This year, the Senate Finance Committee attached a “bond bill” to the Capital Reserve Fund. We are mandated to appropriate a certain amount of dollars to this fund each year to be spent the following year. The Capital Reserve Fund bill prioritizes that spending. A point of order was made that it was against our rules to attach this “bond bill” to this legislation. Lt. Governor Henry McMaster correctly ruled this out of order! However, some Democrats and Republicans tried to remove him from the Senate that day so they could borrow money on the backs of our children and grandchildren. Fortunately, those of us against debt prevailed and the Lt. Governor remained in the chamber with his ruling allowed to stand!

The Capital Reserve Fund bill now has been reduced to only the $84 million dollars (not $236 million in borrowing on top of it)! There are many good capital projects in the new amendment adopted, but there are no capital dollars going to roads. I have an amendment before the body now which removes all of the higher education capital projects and sends that money to roads. Leaving all other capital projects for law enforcement, port deepening in Georgetown, Ready SC to help with jobs, etc., and we will be sending a little over $47 million directly to the county C-funds to maintain our roads. No beautification projects, no bike paths or nature trails – just road maintenance. Hopefully it will be a success.