South Carolina has a “Republican” supermajority … Republicans control the US House, the US Senate & the Presidency.  Why then can’t we get anything done in South Carolina???  Why not real school choice … real closed primaries … real judicial reform???

Why are legislators more interested in a “witch-hunt” against SC Treasurer Curtis Loftis … a darling of the grassroots and the most popular statewide elected official?  (See HERE).

Why can’t we get “simple” TORT REFORM that fixes a simple liquor liability issue that will SAVE OUR SMALL BUSINESSES???

South Carolina legislators are betraying The People … it has been ongoing for literally decades … and we are watching it right before our eyes with certain SC SENATORS’ desperate attempts to save S244 for BIG INSURANCE … and their failure to fix the liquor liability issue by simply passing H3497.

For years, South Carolina Senators have told us they support tort reform to help local businesses—bars, restaurants, and veterans’ halls—who are being crushed under the weight of skyrocketing liquor liability insurance rates. 

They’ve stood in front of microphones, held town halls, sent newsletters and campaign ads proclaiming: “We’re here to help small businesses.” “We just want targeted reform.” “We believe in Main Street values.” 

But last week, when they finally had the chance to prove it, they did the exact opposite.

The Amendment

(That Would Have Delivered)

Amendment 2A:  On Tuesday, March 18th the Senate Republican Leader Shane Massey (R – Edgefield) went back to the well in his endless attempts to save S244.  The session started at Noon … and went on until 10:20PM!!!

But it all went sideways for Massey again when Senator Stephen Goldfinch (R – Georgetown) offered a clear, focused solution:

• A targeted amendment – to fix the liquor liability issue,
• The text came straight from the unanimous House bill H3497,
• And the amendment was designed solely to bring down insurance premiums for SC bars, restaurants, and VFWs – the root problem today.

There were no “gifts” for trial lawyer. No plaintiff windfalls. No poison pills. Just a simple clean fix to a specific problem that everyone—on both sides—agree needs to be addressed. 

But as is typical … the SC Senate blocked it. 

One more in a series of seemingly never ending BETRAYALS of their professed principals … and most assuredly a betrayal of The People & small businesses here in South Carolina. 

Yes … just let that sink in … one more betrayal!!!

These SC State Senators had the exact language they have all supposedly wanted for years. They had the political cover. They had the moral obligation …  

… and yet they killed it anyway.

You all know the story … “Watch what they DO, not what they SAY.”

It sounds just like what they have done on school choice … closed primaries … judicial reform.  No different than their “witch-hunt” against SC Treasurer Curtis Loftis.  It’s just what they do, and it seems never ending. 

The SC Senate does what is best for the SC Senate … not The People … and not Small Business (and certainly not K-12 kids with special needs as it relates to our school choice fight – more on that soon).

Sooooooo … why? 

#FollowTheMONEY!!!

Why?  Easy.  Follow the Money. 

All of this & S244 was never really about helping small businesses. 

S244 is nothing more than an “omnibus” tort reform bill, is not about local bar owners or keeping VFWs afloat. It’s about one thing: immunity for the most powerful corporations in America … it is about BIG INSURANCE. 

The same Senators who claimed they were standing up for South Carolina businesses are now advancing a bill that: 

Shields out-of-state trucking companies when they injure or kill our citizens.

Helps chemical manufacturers who poisoned SC water with PFAS avoid accountability.

Lets global manufacturers escape full responsibility when their products fail.

Protects insurance companies who delay, deny, and defend valid claims to protect their profit margins.

This bill is a gold-plated gift to corporate America, carefully wrapped in “reform” language and sold to the public as something it’s not.

It just another part of the Legislative GRIFT that lines the pockets of legislators and their monied special interest … at the expense of the Citizens of South Carolina.

The ongoing legislative betrayal!!!

03/24/2025: Just the Facts – S244 (HERE)

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …

Jeff Davis is co-founder of mySCGOP.com. Jeff is a ’89 graduate of The Citadel and in 1993 received his Law/MBA from USC. A tax attorney / CPA licensed in Georgia, Jeff is an uncompromised school choice advocate for K-12 children with special needs. Originally from Charleston, and having practiced in Atlanta, Jeff and his wife Olga now live in Greenville. Jeff completed his two year term as Greenville County Republican Party Chairman and is currently serving as GCRP State Executive Committeeman.

Jeff is also “barred” from attending the SCGOP State Executive Committee Meetings (HERE). Why? Because he dared to run against Drew McKissick for SCGOP Chairman – coming in 2nd with Drew only being reelected by 1.8% (HERE & HERE) – and in September 2021 he told the State Executive Committee that Chad Connelly had been under SLED investigation for a year and a half … and it was true (HERE & HERE).

