Former attorney general, Henry McMaster, is running for lieutenant governor of South Carolina. The former chair of the Republican Party of South Carolina said, if elected, he intends to spearhead ethics reform and incentives for economic growth, which he thinks are both interconnected. McMaster recently appeared on The Bryan Crabtree Show to elaborate on the issues.
McMaster’s intentions to run for the office stem from Glenn McConnell’s decision to step aside from politics.
“Well my friend Glenn McConnell decided he wanted to become the president of the college of Charleston, so as soon as that happened there was an opening there—I would not have run against Glenn,” said McMaster. ”I think he was doing a fantastic job.”
In addition, McMaster believes he the position of lieutenant governor will put him in a position to advance the state in key areas.
“I think the next four years will be critical for our state. There are some things we have to change to make some things happen, and there are some things we have to do better,” said McMaster. “The future is very bright for South Carolina, but it is going to take experienced leadership to get those things done, and I think the lieutenant governor’s office is the perfect place to do that kind of work.”
On issues facing South Carolina seniors, McMaster believes Medicaid is not the answer.
“To help keep someone in their home or with their family, that is, out of an institution, that can be done with a collaboration and about $1,000 a year, as compared to Medicaid, which is where you end up when Medicare runs out—and that costs somewhere around $44,000- $50,000 a year,” said McMaster.
McMaster elaborated on what he meant by collaboration and how it would work.
“So that means we have to use existing resources, as a question of collaboration and organization, in a lot of institutions (churches, civic groups, and others) that are there to help those people by showing up at the house and giving breaks to the caregivers there, or by cooking meals, or bringing meals,” said McMaster.
He also believes that tax breaks to the elderly may deter seniors from moving into assisted living arrangements.
“If we can find a way through cutting taxes on savings, income, pensions, or property taxes—there are some bills in the legislature now to take some of the financial pressures off our older citizens—who have been paying taxes all their life, some of who are just inches away from having to sell their homes or move out,” said McMasters.
On other issues facing the elderly, McMasters says he has a plan.
“I would like to have part of the aging office, in a memorandum of understanding with the attorney general’s office, for the prosecution of elder abuse, and fraud, and things of that nature,” commented McMaster.
Regarding ethics, McMasters elaborated on how shoddy appearances can impact investment and economic growth.
“People from around the country are looking for places to go, places to invest in businesses and bring businesses, if the people think the government is dishonest, if they think it is in on the take, or in for themselves, if they think there is corruption or incompetence, they’ll go somewhere else,” said McMaster.
McMaster believes lack of accountability is giving some politicians too much room to be dishonest.
“We have to have a system where the legislators are not judging themselves, that is there, there needs to be an independent ethics commission that needs to do that,” said McMaster. “We have got to have clear laws that everyone can understand and you have a powerful enforcement mechanism that can weed out those who would break the law, then you don’t have any problems.”
In order to lead the South East in economic growth, McMaster says that time is of the essence.
We have it in our own capacity to be the leader in economic growth and innovation in the South East,” commented McMaster. “But we need to do it the next four years, or we are going to be out competed by our neighboring states.”
When asked to comment on the senate primary race, McMaster maintained his neutrality.
“I know it is going to spirited race,” he said. “Everybody in the whole country is watching what happens in South Carolina, not only on that race, but the movement the ideology, the technology, the innovation—all of the things that are happening in this state.”
For more information on McMaster, click here.
The Bryan Crabtree Show airs from 8-10 a.m. on WQSC 1340 and 950 AM. You can visit the show’s website by clicking here. You can also catch Rocky D on the same airwaves from 3-6 p.m.
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