EXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL
Unemployment Down to 4.2%: The unemployment rate in South Carolina declined from 7% to 4.2% since 1993. 280,300 New Jobs: 280,300 new jobs have been created in South Carolina since 1993 --an average of 44,258 jobs per year, compared to an average of just 16,650 jobs per year during the previous administration. 262,800 New Private Sector Jobs: Since 1993, 262,800 new private sector jobs have been created in South Carolina-an average of 41,495 jobs per year, compared to an average of just 9,775 private sector jobs per year in the previous administration. 31,500 New Construction Jobs: 31,500 construction jobs have been created in South Carolina since 1993 -- an average of 4,974 jobs per year. In contrast, an average of 3,125 construction jobs were lost each year during the previous administration. Business Failures Down 3.5% Per Year: Business failures in South Carolina have dropped an average of 3.5% per year since 1993, after increasing 25.1% per year during the previous 12 years. [Oct 98 data] 145,000 Have Received a Raise: 56,000 South Carolina workers benefited from the increase in the minimum wage-from $4.25 to $4.75 -- on October 1, 1996. They, along with about 89,000 more received an additional raise-from $4.75 to $5.15 -- on September 1, 1997. Poverty Has Fallen: Nationally, the poverty rate has fallen from 15.1% in 1993 to 13.3% in 1997. In South Carolina, the poverty rate has fallen from 18.7% in 1993 to 13.1% in 1997--down 5.6% under President Clinton. [Census Bureau] A $500 Child Tax Credit to Help Families Raising Children: To help make it easier for families to raise their children, the balanced budget included a $500 per-child tax credit for children under 17. Thanks to President Clinton, the Balanced Budget delivers a child tax credit to 402,000 families in South Carolina. Highest Home Ownership Ever for South Carolina: Home ownership in South Carolina has increased from 72.6% to 78.8% since the fourth quarter of 1993 and is now the highest on record. Home Building Up 9.1% Per Year: Home building in South Carolina has increased 9.1% per year since 1993, after decreasing by an average of 3.3% per year during the previous administration. Over $25,000 of Reduced Federal Debt for Every Family of Four: The national debt will be $1.7 trillion lower in FY99 than projected in 1993 -- that's $25,000 less debt for each family of four in South Carolina this year. EXPANDING ACCESS TO EDUCATION
Over 11,000 Children in Head Start: Over 11,000 South Carolina children were enrolled in Head Start in 1998. In FY99, South Carolina will receive $55.4 million in Head Start funding, an increase of $22.4 million over 1993. More High-Quality Teachers With Smaller Classes for South Carolina's Schools: Thanks to President Clinton, the final FY99 budget provides for the first year of the President's new initiative to hire 100,000 new, well-prepared teachers, to reduce class sizes in the early grades to a national average of 18. South Carolina receives $14.5 million in 1999 to hire about 373 new public school teachers. And, under President Clinton's proposal, South Carolina would receive $17 million in FY2000 to support a total of 468 teachers. $5.9 Million in Goals 2000 Funding: This year [FY99], South Carolina receives $5.9 million in Goals 2000 funding. This money is used to raise academic achievement by raising academic standards, increasing parental and community involvement in education, expanding the use of computers and technology in classrooms, and supporting high-quality teacher professional development. $5.2 Million for Technology Literacy: This year [FY99], South Carolina receives $5.2 million for the Technology Literacy Challenge Fund, which helps communities and the private sector ensure that every student is equipped with the computer literacy skills needed for the 21st century. Over $94.6 Million for Students Most in Need: South Carolina receives over $94.6 million in Title I grants providing extra help in the basics for students most in need, particularly communities and schools with high concentrations of children in low-income families [FY99]. This is an increase of $590,000 over FY98 funding. $96.4 Million in Pell Grants: This year [FY99], South Carolina will receive $96.4 million in Pell Grants for low-income students going to college, an additional $4.5 million over last year. With this increase, a total of 52,600 South Carolina students will benefit. Expanded Work-Study To Help More Students Work Their Way Through College: The FY99 budget includes a significant expansion of the Federal Work Study program. South Carolina will receive $11.3 million in Work-Study funding in 1999 to help South Carolina students work their way through college. Over 1,000 Have Served in South Carolina through AmeriCorps: Since the National Service program began in 1993, 1,266 AmeriCorps participants, working in 108 different programs, have earned money for college while working in South Carolina's schools, hospitals, neighborhoods or parks. [through 11/98] Tuition Tax Credits in Balanced Budget Open the Doors of College and Promote Lifelong Learning: The balanced budget included both President Clinton's $1,500 HOPE Scholarship to help make the first two years of college as universal as a high school diploma and a Lifetime Learning Tax Credit for college juniors, seniors, graduate students and working Americans pursuing lifelong learning to upgrade their skills. This 20% tax credit will be applied to the first $5,000 of tuition and fees through 2002 and to the first $10,000 thereafter. 69,000 students in South Carolina will receive a HOPE Scholarship tax credit of up to $1,500. 83,000 students in South Carolina will receive the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit. [fully phased-in FY2000 estimate] Expanded Job Training to South Carolina's Dislocated Workers: Thanks to President Clinton, the FY99 budget includes a significant expansion in the dislocated worker program. South Carolina will receive $17.4 million in 1999 to help 10,310 of South Carolina's dislocated workers get the training and reemployment services they need to return to work as quickly as possible. FIGHTING CRIME AND VIOLENCE
