Freedom Index

A Legislative Scorecard Based on the Principles of the U.S. Constitution

 
Justin T. Bamberg

Justin T. Bamberg

House

District HD-090

Democrat

Contact:

Phone: (803) 212-6907
Office: 335C Blatt Bldg.
Columbia 29201

Pro-liberty Votes

Score Session
* Cumulative
* 2023-2024 Regular Session 2023-2024 Regular Session
* 2021-2022 Regular Session 2021-2022 Regular Session
Justin T. Bamberg

Justin T. Bamberg

House

District HD-090

Democrat

Status: Active Legislator

Contact:

Phone: (803) 212-6907
Office:
335C Blatt Bldg.
Columbia 29201

 

Pro-liberty Votes

Score Session
* Cumulative
* 2023-2024 Regular Session 2023-2024 Regular Session
* 2021-2022 Regular Session 2021-2022 Regular Session

Voting History

Legislative Scorecard Based on the U.S. Constitution

The Legislative Scorecard is a nationwide educational program of The John Birch Society. Its purpose is to create an informed electorate on how state legislators are voting. The Scorecard is nonpartisan; it does not promote any candidate or political party. Bills are selected for their constitutional implications and cost to the taxpayers.

Please share this Scorecard in your district to inform people about your legislator's record on key votes.
U.S. Constitution, Amendment I --- 11 C.F.R. §114(4)(c)(4) --- 616 F.2d 45 (2d Cir. 1980)

Legislative Scorecard

Based on the U.S. Constitution

SC Scorecard 2023

The Legislative Scorecard is a nationwide educational program of The John Birch Society. Its purpose is to create an informed electorate on how state legislators are voting. The Scorecard is nonpartisan; it does not promote any candidate or political party. Bills are selected for their constitutional implications and cost to the taxpayers.

Please share this Scorecard in your district to inform people about your legislator's record on key votes.
U.S. Constitution, Amendment I --- 11 C.F.R. §114(4)(c)(4) --- 616 F.2d 45 (2d Cir. 1980)

The following scorecard lists several key votes in the South Carolina General Assembly in 2023 and ranks state representatives and senators based on their fidelity to (U.S.) constitutional and limited-government principles.

This is our second state-level Scorecard; the selected votes may not be reflective of legislators' overall records. Their cumulative scores will change as we add more votes. Please check regularly for updates.

The following scorecard lists several key votes in the South Carolina General Assembly in 2023 and ranks state representatives and senators based on their fidelity to (U.S.) constitutional and limited-government principles.

This is our second state-level Scorecard; the selected votes may not be reflective of legislators' overall records. Their cumulative scores will change as we add more votes. Please check regularly for updates.

Pro-liberty Vote Pro-liberty vote
Anti-liberty Vote Anti-liberty vote
Did not vote Did not Vote
This legislator did not cast a sufficient number of votes to score this report.
None
Did not Vote

H3594 Constitutional Carry (Passed 87 to 26 on 2/23/2023). Enacts the South Carolina Constitutional Carry/Second Amendment Preservation Act of 2023.

H3594 enacts the South Carolina Constitutional Carry/Second Amendment Preservation Act of 2023, eliminating the need for a concealed weapon permit to carry. It grants law enforcement the authority to manage found firearms, repeals certain illegal carry charges, and broadens penalties for those with prior convictions for certain crimes to seek record expungement.

The South Carolina State House of Representatives passed H3594 on February 23, 2023 by a vote of 87 to 26. We have assigned the pluses to the ayes because the fundamental right of the American people to keep and bear arms is protected by the U.S. Constitution, particularly in the 2nd, 9th, and 10th Amendments, and should not be infringed. The Constitution does not restrict where one can or cannot possess a firearm.

H3594 enacts the South Carolina Constitutional Carry/Second Amendment Preservation Act of 2023, eliminating the need for a concealed weapon permit to carry or store a firearm in specific areas. It grants law enforcement the authority to manage found firearms, repeals certain illegal carry charges, broadens penalties for those with prior convictions for certain crimes, and allows individuals with a first-time unlawful possession offense to seek record expungement.

