Small Business "Backbone" Podcast

Anthony Elmo, Public Education Defender for Good Jobs First, a national organization founded in 1998 that fights for transparency around public money used for economic development purposes. His organization pushes back on corporate welfare, he told podcast host Frank Knapp.Elmo’s organization cites data center tax abatement as one of their concerns, especially because it results in public schools losing tax revenue. In South Carolina, the estimate is upwards of $500 million in funding not going to schools.Good Jobs First recently released a report, “Data Center Tax Abatements. Why States and Localities Must Disclose These Soaring Revenue Losses”, which identifies 14 states that offer incentives to data centers yet do not disclose how much tax incentives are going to data center projects. South Carolina is one of those states.The conversation covered recent efforts in the South Carolina legislature to regulate data center development and at least get one year disclosures of data centers tax incentive used and their water consumption.

Charleston Senator Matt Leber has worked in the SC House and now in the Senate to push legislation to regulate Artificial Intelligence. He talked with podcast host, Frank Knapp, about how he has sponsored bills that address guardrails on chatbots, computer programs that pose as humans to engage AI users in conversations online.These computer-driven chatbot conversations have been responsible for suicides and other self-harm, harm to others, sexual exploitation, anxiety, depression and other negative consequences. Chatbots also collect sensitive personal information that is then used for targeted advertising.Senator Leber’s bill addresses the above problems and importantly seeks to hold AI to product-liability laws.Senator Leber believes that we are facing a real battle for our dignity, for our personal rights and for being stakeholders for our children. The longer we ignore this problem, he says, the harder the fight is going to be.

Senator Carlisle Kennedy of Lexington County believes that helping small business owners should be a priority for the state legislature. While big businesses, with their out-of-state ownership and shareholders, often get the tax breaks and other state incentives, Senator Kennedy tells podcast host Frank Knapp that he wants to focus on in-state small business owners who are the heart of communities.Senator Kennedy's efforts have been to reduce the business property taxes owed by a small businesses. His first bill 2024 would have reduced the fair market value of business property owned by a small business. He has just introduced a new version of that bill that would give a $10,000 tax credit on business property owned by a small business.He argues that reducing property tax on small businesses will wind up providing more tax revenue for counties because that money will be spent in their local economies.

Professor Siwei Lyu, University of Buffalo, started his research on detecting computer manipulated images and audio 26 years ago. Then in 2017 Artificial Intelligence (AI) came on the scene and he was both excited and concerned. The ability to produce realistic deepfake manipulated images, videos and audio exploded.Professor Lyu told podcast host Frank Knapp that detecting deepfakes will no longer be possible by individuals and institutions. Only sophisticated technical examinations will be able to detect deepfakes.The tools to create deepfakes are easy to obtain and even people with no computer education, including teenagers, can easily be deepfake creators.Professor Lyu has a warning for all politicians regardless of partisan affiliation. Politicians are particularly vulnerable to deepfakes because of the amount of public video, images, and audio of them.Professor Lyu’s computer lab has created a free online platform for deepfake detection, the Deepfake-O-Meter.However, he believes that there should be legal requirements for AI generated deepfakes to be labeled, including both visual and audio warnings as well as watermarking of all AI generated deepfakes. Such state and federal laws would reduce, but not eliminate, the number of deepfakes being generated and hold deepfake creators legally accountable for the labeling.

The whole world has been watching immigration enforcement in Minneapolis. Probably not too many South Carolinians have been there during this time. But Professor Will McCorkle just returned from Minnesota.McCorkle is an Associate Professor at the College of Charleston with a research focus on the intersection of nationalism, immigration, and education with a particular focus on more marginalized migrant communities. He is also the program director of the University’s Master’s of Teaching, Learning, and Advocacy.Professor McCorkle talks about his personal experience and interaction with others at protests and vigils.He also shares his conversations with small business owners and the effect the ICE activities have had on their business.

Ben Winters, Director of AI and Data Privacy at the Consumer Federation of America, leads his 57-year old organization’s efforts to have states regulate artificial intelligence to protect the public.Winters argues that there is no better time for states to regulate AI to address problems ranging from algorithms used to recommend actions impacting consumers, deep fake images, utilization of personal information for marketing, and AI generated interactions with the public including children.His organization has just released the People-First Chatbot model bill that states can modify. Included in the bill is giving the private right of action when the AI products harm consumers. This product liability is a critical need for states to pass. Big tech companies have already said in court that they are not liable for the harm their product causes.

