Feature

I Pledge Allegiance Tour Comes to Myrtle Beach Friday Night

For Immediate Release
Some of the most trusted conservative voices in America today are set to descend on Myrtle Beach on October 29th for the I Pledge Allegiance Tour.
The celebration of liberty and traditional American values will be at the John T Rhodes Myrtle Beach sport center, Friday October 29, 2021, with doors set to open at 5 PM.
Event organizer and host of the Dad Talk Today podcast, Eric Carroll, said he is excited for the lineup to share their messages with a local audience.
“It’s a veritable lineup of American voices that are not afraid to tell the truth, and I’m anticipating an amazingly supportive crowd,” Carroll said. “People have had enough and are ready to stand up for what this country was built on. This diverse lineup of patriots that will champion the cause of freedom.
“After this event, I’m sure it will be clear how many of us are united together that want to see America return to its full glory,” Carroll said.
This show will feature Conservative scions Diamond and Silk, A&E’s Duck Dynasty star, Uncle Si, along with many others.
“Even hearing one or two of these amazing talents would be rewarding enough, but we have created a full program that highlights a diverse group of conservative voices”, Carroll said.
Congressional candidate Sandy Smith, Kim Klacik, Melissa Isaak, Whey Jennings grandson of legend Waylon Jennings for a musical performance, Pastor Mark Burns and many more are set to round at the evening.
“I am very proud and humbled by the lineup” Carroll said. “It’s going to be a fantastic evening, celebrating what makes this country great. I can’t wait to see everyone there.”
For more information on this event visit IPledgeAllegianceTour.com

Rep. William Bailey Issues Statement on Gov. McMaster Visit and I-73 Funding

Statement of State Representative William Bailey regarding Governor’s visit to Myrtle Beach to announce $300 million in “Cares Recovery” funds dedicated to I-73

I have lived in Horry County all my life. To me it has always been a special place to live, work, and retire. Over the years we have worked to take care of our natural resources, like beach renourishment. However, we have failed to renourish our infrastructure system which is now in need of substantial repairs. Our our government has neglected these issues and provided no funding. Meanwhile our residents suffer.

Governor McMaster has scheduled a press conference in Myrtle Beach to announce that he would like to commit $300 million in “Cares Recovery” funds to I-73.

For thirty years politicians have been talking about I-73 and about how great it would be for tourism in Myrtle Beach. Over the years the once popular concept has limped along for a number of reasons. We have seen other states put this project aside. While a nice idea, things have changed since 1991 and priorities in Horry County have shifted.

For me, for the Governor to make this announcement at this time is one of the most irresponsible actions I have witnessed in my three years representing the amazing people of district 104. Here is my reasoning behind my statement.
1. It is fiscally irresponsible for the Governor to offer monies for any project during such an uncertain time we our state is still battling COVID-19. We currently have no idea what the future hospital and first responder needs will be. Health and safety should always be our first priority.
2. On multiple occasions, elected officials have been told there are no monies for our deteriorating and unsafe local roads in Horry County. These are roads that our residents use every day and desperately need to ensure their quality of life. These are the road that should take priority over I-73.
3. The Governor has been making public announcements in different areas of the state pledging over half a billion dollars in ARPA funds for projects unrelated to health and safety! The Governor has no appropriation powers under the South Carolina Constitution.
4. In South Carolina, only the General Assembly has budget responsibility and the power to designate monies for various projects throughout the state. It is unlikely the General Assembly will have the appetite to justify to their constituents the Governor’s proposal.
I recognize and appreciate that the tourism industry is extremely important to our economy and many people have worked long and hard for the I-73 project. However, it cannot come at the price of the quality of life for South Carolinians who have endured so many hardships as a result of the Covid -19 crisis. They need the ARPA monies and they need it now! I do hope one day the federal government develops a fiscally reasonable and functional interstate option that they are willing to fund.

Pearl Harbor Day Then and Now

As a Navy veteran, December 7th, what my grandmother called Pearl Harbor Day, has special meaning to me. In recent years, however, its symbolism has taken on new dimensions.

Seventy-four years ago, without first declaring war, the Japanese Imperial fleet attacked the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor causing considerable damage to the Navy’s Pacific Fleet and bringing America into World War II.

