Education

SC First Steps … Fiscal “Accountability” … and Freedom?

Watch What They DO, Not What They SAY!?

Published

2 years ago

June 20, 2023

Here are a couple of “red flags” that got us to take a look at H4023, the First Steps Fiscal Accountability Bill signed into law yesterday by Governor McMaster … and boy were we shocked with what we found!!!

Not a single legislator voted against this bill – ever – and this program is a “darling” of the Democrats (similar to Head Start on the Federal level)!!!
The bill was introduced and signed into law in less than 4 months. Advocates should take notice!
The bill was passed outside of the regular session … in this case last Wednesday when the legislature was back to finish the budget.
The lead sponsor was a SC Freedom Caucus member, with other members signing on, but the #2 sponsor (obviously pulling the strings) was a huge education establishment RINO (who pushes more government control over education). #COVER
The bill had a well meaning name … “Fiscal Accountability” … which should have been our first clue it had nothing to do with fiscal accountability!!! #COVER
THEY WON’T ANSWER QUESTIONS: And finally, when we reached out to the lead sponsor, and two other legislators who are either employed by or have ties to the educational services industry, to simply ask these questions in advance … we got no answer. If nothing is wrong, why not explain it to us? Because, something is wrong!!!

Well, with those huge red flags, we dug a little deeper … and it is worse than expected … but this is how it works when you #FollowTheMoney … not to mention knowing how the “Uniparty” works there in Columbia!!!

https://www.scfirststeps.org/

#1) OVERHEAD ADMINISTRATIVE FEES: This is a darling program for SC Democrats … and they seem to always get what they want. We know a few leaders in SC First Steps as well, and they always seem to swing way left. We are all about helping kids … but we are not about enabling the leftists agenda.

But guess what … South Carolina is now going to get more leftists employed (AND PAID BY TAXPAYER DOLLARS) as this “Fiscal Accountability” Bill actually increases the First Steps overhead administrative fee from 8% to 13% … a whopping 62.5% increase!!!

Seriously? Our SC State Treasurer Curtis Loftis talks about it all the time, how we as SC taxpayers are funding the left’s agenda. Sure, everyone wants to help kids … but aren’t there conservative initiatives we can fund that help kids … or is it only left leaning non-profits (and political allies) they like to fund? #FollowTheMoney!!!

Actually Taking Money from the Children: And what is worse … with First Steps being an approximate $50 MILLION program, legislators just reallocated (as there was $0 fiscal revenue impact to this bill) $2.5 million a year FROM THE KIDS to pay more employees / overhead expenses. They did not add more money to this legislation to cover the 62.5% increase in overhead costs … so it has to come from the children’s programs!!!

NO, it is not about the kids to these people … otherwise they would have funded the increased overhead. But, if they did that, the bill would have had to get “finance” approval, which is harder … so they just take the money from the kids and will likely ask for more money next year with the excuse that they had to cut children’s programs this year. Yep, #LearnTheirTricks.

#2) ADDING PUBLIC LIBRARY EMPLOYEES: This one is self explanatory.

One day our “conservative” SC State Legislators are supposedly helping us in fighting the Public Library indoctrination issues … and the next they are putting the same employees on the boards of Pre-K Reading Programs?

What are the real intentions here? Remember, not a single legislator EVER voted against it. What are we missing?

“Watch what they DO,

not what they SAY.”

#3) GOV’T DATA-SHARING INITIATIVES … FOR OUR KIDS DATA!!!: This was also a big issue years ago with our champion “conservative” legislators fighting the government data-sharing about our kids … and today they are requiring it?

“Section 63-11-1726. All publicly funded early childhood-serving agencies and entities shall participate in data-sharing initiatives supported by the advisory council in furtherance of the requirements listed in Section 63-11-1725.”

#4) REMOVING “COMPETITIVE BIDS”?: Finally for today, as there are many other “issues” in this legislation … but guess what … our conservative legislators removed that pesky language involving “competitive bids” and substituted it with a move to the “maze” of the Office of State Procurement where there is much more legislative control in doing what they want to do when it comes to “who” gets contracts, and at what price.

We are betting there is NO PROHIBITION on self-dealing / profit making by legislators added to this bill!!! If there is, let us know where to find it.

#LearnTheirTricks #FollowTheMoney

Related Topics:EarlyEducation Featured FreedomCaucus Grassroot mySCGOP Politics trending

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Coffee & Politics – Greenville Edition – August 22nd, 2025

JOIN US every Friday (11am-1pm)

Published

5 days ago

August 22, 2025

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Coffee & Politics – August 22nd, 2025 – YouTube (HERE), RUMBLE (HERE) & X (HERE)

Friends, we have been running a weekly Coffee & Politics Meeting out of our Greenville Headquarters for nearly 3 1/2 years now … and it has been a huge hit. It is how we communicate our vision and #Mission to or local Volunteers and Community … and it one way we RECRUIT more people to the MAGA America First movement.