Realizing that his young adult children and their generation had been very poorly served by a failed policy experiment to let social media go completely unchecked with no regulation for 20 years, Rob Eleveld, who has an extensive background as the CEO of tech software and data companies, co-founded the Transparency Coalition in 2023.Eleveld talked with podcast host Frank Knapp about the mission of his coalition, which says that the health and well-being of US citizens, especially children, has been an afterthought in the race towards profits masked as innovation. The sexual and suicide grooming of children by AI generated chat boxes are horrific examples of why states should regulate AI.He says that the tech lobby has DC wired so that it won’t pass the AI regulation that President Trump called for in his recent Executive Order, which called for an almost complete ban on states regulating AI. He says that no AI regulation already passed has impacted national security and innovation, the concerns stated by the President.Eleveld lists laws passed in red states that are good examples of needed legislation in every state. His coalition advocates that the AI industry should be held accountable for the harm it causes to our citizens and businesses under existing product liability laws. He says that small businesses in particular are very exposed if they use AI systems because the AI companies shove all liability in the use of their systems onto the business. Eleveld calls for laws to make the developer of the product also liable.

Dori Jaffe has a difficult job--as the national Sierra Clubs' managing attorney she oversees the organization's work in numerous states advocating the creation of regulations needed to protect consumers from paying higher electric rates due to the growth of data centers.She discusses with podcast host Frank Knapp how large load tariffs and new cost of service models are essential to protect residential and small business electricity customer from subsidizing Google, Meta and other Big Tech companies being served by data centers.Jaffe also dismisses the claims of Big Tech companies that they want to pay their "fair share" of energy costs. She warns that state legislators should understand that these social media giants define "fair share" as simply paying their electric bills, not actually paying for all the new energy generation and transmission costs they are creating.Finally, she discusses models other states have developed and are developing to make sure that consumers are not subsidizing the profits of Big Tech.

Representative Brandon Guffey of York County talks with podcast host Frank Knapp about the loss of his son due to sextortion and what he has and is doing to stop other children from this crime and other threats from Artificial Intelligence industry.He describes how children are being extorted for money and even commit crimes to keep private photos they have shared after being lured into fake online relationships.Rep. Guffey has become a national leader in the effort to protect children from algorithms used by tech companies to push pornography, misinformation, and extreme positions on to children. He says that interactive features like Chatbox AI have even promoted children to commit suicide.Rep. Guffey is passionate about stopping efforts by President Trump and bipartisan members of Congress to stop states from regulating AI. Social media companies are spending hundreds of millions in support of national efforts to pre-empt states from enacting AI regulations.He blames a 1996 law passed by Congress to protect social media companies from being held liable for gross negligence impacting anyone over the age of 13. He blames social media’s deep pockets as the reason Congress has not amended that law to protect children.

Jay Doyle tells podcast host Frank Knapp why he recently ran for the Mayor of the City of Georgetown as the Forward Party candidate and how he successfully defeated the GOP incumbent. Doyle, a retired small business owner, says that did not have a lifelong goal to be a politician but somebody needed to stand up to challenge his city’s direction.The City of Georgetown has experienced a massive economic hit from the closure of the local paper mill and its nearly 700 employees. Additionally, the city-owned electric utility had just shut off power to over 3,000 residents due to non-payments. These and other issues convinced Doyle that the city needed new leadership.Doyle shares his specific goal of developing new manufacturing that would also use the state’s timber resources that had been instrumental to the local and state’s economy.

Community Development Financial Institutions provide capital and technical assistance to rural and underserved small businesses, farmers, and affordable housing projects using federal and large private financial institution funds. There are over 1,400 of these mission-driven community lenders in the U.S. Now, the Trump Administration is planning on terminating federal staff at the CDFI program. Antonio White, former U.S. Treasury Deputy Assistant Secretary, says that the current Administration is intent of “wiping America of any remnant of a perceived diversity, equity and inclusion programs.” CDFIs, that have great bipartisan support, have been caught up in this effort and the Administration is wrongfully targeting them as corporate welfare and DEI says White.White insists that Congressional leaders need to step up to defend CDFIs and the great work they do in community development and providing local banking in communities where traditional financial institutions have abandoned.