A total of 2,402 American servicemen lost their lives that day, four battleships were sunk and 188 aircraft destroyed. President Roosevelt called it “a day that will live in infamy”, actually a phrase first attributed to Hawaiian Queen Lili’uokalani spoken on the day, in 1893, that the American government overthrew the native Hawaiian government.

The attack broke the U.S. out of its isolationist attitude and presaged America’s ascendency to world leadership. Americans united behind the phrase “Remember Pearl Harbor” as the nation embarked upon a nearly four year war to defeat the armed forces of Japan, Germany and their allies.

True, on December 6, 1941, the isolationist members of Congress still held great sway in the halls of that institution as the fighting in Europe was considered best for America to stay out of. One day later, everything changed in Washington, D.C. and across a now united nation.

Seventy-seven years later, none who survived that day remain and the cohesiveness and combined
commitment of that time are not apparent in today’s political environment or society at large. We face great challenges, possibly greater than we faced on December 7, 1941, although economic dangers are not as easy to identify as military dangers from foreign forces.

We should be clear, however, that today’s dangers in the national economy are every bit as grave as the military dangers we faced 74 years ago. The industrial might and national wealth that the U.S. marshaled to support its war effort, and those of its allies, have been lost.

Congratulations Clemson – National Champions

South Carolinians are savoring their beloved Clemson University football team today as the Tigers won their second national championship in school history last night.

And what irony. On the same day that Clemson’s first national championship football coach, Danny Ford, was announced as a Class of 2017 inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame, the Tigers won again.

The 35-31 victory over Alabama will be talked about for many years to come. In a much overused sports metaphor, we will call it the ‘Game of the Century’.

It wasn’t easy. Most sports pundits thought Alabama was unbeatable. For three quarters, Alabama lived up to its advance billings. The Crimson Tide took an early 14-0 lead and was ahead 24-14 going into the final quarter.

But, football games have four quarters and Clemson owned the final quarter. The Tigers outscored the Crimson Tide 21-7 in the final stanza.

Deshaun Watson, the best player in Clemson history, was held in check for most of the first half, but finished with passing stats of 36 of 56 for 420 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He also scored Clemson’s first touchdown on an eight yard run.

The Tigers made it exciting in the fourth quarter as they first mounted a comeback on Watson’s right arm to take a 28-24 lead, then, lost that lead to an improbable touchdown run by Alabama freshman quarterback.

With just over two minutes remaining, Watson had plenty of time to make one final drive and with six seconds left in the game, Watson threw a two yard touchdown pass to a wide open Hunter Renfrow in the flat for the game winning score.

Horry County’s own Hunter Renfrow, a former Socastee High School wishbone quarterback and a walk-on last year, finished the game with 10 receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught two touchdown passes last year in the title game against Alabama.

"Public pensions must be more transparent, accountable." Curtis M. Loftis Jr.

Press Release: Loftis’ Statement on Employee Retirement Rate Hike

Columbia, SC – Today, I voted against a request from PEBA to the State Fiscal Accountability Authority to increase both employee and employer retirement contribution rates to the state pension fund by .5% effective July 1, 2017. The increases are a result of years of mismanagement of the South Carolina pension fund, and now has state and public employees contributing 9.16% of their pay towards future retirement benefits, which is 55% more than the national average. Public employees and taxpayers are going to pay more, when they are guilty of nothing but working hard and trusting their elected officials.

This increase is not going to fix the problem. At this rate, the pension issue is going to continue to grow, until it’s too big to fix. Pension increase should not be measured in money, but by how many teachers, policemen, firefighters, and other public employees are taken off the streets.

Lawmakers have tough choices when it comes to fixing the pension fund problem. They must make the pension system their top priority in January when session starts. The pension is the most significant challenge of our generation.

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State Treasurer Curtis Loftis Co-sponsors Cyber Security Summit

Columbia, SC – South Carolina Treasurer Curtis Loftis kicked off a gathering today of state and local government leaders, higher education administrators and bankers to discuss cyber security threats to the public and private sectors. Treasurer Loftis delivered opening remarks at the Cyber Security Summit along with co-sponsors Dr. Harris Pastides, president of the University of South Carolina, and Phil Smith, head of Government and Institutional Banking at Wells Fargo.

