First, let me begin by acknowledging how humbling it is to write my first Legislative Update for the people of Fairfield and Chester Counties. After campaigning for well over a year, you were kind enough to elect me to the House of Representatives, first in June and then in November. For that, I am ever grateful.

There are many issues on the horizon for the upcoming legislative session, and among them are many items we have seen in previous years. For example, increasing the cigarette tax is upon us again this year, a raise which the General Assembly passed last year, but due to the Governor’s veto, the bill failed. An increase in the cigarette tax is backed by 73% of South Carolinians, and the revenue would be used to help pay for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIPs).

Something else that has garnered people’s interest is the “Spending Accountability Act of 2009,” better known as the “Transparency Bill.” This bill will require roll call votes on any matter that calls for the expenditure of state money. There is a bipartisan push for this in the Legislature, and I am sure we will see this bill pass through the House without much trouble.

Personally, I have signed on to co-sponsor several bills, including issues such as lowering the teacher to student ratio in classrooms; requiring the Governor to open his cabinet meetings to the public, just as the legislative bodies are required; enacting the “South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Act” which will call for more attention and assistance to be given to the rural counties, municipalities, public service and special purpose districts of our state; abolishing common law marriage in South Carolina to alleviate the headaches for probate judges in the Palmetto State; allowing child custody protections for service men and women who are fighting for our country; calling for campaign finance reform to keep individuals from “buying” candidates in South Carolina; and, finally, introducing the "South Carolina Farm to School Program Act,” which benefits local farmers by sending their minimally-processed foods to South Carolina schools, which in turn, provides children with healthy meals.

All of these initiatives and more will be introduced in the legislature this year; however, the overriding issue that keeps every state lawmaker up at night is the economy and the toll it is taking on the State Budget.

Every spending bill will take a back seat to making sure state employees keep their jobs, and every effort will be made to reduce the State Budget to keep us out of this situation in the years ahead.

As for me, I am looking into innovative ways to generate revenue for the Palmetto State, looking past the typical philosophy of raising taxes.

On a personal note, the Speaker of the House appointed me to the Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee where we will take up the issues of farming, hunting and fishing, environmental protection, pollution, forestry, state parks and rural development— among other specific issues.

Many of the issues which pertain to our rural district will be coming through the Agriculture Committee, so I am looking forward to being an integral part of the decision-making process on many of the bills we will see.

All in all, this looks like it will be a very eventful year. Once again, thank you for your support, and please let me know of any way I can be of assistance to you on state matters. You can reach me via email, at BoydBrown@schouse.org, directly at 803.718.2992, in my legislative office at 803.212.6789, or if you are in Columbia while we are in session, stop by my office on the 5th Floor of the Blatt Building, located on the Statehouse grounds.