this great debate … and how you would like to see it solved … by hitting REPLY or emailing us at team@mySCGOP.com.
HAVE AN OPINION?
Have an opinion? Different or in agreement? About the above or something else? If so, speak up as we want to hear from you! Send your letters to team@mySCGOP.com and we will be happy to share it with our readers. #SaveSouthCarolina!
TRICK #1 – “Red Meat” for the Republican Base: We have seen this “show” numerous times. The SC House establishment will put up a “red meat” bill (i.e., appeals to the Republican base) which likely has ZERO chance of going anywhere in the Senate … but establishment SC House members / leadership can CAMPAIGN on passing some real conservative legislation and point the finger at the SC Senate. It has been done over and over and over through the years … and they did it again last Wednesday with a faux “Universal School Choice” bill, H5164.
Don’t buy it … if they really cared about “school choice”, they would have passed the $55 MILLION (P)ACE Scholarship Bill … S285 … the “real” school choice bill which has been sitting in the SC House Ways & Means Committee since March 28th, 2023 after the SC Senate set it for SPECIAL ORDER and passed it 28 to 9. (HERE)
TRICK #2 – Not all “school choice” is the same: There is 100% government run school choice like the ESA / H5164 … which is bad … and there is free market school choice which is run by independent conservative non-profits with NO GOVERNMENT STRINGS ATTACHED.
When anyone tells you about a “school choice” bill you FIRST question needs to be “who” administers the program? If it is the GOVERNMENT who administers the program … be it the SC State Department of Education … or worse, the SC Department of Revenue … the bill is BAD!!!
Don’t be lazy and say “I just want school choice, I don’t really care what it is.” There is a massive difference short-term and long-term between 100% government run / strings attached ESAs like H5164 … and “real” free-market school choice Tax Credit Scholarships like S285.
TRICK #3 – Fast-tracked Committee Hearings: Well, H5164 was filed out of the blue on Wednesday, February 28th … and it already has a scheduled House Sub-Committee Hearing scheduled for Tuesday, March 5th (TODAY!!!) … and a Full Committee Hearing scheduled for Wednesday, March 6th.
Seem a little “pre-planned“??? 😉
TRICK #4 – Everybody supports the bill!!!: Yes, this is when you know there is a real problem and the fix is in. Remember SC First STEPS … another 100% supported, 100% government run leftist program passed in the dark of the night with lightening speed (HERE).
Well guess what … “everybody” supports this 100% Government Run “universal school choice” bill … and when we say everybody, that means SC HOUSE LEADERSHIP and the SC FREEDOM CAUCUS.
Ask yourself … why is the SC House Freedom Caucus supporting a 100% government run anything???
Rep. Adam Morgan & Speaker Smith support H5164? Hmmm …
Why SCFC Supports 100% Gov’t Run Private School Choice?
Folks tell us all the time that it makes no sense that the SC Freedom Caucus would support 100% Government Run ESAs … it is the complete OPPOSITE of what they preach. Well, that is true … “freedom” is not 100% government run.
But the SCFC does support 100% government run school choice … so what gives?
It is real simple … MONEY!!!
SCFC Chairman & 4th Congressional District Candidate Rep. Adam Morgan’s (HERE) family owns an EDUCATIONAL CONSULTING FIRM called Palmetto Fortis (HERE) … and SCFC members Rep. Alan Morgan (HERE & HERE) and Rep. Josiah Magnuson (HERE& HERE) both work there.
As we have shown you before, this ESA program means HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS to monied special interests (HERE) … it hasn’t even started and $4.2 million has already been awarded to just one vendor, ClassWallet (HERE).
Connect the dots friends …
MAJOR CONFLICTS OF INTEREST???: Well, these are the questions we have been asking the Morgans and the SC Freedom Caucus up here in Greenville for well over two years with NO ANSWERS. And it is the reason the SC Freedom Caucus has been working with Drew McKissick supporting these “splinter groups” in places like LEXINGTON & Greenville … they don’t want us asking these questions or telling you the backstory.
Think about it … if there was nothing “wrong” going on, wouldn’t the Morgans and the SC Freedom Caucus be willing to discuss the matter???
Lawyer Legislators may be making MILLIONS off of their “special gigs” … but they are not the only ones at the SC State House shaking down taxpayers for their own personal financial benefit.
Saturday, March 16th @ Noon – 11 days (SC Filing Opens)
Monday, April 1st @ Noon – 27 days (SC Filing Closes)
Tuesday, June 11th, 2024 – 98 days (SC Primaries)
Tuesday, Nov. 5th, 2024 – 245 (ELECTION DAY)
Send us your opinion on this great debate … and how you would like to see it solved … by hitting REPLY or emailing us at team@mySCGOP.com.
HAVE AN OPINION?
Have an opinion? Different or in agreement? About the above or something else? If so, speak up as we want to hear from you! Send your letters to team@mySCGOP.com and we will be happy to share it with our readers. #SaveSouthCarolina!
No … wining Washington, DC is nothing to be proud of … whatsoever!!!
But that is what Nikki Haley did over the weekend … winning Washington, DC by 1,274 votes to TRUMP’s 676. TRUMP however cleaned up in Missouri, Idaho and the Michigan Caucuses over the weekend … places where you want to win (as opposed to the SWAMP … Washington, DC).
What we found most interesting however were two quotes …
The first quote came out of the mouth of the Washington DC Republican Party (www.dcgop.com) Chairman Patrick Mara (HERE & HERE) who told Politico “This universe is a little more sophisticated than just about any universe in any other state”. SAY WHAT!?!?!? Chairman Mara continued on stating “I listen to the political podcasts in the morning. I read the newsletters throughout the day. That’s probably, like, half the people showing up at this.” (Politico – HERE).
Does this guy have any self awareness???
The second quote which gets into the political / mental / media manipulation … the Yahoo!News Chief National Correspondent Jon Ward called Washington, DC a state (HERE) … specifically stating Nikki Haley “won her first state in the nominating cycle with a victory in Sunday’s Washington, D.C., primaries.“
Tuesday, March 5th, 2024 – TOMORROW (Super Tuesday)
Saturday, March 16th @ Noon – 12 days (SC Filing Opens)
Monday, April 1st @ Noon – 28 days (SC Filing Closes)
Tuesday, June 11th, 2024 – 99 days (SC Primaries)
Tuesday, Nov. 5th, 2024 – 246 (ELECTION DAY)
Send us your opinion on this great debate … and how you would like to see it solved … by hitting REPLY or emailing us at team@mySCGOP.com.
HAVE AN OPINION?
Have an opinion? Different or in agreement? About the above or something else? If so, speak up as we want to hear from you! Send your letters to team@mySCGOP.com and we will be happy to share it with our readers. #SaveSouthCarolina!
