Washington, Feb 16 -

U.S. Congressman Mick Mulvaney (SC-05) will hold a press conference at Resolute Forest Products (formerly Abitibi Bowater) to introduce the Keeping Promises to Taxpayers Act of 2012 on Wednesday, February 22, 2012.  This bill, introduced in the House on February 26, 2012, would repeal 12 tax increases signed into law by President Obama.  As a presidential candidate in 2008, then-Senator Barack Obama promised not to raise taxes on any families making less than $250,000 per year.  It took only 15 days for President Obama and the Democratic-led House and Senate to break this promise.  And President Obama has continued to take money away from America taxpayers by breaking that promise at least 11 more times. The Keeping Promises to Taxpayers Act of 2012 will give back the money that President Obama took away from hardworking taxpayers.

• WHO:              Congressman Mick Mulvaney (SC-05)

   

• WHAT:            Press Conference

   

• WHEN:            Wednesday, February 22, 2012 3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

   

• WHERE:         Resolute Forest Products- Catawba Operation 5300 Cureton Ferry Road Catawba, SC 29704

   

• RSVP:              All interested media should RSVP to Danielle McAdaragh at (202) 225-5501 or Danielle.mcadaragh@mail.house.gov

   

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Attached please find a copy of the bill, Keeping Promises to Taxpayers Act of 2012.

Print version of this document

Individual ticket registration

• One ticket to the 2012 NRCC March Dinner and Summit
• One year membership to the NRCC House Republican Trust

(click here to download invitation)

 

 

 

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• One ticket to the 2012 NRCC March Dinner and Summit
• One year membership to the NRCC House Republican Trust

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U.S. Congressman Mick Mulvaney (SC-5) today announced that his District staff will set up “mobile offices” each month in an effort to bring the Congressional Office to 5th District residents.“Serving the people of the 5th District is priority number one,” said Mulvaney. “Often times, I can intervene on a person’s behalf to answer questions, find solutions, or just cut through the sea of bureaucratic red tape in the federal government. My office can help folks with Social Security, Medicare, Veterans Affairs, and more. I hope folks can make it out to the first visits, but if they can’t, they can call one of my offices directly or come out to the same place, at the same time next month.” For more information, please contact our district office in Rock Hill at (803) 327-1114.

Congressman Mulvaney’s staff will visit the following locations:

2nd Tuesday:
Chester Visit [1:00pm-3:00pm]
War Memorial Building
154 Main Street
Chester, SC

1st Tuesday:
Fairfield Visit [10:00am-12:00pm]
County Library
300 Washington Street
Winnsboro, SC

1st Thursday:
Sumter/Lee Visit [10:00am-2:00pm]
Sumter Opera House
21 N. Main Street
Sumter, SC

2nd Monday:
Cherokee Visit [10:00am-12:00pm]
Gaffney City Hall
201 N. Limestone Street
Gaffney, SC

Newberry Visit [2:00pm-4:00pm]
County Courthouse Annex
1309 College Street
Newberry, SC

2nd Tuesday:
Chester Visit [1:00pm-3:00pm]
War Memorial Building
154 Main Street
Chester, SC

Candidate filing will open at noon on March 16, 2012 and close at noon on March 30, 2012

Republican’s Can File at the Chester GOP HQ
131 Main Street
Chester, SC 29706
Drew Johnson, County Chairman
(803) 834-2111

VIEW FILING FEES

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Who Can File

 

 

Please do not certify candidates unless they meet the following:

• Candidates must be registered voters residing in the geographical area in which they are offering as a candidate, on or before Election Day.

• Candidates for State Senate and State House of Representatives must be residents of their district at the time of filing.

• Any candidate convicted of a felony is not eligible to file for office unless15 years has passed since the completion of his sentence Candidates for sheriff and coroner have special requirements to qualify, and must file an affidavit when filing.

Candidates for sheriff and coroner have special requirements to qualify, and must file an affidavit when filing.