The rule of law is the bedrock of a strong economy is a top concern of a relatively new national small business coalition, Integrity Matters. Audrey Roofeh, who founded the organization this past April, told podcast host Frank Knapp that when she heard many complaints from some of her consulting clients about how their federal contracts had been cancelled, and they would not receive payment for services already provided.Roofeh talked about the two main goals of Integrity Matters: 1) Protecting the Rule of Law and 2) Defend Independent Institutions.Roofeh argues that small business owners have an important role to play in educating the public about the need to defend democratic norms and economic stability.

In a recent opinion editorial in the Charleston Post and Courier, South Carolina state Senator Sean Bennett (R-Dorchester County) wrote:"ABC’s suspension of the late-night host after his crude remarks on the murder of Charlie Kirk was greeted by some with applause. Even President Donald Trump called it 'great news for America.' I cannot agree."Senator Bennett talks with podcast host Frank Knapp about his passion to defend freedom of speech and his criticism of federal government efforts to silence opinion it deems unacceptable.Senator Bennett, who chairs the Senate Ethics Commission, shared his concern that the country is in a scary place on polarization and the demonization of people who don’t agree with us. He points to causes including political campaigning, lack of teaching civics at all levels of education, and social media, which he says that he would eliminate if it was in his power.The Senator ends his opinion editorial with this:"Free speech will not survive on sentiment alone. It needs citizens who know why it matters, leaders who will defend it even when unpopular and institutions that will teach its roots in our civilization."

Christopher Purdy, founder and CEO of The Chamberlain Network, talks with podcast host Frank Knapp about the National Guard being inappropriately used by the Trump Administration. Knapp, CEO of the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce, is also the managing director of the Secure Growth Initiative, a national small business coalition focusing on the need for positive immigration reform.Purdy gives the background of the National Guard: history, purpose, chain of command and authority of Governors and the President. He says that when the members of the Guard are federalized, they become part of the active military, which has legal limits on law enforcement activities within the country.Purdy is concerned about how misuse of the National Guard will negatively impact the Guard in moral, community trust, and readiness. He worries that members of the National Guard will start not renewing their contracts with the Guard and employers will start being uncomfortable in hiring a Guardsman if the National Guard becomes politicized.

Affordable health insurance is facing a crisis if Congress refuses to extend the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits in the Affordable Care Act. Matt McGough of KFF talks with podcast host Frank Knapp about how these tax credits make health insurance more affordable and why over 12 million Americans, many of whom are small business owners and their employees, will likely not be able to afford health insurance through the ACA if this happens. This is a looming disaster for health care, the economy, and potentially for Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections.

Pamela Evette, candidate for Governor, tells podcast host Frank Knapp about her surprise when Governor Henry McMaster called her to his office and asked her to be his running mate as Lt. Governor—something they had not previously discussed.The Lt. Governor position has enabled her to promote technical training as well as hard and soft skills for the state’s youth. She has used her office to start a statewide initiative to promote youth employment, which she says teaches personal fiscal responsibility and character development. As Governor, Evette sees as her priority to create the best opportunities for our youth.Lt. Governor Evette also believes South Carolina should work toward the elimination of the state income tax. Replacing the $14.5 billion the state gets from the income tax would require a comprehensive look at how to do that.When pointed out that she has not generated a lot of publicity from attacking her opponents, she says that she never though being nice was bad. The Lt. Governor has said that to voters that “you can choose from a menu of career politicians who say pretty things, but cant and will never deliver.” That line, she says, was aimed at all her opponents.

