Click here to download the Barrett Jobs Plan
Click here to download the Barrett Jobs Plan Executive Summary
AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE BARRETT JOBS PLAN
TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO FILL JOB OPENINGS
To fill job openings and meet the needs of existing businesses in South Carolina, Gresham Barrett will:
- Appoint a work force specialist as the education advisor to the Governor
- Create a public/private training council by executive order under the direction of this work force specialist
- Seek extraordinary powers for the Governor’s Office for two years (2011-2012) to coordinate education and training programs across the full spectrum of education providers
- Seek legislative funding under the allocation of SC Education Lottery for scholarships to defray any training costs for the two years.
OVERHAUL THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
To guarantee South Carolina has an effective and cohesive strategy for economic development, Gresham Barrett will:
- Build a team of economic development professionals within the Department of Commerce that are not subject to political removal
- Perform a national search to hire a highly capable professional who would be head of business recruitment and marketing.
- Reauthorize the Economic Development Advisory Board of private sector leaders and economic development officials to help re-build relationships in the business and economic development communities
- As a number one priority, personally commit the Governor’s time to meet business prospects with the single objective of closing deals
- Create a salary and incentive structure within the Department of Commerce that attracts and retains the best salespersons
- Build a strong training program that includes extensive networking with community officials and development allies
- Schedule a joint meeting of SCEDA and other allies with SCDC immediately after the election to gather their input on economic development
- Introduce a comprehensive legislative package that outlines incentives, provides training to local developers, and demands accountability
- Support a “smarter development” approach that considers opportunities and sustainability, along with regional needs, to create a strategically-focused economic development effort
- Create a small business ombudsman’s office in the Governor’s office
- Prioritize trade and reverse investment functions
PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE TAX AND INCENTIVE REFORM
To provide comprehensive tax and incentive reform, Gresham Barrett will:
- Establish a Blue Ribbon Commission comprised of business and Legislative leaders to craft legislation that will overhaul the state tax code in 2011 with the ultimate goal of reducing the tax burden thereby encouraging economic growth
- Appoint a JOBS steering committee that will be composed of members of the Legislature, Department of Commerce, economic development allies, global consultants, and corporations with the purpose of devising specific sets of incentives for new business.
REDUCE DISCRETIONARY SPENDING
To promote efficiency in state government and to prevent unanticipated budget cuts, Gresham Barrett will:
- Barrett’s Executive budget proposal will suggest discretionary spending be cut at a minimum to the level of any new state spending increases.
- Create a spending cap that limits the growth of state government to the rate of inflation plus population growth
- Prioritize state programs with the goal of smart downsizing
- Adjust the size of the General Reserve Fund from 3% to 5%
FIGHT UNFUNDED FEDERAL MANDATES AND UNFAIR LABOR LAWS
To protect South Carolina’s economy and our fundamental freedoms, Gresham Barrett will:
- Oppose unfunded mandates from Washington in the courts
- Support free market reforms, such as portability and pooling, to South Carolina’s healthcare system that stand in stark contrast to the government takeover proposed by the Obama Administration
- Proactively oppose unfair, unconstitutional labor laws.
IMPROVE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE
To ensure South Carolina has the infrastructure needed to attract business, Gresham Barrett will:
- Put a priority on improving our roads, bridges, ports, water and sewer systems
- Support port expansions, particularly for Charleston, through expanded public-private partnerships
- Build up the value chain of distributors and processors that benefit from proximity to top quality ports by approaching and working with the developers of such facilities
- Work with communities to get an adequate supply of shovel ready sites that link up with state and regional marketing plans.
MAKE SOUTH CAROLINA A LEADER IN ENERGY INDEPENDENCE
To make South Carolina a leader in energy independence, Gresham Barrett will:
- Strenuously oppose all forms of job killing cap and trade/climate taxes and any additional Federal regulations on carbon emissions
- Promote offshore energy exploration for natural gas which could potentially result in annual royalties of $250 million for South Carolina that can be used for job training, infrastructure and K-12 education
- Promote nuclear power as the most viable and affordable bridge to energy independence for South Carolina by expediting the permitting process and offering tax incentives
- Work with the Federal government to reduce redundant and outdated government regulations
- Work with South Carolina’s power suppliers to promote energy efficiency.
PROMOTE TOURISM
To better promote tourism in South Carolina, Gresham Barrett will:
- Lead a more entrepreneurial and broader-based tourism effort
- Work aggressively to attract international air service into Charleston and Myrtle Beach during his first term.
A good genda, just need to get it into the public’s eye.
