Greg Ryberg running unopposed in effort to retain Senate 24 seat

By PHILIP LORD Senior writer

Recent reports stating South Carolina's retirement system is in trouble are nothing new to Sen. Greg Ryberg, R-Aiken.

For the past several sessions of the S.C. General Assembly, the businessman has warned the system was headed for a fall, but he has largely been crying in the wilderness of election year politics.

Earlier this month those charged with overseeing the state retirement system publicly stated the system is in crisis. They warned some 84,000 South Carolina retirees are at risk of losing yearly cost of living increases that help keep up with the pace of inflation.

In addition to the underfunding of the state's retirement program, Ryberg has warned of the unfunded liability presented by the state's Teacher and Employee Retirement Incentive (TERI) program.

Under TERI an employee with 28 years of service can retire and keep on working for five additional years. During this time they are paid a normal salary and their retirement checks are deposited in a special account. At the end of the five years the retiree walks away with a lump sum payment from the special account.

Ryberg has pushed for legislation to address the projects shortfall in the budget, which was recently estimated to be $3.4 billion, but the issue got bogged down in the quagmire that was last year's State Senate.

Unopposed in his effort to retain the Senate 24 seat he has held since his election in 1992, Ryberg said budgetary issues, such as the retirement system and TERI, would have to be addressed during the 2005 session.

Next on Ryberg's list is the restructuring of state government, which is a carry over issue from the 2004 session.

"I think we need to be more efficient and more accountable," Ryberg said. "I think we have too many agencies dealing with the same customers, particularly on the health care side," Ryberg said.

Lowering the state's tax rate, as proposed by Gov. Mark Sanford, and passing meaningful tort reform legislation also top his list of expected hot button items.

Topping Ryberg's early agenda will be the altering of the rules of the S.C. Senate to prevent one senator from stalling discussion of meaningful legislation.

Last year Sen. Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, stalled discussion of a mandatory seat belt law, and other legislation, for almost two weeks using the rules of the Senate.

"These rules were basically written in the horse and buggy era," said Ryberg. "In my 12 years there I have not seen more abuse of the rules than I did last year."

Another issue looming large for Ryberg is funding for the second phase of the Palmetto Parkway in North Augusta. The first phase was completed with funding from the State Infrastructure Bank, on which Ryberg serves.

Funding for the second phase of the parkway, which will carry it from the Aiken-Augusta Highway to I-20, is a $85 million to $90 million priority Ryberg said he will push during the next session.

The chief executive officer of REI Inc., Ryberg is a graduate of Marquette University. He is married to the former Elizabeth Rose Denkewalter. They have three grown children, Amy Kyle and Shana.

Contact Philip Lord at plord@aikenstandard.com.

On the issues

Ryberg believes meaningful tort reform has to be passed in order for South Carolina to compete in the global marketplace.

He believes in reforming state government and increasing accountability to Palmetto State taxpayers.

Ryberg believes in supporting public education and in giving local school boards more control over the money they receive from Columbia. "One of the things we have to do is give more flexibility to the local districts," Ryberg said.

In his own words

I am honored the voters have elected me to serve and represent them for the past 12 years.

As a businessman I see many unique challenges in South Carolina. Our ability to address each issue will determine our quality of life. For South Carolina to compete today we must do so in the global marketplace. Therefore, I support Governor Sanford's proposals in his Contract for Change.

This will require government restructuring which was commenced in the early 90's by then Governor Carroll Campbell. Last years' restructuring of the Department of Motor Vehicles has transformed that agency from an abysmal department to a model agency – wait times have been reduced from 66 minutes to 15; at the same time operating with a reduced budget. Governor Sanford's restructuring of DMV should act as our blueprint in addressing health care and other agency restructuring. Too many agencies serve the same constituents with little or no interaction.

Other important issues are insuring the fiscal soundness of the State Retirement system, addressing the failure of the TERI Program, primary seat belt enforcement, tort reform, property tax reform and on the local front securing the balance of funding to complete the Palmetto Parkway.

I will work hard to promote this agenda that reflects the population I serve.

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