STATEHOUSE REPORT | ISSUE 22.27 | July 7, 2023
BIG STORY: Biden hails $11 billion of investment in Palmetto State
LOWCOUNTRY, Ariail: On second thought …
COMMENTARY, Brack: Be wary of what sounds too good to be true
SPOTLIGHT: Palmetto Care Connections
MYSTERY PHOTO: What’s the story behind this photo?
FEEDBACK: On challenged drivers, roads, resilience
Biden hails $11 billion of investment in S.C.
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | President Joe Biden Thursday touted $11 billion of business investment in South Carolina that is bringing thousands of jobs to the state since he became president in 2021.
“All told, since I signed the Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS and Science Act into law, companies have announced $11 billion in manufacturing and clean energy investments just in South Carolina. Eleven billion dollars,” Biden said in a 22-minute speech at a West Columbia manufacturer that is investing $60 million to create 600 permanent jobs in the Palmetto State. “Companies across the … country are expanding factories, building new ones, creating tens of thousands of good-paying jobs, most of which don’t require a four-year degree.”
He emphasized that the manufacturing and infrastructure jobs being created in the state and nation are part of an economic vision built from the bottom up and to reverse 40 years of trickle-down economics.
“It’s starting here in South Carolina — and to talk about the progress we made building an economy from the middle out and the bottom up, not trickling down. When you build from the middle out and bottom up, everybody does well, and the wealthy still do very well. With that trickle-down economy, not a whole lot dropped on my dad’s kitchen table growing up.”
An economic system based on money getting to the middle class from the top hasn’t really worked, he said.
“Trickle-down economics has failed the country for decades. It means slashing public investment on things that helped America lead the world in innovation. You know, we used to invest 2% of our entire gross domestic product in research and development. You know what it is now? 0.7%.”
He boasted that Bidenomics — something that may have originally been used as a pejorative term by conservative newspapers — was working.
“Investment is working and factories are being built and jobs are being created — happening in rural America, the heartland, all across America — in communities that have been left out and hollowed out,” the president said. “This is what it looks like across the country: Over 13 million new jobs since I’ve been elected to office — more jobs than any president has ever created in their first two years. Nearly 800,000 manufacturing jobs, including 14,000 in this state alone.”
In addition to the jobs at West Columbia’s planned Flex facility, Biden cited other investments successes in everything from clean energy infrastructure to semiconductors. He noted these South Carolina projects [also see this White House fact sheet]:
- Chester County: $1.5 billion by Albemarle to process lithium for electric vehicle batteries; 300 jobs.
- Charleston area: $3.5 billion by Redwood Minerals to build a battery materials manufacturing plant; 1,500 jobs.
- Richland County: $300 million by Cirba Solutions to recycle batteries; 300 jobs.
- Colleton County: $279 million by Pometa Energy Storage Technologies to make batteries to store energy; 575 jobs.
Biden also praised various infrastructure projects in South Carolina that the government is investing in — rebuilding of six bridges in Union County, fixing “malfunction junction” in Columbia, removing 100,000 lead pipe service lines leading to homes, helping a Richland County school district buy 16 electric buses and spending $1 billion to close the digital Internet divide, which helps 359,000 Palmetto State families save on Internet bills.
He said people could go to Invest.gov to learn how their communities are benefitting from investment.
While Biden thanked U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., for voting for the Bipartisan Infrastructure act and bills to invest in semiconductor chips and science, he castigated the state’s GOP congressional delegation for opposing the Inflation Reduction Act, which promotes clean energy to reduce impacts of climate change.
“Every Republican member of the [U.S.] House in this state voted to repeal the clean energy provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act that — that attached — attracted all these jobs,” Biden said. “You know, and then, after that effort failed, the Republican Study Committee, which includes over three quarters of the House Republicans, just released a plan to go at trying to repeal it all again. That hasn’t stopped them, though, from claiming credit now that billions of dollars and thousands of jobs are coming to the United States.”
