2008 So u t h Ca r o l i n a Ch a m b e r o f Co m m e r c e Legislative Sc o r e c a r d Our Mission: Legislative votes are tracked according to the Chamber’s The Chamber of Commerce is the unified position on each issue. Then, a final composite score is given voice of business and industry in the state, striving to serve for each legislator with 100 percent being a perfect score. as a catalyst to increase per capita income and global com- petitiveness through efforts to: Partnership with SCBIPEC:

• Decrease business costs and increase productivity The Chamber is partnering with the South Carolina Busi- • Build a highly skilled, capable workforce ness & Industry Political Education Committee (SCBIPEC) • Nurture entrepreneurial development to present members with a comprehensive view of how the • Foster a favorable climate for members General Assembly addressed key competitiveness issues. and their employees To view SCBIPEC’s 2008 Legislative Scorecard, visit www. • Improve the quality of life for all South Carolinians scbipec.com.

The 2008 Legislative Scorecard: Competitiveness Agenda Process:

Each legislative session, the South Carolina Chamber tracks The process of determining the South Carolina Chamber’s key business roll call votes and tallies all votes to determine annual Competitiveness Agenda begins with nine annual an overall score for each member of the General Assembly. Grassroots Regional Meetings, held across the state in late summer. From there, legislative business issues are presented

to the Chamber’s Legislative Agenda Task Force (LATF), It is imperative that the business community holds legisla- made up of business and industry leaders from small, me- tors accountable on votes that directly impact the business dium and large companies located throughout the state. climate and competitiveness of the state. The Chamber sends those issues to the Board of Directors for a final vote. The annual Competitiveness Agenda is then In 2008, the Chamber tracked votes on the following issues: presented to members, South Carolina legislators and the • Illegal Immigration Reform general public. • Economic Development Visit www.scchamber.net to learn more about the Chamber’s • Cigarette Tax 2008 Competitiveness Agenda. • Property Tax • REAL ID The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce: • PACT Testing The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the nation’s first state • State Spending Caps chamber Accredited with Distinction by the U.S. Chamber, is the state’s • Road Funding largest statewide broad-based business and industry trade association • Small Business Healthcare Pooling representing more than 6,500 member companies and more than 600,000 member employees, with 90 percent of membership comprised • Biofuels Incentives of small businesses. As the unified voice for business and industry, the • COLA Chamber is a catalyst for increasing per capita income and enhancing the state’s global competitiveness in order to improve the quality of life for • Budget, SCHIP all South Carolinians. • Budget, Tourism • Critical Needs Nursing Initiative • Endowed Chairs • Fire Sprinkler Incentives

1201 Main Street, Suite 1700 Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 799-4601 www.scchamber.net © 2008 South Carolina Chamber of Commerce VOTE KEY: + Business Positive Vote A Abstain SENATE – Business Negative Vote NV No Vote

Illegal Immigration Reform (S.392) COLA (H.4876) S.392 contained language preempting local governments from passing H.4876 provides a permanent funding plan for state retirees’ cost-of- piecemeal ordinances, protecting companies that are given fraudulent living adjustments. The Senate voted 46-0 to override the Governor’s information and unknowingly hire an illegal worker and holding im- veto of the legislation (June 4, 2008). mediate employers accountable for immigration standards. The Sen- Budget, SCHIP (H.4800, Veto #10) ate voted 45-0 to adopt the amendments and returned the bill to the House with one Senator abstaining (February 13, 2008). Veto #10 provides over $21 million in funding for South Carolina’s Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The dollars are matched Cigarette Tax (H.3567) by the federal government for a total of approximately $70 million The legislation would have raised the cigarette tax by 50 cents per pack. towards this initiative. The Senate voted 38-6 to override the Governor’s The revenue would have been largely dedicated to initiatives split be- veto (June 4, 2008). tween assistance for low-income, working South Carolinians, credits for Regional Tourism (H.4800, Veto #35) small businesses to purchase health insurance and increasing Medicaid eligibility to draw down federal matching dollars. The Senate voted 33- Veto #35 provides $550,000 for the 11 regional tourism districts to help 11 to give the bill second reading (May 7, 2008). promote tourism efforts statewide. The Senate voted 41-2 to override the Governor’s veto REAL ID (H.4823) (June 4, 2008). The concurrent resolution urged Governor Mark Sanford to request an Critical Needs Nursing Initiative (S.1022) extension on the federal REAL ID so South Carolinians would not be S.1022 is aimed at addressing the state’s nursing shortage by offering unduly penalized when boarding aircraft or entering federal buildings. scholarships, salary enhancements and new positions. The Senate voted Compliance with REAL ID would create state tamper-proof ID cards 44-0 to override the Governor’s veto of the legislation giving businesses a reliable employee verification tool. The Senate voted (June 5, 2008). to adopt the concurrent resolution by a vote of 31-7 (March 20, 2008). Endowed Chairs (S.1252) PACT Test (H.4662) S.1252 reauthorizes the SC Research Centers of Economic Excellence H.4662 replaces the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test (PACT) initiative, often referred to as Endowed Chairs, for future years. The with a more diagnostic-style test designed to give teachers quicker program continues to help build South Carolina’s knowledge-based feedback on student achievement. The legislation also streamlines the economy, creating higher paying jobs in the state. The Senate voted teacher academic planning process, eliminating redundant paperwork. 34-4 to override the Governor’s veto of the legislation The Senate voted 46-0 to give the bill second reading (May 15, 2008). (June 25, 2008). State Spending Caps (S.718) Fire Sprinkler Incentives (H.4470) S.718 is a joint resolution changing the State Constitution to create a H.4470 incentivizes the installation of fire sprinklers in both commer- state spending cap, placing excess revenue into a budget stabilization cial and residential structures and allows local governments to offer up fund. A two-thirds vote was required to pass S.718, and the bill failed to a 25 percent property tax credit on the costs of fire sprinkler installa- by a vote of 30-13 (May 21, 2008). tion. The state will then match that amount with an income tax credit. Biofuels Incentives (H.3649) The legislation also limits the amount local governments can charge for H. 3649, the “Energy Freedom and Rural Development Act,” provides tap fees to actual costs. The Senate voted 43-0 to override the Gover- for incentive payments to retailers and wholesalers for each gallon of nor’s veto of the legislation (June 25, 2008). ethanol or biodiesel fuel sold, incentives for electricity generation de- Please note: Senators voting “aye” on votes listed were considered rived from biomass, grants for the research and development of projects pro-business votes. that validate the effectiveness of new and future biomass, solar, geother- mal, wind energy, and small hydropower technologies and products. The Senate voted 42-1 to override the Governor’s veto of the legislation (May 29, 2008). Senate Votes Page 1 of 1 Thomas Alexander + + + + + + + + + + + + 100 Ralph Anderson + + NV + – + + + + + + + 91 Kevin Bryant + A – + + + + – – + – + 64 Paul Campbell + NV + + + + + + + + + + 100 Chip Campsen + – – + + + + – + + – + 67 Catherine Ceips + + + + + + + + + + + + 100 Ray Cleary + + + + + + + + + + NV NV 100 John Courson + – NV + + + + + + + NV + 90 + + + + + + + + + + + + 100 John Drummond + + NV + + + + + + + + + 100 Dick Elliott + + + + + + + + + + + + 100 Mike Fair + + + + + + + – + + + + 92 A + – + NV + + + + + + + 90 + + NV + + + + – + + + + 91 + – – + + + + + + + NV + 82 John Hawkins + – + + + + + + + + + + 92 Wes Hayes + + + + + + + + + + + + 100 + + – + – + + + + + + + 83 Darrell Jackson + + + + – + + + + + + + 92 + + + + + + + + + + + + 100 John Land + + NV + – + + + + + + + 91 + + + + + + + + + + + + 100 Phil Leventis + + + + – + + + + + + + 92 + + + + – + + + + + + + 92 + + + + – + + + + + + + 92 Larry Martin + + + + + + + + + + + + 100 Shane Massey + – + + + + + + + + – + 83 John Matthews + + + + – + + + + NV NV + 90 Glenn McConnell + – + + + – + + + + + + 83 Yancey McGill + + + + – + + + + + + + 92 Billy O’Dell + + + + + + + + + + + + 100 Kay Patterson + + + + – + + + + + + + 92 Harvey Peeler + – + + + + + + + + + + 92 Clementa Pinckney + + NV + – + + + + + NV + 90 Luke Rankin + + + + + + + + + + + + 100 Glenn Reese + + + + – + + + + + + + 92 Jim Ritchie + – + + + NV + – NV + NV + 78 Greg Ryberg + – – + + + + – – + NV NV 60 Randy Scott + + + + + NV + NV NV + + + 100 Nikki Setzler + + + + + + + + + + + + 100 + + + + + + + + + + + + 100 Linda Short + + + + NV + + + + + NV NV 100 David Thomas + + + + + + + + + + + + 100 Lewis Vaughn + – NV + NV NV + NV NV NV – + 67 + – – + + + + + + + + + 83 Kent Williams + + NV + – + + + + + + + 91 Illegal Immigration Reform (H.4400) HOUSE H.4400 contained language that preempts local governments from piecemeal ordinances, protects