Send us your opinion on this great debate … and how you would like to see it solved … by emailing us at team@mySCGOP.com.

SUSTAINING & INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS:

Make a Charitable Donation TODAY: HERE

We say it all the time … READ THE BILL!!! S244 is right HERE … for all to read … but 99.99% of us won’t read it. Most of the 0.01% who do read the bill won’t get all the nuances. But do you want to know “who” understands the bill … the monied special interest, in this case … BIG INSURANCE!!! Below is a compilation of what S244 is really all about … you will be surprised.

The Facts ( and truth ) about S244

What does this bill really do?

🛑 Abolishes true joint and several liability, making it harder for injured victims to recover full damages—even when they’ve done nothing wrong.

⚠️ Allows blame to be placed on people not in court, including foreign companies or unnamed third parties, without due process.

📉 Caps noneconomic damages—even in cases of gross negligence, fraud, or destroyed medical records.

⛔ Guts bad faith law, giving insurance companies a green light to slow-walk claims.

🚫 Excludes coverage for punitive damages from underinsured motorist / uninsured motorist (UIM/UM) policies—leaving SC families with less protection even when they pay for more.

📍 Restricts venue for civil cases, forcing victims to travel long distances to seek justice.

And worst of all? S244 leaves polluters, negligent builders, and repeat corporate offenders off the hook while punishing the innocent.

The Human Cost

Let’s not forget who this hurts. 

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The family who loses a loved one to a drunk driver—and finds out their underinsured motorist (UIM) policy won’t cover the full loss. 

🏚️ The young couple who buys a new home—only to find it was built with dangerous code violations, but now they can’t sue until someone gets hurt. 

🍤 The small-town restaurant that gets dragged into a lawsuit for one drink a customer had hours before—but can’t afford the insurance rates to stay open. 

🧓 The grandmother in assisted living who is abused, but whose pain is deemed “noneconomic” and therefore capped. 

🧪 The community poisoned by forever chemicals—and told they can’t hold the corporation accountable. 

 This is who gets hurt when laws like S.244 pass.

Corporate Socialism

S244, as we have seen, isn’t Conservative Reform. Some actually call it Corporate Socialism. 

What we’re seeing is not conservative governance—it’s corporate capture of the SC State Legislature. Real conservative values mean:

Personal responsibility

Limited government interference

Access to the courts

Accountability for wrongdoing 

S.244 violates every one of these principles. 

Instead of standing with the citizens who vote for them, SC Senators are standing with: 

💼 Billion-dollar insurance giants 

🏭 Foreign manufacturers 

💊 Corporate hospitals 

🧪 Environmental offenders 

🛻 Massive logistics companies headquartered out of state 

They’re shielding establishment elites from responsibility and sticking South Carolina taxpayers and families with the bill.

The People Are Watching …

Times are changing. The People are watching … and most importantly, The People won’t forget.

This is about more than just a bill. This is about whether South Carolina government works for its people or for powerful outsiders. 

Real solutions are being brought to bear … the SC Senate (HERE) had the chance to stand up and do the right thing … yet they chose The Powerful over The People and principle. They chose corporate immunity over South Carolina’s families. The chose THE MONEY … AGAIN!!! 

Remember this on June 13th, 2028.

Grassroots Action Items:

✅ Call your Senator today. (Find your Senator HERE.) Demand Action, Action, Action!!! Demand they solve the immediate problem – the liquor liability issue!!! 

✅ Forward this article and the others on S244 to every SC business owner, VFW member, and voter you know.  Spread the word!!!

✅ Show up. Speak out. Organize. Stand up for Yourself!!!

There is still a long way to go … so this fight is not over, not by a long shot. Do your research – EXPOSE THE TRUTH … and EXPOSE THE BETRAYAL!!! Let’s take our state back from the corporations who think they own it.

Drew McKissick and the RINO establishment of the SCGOP have put forth a “Save Our Primaries” campaign which is totally backfiring.  As most of you are aware, the TRUMP supporting MAGA America First movement has proposed using current state law which allows the SCGOP to use a CONVENTION PROCESS to select our Republican Nominees.

Yes, Democrats & Republicans use the primary process to select their nominees … but all the other 7 recognized SC political parties (ie, Libertarian Party, Green Party, Workers Party, etc.) use a CONVENTION PROCESS.  Other states use a convention or caucus process to pick their nominees … why not South Carolina?

