House Democrats release their legislative priorities

COLUMBIA — New ethics standards for politicians, a push for new energy production and no new hidden fee hikes are at the top of the list in priorities for the House Democratic Caucus this session.

House Minority Leader Harry Ott of St. Matthews gathered the Democrats in the Statehouse lobby today to outline the party's goals.

"With our state suffering the worst economic recession in 75 years, more than 600,000 people out of work and with a half-billion dollar budget deficit, the people of South Carolina want lawmakers to focus on solving our systemic problems," Ott said.

"The House Democratic Caucus will take action that will focus on keeping our budget balanced responsibly, rebuilding South Carolina's economy, improving our schools and rooting out corruption in our government. South Carolina continues to be challenged by tough economic times and repeated disappointments at the hands of the Republican majority."

The agenda includes:

• Transparency and ethics reform: Strengthen and enforce ethics laws and disclosure standards.
• Rebuilding the economy: Promote new energy industries as a way to diversify and rebuild the economy, including tax credits for the production and use of renewable energy sources; and prepare the workforce by overhauling the Employment Security Commission and improving public schools.
• Tax and budget reform: Put 10 percent of spending in a savings account, require any fee increases to be passed in the open and extend the scope of the Tax Realignment Commission to include the 2006 sales tax swap that eliminated some property taxes for homeowners.

Last week, the House GOP Caucus released its agenda.

"We are all anxious to turn the page from the unfortunate distractions of 2009 and start 2010 with a laser focus on improving our economy," House Majority Leader Kenny Bingham of Cayce said Jan. 14. "Every decision on every bill the House Republican Caucus considers will be evaluated on how it improves the economy, whether that is an item on this agenda, or any other bill that comes through our committees or on to the House floor."

The Republican's major agenda items are growing the economy, improving education, responsible and limited government and protecting states' rights.

The House has 73 Republicans and 51 Democrats.