Karen Riordan, president and CEO of Together SC (formerly the SC Association of Nonprofit Organizations) talks with podcast host Frank Knapp about how she got from the smallest state in the nation, Rhode Island, to running a SC association. She describes the extensive services her 28-year organization provides to the 1000 nonprofits in their network.In addition to direct services, Together SC within the last year has begun advocacy at the state and federal level, supporting or opposing policy that impacts nonprofits. Particular policy being supported include access to healthcare, economic development and affordable housing. Riordan says that SC Senator Tim Scott has been thanked by many nonprofits for his leadership in moving his Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream (ROAD) to Housing Act of 2025.Together SC is very vocal on its concern about an anit-DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) bill passed by the SC House this passed session. Riordan agrees that the state can have any policy it wants for itself and local government receiving state funding. But the state should not be telling private nonprofits that they cannot use private donations to engage in work that is considered promoting DEI. Knapp shared that the SC Small Business Chamber of Commerce has the same position against the state telling private businesses that they cannot have a DEI policy if they want to bid on any state contracts.

First elected in 2024, Representative Hamilton Grant of Richland County went into his first year as a legislature with no expectations. He cites his leadership experience, including being a drum major at South Carolina State University, as his preparation for serving as a legislator. His business experience working with small business lending needs has given him an understanding that entrepreneurs are having more difficulty in obtaining loans. This is particularly true in rural and underserved communities. He particularly points out the difficulties black churches experience. Rep. Grant has sponsored legislation to help small businesses survive when the businesses are harmed by road construction projects that go beyond the initial completion date. His bill would establish a loan program for these businesses that would be administered by the SC Department of Commerce.

Senator Ed Sutton, an active reserve Air Force pilot, experienced his first session in the legislature that turned out to be more contentious than usual. He tells podcast host Frank Knapp that his Charleston district probably has more bars and restaurants than any other and he wanted to help them with the rising cost of liquor liability insurance. He did vote to pass the bill that largely addressed the issue but says that if his constituent small businesses do not see premium relief soon that he and others will have to revisit the issue. Senator Sutton says that he voted against the big energy bill that passed because provisions that protected consumers from paying for energy costs driven by data centers and a requirement that data centers report how much water they are using were stricken from the bill. He also is a co-sponsor of a bill to increase childcare access in the state by providing higher tax credits to businesses and individuals for using childcare centers.

Representative Heather Bauer shares her story about how a high school guidance counselor/ volleyball coach turned her life around by opening the door for her going to college. Now in her third year in the SC House where she is in the minority party, she believes that bipartisanship is important for being successful on legislation. However, Rep. Bauer also believes that the House Democratic Caucus should be doing a better job standing up for a legislative agenda that the public agrees with. “There is no fight…we’re not focused on the right issues”, she says and suggests that this issue could be discussed by the House democrats come January. Rep. Bauer also has a strong opinion of the House not taking action on the State Treasurer who the Senate voted to remove. She also talks about her marial arts background and desire for a black belt.

First year Representative Robert Reese gives his professional and volunteerism background and how he came to run for office. He says that his first year was “revelatory”. Rep. Reese tells the story of how a dormant family farm, on which his great grandmother grew and picked cotton, led him to ask to serve on the House Agriculture Committee. He shares how he felt compelled, due to his decades of professional experience in running diversity and inclusion programs, to explain to the full House what DEI really is. As the one of only two members to raise a question before the House voted to strip consumer protections from a big energy bill that passed, Rep. Reese is committed to getting those protections passed.

Senator Rex Rice of Pickens County believes that this past legislative session was one of the best. He gives credit to the leadership of Senators Thomas Alexander, Harvey Peeler and Shane Massey. Senator Rice discusses ear marks in the budget that were not allowed this year. He cites the quality of the many new Senators and working across party lines for the Senate having a great year. Senator Rice talks about the critical legislation passed to protect children; tort reform and its impact on insurance premiums; and the energy bill that had consumer protections stripped out by the House.

Rep. Seth Rose of Richland County shares his enthusiasm for any sport that translates from tennis. The former First Team All-America Singles Tennis Player at the University of South Carolina has found a new love, padel tennis, which he describes as fast growing in popularity. On the legislative front Rep. Rose says that he is greatly concerned about the information being fed to our youth via social media that can be misinformation with the intent to influence opinions. He has introduced legislation that would create a pilot program on media literacy and critical thinking in our schools. He also talks about the need for pretrial intervention programs for individuals on the autism spectrum who commit certain crimes. Rep. Rose also discusses his efforts to obtain funding for major infrastructure projects in Columbia that will make areas of the city, such as Five Points, safer for pedestrians and friendlier to small businesses.

