Americans For Prosperity Releases Legislative Scorecard

Sep 28, 2022 by AFP

“The Legislative Scorecard is an opportunity to highlight our policy champions and reveal lawmakers who voted against providing more freedom and opportunity to South Carolinians.”

COLUMBIA, SC – Americans for Prosperity – South Carolina (AFP-SC) today released its 2022 Legislative Scorecard, highlighting state lawmakers’ votes during the past legislative session.

The full Scorecard downloadable PDF is available here. The digital version of the scorecard can be found by visiting SCScorecard.com. AFP-SC will follow up the release with events and digital and direct mail promoting the scorecard. Mail will be dropped in support of State Senators Wes Climer and Tom Davis, who both received scores of above 100%, giving them an A++ score, as well as Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, who led the way in bringing transformative policy to the Senate floor for a vote.

AFP-SC State Director Candace Carroll released the following statement:

“The Legislative Scorecard is an opportunity to highlight our policy champions and reveal lawmakers who voted against providing more freedom and opportunity to South Carolinians. The Senate led the way this past session, passing reforms to increase access to health care and provide suffering patients with medicinal cannabis. We were disappointed to see the House then fumble and fail to pass these crucial bills. Clearly, the legislature has more work to do. Americans for Prosperity is committed to getting these reforms and others across the finish line to ensure the Palmetto State is the best place to live, work, and raise a family.”

What our Policy Champions have to say:

“Americans for Prosperity champions individual liberty and opposes government actions that prevent people from realizing their potential — unsustainable government spending and debt, a rigged economy that picks winners and losers, overly burdensome regulatory processes that stifle innovation, and more. Receiving its highest legislative score is an honor and confirms I afford individual liberty pride of place when deciding how to cast my votes at the State House.” – State Senator Tom Davis

“The best way to lower prices and improve outcomes is getting government out of the way and empowering the private sector to compete and innovate. That’s what we’re trying to accomplish in Columbia in order to lower health care costs, improve educational outcomes, cut utility prices, and reduce the cost of government by cutting taxes and spending. AFP is an invaluable ally in that cause and I’m grateful for both their recognition and partnership along the way.” – State Senator Wes Climer

The SC scorecard was based on votes on the following 14 bills:

Vehicle registration, private passenger-carrying vehicle (HB 3027): This law will provide law enforcement for guidance when they interact with those suffering from mental illness and prevent situations from escalating. (Support)
Law enforcement officers, certification (HB 3050): This law bans chokeholds unless in deadly situations, establishes recruitment standards, and requires body cameras on officers. (Support)
Advanced practice registered nurses may perform specific acts pursuant to approved written guidelines (HB 3682): This bill would improve access to care by allowing nurse anesthetists to independently practice without physician supervision. (Support)
Regulation of hair designers (HB 4082): This bill would create more levels of bureaucracy by mandating 300 more hours of training for hair designers while exempting cosmetologists. (Oppose)
Fitness to stand trial (HB 3773): This law provides new standards to determine if an individual is mentally competent to still trail. (Support)
Treatment of pregnant and postpartum inmates (HB 4541): This bill would establish requirements for prisons, local detention facilities, and prison work camps to provide prenatal care visits to pregnant inmates. (Support)
SC Compassionate Care Act (SB 150): This bill would establish a legal medical market for marijuana. (Support)
State Health Facility Licensure Act (SB 290): This bill would repeal the state’s certificate-of-need laws and empower hospitals and other health care facilities to deliver services such as emergency care without going through a burdensome certificate-of-need process. (Support)
Medical assistants (SB 613): This law reforms the Nurse Practice Act and allows medical assistants and other non-physician medical personnel to provide services they are already trained for. (Support)
Honey (SB 961): This bill would provide clarity for beekeepers, allowing them to provide for their families without burdensome regulations. (Support)
Board regulation of professions and occupations (SB 295): This bill would bar professional boards and commissions from denying a license application based upon an applicant’s prior criminal conviction and allows a path to licensure for applicants who complete certain apprenticeship programs. (Support)
Home-based food products (SB 506): This law provides clarity for home chefs, allowing them to provide for their families without burdensome regulations. (Support)
Telehealth (SB 1179): This law authorizes social workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists, and licensed psycho-educational specialists to deliver telehealth services. (Support)
Pharmacy Access Act (SB 628): This law authorizes pharmacists to prescribe and administer oral contraception for patients without a prescription. (Support)