South Carolina gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (June 26 Republican primary runoff)

Good Paying Jobs
I believe we need good-paying jobs for South Carolinians, and that’s why I’m fighting for a better economy that will create more jobs and better-paying jobs.

Since January we’ve added more than 15,000 new jobs from 114 development projects, and our unemployment rate is 3.9% – the lowest since 2001. In fact, there are more South Carolinians working today than ever before in our state’s history.

But we’re not done yet! We will continue to fight for conservative policies that help businesses grow and raise wages.

Lower Taxes
Nothing kills economic prosperity quicker than raising taxes. That is why I am a proponent of a flatter, simpler, and broader tax code and have already cut taxes by double digits on small business owners. Our tax burden must be lowered—Act 388 has placed an unsustainable burden on small businesses.

I know that low taxes are essential for economic growth and investment, which is why I vetoed the largest tax increase in state history.

I’m continuing to push for lower taxes through my new tax plan which will provide relief for South Carolinians in the form of:

A 1% rate reduction over five years for all personal income tax brackets, which will result in $2.2 billion in taxpayer savings through the course of implementation, starting with an immediate $139 million cut that is paid for and certified in this budget; An immediate and full retirement income exemption for military veterans and first responders, including retired state and federal law enforcement, firefighters and peace officers, representing $22 million in relief the first year.

Pro-Life
I believe human life begins at conception. That is why I have issued an executive order prohibiting taxpayer dollars from being used to fund abortion providers like Planned Parenthood. I believe abstinence-first education should be the official policy in all public schools in the state and am working to get the Personhood Act signed into law.

Cutting Regulations and Red Tape
I believe we have too many regulations and too much red tape keeping our economy from prospering. To that end, I have issued an executive order for state agencies that establishes a framework to promote responsible regulation and find ways to reduce unnecessary regulations. I’m also meeting with local business leaders across our state to discuss the crippling regulations and red tape they face so I can push for their repeal and elimination.

It’s time to shrink the government and unleash and facilitate the innovation, investment, vision, creativity, and prosperity of South Carolina.

NO Sanctuary Cities
I stand firmly against Sanctuary Cities in South Carolina, and that is why I am doing everything in my power to prevent them from ever coming.

Right now, there is no way for the public to know whether their local government enforces state and federal immigration laws. That is why I have asked legislators to strengthen our laws to ban Sanctuary Cities in South Carolina. Before cities and towns are eligible to receive your state tax dollars, they must verify to South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) that they are complying and enforcing state and federal immigration law. Trust, but verify…in order to keep our neighborhoods and communities safe from lawlessness.

I have also directed the federal government to cease resettling refugees in South Carolina from the six countries under President Trump’s travel ban. As a former U.S. Attorney and Attorney General of South Carolina, I know that the rule of law is essential to our safety and prosperity – and I will enforce it.

Protecting Religious Freedoms
Religious freedom is the cornerstone of our nation and an America that does not let people exercise their freedom of religion isn’t truly free. Every South Carolinian has the right to practice their faith without fear of persecution and I will always preserve and protect the rights afforded to us by the First Amendment.

Slash the Budget
I believe we need to slash our budget and save taxpayers money. We can start by:

Stopping the practice of buying and owning vehicles and buildings. State agencies should be leasing vehicles and office space through the department of administration instead of purchasing them. Cutting down on excess services. Small state agencies should consolidate their human resources, information technology, and other services to save money, create efficiencies, and reduce their agency footprint. Increasing transparency in our government. We need more transparency in budgeting by eliminating the state budgeting practice of rolling up big ‘pork’ projects in a single appropriation to hide them from the public and cloak their purpose. As an effort to increase oversight and discipline in government spending, I have already vetoed millions of dollars in ‘pork’ projects.

Access to Education
If South Carolina is to remain competitive for future economic development and investment, then our students from all 46 counties must be ready to compete. This is why we are meeting with educators, principals, teachers, parents, and students to chart the strongest path forward so our children can get the education they need to compete in a knowledge-based economy and world. I propose the following to get us there:

The Superintendent of Education should be a cabinet-level position appointed by the governor to bring accountability to our education system. Robust charter schools allow parents to choose the best educational opportunities for their children. We need more. Recruiting new jobs and economic investment will do more to improve educational opportunity than simply sending more money from Columbia. Consolidating school districts in small counties will cut administrative overhead costs, paperwork, and duplication, and put more money and resources into the classrooms for children. Our goal should be to have a certified law enforcement resource officer, be it a policeman or deputy, in every single school – in all 46 counties. Their presence is the best deterrent to preventing violence and crime. With limited state budget resources, we should prioritize those resources toward rewarding, retaining, and recruiting the best teachers possible for the classrooms that need them the most. We know that the keys to a powerful education are good teachers and principals, a supportive home and community, and access to school-choice options with diverse, innovative learning environments. These include traditional public schools, charter schools, magnet programs, homeschooling, private school options and making distance learning available in every corner of the state.

Expanding Our Workforce
I believe we need to grow our workforce so we can get people out of poverty and pursuing opportunity.

Incentive small businesses to participate with local high schools and school districts in apprenticeship programs for students interested in skilled trades. Develop cooperative credentialing agreements between various state regulatory licensing boards and branches of the armed services to make it easier for qualified military personnel to have their skilled professional certification recognized and approved by the state. This will allow veterans find jobs faster and more inexpensively in South Carolina. Expand workforce-training programs to the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services to reduce recidivism and crime The “Be Pro Be Proud” public awareness initiative wll provide information about training resources, currently available positions and descriptions, skills needed, and how to start the process of starting a skilled professional career. The initiative will showcase current skilled professionals’ true vocational pride, highlight the many career opportunities available within these trades, and provide necessary resources and training to those interested.