Crime Has Fallen in Columbia: In Columbia, between 1992 and 1997, murder has fallen 20%. In addition, rape and robbery have also declined 39% and 15% respectively. [92&97 UCR] 985 More Police: The President's 1994 Crime Bill has funded 985 new police officers to date in communities across South Carolina. [through 7/99] Reducing Crime with Drug Courts: Working to reduce drug-related crime in South Carolina, the Clinton Administration has awarded a Drug Court grant to the community of Charleston. The Administration had previously awarded grants to the South Carolina communities of Lexington and Manning. Drug courts use the coercive power of the criminal justice system to combine drug testing, sanctions, supervision and treatment to push nonviolent, drug-abusing offenders to stop using drugs and committing crimes. Over $2 Million to Combat Domestic Violence: Through the Violence Against Women Act, South Carolina received $2.09 million in federal funds in FY98 to establish more women's shelters and bolster law enforcement, prosecution and victims' services. Nearly $800,000 in Grants for Battered Women and Children: In FY98, South Carolina received approximately $800,000 in HHS's Family Violence Prevention Program grants to assist women and children fleeing domestic abuse, an additional $140,000 increase over FY97. $5.5 Million to Keep Drugs & Violence Out of South Carolina's Schools: South Carolina receives $5.5 million in FY99 for the Safe & Drug Free Schools Program, which invests in school security and drug prevention programs. MOVING SOUTH CAROLINA RESIDENTS FROM WELFARE TO WORK
101,643 Fewer People on Welfare: There are 101,643 fewer people on welfare in South Carolina now than there were at the beginning of 1993 -- a 67% decrease. [through 12/98] Child Support Collections Up 125%: Child support collections have increased by $86 million-or 125% -- in South Carolina since FY92. [through FY98] Encouraging Responsible Choices-Preventing Teen Pregnancy in South Carolina: Since 1993, President Clinton and Vice President Gore have supported innovative and promising teen pregnancy prevention strategies, with significant components of the strategy becoming law in the 1996 Personal Responsibility Act. The law requires unmarried minor parents to stay in school and live at home or in a supervised setting; encourages "second chance homes" to provide teen parents with the skills and support they need; and provides $50 million a year in new funding for state abstinence education activities. Efforts are making a difference, adolescent pregnancy rates and teen abortion rates are declining. And between 1992 and 1997, teen birth rates declined 12.7% in South Carolina. $34.7 Million for South Carolina Welfare-to-Work: In 1998 and 1999, South Carolina received $23.1 million in Federal welfare-to-work state formula grants (the state matched $11.6 million in funding), helping South Carolina welfare recipients get and keep jobs. Part of the President's comprehensive efforts to move recipients from welfare to work, this funding was included in the $3 billion welfare to work fund in the 1997 Balanced Budget Act. Helping People Get to Work: Through the Access to Jobs initiative, the Clinton-Gore Administration is working with communities across the country to design transportation solutions to help welfare recipients and other low-income workers get to and from work. Statewide, South Carolina has received a total of $1.8 million to fund innovative transit projects. INVESTING IN SOUTH CAROLINA'S HEALTH
Health Care for Uninsured Children: The balanced budget included the largest single investment in health care for children since the passage of Medicaid in 1965 -- an unprecedented $24 billion over five years to cover as many as five million children throughout the nation. This investment guarantees the full range of benefits-from checkups to surgery -- that children need to grow up strong and healthy. It ensures that prescription drugs, vision, hearing, and mental health coverage now offered at the state level are extended to millions of uninsured children. To expand health coverage to more uninsured children in South Carolina the Balanced Budget provided $64 million in 1998. This compares to the 1995 Republican plan vetoed by President Clinton that would have denied health care coverage to 45,500 children in South Carolina. Helping Nearly 120,000 South Carolina Women and Children with WIC: The Clinton Administration is committed to full funding in the Special Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). In FY98, South Carolina received $59.9 million in total WIC grant funding, helping 118,000 women, infants and children in need receive health and food assistance. More Toddlers Are Being Immunized: As a result of the President's 1993 Childhood Immunization Initiative, childhood immunization rates have reached an historic high. According to the CDC,by 1996, 90% or more of America's toddlers received the most critical doses of each of the routinely recommended vaccines-surpassing the President's 1993 goal. In South Carolina in 1997, 96% of two-year olds received the vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis; 91% received the vaccine for polio; 91% received the