2010 Constitutional Amendment Questions

Four Constitutional Amendments will appear this year on the general
election ballot:

Amendment 1

Must Article I of the Constitution of this State, relating to the declaration of rights under the state’s constitution, be amended by adding Section 25 so as to provide that hunting and fishing are valuable parts of the state’s heritage, important for conservation, and a protected means of managing non-threatened wildlife; to provide that the citizens of South Carolina shall have the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife traditionally pursued, subject to laws and regulations promoting sound wildlife conservation and management as prescribed by the General Assembly; and to specify that this section must not be construed to abrogate any private property rights, existing state laws or regulations, or the state’s sovereignty over its natural resources?

Explanation

A ‘Yes’ vote will make it a constitutional right for citizens to hunt and fish and will permit the State to legally provide for proper wildlife management and the protection of private property rights.

How You Should Vote

The South Carolina Republican Party asks you to vote Yes on Amendment 1. We agree that “hunting and fishing are valuable parts of the state’s heritage” and we strongly support laws that preserve the right to hunt and fish.

Amendment 2

Must Article II of the Constitution of this State, relating to the right of suffrage, be amended by adding Section 12 so as to provide that the fundamental right of an individual to vote by secret ballot is guaranteed for a designation, a selection, or an authorization for employee representation by a labor organization?

Explanation

A ‘Yes’ vote will give employees the constitutional right to vote by secret ballot when they are voting on whether to be represented by a labor union.

How You Should Vote

The South Carolina Republican Party asks you to vote Yes on Amendment 2. Voting by secret ballot is a fundamental right and helps fight back against intimidation. We also strongly believe that this new law will stop union intimidation in the workplace and help preserve South Carolina as a right to work state.

Amendment 3

Must Section 36(A), Article III of the Constitution of this State be amended so as to increase from three to five percent in increments of one-half of one percent over four fiscal years the amount of state general fund revenue in the latest completed fiscal year required to be held in the General Reserve Fund?

Explanation

A ‘Yes’ vote will increase the amount of money state government must keep in the General Reserve Fund (its “rainy day” fund) from 3% of the previous year’s revenue to 5% of the previous year’s revenue.

How You Should Vote

The South Carolina Republican Party asks you to vote Yes on Amendment 3. When our state hits tough economic times like we are now facing, we must be able to fund essential state services without raising taxes. We believe that increasing our rainy day fund is the fiscally conservative thing to do and it will stop liberals from trying to push
tax hikes through the General Assembly.

Amendment 4

Must Section 36(B), Article III of the Constitution of this State be amended so as to provide that monies from the Capital Reserve Fund first must be used, to the extent necessary, to fully replenish the applicable percentage amount in the General Reserve Fund?

Explanation

A ‘Yes’ vote will require that the Capital Reserve Fund’s first priority is to replenish the State’s General Reserve Fund (its “rainy day” fund) instead of serving to offset midyear budget cuts at state agencies.

How You Should Vote

The South Carolina Republican Party asks you to vote Yes on Amendment 4. A rainy day fund is the conservative option because it allows us to save money for tough times instead of raising taxes and stopping economic growth. Amendment 4 makes the General Assembly replenish the rainy day fund instead of putting money into new spending.