16 days ago

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**Correction - Ownership of the building intended to house the new "Executive Office of Health and Policy" is believed to be contingent upon the 20 year lease.
***Update and call to action on S915 - the SC "Health Czar" bill which creates a new Secretary of Health and Policy position, given authority over all six public health agencies, councils, and advisory boards and determines health regulations - such as those enforced during a "public health emergency."
Governor McMaster's initial appointee would have all the powers associated with the position without the usual 'advice and consent of the senate' for the first year - this includes power over public mandates during an election cycle with the threat of felony charges for noncompliance to emergency measures. The legislature would need a 2/3 vote from both houses to remove the appointee (for cause). The governor can replace the Health Czar without of cause.

Please call your state senator and representative to demand they show up to vote a 'Hard NO' to S915!

References:
Fits News article https://www.fitsnews.com/2024/03/12/guest-column-group-advising-south-carolina-lawmakers-on-restructuring-might-surprise-you/
Act 60 (S399) https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess125_2023-2024/prever/399_20230511.htm
Highlighted sections of Act 60: 1-30-10(A), 48-6-20(A), 1-30-135, 1-30-140, Section 14C.
Other referenced SC Code: 44-1-70, 44-12-50(B)(1), 44-1-40, 1-3-240(C)(1).
S915 (most recent version passed by the senate with good amendments, stopped before house non-concurred and sent to conference committee: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess125_2023-2024/bills/915.htm
BCG red herring interim report accusing SC of being the most "fragmented" health services structure with 8 independent agencies - although the number is actually 6 (which would put us in line with 18 other states)- and providing no independent data from their research nor evidence showing improved health outcomes across the board simply by consolidating health agencies. States with poor health outcomes were evenly divided between more and less consolidated systems based on their own illustrations: https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/postandcourier.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/a1/ca11afc2-bbba-11ee-b3be-7f584c96ee55/65b2bc1705fc5.pdf.pdf
www.scstatehouse.gov video archives of budget debates.