Investing in our Infrastructure
South Carolina’s infrastructure – our port, roads, and railways – is the engine for our continued economic growth.

That is why we I am working to:

Complete the deepening of Charleston Harbor to become the deepest port on the East Coast Explore I-73 public-private partnership for toll road construction from I-95 to Horry County Reform the Department of Transportation Commission

Pension Reform
We need pension reform. Right now South Carolina’s public employee pension plan has $20+ billion in unfunded liability. That is why I’ve taken the first steps to fix our broken retirement systems and ensure long-term sustainability. By incorporating the following we can continue to prosper while still taking care of our state employees.

Close the defined benefit pension plan and create 401(k)-style defined contribution retirement plans for NEW public employees. Create “contribution enhancements” to new 401(k)-style plan as recognition for employees’ years of service, promotions, or other criteria. Prohibit unfunded cost of living adjustments. Explore raising the age of retirement eligibility. Maintain our commitment to the 11.5% of South Carolina’s population that relies on state retirement systems, while protecting taxpayers from bearing any additional financial burden caused by inaction or indecision.

Protect our Second Amendment
I believe that owning a firearm is the protected right of every American citizen. I will defend the United States Constitution by opposing any encroachment on the rights of law-abiding citizens to own a gun and use it as permitted by state and federal law and support constitutional carry initiatives.

No Refugees in South Carolina
We must protect our families first. In August, I made the decision to ensure that the federal government no longer resettle refugees in South Carolina from the six countries targeted by President Donald Trump’s travel ban until those resettlement processes can be made safe, sound, and secure.

The SC Department of Social Services has made the formal request to block refugees from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen from settling in the state—keeping our families safe from harm.

Healthcare
Our healthcare system needs a lot of work, and ensuring health care access and affordability in South Carolina must be a priority. I believe we can achieve this through the following ways:

Removing anti-free market mandates and regulations to allow investment, expansion and ingenuity to health care costs on South Carolina families. Repeal and Replace Obamacare. Combat the opioid crisis by strengthening law enforcement efforts; prevention through opioid database prescription reporting, increased access to treatment infrastructure, and increasing public awareness on the dangers of opioid-based drugs. Encourage healthy behaviors.

Protecting Taxpayers from SCE&G's Failures
South Carolina’s bright economic future and continued job growth require an abundant supply of clean and affordable energy. Without it, we are at a competitive disadvantage.

However, South Carolinians have paid billions to finance the construction of nuclear reactors that may never be completed and now face the prospect of being charged even more to pay off billions of dollars in debt for SCE&G and Santee Cooper.

I want to get the nuclear plants built – or get the people their money back.

SCE&G must immediately stop charging customers the approximately $37 million per month from ratepayers for the abandoned project and begin refunding the money ratepayers have already paid.

The sale of the State’s public utility Santee Cooper, which is currently saddled with $4.3 billion in debt from the project, is the only feasible solution to protect their customers from bearing the cost of this debt through rate increases.^[14]

Stop the Corruption
Columbia has long been plagued by scandal and corruption. South Carolinians are deservedly suspicious of their government. Politicians hide behind watered-down, toothless ethics laws and a system designed to protect the politically-connected.

John Warren will immediately get to work destroying and dismantling Columbia’s permanent political class and end crony capitalism. He will champion a return to a true citizen legislature by imposing term limits on politicians. And will clean up government by ending no-bid contracts and require every state contract to be awarded through competitive bidding.

Reduce Spending
Both in Washington and Columbia, career politicians have blown our money on bloated programs we don’t need and can’t afford. A true outsider, businessman, and conservative, John Warren will hold state government accountable. As governor, John will implement accountability budgeting that would require each state department and agency to justify every dollar they spend. For the first time, your state government will be held to account for how they handle our money.

Unleash the Job Market
John Warren built one of South Carolina’s fastest growing businesses from the ground up. While working to build his company and create good-paying jobs, John often had to deal with the costly, heavy hand of government regulations.

To unleash the full power of South Carolina’s economy, John will follow President Trump’s lead and reform the state tax code to lower taxes and do away with special interest tax breaks.

Crackdown on Illegal Immigration
Criminal illegal immigrants and the sanctuary cities that harbor them are an immediate threat to the safety of our families. John Warren will ensure sanctuary cities don’t gain a foothold here in South Carolina and he’ll target and eradicate the illegal gangs that plague our communities.

John will authorize law enforcement to check the immigration status of anyone arrested under suspicion of gang activity. And he will make certain that law enforcement has the equipment and funding to keep us safe.

Protect Life at All Stages
John Warren is a Christian conservative who is faithfully committed to defending the sanctity and dignity of every innocent life. The father of two young sons, John is 100% pro-life and will, as governor, lead the fight to pass a state constitutional amendment declaring that life begins at conception.

Invest in Education
We need to unlock the God-given potential of every child by providing them a world-class education that prepares them for college, military service, or a good-paying job. For far too many South Carolina students, access to a high-quality education remains out of reach. As governor, John Warren will take positive steps to improving education in South Carolina by ensuring that our education dollars go directly to students and teachers in the classroom, and by expanding opportunities for parents to decide how best to educate their child through school choice.

Defend Our 2nd Amendment Rights
John Warren is a former Marine Corps Officer who swore an oath to defend the Constitution. And whether hunting down terrorists in Ramadi or taking down bucks in the Lowcountry, John enjoys the rights and freedoms of gun ownership.

As Governor, John will defend of our 2nd Amendment rights, ensuring every law-abiding citizen can protect themselves, their families, and their property. And John will never cede an inch of ground to the radical anti-gun lobby that wants to take those rights away.^[14]