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by WILL FOLKS
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A little more than a month after launching its “Palmetto Revolution” agenda, DOGE SC – the pro-citizen movement founded by Lowcountry, South Carolina businessman Rom Reddy – is in search of legislative converts.
The DOGE SC vision – dubbed “Covenant 250” – aims to make South Carolina “the freest, most citizen-first, self-governing state in America.” In other words, the exact opposite of what it is now.
To advance its vision, DOGE SC is asking state lawmakers to sign on the dotted line in support of the first phase of its agenda – which aims to empower citizens via the strengthening of constitutional separation of powers, return more money to them via rebates and tax cuts and using artificial intelligence (AI) to overhaul and reform state government.
DOGE SC wants lawmakers to reform the scandal-scarred S.C. Judicial Merit Selection Commission (SCJMSC) to allow future governors to appoint eight members of the panel. Further down the road, the group is pushing for a constitutional amendment which would require retention elections for judges and the elimination of the SCJMSC.
Reddy’s movement also wants “the governor, not commissions and boards” to hire and fire agency heads who execute the laws” – and to put a five-member “constitutional commission” in place within the governor’s office to assess new legislation from a constitutional standpoint prior to implementing it.
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When it comes to returning money to the citizens, DOGE SC is calling for the re-purposing of 25,000 government jobs to the private sector – and a broader consolidation of state agencies – along with the elimination of half of the state’s 84,000 regulations using AI tools.
When cash is saved – and when there are revenue surpluses – DOGE SC wants to return these funds to taxpayers twice annually (every July 4 and December 25) as part of a Citizens Trust Fund (CTF). That’s similar to the “Taxpayer Rebate Fund” FITSNews has been advocating for incessantly over the past decade-and-a-half.
More broadly speaking, DOGE SC wants to “eliminate the state income tax” once these trust fund rebates are sustained, while also reforming 110 sales tax exemptions and reviewing the eliminating of property taxes on vehicles and boats.
Other items on DOGE SC’s phase one agenda include a comprehensive education reform agenda entitled ‘Through The Eyes of a Child,” the imposition of the death penalty for violent crimes against children, a transformative restructuring of the S.C. Department of Transportation (SCDOT) and its governing commission – including the elimination of DEI criteria in hiring and contracting and a 75% reduction in permitting time.
Lawmakers are encouraged to download and sign the document below… and count on FITSNews to keep our audience apprised as to which ones sign (and which ones don’t).
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DOGE SC LEGISLATIVE SIGNUP…
(Palmetto Revolution)
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and eight children.
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12 comments
Will, you mind posting your contract with this dude for transparency? Because there is no way this embarrassing level of fawning is not a paid gig.
I’m guessing this will be every bit the disaster “DOGE” was at the federal level.
So, this out-of-state transplant wants to circumvent the will of the people with technology, and with the technology that he happens to code. Yep, great idea. So much for, “We the People.” He wants to consolidate agencies and privatize government jobs into the private sector. So, who pays the private sector to perform the duties, dumbass? What about regulated entities that ensure safety, fairness, compliance, and competition? I will bet he doesn’t even know the state agencies that exist and their purpose. Will, promoting stupid shit like this is beneath you. Seriously. All regulatory agencies should constantly be re-evaluating regulations and policies as protocol. But, to promote AI which is not even AGI or ASI is just stupid. AGI will be here within one year. I hereby dub Reddy with the new name “Oz.”
There is a Soul Asylum tune called “Eyes of a Child” that applies to Rom and RJ May.
The traditional, three legged balance of powers”stool” that exists in other places and you learned about in school, only consists of two full legs and a nub (executive branch) here in SC.
The governor of South Carolina is a eunuch by design, it is why Mark Sanford brought pigs to the lobby, and Nikki Haley wouldn’t finish her term.
He is gonna make a list of the legislators that support his ideas of taking power away from the general assembly, and they’re all gonna be Democrats. Then he’s gonna realize he is a Democrat, being gamed by people way smarter than him that are way more from here than him.
But mostly, just go listen to the soul Asylum song.
Not h of a music guy, but I will check it out.
Our esteemed lawmakers don’t want us to be the “freest, most citizen-first, self governing state in America” They like ruling over us and telling us they know what’s best for us. I wish we could replace all of them. Corruption is rampant
Most of them need to be stuffed into prisons. But the peasants have to do it. SC lawmakers are not your friends, neither is the SC Judicial Department nor SLED
Despite how people feel about Trumps agencies there are veterans in the DOJ, FBI, HSI, USSS and the USPSIS who are party proof, who have been informed and they have all been focusing on those three departments.
Its why we’ve been seeing more accountability. Along with news like FITs doing accurate reporting. Prior to this, they controlled what was put out in other news outlets. Im sure there’s grumbling going on, but they have to change or face the same fate as Wright.
Its time to offer trust to these departments because old Murdaugh SLED Vs. New and Improved SLED has shown drastic change. When big brother has to stop screwing around and carry the torch, a new sense of pride is felt, and I think that’s what we’re seeing. They became aware the public was suffering by the hands of the few.
There is good people in our Government.
‘Cause DOGE worked so well at eliminating government waste and helping reduce government spending. And tweaking the name “Project 2025” into “Covenant 250” shows a real lack of creativity.
Will – have you actually read “Covenant 250”? Even though you are being paid to … fluff, I guess? What a load of nonsense. Like it was written by ChatGPT. How much does it cost to buy an article like this?
“Reddy’s movement also wants “the governor, not commissions and boards” to hire and fire agency heads who execute the laws”” The Governor already picks the Director of SCDES (formerly SCDHEC) and this is what Reddy said about them
“South Carolina’s coastal agency has fined a Charleston County couple $289,000 for what officials say is the illegal construction of a seawall and other work on the beach at the Isle of Palms, where storms and rising ocean levels are threatening homes.
But the fine, one of the largest levied by South Carolina’s coastal department in its nearly 50-year history, isn’t sitting well with Rom and Renee Reddy, who bought their house on the island 10 years ago.
Rom Reddy says the state is targeting them, likening its efforts to those of the gestapo, the brutal Nazi police force of the 1940s. He says the coastal department has failed to maintain the beach and the agency has tried to keep him from conducting work to shield his property from the ocean.” October 25, 2024 Sammy Fretwell, The State
Does he have the political pull he thinks he has? Or is he all hat and no cattle?
Reddy obviously has no respect for the rule of law. The ways he went about his seawall construction sets him up for years in prison
Can’t stand the pathological narcissistic psychopath types with deep pockets. You got money, most will be your friend. When you lose it all, they quickly exit. His history and his egotistical behavior speaks volumes.