companies that are given fraudulent information and unknowingly hire an illegal worker, and holds immediate employers accountable for VOTE KEY: immigration standards. The House voted 94-16 to concur with the Senate amendments (May 29, 2008). + = Business Positive Vote Cigarette Tax (H.3567) – = Business Negative Vote The legislation would have raised the cigarette tax by 50 cents per pack. The revenue would have been largely dedicated A = Abstain to initiatives split between assistance for low-income, working South Carolinians, credits for small businesses to purchase health insurance and increasing Medicaid eligibility to draw down federal matching dollars. By a vote of 54-57, the = No Vote NV House failed to override the Governor’s veto (May 27, 2008). PACT Test (H. 4662) H.4662 replaces the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test (PACT) with a more diagnostic test designed to give teachers quicker feedback on student achievement. The legislation also streamlines the teacher academic planning process, eliminating redundant paperwork. The House voted 111-0 to grant the conference committee free conference powers (May 29, 2008). Biofuels Incentive (H.3649) H.3649, the “Energy Freedom and Rural Development Act,” provides incentive payments to retailers and wholesalers for each gallon of ethanol or biodiesel fuel sold, incentives for electricity generation derived from biomass, grants for the research and development of projects that validate the effectiveness of new and future biomass, solar, geothermal, wind energy, and small hydropower technologies and products. The House voted 94-0 to override the Governor’s veto of the legislation (May 27, 2008). COLA (H.4876) H.4876 provides a permanent funding plan for state retirees’ cost-of-living adjustments. The House voted 111-7 to override the Governor’s veto (June 3, 2008). Budget, SCHIP (H.4800, Veto #10) Veto #10 provides over $21 million in funding for South Carolina’s Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIPS). The dollars are matched by the federal government for a total of approximately $70 million towards this initiative. The House voted 115-4 to override the Governor’s veto (June 3, 2008). Budget, Regional Tourism (H.4800, Veto #35) Veto #35 provides $550,000 for the 11 regional tourism districts to help promote tourism efforts statewide. The House voted 108-10 to override the Governor’s veto (June 3, 2008). Critical Needs Nursing Initiative (S.1022) S.1022 is aimed at addressing the state’s nursing shortage by offering scholarships, salary enhancements and new positions. The House voted 79-1 to override the Governor’s veto (June 5, 2008). Economic Development (S.1171) S.1171 contains several incentives for manufacturers with key initiatives, including an exemption on idle equipment for manufacturing machinery, incentives for warehousing and distribution machineries and incentives for manufacturers that produce some of their products from recyclable materials. The House voted 114-0 to give the bill second reading (May 21, 2008). Property Tax (H.4942) H.4942 would allow a newly sold house to remain on the tax rolls at the previously assessed value until the next reassessment. At that point, the property would be assessed at the point of sale price. The bill would have added a $44 million tax shift to business. The House voted 102-0 to give the bill second reading (April 23, 2008). *The Chamber recommended a “nay” vote as a business positive vote. Road Funding (H.4549) H.4549 would have transferred half the sales tax generated from the sale of automobiles from the General Fund to the maintenance of roads and bridges and half to the State Infrastructure Bank, phased in over the next four years. The House voted 90-10 to give the bill second reading (April 9, 2008). Endowed Chairs (S.1252) S.1252 reauthorizes the “SC Research Centers of Economic Excellence” initiative, often referred to as Endowed Chairs, for future years. The program continues to help build South Carolina’s knowledge-based economy, creating higher paying jobs in the state. The House voted 103-0 to override the Governor’s veto (June 25, 2008). Small Business Health Care Pooling (S.588) S.588 allows small businesses to pool together their health insurance plans in an attempt to lower rates. The House voted 105-0 to give the bill second reading (January 29, 2008). Fire Sprinkler Incentives (H.4470) H.4470 incentivizes the installation of fire sprinklers in both commercial and residential structures. The legislation allows local governments to offer up to a 25 percent property tax credit on the costs of fire sprinkler installation. The state will then match that amount with an income tax credit. The legislation also limits the amount local governments can charge for tap fees to actual costs. The House voted 109-0 to override the Governor’s veto (June 25, 2008).

