Lynn Ramirez

I speak to various groups throughout several counties regarding the impact of AI Hyperscale Data Centers and their rapid proliferation. When elected to the State House, I will immediately introduce a bill prohibiting the state and all counties, municipalities or political subdivisions within the state, from accepting or taking any action on permits or applications for “data centers” until the General Assembly establishes a comprehensive oversight and approval process for new data centers in the state that have a peak demand of 5MW or more. The public’s health and environmental impacts are my primary concerns. Air pollution, sound pollution (including infra audible sounds which negatively impact crops and wildlife), water pollution and aquifer drain, among many other impacts need evaluation for restriction, limits, and/or mitigation. Economically, these businesses need to pay their own way - no tax abatements like FILOTs or MCIPs or tax incentives (since we’re not creating a long term work force). They would be responsible for the cost of any required infrastructure upgrades—such as the electrical grid, substations, pumps, and emergency services—and also pay a fair price per kWh so that the residential users aren’t subsidizing their massive energy use.

We’ve increased teacher salaries, but it’s still not enough to bring the needed skilled teachers to SC and retain them. I’d like to propose an ongoing step up in salaries for the next 5 years and then peg raises to inflation. Reallocating more state funding per student and having qualified administrators who aren’t distracted by banning books, arguing about bathroom use, and putting the Ten Commandments in every classroom, may give us the ability to actually focus on student growth and quality education. Voting our way out of a GOP supermajority will force the GOP to consider the requests of the minority party – and the constituents, who typically understand that focusing on education and healthcare benefits everyone

South Carolina faces many challenges and seems to be going backward in numerous areas due to the current accepted bastardization of ‘the truth’ and an unwillingness to accept sound, established science as a basis for good policy. Our state is underfunded and underserved regarding healthcare access, healthcare information, and healthcare education. Environmentally speaking, with every federal rollback of EPA regulations, SC sinks further into harmful environmental practices that will need to be addressed later at great cost. Again, breaking the supermajority will force legislators to work together. Vaccinations should be free, readily available and accessible, and promoted through a statewide ad campaign or state informational outlets. Moving to a Medicare for All system would be huge, but I’d settle for expanded Medicaid at this point. Though you didn’t mention it, child care access and costs need to be addressed under this topic of community well being. The inability to afford childcare prevents too many adults from entering the workforce or causes them to make unsafe choices.

It boggles my mind knowing we have access to more, and better, information than ever before, and yet so many are satisfied to accept unfounded theories, stories, fabrications, etc and perpetuate them with false authority. What can an elected official do?? Let’s start by demanding our elected officials tell the truth. Every time. That lies are called out. Every time. And that these people, who hold the public’s trust, are held accountable for deliberately betraying that trust. I’d like to see a world where truth is respected. Until then, I don’t see how to regain trust.