Rep. Scott stops in Pawleys Island, lays out ideas for area

PAWLEYS ISLAND -- Waccamaw Neck residents took the chance to meet U.S. Rep. Tim Scott at a "Meet the Congressman" stop in Pawleys Island on Tuesday, and to hear his views on topics that included port dredging, fishing limits and tax reform.

"I'm a guy who keeps it very simple," Scott said, as he talked about his basic philosophy. "As government spending goes up, American freedom goes down. ... If we don't have it, we can't afford to spend it."

Scott joined the GOP leadership in November, one of two black Republicans elected to the House. The House Republican Steering Committee appointed him to both the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Small Business. He also is on the powerful House Rules Committee, which controls how bills go to the House floor.

The congressman fielded a variety of questions, including two issues important to Georgetown County residents: port dredging and revisions to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, which requires annual catch limits.

Scott said historically, earmarks had favored the states with senior members of Congress and larger populations - "they got the loaf, while we got the crumbs." He said he anticipates the state will receive the funding it needs because no one wants to affect the state's ability to export.

He said Georgetown's port differs from Charleston's in that it "needs tonnage, and we have to find a way to sell the fact we can get the tonnage if they get the silt out of the way." He anticipates using the infrastructure along the coast to move cargo from Charleston through Georgetown and up to North Myrtle Beach.

On fishing limits that some have said hurt the fishing industry, Scott said he doesn't expect the restrictions to be rescinded, but said the opposition must "attack the definitions of what you can do on your boat."

Other priorities for Scott include real spending reform and tax reform because, he said, the United States is only "a couple of interest points away" from falling into economic problems that plague Greece and other countries. He said there will be pain, but it is necessary to stop spending, grow the economy and tackle the nation's debt.

When asked about the tea party, he said he agrees with its stance on limited government, the ills of too much spending and the importance of free markets. He said its differences with the GOP need to be worked out to avoid having three parties in the next presidential election, which he said is the surest way for President Obama to win a second term.

Tom Marchant, one of the community leaders who sponsored the event, said Scott's visit continued discussions that began before the election in an easygoing setting.

"He is in the limelight to make positive change," Marchant said. "He's intelligent, smart and user-friendly."

While some questions were submitted to Scott ahead of time, members of the audience had no problem asking other questions and appeared pleased with what they heard.

"I think he's a great conservative," said Karol Anderson, who said she was impressed with Scott the first time she saw him at a tea party rally in Georgetown last year. "He believes in smaller government, for them to get out of our business, and it's great to see someone who shares that view."