Please note: Representatives voting “aye” on votes listed were considered pro-business votes except H.4942 as previously noted. House Votes Page 1 of 2 H.4400 H.3567 H.4662 H.3649 H.4876 H.4800 H.4800 S.1022 S.1171 H.4942 H.4549 S.1252 S.588 H.4470 Regional Econ. Property Road Endowed Healthcare Fire SCORE Representative Immigration Cig. Tax PACT Biofuels COLA SCHIP Nursing Tourism Dev. Tax Funding Chairs Pool Sprinklers (%) Paul Agnew + NV + NV + + + NV NV – + + + + 90 Terry Alexander NV + + + + + + + NV NV NV + + + 100 Karl Allen + + + NV + + + + + NV + + + + 100 Carl Anderson + + + NV + + + NV + – NV + + + 91 Michael Anthony + + + + + + + + + NV NV + + + 100 Jimmy Bales – + + NV + + + + + – + + + + 85 + + + + + + + NV + – + + + + 92 Bruce Bannister + – + + + + + NV + – + + + + 85 Liston Barfield NV – NV + + + + + + NV + NV + NV 89 Jim Battle NV – NV + + + + + + – + NV + + 75 Eric Bedingfield + – + + – + + NV + – A + + + 82 Kenny Bingham + – + NV + + + + + – + + + + 85 Don Bowen + – NV + + + + + + – + + + + 85 Bill Bowers – + + NV + + + + + – + NV + NV 82 Joan Brady + – + + + + + + + – + + + + 86 Lester Branham – + + + + + + + + – + + NV + 85 Curtis Brantley – + + + + + + + + – NV + + + 85 Floyd Breeland – + + + + + + NV + NV + + + + 92 Grady Brown – + + + + + + NV + – NV + + + 83 Robert Brown + + + + + + + + + – + + NV + 92 Harry Cato + – + + + + + + + – + NV + NV 83 Richard Chalk + – NV + + + + + + – + + + + 85 Alan Clemmons + – + + + + + NV + – + + + + 85 + + + + + + NV + + – + + + + 92 Gilda Cobb-Hunter – + + + NV NV + NV + – – + + + 73 Creighton Coleman + NV + + + + + NV + – NV + + + 91 Dan Cooper + – + + + + + + + – + + + + 86 Bill Cotty + + + + + + – + + – + + NV + 85 Kris Crawford + + + + – + + NV + – + + + + 85 Joe Daning + – + + + + + + + – + + NV + 85 Tom Dantzler + + + + + + + + + – NV + + + 92 Ralph Davenport + NV + NV + + – NV + – NV NV NV NV 71 Greg Delleney + – + + + + + + + – NV + + + 85 Jeff Duncan + – NV + + NV + + + NV NV NV NV NV 86 Tracy Edge + – + NV + + + + + – + + NV + 83 Shannon Erickson + – + + + + + + + – + + + + 86 Marion Frye + – + NV + + + NV + – NV + + + 82 Laurie Funderburk + + + + + NV + + + – – + + + 85 Mike Gambrell + – + + + + + + + – + NV + + 85 Jerry Govan + + + + + + + + + NV + + + + 100 Carl Gullick + + + + + + + + + – + + + + 93 Ben Hagood + – + + – + + – + – + + + + 71 Nikki Haley + – + + + + + + + – + + + + 86 Glenn Hamilton + – + NV + – + NV NV NV – NV + NV 63 Nelson Hardwick + – + + + + + + + NV + + + + 92 Bobby Harrell + – + + + + + + + – + + + + 86 Jim Harrison + – + NV + + + NV + – + + + + 83 Chris Hart NV + + + + + + + + – NV + + + 92 Cathy Harvin + + + + + NV NV + + NV NV + + + 100 Gloria Haskins + – + + + + – NV + – + + + NV 75 Jackie Hayes – NV + NV + + + NV + – + + + + 82 + – + + + + + + + – + NV + + 85 + + + + + + + + + – NV + + + 92 Kenneth Hodges – + + + NV + + + + – + + + + 85 + NV + NV + + + + + – NV + + + 91 Leon Howard NV + + + NV + + NV + NV + + NV + 100 + + + NV + + + + + – + + + + 