House rolled up its sleeves, made progress this year

e-mail this story discuss this issue in our forums Guest column • Diane Smock: Help 'Open Doors' to the YMCA so all may benefit (03/20/05) • Rep. David H. Wilkins: House rolled up its sleeves, made progress this year (03/20/05) • : Colon cancer myths can kill (03/18/05) • Eloise L. Rudy: Put Parents in Charge is a disaster waiting to happen (03/17/05) • Kirk A. Goeldner: State's Second Injury Fund should be eliminated (03/16/05) More details David H. Wilkins is a Greenville attorney and speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives. He graduated from Clemson University and the University of South Carolina School of Law, and he has served in the House since 1981 as a representative from District 24.

Think of it this way: How difficult is it for your family to agree on where to eat dinner, what television show to watch or what movie to see?

Now think on a grand scale.

Put 124 vastly different people in the room — men, women, young adults, senior citizens, Democrats, Republicans, blacks and whites — and ask them to agree on one measure that benefits all.

It's a mighty task — one faced every day by the South Carolina House of Representatives.

And it's what the true magic of a democratic system is all about.

In just nine weeks of the legislative session, members of the House have worked together to pass key legislation important to the people of our state. In my 25 years in the General Assembly, I have never witnessed a more productive start to a legislative session.

The House went to work in January determined to help stimulate the economy, create jobs and increase per-capita income by encouraging entrepreneurship and enhancing our business environment.

To that end, the House has already passed a sweeping Jobs Creation Act targeting small businesses — the backbone of our economy here in South Carolina. The bill allows companies creating at least two jobs a year to receive tax credits. It encourages investment in high-tech and start-up businesses and offers incentives for investing in new companies.

Two bills critical to our state's economic viability — tort and medical malpractice reform — have been approved by both the House and Senate. The tort reform bill thwarts frivolous lawsuits and jury shopping to better protect South Carolina citizens and businesses victimized by unscrupulous lawsuits and unreasonable jury verdicts.

The Medical Malpractice bill places a $350,000 cap on non-economic damages (like pain and suffering). It also protects doctors assisting in life-and-death emergency situations from being unfairly targeted for damages outside of their control.

I anticipate both bills will soon reach the governor's desk.

The House also passed Gov. Mark Sanford's income tax reduction plan that would reduce the state income tax rate from 7 percent to 4.75 percent over 10 years and government restructuring — another issue the governor is pushing.

The House restructuring bill allows voters to decide whether the superintendent of education and secretary of state should be appointed by the governor, rather than elected by the citizens of our state.

Because this requires a change to our state constitution, we needed 83 votes in the House or two-thirds of the membership. To get an Upstate conservative to vote the same way as a Democrat from the Lowcountry requires Herculean efforts and much give and take. If the Senate passes this bill, it would be a sound victory for proponents of government restructuring.

Among the many other key measures passed by the House thus far include:

A bill designed to make it easier to establish charter schools in our state.

An amendment to the state constitution stipulating that marriage is strictly between a man and a woman.

SMART funding designed to give local school districts more flexibility in how best to target revenue to their specific needs.

Two bills that would shorten the legislative session — saving taxpayer dollars and encouraging more participation in the legislative process.

A bill banning the names of highway infrastructure after a person who is still living.

This past week, the House made history by adopting the state budget 107 to 0. In my 25 years in the House, we have never passed a budget unanimously. It represented a tremendous bipartisan effort. The House budget fully funds education, pays back $38 million to various trust funds (fully restoring 40 and partially restoring two) and puts more law enforcement on our streets. It is a fiscally responsible budget that honors both our commitment to education and to restoring the state's depleted trust funds.

This is by no means a comprehensive list. Major issues like property tax relief and school choice loom on the horizon. But it does illustrate what your representatives have been able to accomplish just nine weeks into the session.

It's been said, "Nothing will work unless you do."

Leading is not just about launching good ideas and expecting everyone else to do the heavy lifting. Leadership means following through on those good ideas, working and compromising to make them palatable to a very diverse body of individuals.

It's what democracy is all about.