Excellent ideas ….Put South Carolina back to work !
I’d Like to know of any plans Gresham Barrett has for promoting tourism. It seems to me there’s a silver lining to our present economic problems. Foreign money is worth more than ever. In some research papers I’ve read tourism is (hands down) South Carolina’’s most profitable export. If that’s so, it would seem prudent for more of our diminishing budget be allotted to promote our state to Japan, Germany, and England (to name a few).
The way to start getting things back where they used to be is by reducing taxes on our businesses. I only wish that our Federal government would get the same message. I am so fed up with where the Liberal democrats are trying to take our country.
Dear Congressman Barrett
I feel we are wasting a valuable opportunity, we have so many that are on unemployment in this state, why don’t we take advantage and train this valuable work force for disaster relief, then in certain cases of emergencies these individuals can be called upon to go and help if they be needed. As an incentive for this training these individuals will gain valuable training that can lead to successful career choices. I feel since they are already being paid unemployment benefits, there would be no need for reimbursement from the state. All the state would need to supply is the training itself. Just in case anyone is wandering, I am talking about myself as I am unemployed. I would gladly take the training and be ready for any need that would arise. As examples I submit, recovery assistance in case of fire, hurricane, flood, security for any situation that needs it, and any other issues that might arise. Let’s make the best of a bad situation and create a force that would greatly affect the security and safety of all South Carolinians.
Thank you for your time
Shawn E Parrington
I totally agree. We are missing many opportunities. South Carolina needs to jump start our own state. We can keep paying out unemployment funds we don’t have or we can start putting these people to learning, growing, and becoming an asset to S.C. There are so many needs seen & unseen.
I would also say something in support of business. My brother recently purchase a business with less than 30 employees. He has fired several employees, one for stealing from the company and one for drug use on the job ( the young man would not take the urine test). He was high while driving a company truck. When he enrolled for unemployment, my brother’s company presented the facts. Both empolyees receive benefits!!!!! How can this be? I am hearing from every employer I know. This is crazy.
Overhauling the tax code must include ALL taxes, including the recent devastating cuts in property taxes. SC demonstrates the old maxim “You get what you pay for” as low taxes result in low/poor services.
Dear Congressman Barrett,
Thank you for sharing your ideas for “putting S.C. back to work”. I feel you should not create so many committees, ombudsmen, and other government bureaucratic layers to solve our problem. Yes, you will put those people to work, but they are not the ones who need jobs.
I think you should use tax incentives to motivate S.C. small businesses to expand and create jobs and to lure companies from out of state and country to locate in our state.
Sir,
One of the problems SC has in recruiting and retaining a valuable workforce is the resistance by many counties to break down the “good ole boy” wall. At least one county I know of, and most likely many others, simply are not receptive to the influx of new people with fresh ideas and superb qualifications. I can only think of two reasons for this: one, the natural reticence to accept and embrace change, and two, the perceived threat that the “old network” (which was a safe one for but a few) will be replaced. I personally believe your plan and ideas are on the right track and you should go for it. However, I also believe that any governor of this state, if he truly wishes to see the state move out of the post Civil War plantational and mill era, ought to provide hands-on leadership and enforceable direction to the counties. The counties are where jobs are truly found or lost. Are they willing to let go the past and start hiring more eminently qualified personnel who bring creativity to the table, or are they happy enough to live with the status quo. I suspect some counties have turned down degreed people with many years experience in business and gov’t, who can bring to the table new and innovative ideas, successful processes learned in other places and jobs …. all in favor of less qualified relatives or friends. Let me reiterate: I think your ideas and plans are spot on. They need to be implemented, but the heart of leadership (from highest positions in state, county, and local govt) needs to be addressed. The economic arrow that truly will strike the heart of the problem must also strike the problem of the heart. Very Respectfully, Michael Uhall
Mr. Barrett,
I am impressed with the clarity of your agenda. I think this is the best strategy for victory. I am looking for fiscally conservative, capitalist, free-market, anti-liberal, pro-energy, non-climate change zombie, anti-Obama, strict constitutionalist to lead this state and nation. Now, if we can get rid of Lindsey Graham and the other Rino’s things will start to look up.
Dear Congressman Barrett,
It would be good if the citizens of South Carolina would get back to Laws that have promises, and let this worlds creator show us some blessings that are not punishing natural calamaties for disobedience.