In an appearance on Fox News Thursday morning, presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., slammed Biden’s visit to the state and doubled-down on trickle-down economics:
“Every single month since he’s been in office, except for one, inflation is outpacing increases in wages. We’ve done better. We can do better,” Scott said, according to a press release. “And when I’m president of the United States, we’re going to continue what we did before: cutting taxes, putting more dollars in the pockets of the average family, and increasing an incentive-based economy like my opportunity zones, where within those zones, wages went up 8% while inflation was only 2%. We can do better by trusting the American people with their own money.”
But Biden said his economic vision was working.
“It’s rooted in what always worked best for this country: investing in America. Because when you invest in our people, when you strengthen the middle class, we see stronger economic growth that benefits everybody.”
- Have a comment? Send to: feedback@charlestoncitypaper.com
On second thought …
Cartoonist Robert Ariail generally has a biting or funny comment about the great state of South Carolina in his weekly cartoon. Here’s what he’s thinking about hurricanes. Love the cartoon? Hate it? What do you think: feedback@statehousereport.com.
Be wary of what sounds too good to be true
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | The spam and scam phone calls are coming in so frequently these days that I’ve taken to speaking French.
Which I don’t really speak.
So when a call rings in from Marion or North Myrtle Beach or Andrews – even though it’s really from China or India or Russia – I now answer with one word, “Bonjour.”
After the annoying blip that tells me it’s an unwanted call, I repeat the word and wait. It doesn’t take long before somebody who is trying to speak English starts a pitch. To which, I again say, “Bonjour.” If the person continues, I interrupt with, “Parle francais, s’il vous plait?” (Speak French, please?) That usually stops the caller and he says something about how he doesn’t speak French (which is when I say “Bonjour” again). It’s not long before he hangs up.
This tactic accomplishes a couple of things. First, I’ve delayed the person for a while, which means somebody else got off the hook from having an annoying phone call. Second, I’m hoping – maybe even praying – that the guy puts me on a list that says “does not speak English,” effectively removing me from his scamming call list.
There’s no way to know whether it really works, but this “personal Do Not Call Registry” seems to be working. Fewer unknown calls interrupted recent days. All I’m worried about now is what happens if a spam caller speaks French. Maybe I’ll just answer in English.
If you’re annoyed by too many unwanted calls, I suggest you try this in any language. All you have to do is translate a couple of phrases (try Icelandic or Swedish, perhaps). But also go to the National Do Not Call Registry (the real thing) and make sure all of your phone numbers are on this list that seeks to block spam callers. You should check the site every so often to verify any of your phone numbers are still on the registry.
One of the big reasons you want to block as much of this trash as possible is to keep yourself from being eaten alive by scammers. And goodness knows, they seem to be everywhere these days. They will tell you a granddaughter is in jail and you need to send money. They’ll tell you you need to sign up for a new kind of Medicare Part A or B and that you need to send money right away. They’ll claim to be technical support and try to get your personal information. Or they’ll say they’re with the IRS and you need to make a payment. Maybe they’ll announce you’ve won the lottery or are a bank/insurance company/health care company that can save you money – as long as you verify some personal information first.
Don’t do it. If your charming French, Icelandic or Swedish doesn’t throw them off, hang up. Block the number. We emphasize: Do not reveal any personal information, regardless of what they say is urgent. Learn to “Ditch the Pitch,” as the state Department of Consumer Affairs says, to avoid scams and keep your personal information safe.
“That’s the key – don’t give them any personal information,” said Columbia’s David Campbell, chair of the state Commission on Consumer Affairs. “Even if it sounds like it’s legitimate, hang up.”
Don’t give away your bank balance, mortgage payment, Social Security number, any account numbers or address. Just because they’re calling or emailing you, you don’t have to answer anything. Hang up. Do not click any link in any unfamiliar email because you could accidentally download something that steals all sorts of information.
