What would the S.C. education system look like with Democrat Mike Anthony at the helm?
Representative Mike Anthony has repeatedly claimed to be a “teacher and a coach” but that is far from reality – he has been a Columbia politician for over a decade.
As a legislator, he has continually opposed common-sense education reforms, including public charter schools, and has NEVER authored a single piece of statewide education legislation. His only legislative success is a bill regulating fireworks. Yes, fireworks.
Just this year, Rep. Anthony co-sponsored a bill that could have effectively ended home schooling in South Carolina by placing impossible burdens on parents. He also this year opposed school choice for children with disabilities and special needs.
With Mike Anthony as State Superintendent of Education, South Carolinians would see more the same.
South Carolina can’t afford such poor leadership on education.
South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Matt Moore issued a statement following Rep. Anthony’s announcement that he is seeking election as State Superintendent of Education:
“State Representative Mike Anthony has been in the pocket of big labor unions and the education establishment for a decade. His time in Columbia has been marked by no legislative leadership and standing against education reform. As a failed state legislator, Anthony has continually shown that he lacks the skills necessary to transform education in South Carolina. By standing against legislation to give parents more school options, even wildly popular public charter schools, it is evident that he is out of touch with South Carolinians. If Representative Anthony is the Democrats’ choice for State Superintendent of Education, I’m confident he will strike out with voters.”
Meet Liberal Columbia Insider Mike Anthony
Politician or Coach?
“Anyone who knows me, knows that I’m a teacher and a coach – not a politician.” – State Representative Mike Anthony, Spartanburg Herald-Journal, 8/12/2013
Fact: State Representative Anthony has been a Columbia politician for the last 11 years.
Rep. Anthony was the 2004 S.C. Education Association (SCEA) “Legislator of the Year.” The SCEA is the state affiliate of the nation’s largest labor union.
Legislative Record – Authorship
State Representative Mike Anthony has authored 15 general bills over his 10-year career in Columbia. Only ONE bill with a statewide impact became law: a bill regulating the return of unused fireworks to wholesalers.
How many statewide education bills has Representative Anthony authored? The answer: Zero. But that’s not surprising since Representative Anthony has spent a decade defending the education establishment.
Source: South Carolina General Assembly Website, Accessed August 14, 2013, http://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?code=0038636359
Legislative Record – Home Schooling
Rep. Anthony co-sponsored a 2013 bill, H. 3478, that could have effectively ended home schooling in South Carolina by placing undue burdens on parents – despite a recent study by the Home School Legal Defense Association that found that home-schooled children rank above the 80th percentile in all education categories. (Source: http://www.hslda.org/docs/study/ray2009/2009_Ray_StudyFINAL.pdf)
Source: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess120_2013-2014/bills/3478.htm
Legislative Record – Taxes
State Representative Mike Anthony has a long history of voting against tax cuts for South Carolina families and small businesses.
H.3007, Second Reading, February 2, 2005; Vote: 73 Aye, 39 Nay, Anthony Voted Nay; http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess116_2005-2006/bills/3007.htm
Legislative Record – Public Charter Schools
State Representative Mike Anthony gets an “F” for opposing public charter schools.
H.5080, Second Reading, April 28, 2004; Vote: 66 Aye, 41 Nay, Anthony Voted Nay; http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess115_2003-2004/bills/5080.htm
H.3010, Second Reading, January 26, 2005; Vote: 66 Aye, 45 Nay, Anthony Voted Nay; http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess116_2005-2006/bills/3010.htm
H.3010, Third Reading, January 27, 2005; Vote: 71 Aye, 43 Nay; Anthony Voted Nay; http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess116_2005-2006/bills/3010.htm
Legislative Record – School Choice for Children with Disabilities
In 2013, state legislators passed a special amendment allowing people and businesses to receive tax credits for supporting private-school scholarships for children with disabilities. Their donations must go to non-profit groups that distribute the scholarships.
H. 3710, Amendment 2a, June 5, 2013 – Voted to table and then voted against the amendment:
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess120_2013-2014/hj13/20130605.htm
(Editor’s Note: The above communication is a news release from a political party which does not necessarily reflect the editorial position of FITSNews.com. To submit your letter, news release, email blast, media advisory or issues statement for publication, click here).
40 comments
This is oozing with desperation. OOZING.
Just about everything coming from this site is oozing these days.
This is oozing with desperation. OOZING.
Just about everything coming from this site is oozing these days.
Mike Anthony would be a really good state superintendent, I think. He has, indeed, been an educator — and a state championship football coach. His time in the statehouse should, in my opinion, be considered a plus.
