Henry McMaster in 2022 Governor's State of the State speeches
On Budget & Economy:
$1.26 billion for roads, bridges, highways, interstates
There is no infrastructure more in need of investments than our State's roads, bridges, highways, and interstates. Our booming economy and rapid population growth have outpaced the State's ability to keep up with improvements to our transportation
infrastructure. Utilizing $660 million in federal ARPA funds and $600 million from surplus revenue, I am recommending that the General Assembly provide no less than $1.26 billion to accelerate construction, expansion, or improvements.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the S.C. legislature
Jan 19, 2022
On Education:
Parents must know what their children are learning
A group of concerned parents contacted my office about a book containing age inappropriate, sexually explicit, obscene, and pornographic images, available in their school's library. For explicit materials of this nature to have been allowed
into a school, without oversight, without public review, and without parents' prior knowledge, is highly troubling and destroys public confidence in our schools. Parents must know what their children are hearing, seeing, and learning in the classroom.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the S.C. legislature
Jan 19, 2022
On Government Reform:
Create an Election Integrity and Compliance Audit Program
The right to vote is the single most important right protected by the Constitution. In 2020 we learned that our state's election laws were not being applied properly and consistently by election officials. My Budget proposes creating a new
Election Integrity and Compliance Audit Program at the State Election Commission. Teams of auditors, working for the State, will conduct regular and routine examinations to confirm the integrity of elections conducted on the state and local level.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the S.C. legislature
Jan 19, 2022
On Health Care:
Review State's behavioral health funding and delivery system
We must recognize that a mental health crisis exists in South Carolina, especially among our young people. Students must have access to professional mental health counseling and services.Because 60% of
South Carolina children are served by Medicaid, I have directed Health and Human Services Director Robbie Kerr to initiate an immediate review of our State's behavioral health funding and delivery system. Time is of the essence. We must do better.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the S.C. legislature
Jan 19, 2022
On Homeland Security:
Eliminate all state income taxes on veteran retirement pay
I am calling on the General Assembly to eliminate all state income taxes on the retirement pay of career military veterans and South Carolina law enforcement officers, firefighters, and peace officers. Many states have already done this.
The decision-makers at the Department of Defense take note of such actions or inactions when they make decisions on base closures, realignment, and new missions for America's military. Our state's military installations are at risk, like all others.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the S.C. legislature
Jan 19, 2022
On Immigration:
Deployed National Guard to defend border & protect state
On his first day in office, President Biden canceled the immigration policies established by President Trump, and halted construction of the border wall, thus surrendering our own nation's sovereignty and security to millions of illegal
and undocumented immigrants. The resulting lawlessness and chaos required us to deploy troops from the South Carolina National Guard to defend the border, and to protect our state and others from the danger posed by the cartels and traffickers.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the S.C. legislature
Jan 19, 2022
On Principles & Values:
Defend the Rule of Law, preserve our State's sovereignty
Despite this barrage of unwarranted challenges, we will continue to grow and prosper. We will not let the federal government violate the Constitution and dictate decisions that rightly belong to South Carolina and her people.
We will fight to defend the Rule of Law, preserve our State's sovereignty, and reject efforts to destroy individual liberty, wherever they occur.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the S.C. legislature
Jan 19, 2022
On Tax Reform:
Our work will not be done unless I sign an income tax cut
This year marks the fourth year that I have proposed a 1% rate reduction over five years for all personal income tax brackets, starting with an immediate $177 million cut. A tax cut has the impact of a pay raise. Ladies and gentlemen, we
have almost one billion dollars in surplus recurring revenue available for this state budget. Our State's booming economy will likely create more. Our work will not be done this session unless I am able to sign an income tax cut into law.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the S.C. legislature
Jan 19, 2022
Page last updated: Apr 04, 2022