“What’s scary is the amount of money that people have lost falling prey to some of these scams, whether real estate scams or saying you have an outstanding warrant,” Campbell said. “I don’t even answer my phone anymore unless it shows up as somebody I know,” he added.
Be careful out there.
Award-winning columnist Andy Brack is editor and publisher of Statehouse Report and the Charleston City Paper. Have a comment? Send to: feedback@statehousereport.com.
Palmetto Care Connections
Statehouse Report is brought to you at no cost thanks to the generous support of underwriters, such as Palmetto Care Connections.
Established in 2010, Palmetto Care Connections (PCC) is a non-profit organization that brings technology, broadband and telehealth solutions to health care providers in rural and underserved areas in South Carolina. PCC hosts the Annual Telehealth Summit of South Carolina presenting state and national best practices and trends, as well as providing networking connections for health care, technology and broadband professionals.
The leader of the South Carolina broadband consortium, PCC assists health care providers in receiving broadband savings through the Federal Communication Commission’s Healthcare Connect Fund program. Since 2013, PCC has helped providers save more than $25 million in broadband costs.
PCC co-chairs the South Carolina Telehealth Alliance, along with the Medical University of South Carolina, serving as an advocate for rural providers and partnering with organizations to improve health care access and delivery for all South Carolinians.
- Learn more about Palmetto Care Connections.
What’s the story behind the photo?
The story behind this photo sent in by a South Carolina reader is extremely interesting. What is it, in a few words? Send us your guess of what this photo shows – as well as your name and hometown – to feedback@statehousereport.com.
Last week’s “Rural home” photo got more guessers than we figured. Reader Barry Wingard of Florence sent in the photo, which shows the home of the late Ed Young, a Republican member of the U.S. House from the Pee Dee from 1972 to 1974. Several others identified it as the home of his father, Fred Young, a farmer who gained national repute.
“The home was built in 1877,” reader Jay Altman of Columbia wrote. “In 1925, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover inspected Fred Young’s farm following recognition of one of its Jersey cows as a world champion butter-fat producer.”
Congrats also to these readers who identified the home between Florence and Timmonsville: Allan Peel of San Antonio, Texas; Nancy Trapp of Martinez, Ga.; David Lupo of Mount Pleasant; Will Bradley of Las Vegas, Nevada; David Taylor of Darlington; Frank Bouknight of Summerville; Jacie Godfrey and Pam Little-McDaniel, both of Florence; George Graf of Palmyra, Va.; Brandi Willis of St. George; Pat Keadle of Wagener; Anna Newsome Murray of Holly Hill; Elizabeth Jones of Columbia; Scott Brown of San Jose, Calif.; and Penny Forrester of Tallahassee, Fla.
Thanks all!
>> Send us a mystery picture. If you have a photo that you believe will stump readers, send it along (but make sure to tell us what it is because it may stump us too!) Send to: feedback@statehousereport.com and mark it as a photo submission. Thanks.
On South Carolina’s challenged drivers
To the editor:
I enjoyed your column, as always. You must receive a ton of hate mail.
I moved to S.C. in 2008 after living overseas for 27 years in eight countries as a teacher and then as a federal employee. Postings included places like Bolivia, Mexico, Bangladesh and El Salvador. Driving was a challenge, so I can say the average South Carolina driver is superior to the average Bolivian.
Except for the use of turn signals. They are rarely used in the Third World. Same as South Carolina.
– David Dreher, Seneca, S.C.
Right on roads
You’re so right about the roads.
I live on a state road and have spoken to representatives from the state Department of Transportation (DOT) about reducing the speed limit from 60 mph to 50 mph because of development in the area and excessive increase in traffic. (I have no idea where all this traffic is coming from.)
The problem is that the drivers are going in excess of 10 mph over the posted speed limit through a residential area, which makes it difficult for residents to enter the highway or to turn into their driveways because oncoming traffic is so heavy and they are traveling too fast. The response is that, “that is a Sheriff’s department issue.”