Mike Anthony would be a really good state superintendent, I think. He has, indeed, been an educator — and a state championship football coach. His time in the statehouse should, in my opinion, be considered a plus.
I want to thank the GOP for providing me with all this positive information about someone I had never heard of before. Did he pay for this ad?
I want to thank the GOP for providing me with all this positive information about someone I had never heard of before. Did he pay for this ad?
Sounds like he sat on his rear at the statehouse, and now he’s looking for a better retirement.
Yeah I’m sure sitting on his rear got him appointed to the budget conference committee this year.
Politician Mike Anthony had the chance to direct state money to the classroom, teacher salaries, or school buses but instead he brings home the bacon for a county library as opposed to helping all children of the state. He’s just another run of the mill Columbia politician.
Sounds like he sat on his rear at the statehouse, and now he’s looking for a better retirement.
Yeah I’m sure sitting on his rear got him appointed to the budget conference committee this year.
Politician Mike Anthony had the chance to direct state money to the classroom, teacher salaries, or school buses but instead he brings home the bacon for a county library as opposed to helping all children of the state. He’s just another run of the mill Columbia politician.
Are we supposed to pay attention to a communication from the Republican Party? Isn’t that the party Sic Willie vilifies daily?
Yeh he says hes not a Republican,yet he spends a considerable amount of time explaining why people who are Republicans arent!
Are we supposed to pay attention to a communication from the Republican Party? Isn’t that the party Sic Willie vilifies daily?
Yeh he says hes not a Republican,yet he spends a considerable amount of time explaining why people who are Republicans arent!
Educators should not be elected to public office. They are worse than community organizers.
Educators should not be elected to public office. They are worse than community organizers.
“Teacher” is a stretch. He taught drivers’ education when I was in high school. His assistant coaches covered that for him most days.
He also taught science for your information. You need to research before saying things like that! I also watched him take students out to drive while I was a student in Drivers Ed! It also takes a lot to be a good coach, which he was!!!!
“Teacher” is a stretch. He taught drivers’ education when I was in high school. His assistant coaches covered that for him most days.
He also taught science for your information. You need to research before saying things like that! I also watched him take students out to drive while I was a student in Drivers Ed! It also takes a lot to be a good coach, which he was!!!!
“South Carolina can’t afford such poor leadership on education.” You are exactly right. So you finally caught on to Mick Zais.
“South Carolina can’t afford such poor leadership on education.” You are exactly right. So you finally caught on to Mick Zais.
An addendum which enthusiastically portrays homeschooling in nothing but positive terms. I was personally amazed by their finding that indicates that moronic parents make the best homeschool teachers. But then this is SC, the education state.
Zais doesn’t appear to be interested in public education. He needs “primarying”.
An addendum which enthusiastically portrays homeschooling in nothing but positive terms. I was personally amazed by their finding that indicates that moronic parents make the best homeschool teachers. But then this is SC, the education state.
Zais doesn’t appear to be interested in public education. He needs “primarying”.
I see Howie sent his check. Gotta beat down any challenger to his plan (which includes keeping that pinhead Zais in the top spot)
I see Howie sent his check. Gotta beat down any challenger to his plan (which includes keeping that pinhead Zais in the top spot)
Seems like the SGOP is a little worried….
Seems like the SGOP is a little worried….
Union County High School in his district just got its second F in a row.
Isn’t it likely that is the reason he wants to get in a position to do something about that.
He doesn’t have to be the state superintendent in order to invoke changes. His voice carries a lot of weight in Union, but never once used it to help the students. And now he wants to help ALL of SC’s schools.
Union County High School in his district just got its second F in a row.
Isn’t it likely that is the reason he wants to get in a position to do something about that.
He doesn’t have to be the state superintendent in order to invoke changes. His voice carries a lot of weight in Union, but never once used it to help the students. And now he wants to help ALL of SC’s schools.
Would someone please tell me what great piece of legislation our current superintendent authored before he became superintendent. Oh right he was a college president who knew lots about K-12 education not a politician/educator who has invested time and energy working on K-12 issues for 30+ years. What major piece of legislation that would benefit all 700,000 public school students has our current superintendent pushed the legislators to enact since he has been in office? Yes, he supports charter schools but what about the students not enrolled in charter schools. Shouldn’t he have done something major for them too?
Would someone please tell me what great piece of legislation our current superintendent authored before he became superintendent. Oh right he was a college president who knew lots about K-12 education not a politician/educator who has invested time and energy working on K-12 issues for 30+ years. What major piece of legislation that would benefit all 700,000 public school students has our current superintendent pushed the legislators to enact since he has been in office? Yes, he supports charter schools but what about the students not enrolled in charter schools. Shouldn’t he have done something major for them too?