 

 

 

 

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Filing Process

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Candidate filing will open at noon on March 16, 2012 and close at noon on March 30,2012. Candidates for State Senate, State House of Representatives, countywide office,and less-than-countywide office must file with the county executive committee of the party in the candidate’s county of residence.

Each candidate filing for office must file a Statement of Intention of Candidacy (SIC),Party Pledge and the Statement of Economic Interests (SEI). In addition, each candidate must present a filing fee to the county Republican Party.

1. Statement of Intention of Candidacy (SIC) The SIC form is available online at http://www.scvotes.org/candidate_information/filing_forms. The form can be completed on screen before printing, or can be filled out by hand. Each candidate must file three (3) copies with the county party. This can be accomplished by printing three copies of the completed form and signing each; or by printing one copy, sign ingit, and making two copies.Political party officials accepting filing may also choose to assist candidates by making necessary copies for them.

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2. Filing Fee Each candidate must submit a filing fee in order to run for office. The filing fee is one percent of the annual salary of the office, multiplied by the number of years in the term of office or $100 (whichever is greater).

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For example: the filing fee for State Senate is $416.00 and the filing fee for State House of Representatives is$208.00.The checks/monies from the filing fee should be deposited as the county receives them and deposited into the county party bank account. Filing fees are paid to the State Elections Commission to help fund the party primaries. The filing fee information sheet can by found at
.http://www.scgop.com/filing.

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3. Party Pledge The SIC form is available online at http://ww.scgop.com/filing. All candidates for selection as a nominee must file a party pledge with the appropriate party official when filing for office.

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4. Statement of Economic Interests (SEI)All candidates for public office (except federal offices) must file an SEI form at the time they file for office. This includes incumbent candidates who may have already filed a quarterly statement. Party officials accepting the SIC, Party Pledge,and Filing Fee should ensure these forms have been filed online at the time the candidate files for office. All candidates must file the SEI online at http://ethics.sc.gov. The candidate should print the filed form (or receipt) and submit this proof of filing along with the SIC form to the appropriate party official.

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SEI requirements, forms, and instructions can be found on the State Ethics Commission’s website at

http://ethics.sc.gov/statementofeconomicinterests/pages/index.aspx.

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A candidate’s name may not appear on the ballot if the candidate has not properly filed an SEI. Candidates who do not file properly may also be subject to fines by the State Ethics Commission.
5. Campaign Disclosure

Please inform your candidates that they must also file a campaign disclosure online at http://ethics.sc.gov within ten (10) days of raising or spending $500 or more. This is not required to file for office, but is required to run for office and must be filed at some point.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 10:26 pm (Updated: February 1, 10:01 am)

William N. Gray officially announced this week he is a Republican candidate for S.C. House of Representatives House District 41. Gray, a native of Blythewood, will seek the seat currently held by S.C. Rep. Boyd Brown (D-Fairfield) which represents parts of Chester and Richland counties and all of Fairfield County. A public forum was held at Christ Central Community Center in Winnsboro on Monday for Gray’s announcement. SCGOP Chair Chad Connelly of Prosperity in Newberry County offered advice to family, friends and supporters for the upcoming challenges Gray will face.

“He’s going to need your help, he’s going to need your prayers and he’s going to need your encouragement,”  Connelly said.
James Vanderhall, a life-long friend to Gray, provided a biographical account of the candidate’s life and accomplishments.
“To know what a man is going to do – look at what he’s done,” Vanderhall said.

Gray, 62, graduated from Bethel High School in Blythewood. In 1969, he completed undergraduate studies at Benedict College in Columbia. In 1972, he earned a Master of Arts in political science and a master’s degree in public administration in 1973. He has a total of 31 years career service with the State of South Carolina. From 1981 to 1985, Gray taught a criminal justice course at the University of S.C. He retired from the U.S. Army Reserve with 23 years of service. He has served as a political aide and staffer to several notable state and national leaders. He also has been a staunch community leader and supporter of championed causes including “leading the charge” to elect members to the school board in Fairfield County rather than having members appointed, Vanderhall said. Gray began his speech with a prayer asking God for unity and to “grant us our needs.” He explained that he began with prayer because our nation was founded on religious values. He shared that he has “a rich heritage” of family living in Richland and Fairfield counties and then explained what connects him with others of this great state and nation.

