Ralph Norman

I'm proud to endorse Ralph Norman to be the next senator for South Carolina. Now, more than ever, we need a strong fiscal conservative who understands how important it is that we pass President Donald J. Trump's agenda for the American people. /1

Finalizing budget review/vetoes and I can report: FY 26-27 will be the fourth straight year that Florida has reduced its budget. Rainy day fund = full (and more than triple the size from 2019). The budget represents 44% of the size of the budget of New York (the state closes to FL in population, with NY having between 3 and 4 million fewer residents).

South Carolina’s new fiscal year starts July 1, and lawmakers still haven’t finished the state budget. So far, the budget includes nearly $470 million in earmarks. SCPC’s investigative outlet, The Nerve, requested the detailed underlying House earmark forms through FOIA to find out what lawmakers are actually funding beyond vague labels like “community center.” The House clerk denied the request. The House and Senate reconvene today, but there still hasn’t been another public budget conference meeting since the initial one. That means millions in earmarks could be finalized with little public scrutiny and no meaningful opportunity for taxpayers to weigh in. This process is broken.

South Carolina’s new fiscal year starts July 1, and lawmakers still haven’t finished the state budget. So far, the budget includes nearly $470 million in earmarks. SCPC’s investigative outlet, The Nerve, requested the detailed underlying House earmark forms through FOIA to find out what lawmakers are actually funding beyond vague labels like “community center.” The House clerk denied the request. The House and Senate reconvene today, but there still hasn’t been another public budget conference meeting since the initial one. That means millions in earmarks could be finalized with little public scrutiny and no meaningful opportunity for taxpayers to weigh in. This process is broken.