1) Enact the Fair Tax for South Carolina. National tax reform will start with the states. (I support Rex Rice in this effort)
2) Require welfare recipients to attend night classes to learn reading, basic math skills, budget management skills, parenting classes. These would be held in our public schools at night and during the summer months. Our schools are standing empty from May until August, use them! This could also employ people to teach the skills.
3) Subcontract school bus operation.
4) Raise the performance standards for our children in school. Take a look at the performance of kids in India and China.
5) Enforce the 10th Amendment.
6) Support and enforce the Second Amendment.
I support the other parts of your plan especially drilling for oil and gas and nuclear energy. There are thousands of jobs here, not only for the actual energy production but also for the supporting services that accompany these activities.
I agree.
1) Enact the Fair Tax for South Carolina. National tax reform will start with the states.
2) Require welfare recipients to attend night classes to learn reading, basic math skills, budget management skills, parenting classes. These would be held in our public schools at night and during the summer months. Our schools are standing empty from May until August, use them! This could also employ people to teach the skills.
What a great idea. There are unemployed teachers and teachers who would like to work during summer months. Some of the school are already open during summer for child care and learning. It would work well to offer classes in the afternoons or evenings. The schools would already be heated or cooled, this would limit additional costs to the state. We must make some changes and help people up to a better life for them and their children. A help up, not a hand out is the only way to get out. education, education, education. Raising performance standards in the schools does nothing if we can not raise the standards of life in some of our childrens homes.
Think I am crazy, but we need to identify potential drop outs before 3rd grade and place a mentor with that child in the school environment until graduation, out of danger of failure or until that child leaves our school system . I do not mean one school counselor that has 200 students assigned to them. How many people would that employ. ( The message would be stay in school, to these children who want to quit school.)
Mr. Congressman,
I have some issues with the amount of additional committees and czar type individuals you mention. It appears you answer is the more the better. I do believe we need to dedicate people to positions and responsibilities but sometimes the stew gets dry with too many ingredients.
1. a) Job training is an essential tool to educate and develop our workforce. This could be available through Technical Schools in coordination with SC business (SCE&G, Santee Cooper, BMW, Boeing, etc) to provide meaningful training for current industry along with competitors looking to locate to our State.
b) I don’t understand what the extraordinary powers will entail but may also be coordinated with local factories, industry and businesses and their respective Training and Development Managers?
2. a) The above could be implemented through the Commerence Department which will build relationships and confidence between the two entities. Also, I don’t know why you wouldn’t want these positions to be electable although I could see extending their tender out and overlapping Administrations. I understand the “short term” delema but wouldn’t want someone to get too comfortable and in turn too lazy.
b) I would search our State before we get outside, only because people that live in the State understand the State.
c) I agree the Governor should be accessible, approachable and attentive, this will definately build stronger relations with the private sector and the Business Community.
3. a) I agree with Tax Incentives to lure businesses to our State but who covers these incentives? Most of the Counties that have large enough landscapes to build large complexes are amoung the poorest Counties. These counties are barely balancing their own budgets so new businessess incentives would come from where? I realize once the business is up and running, employment would be available along with growth. So the Reform should include offsets for these Counties.
b) Would combining this Blue Ribbon Commission and the Tourism efforts offer a better State promotion solution?
4. I agree Government spending needs to be reduced but how will your Committees, Ombudsmen and other government bureaucracies be funded?
5. I agree, we should fight mandates, unfair Union practices and costs plus we should stand firm on our “Right to Work” policies. Helathcare as the current Democratic Administrations wants isn’t what SC citizens want. The Republican alternative would be my choice for this.
6. I believe our SC Ports, bridges, roads plus water and sewer systems need much attention. Although, with spending cuts on top of trying to attack other companies to the area where will these funds come from, Federal handouts and Grants? Tax increases? Private contributions? I think these items need much thought.
7. a. Personally I think the carbon emissions regulations are as nessecary as Global Warming restrictions however we are to be Good Stewarts of our environment.
b) I think Natural Gas, Propane Gas and Offshore explorations would be viable to our Energy Independance. Although we could immediately benefit from Biomass and certianly have experience in the Nuclear industry which these should be out first consideration. We as we could provide workforce training for these industries too.
8. I agree Tourism is a definate avenue for State income and with most of our State Parks and facilities in presentable condition, this would be easy picking for increase revenue. And as stated in comment “3b” this could be promoted through the Blue Ribbon / Tourism Committee.
In summary, it may appear I don’t think your plan is obtainable, I just want to understand the impact some of your ideas may have on us.
I support you and your vision to bring South Carolina on the global map for all to enjoy and respect and am honored to have you fighting for us here.
Respectfully,
Mike P