92 Heyward Hutson NV NV NV NV + + – + + – + + + + 80 Joe Jefferson + + + + + + + + + – + + + + 93 Doug Jennings + + + + + + + + + – + NV + + 92 Keith Kelly + – + + + + + NV + – + + + + 85 House Votes Page 2 of 2 Ken Kennedy – + + NV + + + + + – – + NV + 75 Herb Kirsh + – + + + + + + + – + + + + 86 Patsy Knight NV + + + + + + NV + – + + + + 92 Bob Leach + – + + + + + NV + – + + + + 85 Chip Limehouse NV NV NV NV + + + + + – + + NV + 89 Lanny Littlejohn + – + + + + + + + – + NV + NV 83 + – + + NV + + NV + – NV + NV + 80 + – + + + + + + + – + + + + 86 + – + + + + – + + – + + + + 79 David Mack – + + + + + + + + – – NV + NV 75 Joe Mahaffey + + + + + + + + + – + + + + 93 Walt McLeod + + + + + + + + + – – + + + 86 Jim Merrill + – + NV – + NV + + – + NV + + 73 Vida Miller + + + + + + + NV + – + + + + 92 Harold Mitchell + + + + + + + NV NV – + + + + 92 Bessie Moody-Lawrence NV NV NV NV + NV NV NV + NV NV NV NV + 100 + – + + + + + + + – + + NV + 85 Mick Mulvaney + – + + – + + NV + – + + + + 77 Jimmy Neal + + + + + + + + + NV + + + NV 100 Joe Neal – + + + + + NV NV + – – + + + 75 Denny Neilson + – + + + + – + + – + + + + 79 Harry Ott – + + + + + + + + – + + NV + 85 Phil Owens + + + + + + + + + – + + + + 93 Anne Parks + + + + + + + N + – + + NV + 92 Skipper Perry + – + + + + + + + – + + + + 86 Olin Phillips + NV + NV + + + NV + NV NV + + + 100 Gene Pinson NV + NV + + + + NV + – + + + + 91 Ted Pitts + – + + + + + + + – + + + + 86 Mike Pitts + – + + + + + NV NV NV NV + + NV 89 + + + + + + + NV + – – + + + 85 NV + NV NV + + + NV NV NV + NV NV + 100 Bill Sandifer + – + + + + + + + – + + + + 86 Wallace Scarborough + + + + + + + + + – + + + + 93 John Scott – + + NV + + + + + – + + + + 85 Bakari Sellers – + + + + + + NV + – + + + + 85 Phillip Shoopman + – + + – + + NV + – + + + + 77 + – + NV + + + NV + – + + + + 83 B.R. Skelton + + + + + + + + + – + + + + 93 Don Smith + – + + + – – NV + NV + NV + NV 70 Fletcher Smith + + + + + + + + + – + NV NV + 92 Murrell Smith + – + + + + + NV + – NV + + + 83 Garry Smith + – + NV A – + NV + NV + + + + 80 James Smith + + NV NV + + + + NV NV NV + NV + 100 Roland Smith + – + + + + + NV + – + + + + 85 Doug Smith NV NV + NV NV + NV + + – + NV + + 88 Kit Spires + NV + + + + + + + – + + + + 92 + + + + + + + + + – + + + + 93 Jim Stewart + – + NV – – – NV + NV NV + + + 60 + – + + + + – NV + – + NV + NV 73 Adam Taylor + – + + + + + NV + – + + + NV 83 Michael Thompson + – + + + + + + + – + + + + 86 Mac Toole + – + + + + + + + – + + + + 86 David Umphlett + – + + + + + + + – + + + + 86 Ted Vick NV + NV + + + + + + NV + NV + + 100 Thad Viers + NV + NV + + + NV NV NV + + + + 100 Bob Walker + – + + + + + + NV – + + + NV 83 David Weeks + + + NV + + + + + – – + + + 85 Seth Whipper – NV + NV + + + + NV – + + NV + 80 Brian White + – + + + + + + + – + + + + 86 + + + + + + + + + – NV NV + + 92 Robert Williams + + + + + + + + + – – + + + 86 Billy Witherspoon NV – NV + + + + + + – + + + + 83 Annette Young + – + + + + – + + – + + + + 79