S.C. Senate Bill Could Limit Growth in Anderson County

The South Carolina Senate passed a bill last week that, if taken at face value, could potentially have consequences for Anderson County.

The bill bill would bar citizens of “foreign adversary” nations from buying property in the state. That current list includes China, Russia, North Korea, Iran and Cuba, and was approved by a vote of 31-5 (nine excused absences).

Sen. Richard Cash, R-Anderson, voted for the bill and our area’s other senator, Mike Gambrell, R-Anderson, was one of those with an excused absence.

For more than a decade, Anderson County has been a leader in the state in international investment, with 52 companies representing 23 countries which provide more than 10.000 jobs in the county. That ranks the county as seventh in the nation per capita.

Among those companies is Techtronic Industries (TTI), which has invested more than $1 billion in Anderson County and provided more than 1,000 jobs. The company continues to grow and add to their financial investment in the county, as well as exceeding all promises on job creation. TTI was praised by state and county officials when they constructed the beginnings of their new facilities at the corner of S.C. 81 and I-85. Then Gov. Nikki Haley said the state: “looked forward to watching this great company continue to thrive there for many years to come.”

Many of the jobs created at the company are high-paying, high-skilled jobs, such as engineering.

But depending on the interpretation of the bill just passed by the S.C. Senate, future growth at TTI could be in jeopardy. The company is based in Hong Kong, which is now part of China, which would mean under the Senate bill, would now require special approval to expand.

When TTI began operations in Anderson County, Hong Kong was not under the rule of Chinese law. But that is no longer the case, which leaves open the question: “Will the S.C. House vote to pass a bill that could limit economic growth in Anderson County and the state?”

Let’s hope not.

The measure does offer businesses operating in the state before 2023 acquire land for expansion with approval from the Secretary of Commerce and governor. It also implies that it will not force current landowners to divest any property and only applies to future acquisitions. That’s the good news.

But is also covers companies with partial “adversary” nation ownership. Citizens from such countries could not collectively hold more than a 20 percent stake in a landowning company, and no single individual could own over 10 percent. Immigrants from those countries who hold permanent residency could acquire no more than 5 acres of land, and only for residential use.

Curiously, the bill does not address investments by South Carolinians or South Carolina companies from holding or investing in endeavors in those same nations. If the senate’s concern is so great about the influence of such nations, why not include prohibitions on such investments?

South Carolina lawmakers might better spend their energies on such projects as helping control high housing costs by prohibiting corporations from buying single-family homes as rental units. A handful of companies already control apartment rent costs, and allowing them to begin to control the home rental market should be of concern.

This bill also represents a trend toward centralized government out of Columbia, something on which the current General Assembly seems keen. Home rule puts more control in local governments, something that has worked well, especially in Anderson County.

The 124-member South Carolina House of Representatives and a 46-member South Carolina Senate should not pass bills that usurp local elected officials without a clear a compelling reason. S. 576 is an example of overreach.