NFIB/South Carolina's 2011 legislative victories include:
- Meaningful Lawsuit Reform: NFIB/South Carolina led the charge to bring predictability and stability to our state’s Judiciary, understanding that small businesses are especially vulnerable to frivolous lawsuits. After 4 years of intense lobbying and grassroots efforts, limits on punitive damage awards, caps on appeal bonds, the prohibition on local solicitors bringing civil actions and important revisions to the statute of repose were passed in a comprehensive “tort reform” package in 2011.
- The ratification of the state constitutional amendment opposing “card check”: The amendment defends people's right to cast secret ballots in union organization elections. NFIB/South Carolina's role in passing legislation in 2010 that put the amendment on the ballot was acknowledged in a signing ceremony with Gov. Nikki Haley. The legislature passed the final piece of legislation affirming the 86% vote in the General Election with NFIB/South Carolina’s strong support during the Spring of 2011.
- Reforming South Carolina’s workforce development/unemployment system: Thanks to the efforts led last year by NFIB/South Carolina, the SC General Assembly established the SC Department of Employment and Workforce - a cabinet-level agency tasked primarily with employee training and job placement, rather than the disbursement of benefit checks. NFIB/ South Carolina advocated this year for substantial reductions in benefits and relief for businesses on the new unemployment insurance rates required to repay $1billion in federal borrowing. Both critical pieces of legislation were passed with overwhelming support by the General Assembly in 2011.