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Less than 24 hours before the meet-and-greet at Live Oaks Park, U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett was in Washington, D.C., voting against the House health care reform bill that passed 220 to 215.
"I was heart-sick last night," Barrett said before more than 80 people gathered for the event. "It was a sad day for freedom. Coming back today gives me so much hope."
All Republican candidates running for office in 2010 were invited to speak at the event hosted by the Beaufort Area Republican Club. Only two of
five gubernatorial candidates attended.
Barrett focused his speech Sunday on what he considers three areas the state must improve:economic development, education and energy.
South Carolina must have infrastructure in place that attracts business to the area, provide adequate funding for education at all levels and explore and use nuclear power, he said.
Barrett supports developing the proposed Jasper Ocean Terminal that he said would likely have a huge economic impact on six or seven counties -- including Beaufort County -- if developed.
State Sen. Larry Grooms of Berkeley also heralded the Jasper port as a huge economic opportunity for South Carolina. Grooms, who serves as chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, sponsored a recent bill to restructure the State Port's Authority. Among other things, the bill directs development of the Jasper port and gives the authority a Dec. 31 deadline to sell the shuttered port of Port Royal.
All too often the Republican party elects candidates who don't push traditional conservative values of limited government, Grooms said.
"You're not responsible for your neighbor's mortgage, you're not responsible for the failed business down the street and you're not responsible for your neighbor's health care," he said. "I jumped into this race later than the rest of (the other candidates) because I know what's at stake."
Republicans Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, state Rep. Nikki Haley of Lexington and Attorney General Henry McMaster of Columbia are also running for governor.
Lieutenant governor candidate Tim Scott and state Rep. Shannon Erickson, R-Beaufort, who's running for re-election, also spoke at the event.
Scott, of Charleston, has 14 years of government experience and was elected to the state House of Representatives in 2008. He vowed to stop out-of-control spending, fight tax increases, reduce tax burdens on senior citizens by increasing the state's homestead exemption level, and strengthen state rights if elected.
"We cannot have our federal government picking winners and losers in health care," Scott said. "We need a lieutenant governor who will stand up and say 'absolutely not here, not now, not ever.' "
Erickson, who was elected in 2007, said she has and will continue to "hold the line" on spending and taxes while fighting for Beaufort County and her constituents.
"We give and give and give from Beaufort County," Erickson said. "The time has come where we can't keep helping our friends when we are hurting ourselves."
