Andy Patrick|Effective Representation for Hilton Head Island

Our state government spending has grown at one of the fastest rates in the country.  Until last year, legislators increased spending well over one billion dollars in new revenue and did not set aside sufficient money in a “rainy day” fund so that we could have avoided this recent cuts to core government services.  I believe government spending should increase at a sustainable rate that is commensurate with the incomes of the taxpayers paying for it and therefore propose the following:

An annual cap on state spending that requires budgeting at a sustainable level of growth relative to the annual increase in inflation plus the increase in the population.  Tax receipts above this spending limit could be applied toward unfunded liabilities (e.g., our state retirement system), put into a “rainy day” fund to cover shortfalls in years when revenues collected fall short of projections, and/or returned to the taxpayers of our state.

Comprehensive reform of our state’s tax system to make it relevant to the 21st century.  Our tax on cigarettes is the lowest in the country, our top marginal income tax rate is one of the highest rates in the country and our tax code is riddled with sales tax exemptions that, assuming they once did, no longer make sense.  Our tax structure must be comprehensively reformed, and Iwill fight against net tax increases and work for an overall reduction in the amount of taxes paid by South Carolinians with special emphasis placed on lowering our high job-killing income tax.

Zero-based budgeting throughout state government rather than the current practice of funding agencies at the previous year’s level and only debating new spending and budgeting that reduces the amount of one-time money used to fund ongoing programs (so-called “annualizations”), a practice that creates funding shortfalls in the following year’s budget.

Creation of an independent Inspector General to be appointed by the Governor and tasked with finding waste, fraud and abuse in state government.  The need for this function is evidenced by a number of recent disclosures that reflect poorly on the management of state government and failure of oversight.

This year’s election offers the chance to move away from state government that is too big, too arrogant and too loose with our money – a chance to end the cronyism that has held us back as a state for decades.  I am running for office because I believe that the public is tired of elected officials who only pay “lip service” to these problems instead of actually working to solve them.

South Carolinians should not settle for an over-priced government that provides mediocre results.  I envision a limited but effective government that provides value and real results for our tax dollars and promise that I, starting in my first legislative session and continuing in subsequent sessions, will work with a growing number of like minded legislators and our next governor to pass common sense reforms in these four areas:

FIRST, taxing and spending reforms to more effectively target our finite resources to core services, eliminate wasteful spending, and ultimately return more money to the taxpayers of South Carolina.

SECOND, structural reforms to the executive branch so that it can efficiently execute the laws and serve as an appropriate and effective check and balance on the other two branches of state government.

THIRD, judicial reforms to increase the independence of our judiciary and to make it a truly co-equal branch of state government.

FOURTH, legislative and ethics reforms to lessen the influence of special interest groups, increase the participation of our citizens and enhance the autonomy and powers of local governments.

Dear Friends,

Several of my family members still live up north.  Spring is such a celebration for them.  Snow drifts melt, giving way to daffodils. Frozen grounds yield to multi-colored pansies.  There’s a sense of revitalization – a fresh hope!

Where does real hope come from?  Certainly not from a mere weather change. Springtime is more symbolic of the real.  I believe authentic hope grows out of adversity, challenges, “winters” of life.  In the struggle one searches for truth.  Then truth seeks a mixing with faith, an affirmation that rejoices in hope and results in action compliant with the truth.

Personally – Truth affirms “we have intrinsic value”.

Financially – Truth stretches us “outside the box” toward success.  It conquers fear and doubt.

Governmentally – We return to the constitutional values of our Founding Fathers, which made this nation great.

Spiritually – I go the source of Truth, the Word of God.

The Easter Season celebrates real hope.  No where had loss and despair gripped the people of faith as when they watched Christ Crucified.  Yet, in three days time, Resurrection Hope shook the nation …and now the world!

This Easter, I recall the words of Christ found in John 11:25-26.  Jesus said, “I am the Resurrection and the Life.  He who believes in Me will live, even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.”  Truth mixed with faith produces a “hope”.

I pray you and your family such hope this season and always.

Sincerely,

Andy