Observer Election '24: S.C. Rep. Thomas Beach, House Dist. 10
Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
S.C. Rep. Thomas Beach is a candidate for S.C, House Dist. 10.
1. What are the three greatest needs facing South Carolina in the next two years?
Energy. With the growth of population we do not have any new or developing sources of power to provide energy to meet the demand. My solution is some combination of more gas pipelines, more nuclear reactors, more coal plants, and drilling in certain areas off the coast.
Food. Much of our food is imported and meat is processed out of the state. Food security for South Carolinians requires that we shift our focus locally. We need to make sure that South Carolina is one of the best places in the world to be a family farmer, and we can do this by adopting many of the policies Thomas Massie has introduced at the national level. We should especially adopt significant tax breaks for farmers and ranchers practicing regenerative agricultural practices.
Infrastructure. Our roads and bridges are deadly. Several state and local organizations are involved in the planning and maintenance of our infrastructure. In other words, too many cooks in the kitchen. There is a lot of finger pointing when the question is asked, why has this or that not been fixed. I join a small group of lawmakers who are in favor of making the Lt Governor in charge of fixing roads since we already vote for this person every four years, give them a pay check, and since they do not have any actual power. We can hold someone accountable this way.
2. What is the main responsibility of a member of the S.C. House of Representatives?
Simply put; any vote on policy which secures, conserves, protects the three natural rights outlined in the Declaration of Independence is necessary and would make for good law. You can take any issue and weigh and measure it against those three rights. If that policy proposal takes away those rights, it should be soundly defeated.
3. How will your representation benefit the citizens of Anderson County? How about the state as a whole?
I believe that our citizens should be able to keep more of the money they earn, and the money taken away from them in taxes should be spent in measurable, transparent ways that benefit the people of South Carolina.
4. Are there particular issues that motivate you to run/run again for the S.C. House?
Earmarks are the currency of corruption at the state capitol. If you do not vote the way House Leaders want you to vote, there is soft blackmail made against the district I represent. For example; I will never fund planned parenthood, I will never support "hate crimes” legislation, and I strongly oppose wasting money on pet projects like gummy bear statues. (Yes, statues made of gummy bears which taxpayer money was used to fund.) For these stances, Republican House leadership denies any government funding for my district. They punish taxpaying citizens for voting for a fiscal conservative. That makes me pretty mad, and it should make the people of this district mad too. Together we can stand up to the status quo good old boy network that has controlled South Carolina for far too long.
5. What is the General Assembly’s role in working for better public-school education?
In South Carolina, the legislature has far more power than any other part of the government, so while we have a superintendent of education, her power is quite limited—the real power is in the general assembly. Most importantly, we control the purse strings. Not only do we want to ensure that we have safe learning environments, but our children receive a quality education. That’s why the general assembly’s ability to pull funding from any institution indoctrinating children or young adults is very important.
6. What is the biggest budget challenge the state will face in the next two years?
Crony Capitalism! Our legislators are addicted to a system that throws money at big business. Most of our legislators today believe that the government can create jobs. The government should not be in the business of planning economies and picking winners and losers.
7. Do you favor Medicaid expansion for South Carolina? Why? Why not?
No.
8. Do you favor a repeal or revision of Act 388 to help school district and municipalities which are struggling due to those regulations? If yes, how would you change the law?
I am in favor of the repeal. Other school districts surrounding Anderson receive millions of dollars more than the school districts in Anderson county due to how the Act works. We get the short end of the stick. The good people of Powdersville and Piedmont are treated like an ATM for other areas while our communities struggle to have the proper safe school environments. We need to adequately pay our teachers, God bless them. I recommend that we members of the General Assembly stop wasting money on non-core functions of government and redirect that money on actual functions of government like education.
9. What is your understanding of the current abortion ban in South Carolina? Is it too restrictive or not restrictive enough?
The current ban saves many lives, but not all lives. I believe we must provide 14th amendment Constitutional rights to the unborn.
10. How would you work to find common ground with other Anderson County legislative delegation on issues of disagreement?
We should all work together for the good of the people of Anderson County. Recently in another county, a long-time legislator was defeated, and publicly wished ill on the people he had served. That kind of mentality has no place in representative government. If we don’t start from a place of service, we will get nowhere.