“The common thread that holds all of us together is our faith and belief in God,” Gray said. “What keeps us cemented is that we are South Carolinians and Americans, these things hold us together.”

Gray shared his “conservative values” which include anti-abortion rights of the unborn, rights to own personal firearms, support of racial and gender equality and equality for education of all children. He also supports lower taxes at all levels and the creation of new jobs.

“These are the values I espouse to,” he said.

Gray then officially announced his candidacy for S.C. House District 41.

“I believe each one of us must restore those values that have made this country great,” he said. “I have tried to live my life as an honorable human being. It is now time for action … We must be able to plot a new course.”

Gray concluded his speech with a quote from Frederick Douglass, a fellow staunch Republican.

“This struggle may be a moral one, this struggle may be a physical one or it may be both but it is a struggle we are locked in,” Gray quoted. “It is a struggle for the heart and soul of this nation.”

 

 

View The Chester Reporter Website
http://www.onlinechester.com/content/gray-announces-candidacy-sc-district-41

 

ongressman Mick Mulvaney (SC-05) participated in a press conference today with fellow conservative freshman members to request Speaker John Boehner direct their offices’ leftover funds of nearly $1.5 million go immediately towards paying down the national debt. Congressman Mulvaney will return more than $160,000 – over 11% — of the money his office was allotted for 2011. This figure is in addition to the 5% budget cut already taken by Congressional offices earlier in the year.In a letter addressed to Speaker Boehner, the eight participating conservative freshman members said: “We understand that regular order prescribes the unused portions of our MRAs to languish in a shared fund for two years before being transferred to the Treasury. Following this procedure at a time when our public debt surpasses the size of our very economy makes little fiscal sense and is a poor representation of this House’s commitment to fiscal responsibility… As freshmen, we came to Congress promising to reduce red tape and eliminate Washington accounting gimmicks – ideals we know you share. We believe immediately transferring our unused MRA funding to debt relief demonstrates that we continue to focus on these principles and represents a stark contrast to President Obama’s continued efforts to increase federal spending.”

Mulvaney said, “Not only could the savings from House, Senate and other government agency offices’ unused funds put a dent in the national debt – it goes towards the larger point. I was elected on a promise to change the way Washington works. And for far too long, Washington’s red tape has led to out-of-control spending and increasing debt. With our national debt now topping $15.3 trillion, it’s time to lead by example, and change the way Washington does business.”

 

Joining Congressman Mulvaney in his request today were fellow South Carolina Congressman Jeff Duncan (SC-03), Congressman Tim Huelskamp (KS-01), Congressman Raul Labrador (ID-01), Congressman Jeff Landry (LA-03), Congressman Steve Southerland (FL-02), Congressman Joe Walsh (IL-08) and Congressman Kevin Yoder (KS-03). The average amount returned was $181,500, or 12.63 percent, of the members’ budgets.

For a copy of the letter presented to Speaker Boehner, please visit: http://mulvaney.house.gov/UploadedFiles

The time has come for District 41 and Fairfield county to have a 2nd party. The one party domination must end. Just look at the results next time you are driving around Fairfield county. High unemployment, manufacturers closing down and their buildings sitting empty. If not for the Nuclear Power plants, our three largest employers in the county would be the Schools, Jail and hospital. None of which pay taxes back into the county. We need to foster an environment that will not only attract manufacturers back to district 41, but also allow small business’s to flourish.