WHEN: Every Friday from 11am – 1pm

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Choosing the Right Candidate: A Thoughtful Approach

(#1) Electable & (#2) Collaborative

Published

1 week ago

August 20, 2025

Jeff Davis

by Jeff Davis

As we head into the 2026 South Carolina Primaries next June 9th, Republican (and Democrat) voters will be faced with picking which Republican (or Democrat) they want to represent them in the general election. It will be a choice we each have to make among the available options … the 2, 3 or 5 candidates that filed and are on the ballot … and there is no “None Of The Above” option. Sure, you don’t have to vote … but don’t complain later when you sat out the election.

We are seeing already … the jockeying by political consultants and their operatives to push their candidate (and tear down the opponents) … and the “PERFECTIONISTS” that complain about every candidate, but offer no solutions (and are not willing to run for office themselves).

A THOUGHTFUL APPROACH: Selection of a candidate to support is not easy. None of them are perfect, and how much can you really believe from what you hear on the campaign trail. What we like to encourage is that everyone think critically and logically about candidates and their campaigns, and steer clear as best you can of the emotional knee-jerk reactions that often dominate the discussions.

IT IS NOT JUST THE CANDIDATE – LOOK AT THEIR TEAM: While it’s tempting to focus solely on the candidate, it’s equally important to examine the people they surround themselves with. If you’re unaware of a candidate’s consultants (and their motivations), staff (and their roles), or the candidate’s supporters (who will inevitable have the ear of the candidate), it’s wise to hold off on offering your support. Ultimately, it’s not just about the candidate—it’s about their TEAM (or the “baggage” that comes with them).

We like to prioritize two key qualities when evaluating candidates:

(#1) Electability: A candidate (a) willing to run for office and (b) capable of winning. You may know the “perfect” person, but if they won’t run for office or are not capable of winning … what good are they?

(#2) Collaboration and Integrity: A candidate open to working with The People, with the grassroots, willing to listen, eager to include The People as part of their TEAM, and genuinely committed to doing what’s objectively right for the people—not just themselves (or their monied special interest backers). Here is where experience and judgment comes into consideration because you really don’t know what a candidate might do once elected. We have helped candidates get elected – and then never spoken with them again (not by our choice). Being lied to is a hard lesson to learn.

This process of selecting a candidate to back is both an art and a science, and while we may never find the “perfect” candidate, we can identify and support those who meet these two criteria and give us the best odds of promoting the conservative cause … at least until the next election when we will have another chance to try again.

THE TRUMP OF 2016: Reflecting on the field of “candidates” in 2016 … and the original “candidate” DONALD J. TRUMP … I believe that original candidate TRUMP, embodied these qualities, and that approach has proven effective in helping Save America.

STOP LOOKING FOR A “POLITICAL SAVIOR”: Most importantly, let’s remember, no candidate will save us. There is only one true “Savior”, and He is not running for office. Our work continues, so don’t think you are off the hook if your person gets elected. But having the right people – dedicated TEAM players – in elected positions from top to bottom can make all the difference.

Be smart … be logical … don’t be emotional … and don’t just complain, complain, complain.

Dum spiro spero
(“While I breathe, I hope”)

Best,

Jeff Davis, JD, MBA, CPA(GA)
Chairman & Co-Founder, mySCGOP.com
Chairman, Greenville County Republican Party
jeff@apogeetax.com
843-901-8036 (cell)

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TRUMP Shares Nancy MACE Polling Lead for Governor

Mace Leads with 25% over Wilson at 17%

Published

1 week ago

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mySCGOP.news

TRUMP Truth Social Post (HERE)

The NANCY MACE campaign released polling numbers yesterday showing a commanding early lead in the South Carolina Governor’s Race … 25% MACE, 17% Alan Wilson, 10% Ralph Norman, 6% Pamela Evette, 3% Josh Kimbrell … with 38% Lean / Undecided. You can see the full reports HERE & below.

The polling results show MACE separating herself from the crowd since officially launching her candidacy last week and announcing AUSTIN MCCUBBIN (HERE), the 2024 TRUMP Team Statewide Director, has joined her team. This all seems to make MACE the early odds on favorite to win the Republican Primary next June 9th, 2026 … 294 days from today.

You can find more details on FITSNews (HERE & on X HERE) … but the real story broke when President TRUMP himself shared the MACE Polling Lead on his TRUTH Social (HERE) last night at 9:29pm. When the POTUS shares your leading polling data with the world … that is a not so subtle message.

Good news for NANCY MACE … but and incredibly bad sign for Lt. Governor Pamela Evette who is in a distant 4th with 6% of the vote. The Lt. Governor has led folks to believe she has TRUMP’s endorsement locked up. Well, that claim did not seem believable at the time … and really doesn’t appear believable now. When was the last time TRUMP endorsed someone in 4th place??? We can’t remember either.

Stay tuned … it is going to be a fun 2026 primary season!!!