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)

###

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