The South Carolina State House of Representatives passed H3594 on February 23, 2023 by a vote of 87 to 26. We have assigned the pluses to the ayes because the fundamental right of the American people to keep and bear arms is protected by the U.S. Constitution, particularly in the 2nd, 9th, and 10th Amendments, and should not be infringed. The Constitution does not restrict where one can or cannot possess a firearm.

View vote details at scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=3594&session=125&summary=B
No
Constitutional Vote

S39 Educational Scholarship Trust Fund (Passed 74 to 36 on 4/27/2023). Establishes an educational scholarship initiative aimed at offering financial assistance to eligible elementary and secondary students to cover approved educational costs.

Estimated Cost Per Household: $-45

S39 establishes an educational scholarship initiative aimed at offering financial assistance to eligible elementary and secondary students to cover approved educational costs. The scholarship grant per student stands at $6,000.

The South Carolina State House of Representatives passed S39 on April 27, 2023 by a vote of 74 to 36. We have assigned pluses to the nays because, while the idea of allowing money to follow a child to any school of their choice may initially sound appealing, it raises concerns. This policy essentially directs government funds toward supporting private schools, inevitably attaching certain conditions and implications to this financial support. Private schools should not accept government money.

S39 establishes an educational scholarship initiative aimed at offering financial assistance to eligible elementary and secondary students to cover approved educational costs. Oversight of this initiative will fall under the purview of the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE). The scholarship grant per student stands at $6,000, unless annual general appropriations legislation permits adjustments to this limit, either upwards or downwards.

The South Carolina State House of Representatives passed S39 on April 27, 2023 by a vote of 74 to 36. We have assigned pluses to the nays because, while the idea of allowing money to follow a child to any school of their choice may initially sound appealing, it raises concerns. This policy essentially directs government funds toward supporting private schools, inevitably attaching certain conditions and implications to this financial support. Private schools should not accept government money.

View vote details at scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=0039&session=125&summary=B
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Did not Vote

H3604 Infrastructure (Passed 100 to 12 on 3/15/2023). Allocates funds received by South Carolina from the ARPA bill to a corporate welfare project, specifically earmarking $1.2 billion for the construction of a site in Columbia to benefit Volkswagen.

Estimated Cost Per Household: $-606

H3604 allocates funds received by South Carolina from the ARPA bill to a corporate welfare project, specifically earmarking $1.2 billion for the construction of a site in Columbia to benefit Volkswagen.

The South Carolina State House of Representatives passed H3604 on March 15, 2023 by a vote of 100 to 12. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this is a gross misuse of public funds. Allocating a substantial portion of federal funds to benefit a specific corporation is not the place of government. The government should not be picking winners and losers and propping certain businesses up over others.

H3604 allocates funds received by South Carolina from the ARPA bill to a corporate welfare project, specifically earmarking $1.2 billion for the construction of a site in Columbia to benefit Volkswagen.

The South Carolina State House of Representatives passed H3604 on March 15, 2023 by a vote of 100 to 12. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this is a gross misuse of public funds. Allocating a substantial portion of federal funds to benefit a specific corporation is not the place of government. The government should not be picking winners and losers and propping certain businesses up over others.

View vote details at scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=3604&session=125&summary=B
Yes
Unconstitutional Vote

H3014 Hate Crimes (Passed 84 to 31 on 3/8/2023). Provides for an enhanced penalty for certain violent crimes committed against a victim who was intentionally targeted due to the offender’s belief or perceptions about the victim.

H3014 provides for an enhanced penalty for certain violent crimes committed against a victim who was intentionally targeted due to the offender’s belief or perceptions about the victim.

The South Carolina State House of Representatives passed H3014 on March 8, 2023 by a vote of 84 to 31. We have assigned pluses to the nays because many hate crime laws may infringe on the First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and expression.