As a new Senator, Allen Blackmon talks about lessons learned in his first year. He discusses with the host, Frank Knapp, his assessment of the major energy bill passed without some important consumer protections. Specifically he raises concern that data centers were not held responsible for paying their own way for the new electrical generation they need and that they will not have to report annually on their water consumption, which is enormous. He regrets that the Senate was not given much time to debate the final bill, which he feels was a strategy of the House, He also talks about the process on passing tort reform, in which he was a co-sponsor of the Senate bill. He encourages people to watch the Senate's hearing that resulted in that body voting to remove the State Treasurer from office, He believes that it did not have to come to that if more congenial conversations between the Treasurer and Senate leaders had taken place earlier in the session.

First elected to the SC House in 1992, Rep. Jerry Govan of Orangeburg remarks about the present generation of elected leaders whose experiences are vastly different from those who came before.He offers that legislation to ban diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the public and private sectors is not needed. Rep. Govan points out that programs to make sure all Americans are treated the same have not held back the state’s economy which is booming.Rep. Govan also comments that he sees anti-DEI legislation that passed the House did not follow proper procedures and appears to be just a political statement.

Having served in the SC Senate for 32 years, Darrell Jackson shares stories of his early days, the Senate giants that he served with, and the Senate’s tradition of a deliberative, respectful process. His own family experience with home healthcare workers funded with Medicaid underscores the importance of the program and the need for higher pay for the workers. Senator Jackson relates how his being a pastor gives him clarity on the needs of the people and how government can help.

The Director of the City of Columbia Office of Business Opportunities, Ayesha Driggers, talks with podcast host Frank Knapp about how her office helps grow the city’s small businesses. The city has a revolving loan fund that partners with financial lenders to help reduce the interest rate on small business loans. The city loans can be from $10,000 to $200,000 with the rate of 4% below prime. The Office of Business Opportunities facilitates small local businesses receiving contracts from the city for products and services. Start-up small businesses are provided assistance and services. Ms. Driggers also shared that her office is sponsoring their 12th Small Business Week event on May 9th where local small business owners will have a full day of information and opportunity to connect with banks and potential clients.

Cliff Wilson, President and CEO of The Centric Group based in Columbia, SC, talks with podcast host Frank Knapp about the general contractor business. He tells how he arrived at the name of his business and how his success left an original plan behind. He shares how the turmoil over the Trump Administration's policies on immigration and tariffs have caused severe problems for his industry. While he has tried to adapt and plan; lack of crews, project delays and higher costs have led to decreased revenues.

Representative Gil Gatch talks with podcast host Frank Knapp about his winding road to becoming a lawyer in his late 30's and how those experiences helped shape his perspective on family law and legislation. He tells why is proud of the budget the House passed and his distaste for the antics of some members of the House. Rep. Gatch explains the issues covered in the House passed tort reform bill compared to the more expansive Senate bill on the issue. He tells why a special ad hoc committee in the House will hold hearings on the cost of insurance and that insurance companies will be compelled to testify, something they did not do during the hearings on tort reform in the House.

SC Senate President Thomas Alexander expresses his appreciation for the Senators he presides over and talks about his 38 years serving in the legislature. He shares the role of the presiding officer of the Senate and the reason that position changed from being the Lt. Governor.Senator Alexander talk with podcast host Frank Knapp about the need for his bill to create the offense of fentanyl-induced homicide. Creating a specific crime punishable by imprisonment for up to 30 years for lacing other drugs with fentanyl of just selling other drugs containing fentanyl would hopefully reduce the number of deaths attributed to the drug.The Senator also talks about the importance of small business and the role of government in its support.

Rep Todd Rutherford, the S.C. House Minority Leader, talks with podcast host Frank Knapp about the economic benefits to the state for legalizing casino gambling, pari-mutuel betting and other gambling games. He believes that his “ban the box” bill, that would ban job applications from asking questions about criminal convictions, will enable previously incarcerated the opportunity for employment. Rep. Rutherford has experienced, as has the host, the high cost of event tickets offered by online scalpers. He has a bill to allow local vendors to engage in reselling tickets to provide real competition in this market.