Heck … we even pick our Republican & Democrat PRESIDENTIAL nominees using a CONVENTION PROCESS.  Why don’t we do that for our SC Governor, State Senators, House Reps and local officials?  PLUS, it would be a great way to GROW the South Carolina Republican Party by getting more people involved so that they can have input on our Republican nominees using the CONVENTION PROCESS.

At least this way … ONLY Republicans will select their nominees … not Democrat crossover voters.

THE “HAMMER”

Carrot vs. The Stick:

Now, not that the folks promoting the idea really want a CONVENTION PROCESS … but if our “super majority” Republican Legislature won’t give GOP leaders CLOSED PRIMARIES … they have the ability to give legislators a CONVENTION PROCESS … something most of they really, really, really don’t want.  A “hammer” if you will.  “Give us closed primaries OR we will give you a convention process.”

CLOSED PRIMARIES is a major grassroots issue.  73.12% of all Republicans voted for closed primaries on the advisory question this past February 24th, 2024.  (See HERE).  Democrats are not only openly voting in the Republican Primaries … elected Democrats & Democrat candidates vote regularly in the Republican Primaries (HERE).   And to make matters worse, this has been a “top” issue of the SCGOP Executive Committee since at least 1/24/2015 when they passed a Resolution in favor of Closed Primaries.

As we teach, “Watch what they DO, not what they SAY.“

SCGOP Leadership has been presented with the opportunity to force the SC State Legislature to deliver on their campaign promises of CLOSED PRIMARIES … but when the opportunity comes, they all cower away from delivering on those promises.

Again … “Watch what they DO, not what they SAY.“

07/19/2023:  Crossover Voters & Closed Primaries – A Prime Example (HERE)

07/20/2023:  Closed Primaries – Part II (HERE) 

01/30/2024:  Vote YES on Republican Advisory Questions (HERE)  

Radio Interview

Lee Bright & Jeff Davis on Closed Primaries:  HERE

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …

Jeff Davis is co-founder of mySCGOP.com. Jeff is a ’89 graduate of The Citadel and in 1993 received his Law/MBA from USC. A tax attorney / CPA licensed in Georgia, Jeff is an uncompromised school choice advocate for K-12 children with special needs. Originally from Charleston, and having practiced in Atlanta, Jeff and his wife Olga now live in Greenville. Jeff completed his two year term as Greenville County Republican Party Chairman and is currently serving as GCRP State Executive Committeeman.

Jeff is also “barred” from attending the SCGOP State Executive Committee Meetings (HERE). Why? Because he dared to run against Drew McKissick for SCGOP Chairman – coming in 2nd with Drew only being reelected by 1.8% (HERE & HERE) – and in September 2021 he told the State Executive Committee that Chad Connelly had been under SLED investigation for a year and a half … and it was true (HERE & HERE).

Send us your opinion on this great debate … and how you would like to see it solved … by emailing us at team@mySCGOP.com.

SUSTAINING & INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS:

Make a Charitable Donation TODAY: HERE

As you all know we are about ACTION, ACTION, ACTION … and the godfather of that battle cry is none other than our friend Steve Stern from the Flag Shirt Company (www.theflagshirt.com). Steve has dedicated his TIME, TREASURE & TALENT to the cause and we are honored to know and work with him on both (#1) ELECTION INTEGRITY & (#2) PRECINCT REORG (along with Dan Schultz – www.precinctstrategy.com).

Patriots, stand for truth and freedom!   Please join us, Steve Stern and a host of others for an exclusive, high-impact discussion with leading election experts, policymakers, and thought leaders as they reveal the latest insights on U.S. elections.  Gain firsthand knowledge from top speakers, explore critical developments in election integrity, and engage in a dynamic Q&A session.

Subject:  Election Integrity, the NC Crisis & TINA PETERS incarceration.

Date & Time:  Thursday, March 20th, 2025 at 2:00PM (join at 1:50pm)

Register for Election Integrity Calls:  HERE

JotForm Registration:  HERE

Featured Experts:   STEVE BANNON, Steven Carr, Kris Jurski, Ray Michaels, John Goodman, Lisa Bennett, Bernadette Smith, Linda Brito, Rocky Rochford, Joe Hoft, Pat McSweeney, Kim Hermance, Cleta Mitchell & others!!!

Free Tina Peters!

What we are all interested in however is how to FREE TINA PETERS!!!  This has been an incredible saga where the justice system has been weaponized against an elected election official who tried to expose the truth.  

We don’t know all the details … but we know at 69 … especially being a GOLD STAR MOTHER as her Navy Seal Son died in 2017, she should not be in jail.