I would like to thank SCGOP Chairman Chad Connelly, York County Chairman Glen McCall, SCGOP 2nd Vice Chairman Edward Cousar, Lexington County Chairman Rich Bolen and all 75 other friends and family members for coming out showing tremendous support for my candidacy last night.

 

NOTE: Earl Moore, Chester Board of Elections Executive Director did not quote me correctly- my statement to WSOC. My exact statement was as follows:
“The South Carolina Supreme Court has ruled on this issue. Chester County should now follow the direction given by the court and move forward by administering a fair election”

Drew Johnson, County Chairman

http://www.onlinechester.com/ content/ moore-responds-gop-poll-worker- letter-issue

Chester County Elections and Registration Director Earl Moore defended a letter sent to Chester County GOP Presidential Primary poll workers. In that letter dated Jan. 13, 2012, Moore wrote:

“Dear Valued Citizen,

I would like to thank you for your contribution to this great county, state and country. It is truly a pleasure to work with such dedicated and true professionals. We have improved our test scores, therefore we have improved our knowledge on the laws and procedures concerning elections. Our average test score on poll manager training averages around 90%. This is exceptional and I would like to congratulate you on your success. Due to financial constraints the county is not supplementing poll workers pay because this is an election that the county has no stakes in. You will be paid at the rate of $60.00 per day for this election. We will return to our regular pay schedule in all future elections as deemed proper. We ask that you be at the poll no later than 6:30 a.m.”

Chester County Republican Chair Drew Johnson said he fielded numerous calls from local residents regarding this letter. The wording in the sentence about the county having “no stakes” in this election lead citizens to ask questions, he said

“It gave a lot of Republicans across the county the impression that the county was not behind the primary,” Johnson said. “The election itself was run perfectly fine, I don’t have a concern with that but perception is reality. An election commission doesn’t need to be partisan in any way.”
Without the wording of that one particular sentence “the letter would have read fine,” Johnson said.

Moore said he stands behind what was written in the letter.

“The Republican Party has stated on the record that they would not reimburse the counties for any election expenses,” he said. “Local Republican Chair Drew Johnson stated on WSOC-TV that the counties lost the suit and let them find the money to pay for it.”

In October 2011, Chester County joined a lawsuit filed against the State Elections Commissions. At issue was the cost of staging the Republican Presidential Preference Primary. The counties contended that the money given to them by the commission and the state Republican Party did not fully cover all costs associated with holding the primary. A State Supreme Court decision in December rejected the counties’ claim. Johnson said the money paid to poll workers during the primary was of no particular concern.

“We have no concern with the rate of pay,” he said. “The counties determine that.”
Moore explained why poll workers were paid $60 during the primary when the pay scale is $75 for all other Chester County elections.

“The State Election Commission has agreed to reimburse the counties at a rate of $60 per poll worker. This is what Chester County paid,” Moore said. “The S.C. Legislature passed a bill to allow counties to take cost-saving measures.”

Despite the controversy over Moore’s letter, both he and Johnson agree the election itself was a success in Chester County.

“The election went fine,” Moore said. “It was a 14 percent increase over the previous election in 2008. I’d like to thank all of the voters of Chester County for participating. It was a great election.”

PRESS RELEASE

It is extremely unfortunate that the Chester County Board of Elections has chosen to participate in this frivolous lawsuit. The Chester County Board of Elections exists to run elections (primaries, special elections & general elections). If they are not going to run elections what purpose do they serve?

Additionally, the Lawsuit fails to consider that the 2012 primary was mentioned in this year’s state budget. The South Carolina Republican Party has been proactive in working with the State Election Commission.

The First In The South Presidential Preference Primary will cost around $1.5 million. The State Board of Elections will provide $700,000. The South Carolina Republican Party funds the rest through filing fees and fundraising. Prior to the lawsuit, in the event of a funding issue, the South Carolina Legislature was poised to enact legislation resolving the issue in January

Given the facts it is irresponsible for the Chester County Board of Elections to be part of this lawsuit.

Drew Johnson, County Chairman