H3014 provides for an enhanced penalty for certain violent crimes committed against a victim who was intentionally targeted due to the offender’s belief or perceptions about the victim.

The South Carolina State House of Representatives passed H3014 on March 8, 2023 by a vote of 84 to 31. We have assigned pluses to the nays because many hate crime laws may infringe on the First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and expression.

View vote details at scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=3014&session=125&summary=B
--
Did not Vote

SJR739 Housing Tax Credit (Passed 84 to 26 on 5/10/2023). Grants a one-time approval for South Carolina Housing Tax Credits, not to exceed $29,806,029.

Estimated Cost Per Household: $-15

SJR739 grants a one-time approval for South Carolina Housing Tax Credits, not to exceed $29,806,029. This amount comprises $12,889,152 from a prior authorization and $16,916,877 for the tax year ending December 31, 2023. Additionally, the resolution permits a non-recurring allocation of up to $25,000,000 from the unassigned balance in the South Carolina Housing Trust Fund. The State Housing Finance and Development Authority (SC Housing) is tasked with devising a plan to provide this funding as supplementary financial aid for specific multifamily housing projects.

The South Carolina State House of Representatives passed SJR739 on May 10, 2023 by a vote of 84 to 26. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this is government interfering in the free market, and this government subsidized housing benefits only a specific part of the population. This is also another step towards socialism as subsidized housing is a misuse of taxpayer dollars.

SJR739 grants a one-time approval for South Carolina Housing Tax Credits, not to exceed $29,806,029. This amount comprises $12,889,152 from a prior authorization and $16,916,877 for the tax year ending December 31, 2023. Additionally, the resolution permits a non-recurring allocation of up to $25,000,000 from the unassigned balance in the South Carolina Housing Trust Fund. The State Housing Finance and Development Authority (SC Housing) is tasked with devising a plan to provide this funding as supplementary financial aid for specific multifamily housing projects.

The South Carolina State House of Representatives passed SJR739 on May 10, 2023 by a vote of 84 to 26. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this is government interfering in the free market, and this government subsidized housing benefits only a specific part of the population. This is also another step towards socialism as subsidized housing is a misuse of taxpayer dollars.

View vote details at scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=0739&session=125&summary=B
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Did not Vote

H3824 Alternative Fuel Tax Credit (Passed 92 to 16 on 5/10/2023). Amends the alternative fuel property income tax credit.

Estimated Cost Per Household: $-3

H3824 amends the alternative fuel property income tax credit in Section 12-6-3695, which currently allows taxpayers who purchase or construct, install, and place in service eligible property used for distribution, dispensing, or storing alternative fuel at a new or existing fuel distribution or dispensing facility to claim an income tax credit equal to 25 percent of the cost of the property. The bill expands the credit to add that the taxpayer may lease the property and includes individuals in the definition of taxpayer. The bill also adds electrical equipment to the definition of “eligible property” and adds electricity to the definition of “alternative fuel”.

The South Carolina State House of Representatives passes H3824 on May 10, 2023 by a vote of 92 to 16. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this narrative plays right into the UN’s Agenda 2030. This legislation creates more government interference in the free market and taxpayers should not be financially responsible for supporting the Marxist climate-change agenda.

H3824 amends the alternative fuel property income tax credit in Section 12-6-3695, which currently allows taxpayers who purchase or construct, install, and place in service eligible property used for distribution, dispensing, or storing alternative fuel at a new or existing fuel distribution or dispensing facility to claim an income tax credit equal to 25 percent of the cost of the property. The bill expands the credit to add that the taxpayer may lease the property and includes individuals in the definition of taxpayer. The bill also adds electrical equipment to the definition of “eligible property” and adds electricity to the definition of “alternative fuel”.

The South Carolina State House of Representatives passes H3824 on May 10, 2023 by a vote of 92 to 16. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this narrative plays right into the UN’s Agenda 2030. This legislation creates more government interference in the free market and taxpayers should not be financially responsible for supporting the Marxist climate-change agenda. 

View vote details at scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=3824&session=125&summary=B
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