Tina Peters is no danger to society and the only threat she poses is to the “establishment”.  

#FreeTinaPeters!!!

Tina Peters – Wikipedia (HERE)

www.sternamerican.com

As we teach … pick a legislative topic, and go deep!!! Understand it from top to bottom … and follow the “bill” through the process.  That is the only way to figure all this “political” mess out.

Right now, two of the top legislative initiatives of the year are being completely held hostage … in the SC Senate.  First, the overwhelming desire of SC Citizens to HELP our small businesses suffering under the liquor liability issue.  Second, school choice and the utter debacle that these ESAs have become.

So what is going on? 

TORT REFORM … waiting on votes?

We have been following S244 as a case study … mainly because we knew just by the politicians involved it had a nefarious purpose (protect BIG INSURANCE) … and we knew it would be crystal clear that it was not about helping our small business establishments.

Well … it has been an interesting saga (HERE, HERE, HERE & HERE) … and we were right all along.

Now, the Senate Republican Majority Leader Senator Shane Massey (R – Edgefield) is sitting on S244 … reportedly “working votes” for his monied special interest bill … while the clock is ticking on anything to help small businesses.  

Nothing has happened … and the 2025 legislative session adjourns on May 8th … just 53 days from today.  

Meanwhile SC House bill H3497 (HERE) is sitting there, passed the House, reported out favorably from Senate Judiciary … yet Senator Massey won’t let it come up for a VOTE because he wants “his bill” S244.  

It is a total stalemate … and the loser is SC Small Business & The Citizens!!!

Do legislators care about anything except special interest MONEY?!?!?! 

BONUS CONTENT:   We were clued in this past weekend to a little provision in S244 which really proves our point that it is all about serving the BIG INSURANCE special interest.  This gets a little “legal” … but consider this example.

Dad gets killed and it is 1,000% undeniably the fault of the insured, a client of ALLSTATE (as an example).  It is an open & shut case … the deceased Dad’s family lawyer requests policy limits (which everyone agrees should be paid) … but guess what … the BIG INSURANCE company can wait 10 MONTHS to pay.  Why?  The family will get the money … it is not debatable … but the BIG INSURANCE can sit on the claim, earning interest on the cash in the bank … for a full 10 months!!!  The SOUTH CAROLINA family suffers needlessly … can’t pay for funeral expenses without taking out a loan … all while ALLSTATE (as the example) sits around and earns 5% interest keeping the money in their bank.

Seriously Senator Massey … why???

FYI … Tuesday, June 13th, 2028 – 1,185 days from today … will be the 2028 PRIMARIES.  Will Senator Massey have an opponent?  He did not have a challenger in the 2024 primaries … even though he endorsed NIKKI HALEY … and SC Citizens are suffering.  #FigureItOUT!!! 

SCHOOL CHOICE …

… they have no idea what to do!!!

This is the most atrocious legislative case study … it will literally go down in history as the legislation that cost more jobs & political careers in South Carolina than anything else … including past (& future) legislative criminal investigations.

First, know this fight has been going on since about 2003 … and SC, twenty-two years later, still has the nation’s worst rated school choice program.  Par for the course … but sooooooo many pockets have been lined with consulting payments & political donations.  The kids come last … if they are ever considered at all.

The monied special interest ESA (S62 – HERE) was RUSHED through the SC Senate … it went to the SC House and returned “changed” on February 27th … and now the SC Senate has no idea what to do because they have now (reportedly) figured out, as we told them, that no matter what they do it will be found UNCONSTITUTIONAL for the 4th time!!!

So the SC Senate is just sitting on it … having no idea what to do in order to satisfy their monied special interest donors. We have watched it for nearly 12 years now … it is all about the $$$!!!  #FollowTheMONEY!!!

CONCLUSION:  We now have two easy fixes for the SC Citizens.  The SC Senate could just pass H3497 and fix the liquor liability issue and SAVE OUR SMALL BUSINESS, but our legislators won’t do it.  And, the SC Senate & SC House could easily pass S50 / H3420 … the “constitutional” PACE / ACE Scholarship Bill we have followed for years … and all the kids would be taken care of before the end of this semester … without a lawsuit being filed by the opposition as the program is sooooo constitutional they would be laughed out of court.

Our guess is legislators won’t do it.  They know how to fix it … but they won’t because the solutions won’t benefit their monied special interest donors.

Now … what is your solution???  More popcorn???  Kids are suffering … Small Businesses are suffering … but let’s all be “friends” with the people responsible for the suffering.   DO YOU AGREE???