And yes, tailgating and cutting in is rampant here too. I know that development is driving the increase in traffic but our county council continues to approve even more development. It’s too bad that the DOT can’t work together with the sheriff’s department to reach a safer conclusion.
– Miriam Mitchell, Seabrook, S.C.
Resilience program is important
To the editor:
Important that you featured the state’s resilience program in last week’s BIG STORY in Statehouse Report. Most of us know about the coming climate impacts. Our leaders, much less so. Decades from now, the state implementation may reduce the head-for-the-hills state flood policy if taken up locally. That will take time to show up as the climate closes in, shutting the available doors of viable options we need in the future.
We need an accelerant in the form of elected officials who understand this. A majority who can rapidly craft policies to extend survival further to maintain the layered multi-decade adaptation.
We need a comprehensive plan that makes the rapid turn to future threats to life and asset values. We will not have in time the way we are going. This council majority needs to protect county residents. At greatest risk are the extensive cul-de-sac communities. Housing is designed to avoid flood insurance when the opposite is required going into our wet future. Retrofitting these exposed communities to protect against future flood impacts has yet to be articulated. More than two minutes of the voices at the public council meetings, who do not want to hear from people with wet shoes, is required of council members.
Binding decades of our future sales tax revenue for a City of Charleston street precludes the scaled countywide investments needed to stay here. We need a flood plan to stay here over an unaffordable highway serving too few. This choice will find too many of us swimming naked.
Insurance industry-backed local strategies that will lower current and future flooding risks are essential to control the escalating climate-driven insurance premiums to remain here.
Express in the comprehensive plan guidance to create policies that unleash developer creativity. Maximize the bottom line of buyers. This community needs resilience that sells. Design the standards backed with county-wide future flood math that is overarching. State where to put more water that is coming to us all. It has to go someplace besides the early current flooding places; what the state resilience plan anticipates.
– Fred Palm, Edisto Island, S.C.
Send us your thoughts
We encourage you to send in your thoughts about policy and politics impacting South Carolina. We’ve gotten some letters in the last few weeks – some positive, others nasty. We print non-defamatory comments, but unless you provide your contact information – name and hometown, plus a phone number used only by us for verification – we can’t publish your thoughts.
Have a comment? Send your letters or comments to: feedback@statehousereport.com. Make sure to provide your contact details (name, hometown and phone number for verification. Letters are limited to 150 words.
- ORDER NOW: Copies are in Lowcountry-area bookstores now, but if you can’t swing by, you can order a copy online today.
- Now available as an e-book!
ABOUT STATEHOUSE REPORT
Statehouse Report, founded in 2001 as a weekly legislative forecast that informs readers about what is going to happen in South Carolina politics and policy, is provided to you at no charge every Friday.
- Editor and publisher: Andy Brack, 843.670.3996
Donate today
We’re proud to offer Statehouse Report for free. For more than a dozen years, we’ve been the go-to place for insightful independent policy and political news and views in the Palmetto State. And we love it as much as you do.
But now, we can use your help. If you’ve been thinking of contributing to Statehouse Report over the years, now would be a great time to contribute as we deal with the crisis. In advance, thank you.
Buy the book
Now you can get a copy of editor and publisher Andy Brack’s We Can Do Better, South Carolina! ($14.99) as a paperback or as a Kindle book ($7.99). . The book of essays offers incisive commentaries by editor and publisher Andy Brack on the American South, the common good, vexing problems for the Palmetto State and interesting South Carolina leaders.
More
- Mailing address: Send inquiries by mail to: P.O. Box 21942, Charleston, SC 29413
- Subscriptions are free: Click to subscribe.
- We hope you’ll keep receiving the great news and information from Statehouse Report, but if you need to unsubscribe, go to the bottom of the weekly email issue and follow the instructions.
- Read our sister publication: Charleston City Paper (every Friday in print; Every day online)
- © 2023, Statehouse Report, a publication of City Paper Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved.
We Can Do Better, South Carolina!