vaccine for measles, and 95% received the vaccine for Haemophilus influenzae B, the bacteria causing a form of meningitis. Increased Funding for Ryan White by $27.6 Million: Between 1993 and 1998, South Carolina communities received $27.6 million in Ryan White formula and other HIV/AIDS program funds. This funding provides people living with HIV and AIDS medical and support services, including the AIDS Drug Assistance Program which helps those without insurance obtain much needed prescription drugs. [HHS, Health Resources and Services Administration, 12/98] Tobacco Plan Will Cut Smoking and Premature Deaths by 48% in South Carolina: The Clinton Administration's tobacco proposal, combined with the recently enacted state tobacco settlements, will cut youth smoking and resulting premature deaths 48% in South Carolina by 2004. Between 2000 and 2004, 45,600 of South Carolina's youth will be kept from smoking and 14,600 will be spared a premature tobacco-related death. [Treasury Dept., 2/99] 1,690,000 Americans in South Carolina Cannot Be Assured They Have Patient Protections: Even if South Carolina enacted all the protections in the Patients' Bill of Rights, 1,690,000 people in South Carolina cannot be assured they have the comprehensive patient protections recommended by the President's Advisory Commission. This is because the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) may preempt state-enacted protections. That is why the President has called on Congress to pass a federally enforceable patients' bill of rights so that everyone enrolled in managed care may have a basic set of protections. Notably, 840,000 South Carolina women are in ERISA health plans and are therefore not necessarily protected. Women are particularly vulnerable without these protections because they are greater users of health care services, they make three-quarters of the health care decisions for their families, and they have specific health care needs addressed by a patients' bill of rights. PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
$9.1 Million in Safe Drinking Water Funding: This year [FY99], thanks to President Clinton, South Carolina will receive $8 million for the Drinking Water State Revolving Funds to provide low-interest loans to municipalities to build, improve, and prevent pollution of drinking water systems. In addition, South Carolina will receive $1 million in Public Water Supply Supervision grants to help monitor drinking water quality and enforce health standards. Eleven Superfund Sites Cleaned Up: Since the President took office in 1993, the EPA has completed eleven toxic waste site clean-ups in South Carolina. The sites are located in Fort Lawn, Cayce, Columbia, Fountain Inn, Greer, Rantowles, Burton, Gaffney, Traveler's Rest, Simpsonville, and Rock Hill, South Carolina [through 6/99]. This is more than five times the number of site clean-ups that were completed in the previous 12 years combined. Revitalizing Brownfields in Communities in South Carolina: As part of the Clinton-Gore Administration's efforts to clean up Brownfields, the EPA has awarded the South Carolina communities of Cowpens, Columbia, and Charleston pilot projects to spur environmental clean-up and economic revitalization. These projects are intended to jump-start local clean-up efforts by providing funds to return unproductive, abandoned, contaminated urban properties to productive use. SPEARHEADING URBAN RENEWAL EFFORTS
Revitalizing South Carolina's Communities: Charleston and Williamsburg County were designated Enterprise Communities in December, 1994 and were awarded $3 million each to create more jobs, housing, and economic opportunity for area residents. In 1999, Columbia/Sumter was designated a New Urban Empowerment Zone, Charleston/North Charleston was named a Strategic Planning Community, and Hallandale was declared a Rural Enterprise Community. Expanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Will Help Develop 2,600 To 3,100 New Affordable Housing Units in South Carolina Over the Next 5 Years: Last year, the President and Vice President pushed for a 40-percent expansion in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. This year, the President and Vice President will try again to enact tax incentives to develop affordable housing. In South Carolina alone, this proposal would mean an additional 2,600 - 3,100 quality rental housing units for low-income American families during the next five years. PROVIDING DISASTER RELIEF
$5 Million in Federal Emergency Assistance: Since 1993, South Carolina has received $5 million in disaster relief. This includes over $1 million for Hurricane Bonnie in 1998, and assistance to recover from Hurricane Fran which occurred in 1996. [FEMA, 12/98] EXPANDING FUNDS FOR TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT
Over $1.6 Billion in Federal Highway Aid: Since 1993, South Carolina has received over $1.6 billion in federal highway aid. Included in this funding is $5.4 million for emergency relief in response to natural disasters and $608,417 for scenic byways. These funds have helped generate 67,990 jobs. [through FY98] Over $143 Million in Aviation Funds: From FY93-FY98 South Carolina received over $143 million in Airport Improvement Program funds to help build and renovate airports, and, when necessary, to provide funds for noise abatement to improve the quality of life for residents who live near airports. Over $68 Million in Transit Funds: South Carolina has received over $68 million in FTA funds since 1993. Saving Lives and Property: In 1997 the United States Coast Guard saved 35 lives and over $4.7 million of property in South Carolina.
Last Updated July 1999
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