Expanded View of Image: HERE

Let us know your thoughts … more popcorn, or more FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT???

team@mySCGOP.com

First of all … let me assure you, I want to be proven wrong. Know that our door is WIDE OPEN to the SC Freedom Caucus (and the RINOs for that matter) for them to come EXPLAIN to us why we are wrong about them.

Please, SC Freedom Caucus … come explain why your BIG GOV’T solutions are really about “freedom”.

Please, SC RINO “Leadership” … come explain to us why your ESA is better “policy” for K-12 children than Senator Tom Davis’ Tax Credit Scholarship bill (i.e. PACE / ACE).

Citizens should know that NEITHER side wants to come to the table and discuss these things with people that know (like us) because THEY CAN’T.  Both sides of the COIN know they are lying to The People … and they can’t sit with elected “equals” (like us) and have the intellectual conversation.  All they can do is spread their lies, rumors and hate … the standard political “tactics” … and hope WE QUIT before YOU ALL figure out we are right.

We, The Citizens of SC, need to stop falling for the same ole tricks.  

Know that the current Republican Leadership in the SC House & SC Senate were, in fact, the “Freedom Caucus” of their day – 20 years ago. 

It becomes clear when the newly “branded” SC Freedom Caucus leads the charge for BIG GOV’T programs like First Steps & ESAs & Refundable Tax Credits … when they flip flop from anti-Convention of States to now supporting it (thanks to Jim DeMints MONEY!!!) … when two years ago they were pushing a CLOSED Convention process as opposed to our wide open Primaries, but today they have flip flopped and now oppose it (because Drew McKissick wants them to oppose it – #FollowTheMONEY!!!) … not to mention their endorsement of RINOs in GOP ReOrg elections, calling MAGA America First a “cancer”, and the lies … the absolutely never ending lies. 

Why do we keep falling for these tricks … because they “call” themselves “Freedom Caucus”???  Is that all it takes for PATRIOTS to support future RINOs struggling for control in Columbia (and losing badly) … for them to “say” a few things we like to hear and promise to be our saviors???  Come on friends, we are better than that!!!

Do we stop calling out Republicans pushing BIG GOV’T solutions simply because they put “Freedom Caucus” next to their name, or because we feel sorry for them because they constantly cry victim of the RINOs in power???  Is it because we “think” these people are working for us, when the reality is the Freedom Caucus & the “establishment” leadership are just two side of the same coin???

Know this … and yes I hope I am wrong … but I have been consistently proven right … BOTH sides, RINO Leadership & the SC Freedom Caucus, are ONLY about the COIN and “who” gets to control it. 

We don’t like RINOs, but we should dislike liars and “future” RINOs wearing a conservative mask even more. 

Remember … just 11 days ago, on March 3rd, 2025, it was the SC Freedom Caucus that called MAGA America First “a cancer”.  What’s unclear with that message???

Since I am recovering from cancer … and the article was about me & our Greenville County Republican Party … I actually took offence and find that a little more than just politics.

Again … please … prove me wrong.

As always … we will meet anytime, with anyone.  On the record, off the record … publicly or privately … and we will sign any legal release for anything said in the meeting.  What more can we offer? 

Watch … the SC Freedom Caucus won’t take us up on the offer … because we are a CANCER to them.  Heck, they said it!!!

[NOTE:  My wife’s response to them calling us a “cancer” is YES … we are a RINO Cancer … and they are the future RINOs.]

Post & Courier (3/3/2025):  HERE

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …

Jeff Davis is co-founder of mySCGOP.com. Jeff is a ’89 graduate of The Citadel and in 1993 received his Law/MBA from USC. A tax attorney / CPA licensed in Georgia, Jeff is an uncompromised school choice advocate for K-12 children with special needs. Originally from Charleston, and having practiced in Atlanta, Jeff and his wife Olga now live in Greenville. Jeff completed his two year term as Greenville County Republican Party Chairman and is currently serving as GCRP State Executive Committeeman.

Jeff is also “barred” from attending the SCGOP State Executive Committee Meetings (HERE). Why? Because he dared to run against Drew McKissick for SCGOP Chairman – coming in 2nd with Drew only being reelected by 1.8% (HERE & HERE) – and in September 2021 he told the State Executive Committee that Chad Connelly had been under SLED investigation for a year and a half … and it was true (HERE & HERE).

Send us your opinion on this great debate … and how you would like to see it solved … by emailing us at team@mySCGOP.com.

SUSTAINING & INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS:

Make a Charitable Donation TODAY: HERE