Issue Position: Four Common Sense Reforms to Fix Our Roads

Issue Position

South Carolina has a current projected surplus of $1.3 billion dollars. At least $700 million/year is projected as a recurring surplus. It's ridiculous to think that we would raise taxes with that much of your money already up for grabs. We need to allocate some of this surplus from the General Fund immediately to provide a stopgap measure to fix our roads and bridges.

But the long-term solution will require reform. One major reason our transportation system is ineffective is we are putting too much money toward pet projects like roundabouts, bike lanes, mass transit, and new roads. Others reasons, according to the recent audit, include a lack of a clear prioritization system, a lack of leadership and accountability, a lack of consistent outside review, and more. We may need more revenue later on - but we can't give the state a raise until we can verify it's doing its job.

As your representative, I will not vote to raise taxes unless each of these reforms are first implemented:

1. Abolish the State Transportation Infrastructure Bank. The only thing STIB does is put our state in debt. It's a tool of establishment cronies to fund their pet projects. Let's get rid of it.

2. Make SCDOT Accountable to the Governor. Currently, a small handful of legislators, called the Joint Transportation Review Committee (JTRC), controls who is appointed to the SCDOT Transportation Commission. Eliminating this political power structure and placing SCDOT directly under the Governor, so that commissioners can be hired and fired like in a business, streamlines the process and provides needed statewide accountability.

3. Fund the Local Government Fund and Transfer Some State Roads to Counties. As of 2015, South Carolina had the third longest road system in the country. Our state should begin placing some roads under local control. However, the legislature cannot do so until they fulfill their legal commitment to the counties to fully fund the Local Government Fund.

4. Begin Weaning South Carolina Off Federal Cash. Right now, Federal money pays for over a third of our state budget. Federal money always comes with strings attached, whether now or later. In regards to roads, Federal funding mandates a percentage of our matching transportation spending go toward the construction of new roads instead of regular repair and maintenance. As long as the legislature is taking this cash, they will be building roads we don't need.

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