Rep. Micah Caskey, Chairman of the House Rules Committee, shares with podcast host Frank Knapp the importance of his committee and the process of setting legislation for special order. Amendments during the budgetary process on the House floor need to follow the rules. He describes the overall legislative budget process and addresses differences between the House and Senate budgets. Rep. Caskey also talks about how important it is to pay local law enforcement officers more and how his legislation can help these men and women keep more of the pay that they receive by excluding their income from state tax. Rep. Caskey also expresses the need for better roads in his county, Lexington, and how making smarter engineering decisions as plans are being prepared is critical.

Rep. Brandon Newton of Lancaster tells podcast host Frank Knapp that the SC House members turn over pretty frequently which makes term limits unnecessary. He serves on the House Ways and Means Committee and describes the budget, reserve funds and regarding Medicaid he wants to see what Congress does and how it might impact the state’s Medicaid program. Rep. Newton describes his bill to exempt the first $10,000 of business personal property from local property taxes. Election reforms are of particular interest to him, and he describes some of his bills on the issue.

Rep. Blake Sanders of Anderson County shares personal stories with podcast host, Frank Knapp. These engaging stories cover how he became a landscape architect, the origin of his handlebar mustache, re-invigorating the economy of West Pelzer, and how a life-threatening health issue led to a decision to run for the SC House. He also tells of how he unknowingly jeopardized the security of the Statehouse on his first legislative day.

Representative Roger Kirby of Lake City talks with podcast host Frank Knapp about rural South Carolina's serious problems with access to healthcare, education, and transportation. The closing of the Georgetown paper mill in December has caused a real problem for the timber industry in his district. Mr. Kirby is very concerned about potential loss of federal revenue to South Carolina especially regarding Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. How the legislature will deal with possible Medicaid cuts will be critical. Any new tariffs by the Federal government also threaten his farmers. Economic development in rural South Carolina is the focus of a House ad hoc committee. He also shares his background in Off-Broadway plays and being the Music Minister at his church.

Nick Callas of the Law office of Nicholas G. Callas in Columbia talks about his early experiences with criminal law and what he learned about the psychology of those accused of committing crime. While he provides legal services in workers compensation and personal injury, Nick's passion is for helping his clients receive the social security disability benefits they deserve, a process that can take years. He also discusses challenges to the social security disability process that have developed since COVID and he expressed concern about cutting government jobs in Social Security Offices in the name of fraud.

Senator Ronnie Cromer of Newberry, whose district includes many miles of lake shoreline, discusses South Carolina's very high boat tax and what the benefits would be for reducing the tax level to be competitive with other states. He also reflects on a significant difference serving in the Senate in 2003 versus today and his future plans.

Charleston Representative Spencer Wetmore joined “Backbone” podcast host Frank Knapp and talks about her infrastructure bill to give a tool to local governments to better manage growth prior to issuing construction permits. Giving local government the ability to build needed infrastructure, as her bill would do, prior to anticipated growth is critical. Representative Wetmore also talks about her concern on how filed legislation on diversity, equity and inclusion would negatively impact private businesses. Human trafficking is also a growing problem and she has a bill to include training medical professionals how to identify patients as being trafficked and what they can do.

Richland County Senator Tameka Isaac Devine talks with podcast host Frank Knapp about her transition from City Council to the state Senate and legislation she has introduced. A supporter of the right to own firearms, she believes that firearm owners should be required to have liability insurance for the weapons to cover losses or damages resulting from any negligent or accidental use. Such insurance would protect innocent victims and the firearm owner. Senator Devine also wants to expand the definition of domestic abuse victims eligible for an order of protection to those who have or are in a dating relationship. She also discusses her SC Juvenile Justice Reform Act. Senator Devine's work with The Possibilities Institute specializing in women leaders is also shared.

Representative Craig Gagnon of Abbeville shares his experience of being a chiropractor and the overall cost of healthcare training today and how it contributes to the rapidly rising healthcare and insurance costs. He discusses his previous concern of expanding Medicaid to provide health insurance to many small business workers and the possibility of looking at how North Carolina moved forward on the issue.