“Protecting the personal information and money of our state’s citizens must be our highest priority,” said Treasurer Loftis. “One of the things that I want to do is help make the people of South Carolina feel safer and more secure.”

The summit, held at USC’s MyAlumni Center in Columbia, was designed to build awareness of local and global cyber security threats and share information on how organizations can mitigate their cyber risk. The event featured presentations from experts at USC’s SC Cyber initiative and global security company Palo Alto Networks as well as information from attorneys who specialize in cyber security issues.

“A year ago we launched SC Cyber and formed essential public and private partnerships,” said Dr. Pastides. “Our goal was and is to advance our state’s reputation as a place where cyber security is understood, practiced and advanced.”

Treasurer Loftis added, “I appreciate that Dr. Pastides joined me in sponsoring the Cyber Security Summit to bring more attention to this important issue.”

The Cyber Security Summit was co-sponsored by the State Treasurer’s Office, SC Cyber, Wells Fargo and Palo Alto Networks. Presenters included Thomas Scott, executive director of SC Cyber; General Les Eisner, deputy director of the Office of Economic Engagement at USC; Rick Howard, chief security officer at Palo Alto Networks; Chris Swecker, attorney and former assistant director at the Federal Bureau of Investigation and David Furr, partner at Gray, Layton, Kersh, Solomon, Furr & Smith, P.A.

Press Release: American Execs Tried To Cut Off Al Qaeda Funding Pre 9/11

The news media is filled with reports that the “Saudi kingdom’s involvement was deliberately covered up at the highest levels of our government. And the cover-up goes beyond locking up 28 pages of the Saudi report in a vault in the US Capitol basement. Investigations were throttled. Co-conspirators were let off the hook.” Fox News, Huffington Post, Miami Herald, New York Post, Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Beyond the contents of the 9/11 report allegedly implicating Saudi involvement in the funding of al Qaeda, is the documented information on how the United States Justice Department’s vaunted NCIC system was used in the attempted murder of United States business executives who were unwittingly shutting off Saudi funding to al Qaeda. For the past fifteen years, the surviving business executives have spent their lives to get to the truth of why they were targeted and why the United States Justice Department was actively involved in protecting the perpetrators.

During the fifteen years, they have uncovered links and concrete irrefutable documentation of the involvement of an Assistant Director of the FBI, the office of United States Senator Lindsey Graham, the United States Justice Department, the head of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and a Director in the Office of Homeland Security. The internal documents from the individuals and/or the agencies involved detail how these individuals’ lives were destroyed by illegal actions of the government under the guise of National Security to keep the secret of the Saudi financial involvement in 9/11 from the American public.

Millions of dollars of government funds were used and are still being used to stop this action from reaching a truly independent review in Federal District Court. The local political and geopolitical interest supersedes the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution because of the perceived impact of exposing documentation of both our governments’ actions against the public to protect Saudi interests tied to the funding of the attack on the United States on September 11, 2001 and the Saudis funding 9/11.

Curtis M. Loftis Jr., South Carolina’s treasurer

Fixing the SC Public Retirement System

It appears the SC General Assembly is finally realizing major work must be done to save the SC public retirement system.

This realization comes in the aftermath of a SC Legislative Audit Council report on the SC Retirement System Investment Commission (SCRSIC). “The LAC’s report reveals that our retirement and pension system’s longevity is in jeopardy and in need of immediate effective adjustments,” said SC House Speaker Jay Lucas.

What is bothersome is Lucas’ next quote attempting to take credit for discovering the deficiencies within the system: “Without the initiation of this report, we might not know the truly delicate state of South Carolina’s pension system. Although its findings reveal significant flaws and deficiencies, it gives the General Assembly a starting point to offer assistance to the RSIC by helping them institute corrective measures that will put South Carolina’s pension plan on a path to solvency,” Lucas said.

The LAC report called the retirement system “significantly underfunded” and that “it underreported risk” of its investments. It called for improvement in controlling conflicts of interest and pointed out the high fees paid and the low rate of return earned on its investments.

These are exactly the same criticisms SC Treasurer Curtis Loftis has leveled at the SCRSIC since taking office in 2011.