Angela Barrett talks with “Backbone” host Frank Knapp about her two podcasts, “Talking South Carolina” and “4 all things Lexington”. Angela talks about her pre-podcast experiences: Statehouse Paige, graduating from Columbia College, state employee and a court reporter. Now in real-estate, Angela tells how she got started with her podcasts, which highlights businesses, organizations and events.

Representative Jay Jordan of Florence talks with "Backbone" Podcast host Frank Knapp about issues coming up in the legislature. Making sure the state has sufficient energy for business and industry is a priority as well as teacher pay and school choice, two issues that he says are not in conflict. Rep. Jordan expects to reintroduce his bill on the Probate Court to continue with judicial reform progress. He also talks about balance being an attorney, having a family with 3 children and serving in the House with responsibility as 1st Vice Chair of the Judiciary Committee.

Public education is very important to Representative Neal Collins, who has filed numerous bills addressing the subject. His bills include focusing on racial disparity in academic performance, substituting statewide funding for K-12 schools instead of local property tax, abolishing the State Board of Education, and consolidating all school districts in a county into one county school district. Rep. Collins also talks about the problem of affordable childcare as well as his work preparing the state for the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution and South Carolina's role.

In this episode of the "Backbone" Podcast, Representative Jermaine Johnson, now in his third term, talks about needed election reform. He is the primary sponsor of three bills dealing with the issue. Rep. Johnson discusses his bill to make it illegal to use deceptive deep fake media in political campaigns to mislead and confuse voters. He has also introduced the Election Official Protection Act to address verbal and physical harassment of poll workers. Rep. Johnson also wants to give municipalities another method of electing local officials. Instant runoff voting would enable cities to have majority-vote winners without the need for costly runoffs. This election method also encourages voter participation.

Senator Majority Leader Shane Massey discusses legislative priorities including the state's need for more energy. The conversation includes a detailed explanation of his tort reform legislation as well as his bills on reforming the makeup of the Commission for Minority Affairs and the national security threat of businesses controlled by foreign adversary nations owning property in South Carolina.

Senator Brad Hutto describes the functions of being the Senate Min0rity Leader. He discusses the need for making AI generated child pornography a crime as requested by the Attorney General's Office and SLED. He talks about the future energy needs of the state and how that can be addressed by possible nuclear energy and allowing Santee Cooper and investor-owned utilities to partner in the building new generation. The Senator also discusses how to protect ratepayers from data center needs for energy and whether the state even needs data centers.

Representative Davey Hiott of PIckens County is the House Majority Leader. He talks about that role and some priority issues for the Republican super majority in the House. Going into his 26th year in the House, he talks about his decision to retire after this term.

Newly elected Senator Ott represents a wide swath of rural and urban area in the Midlands of South Carolina. In a conversation with host Frank Knapp, the Senator expresses concern for education vouchers and the role education plays in preparing students for employment in the workforce. He also states his concern about the impact of gerrymandered districts.

Senator Tom Davis discusses the possible private-sector completion of 2 abandoned nuclear plants at the VC Summer Nuclear site in Fairfield County to supply the future energy needs of AI data centers in order to protect small business and residential ratepayers from subsidizing BIG TECH. Now in his 17th year as a state Senator and chairs the Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee, Senator Davis talks about his rise from his beginnings as the "hero of libertarians" to a very respected, influential member of the SC Senate.

Dr. Vicki Young is the CEO of the South Carolina Primary Health Care Association, the unifying organization for Community Health Centers (CHCs) in South Carolina. CHCs are time-tested models of community-based care. They represent public and private partnerships working together to improve the health status of their respective communities. First established in 1964, CHCs are community-based, non-profit organizations that provide comprehensive, high-quality, patient-focused health care services in a culturally appropriate manner. With a focus on primary care, prevention, education, and case management, CHCs accept most health insurance plans including Medicare and Medicaid and for those patients without insurance, services are provided on a sliding fee scale based on the patient's income and family size. CHCs receive federal grants through the United States Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) to partially support the cost of providing health care to the nation's growing uninsured population.In conversation with SC Small Business Chamber of Commerce CEO Frank Knapp, they dive into the impact this organization makes on our local communities. One of the biggest obstacles to running a small business is accessing and providing healthcare and health insurance. As healthcare costs continue to rise, we discuss the work of the Community Health Centers and how they can help small businesses.