Lee Bright

Lee Bright
Member of the South Carolina Senate
from the 12th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 2009
Preceded by John D. Hawkins
Personal details
Born March 21, 1970
Greer, South Carolina, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Amy Bright
Children 2

Lee Bright (born March 21, 1970) is a Republican member of the South Carolina Senate.[1] First elected in 2008, he represents the 12th District which includes Spartanburg and Greenville counties.

Early life and education

Bright graduated from Dorman High School in 1988.[2]

As a young adult Bright was diagnosed with cancer.

Career

Spartanburg School District

Lee Bright was elected to the Spartanburg School District Six Board in 1999, and served on the board until his election to the South Carolina legislature. As a school board member, Bright called for teaching creationism in school science classes,[3] explaining, "they're teaching evolution right now in school, and it's only a theory."[4] In 2005, Bright was recognized with a "Friend of the Taxpayer" award from Citizens for Efficient Government.[5]

Private Business

After serving as a trucking brokerage salesman for many years, Bright started his own trucking business, On Time, LLC. The company grew to employ over 100 people but was subsequently forced to close during the Great Recession after years of operation.

Since the insolvency of his trucking company, Bright has been employed in a number of salesmen roles and in 2014 he started The Bright Agency, an independent insurance agency.

South Carolina Senate

Bright contested the district 12 South Carolina senate seat held by first-term incumbent John Hawkins in 2004, losing in a tight race by less than 50 votes.[6]

In 2008 Bright successfully challenged for the district 12 senate seat. Hawkins chose not to seek reelection, leaving Bright to contest state Rep. Scott Talley for the Republican nomination, which he ultimately won, along with the general election.

The 2012 election marked a replay of 2004 as John Hawkins came out of retirement to challenge Bright in a campaign noted for its intensity. South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley endorsed Bright over Hawkins, a move some claimed was in response to Hawkins' endorsement of Haley's 2010 election rival, Democrat Vincent Sheheen. Bright was, ultimately, handily reelected winning every precinct in his district and 65% of the primary vote.[7] He went on to win the general election as well.

As of 2014, Bright serves on the South Carolina Senate's Banking and Insurance, General, Judiciary, Labor, Commerce and Industry, and Medical Affairs committees.[8]

Candidate for United States Senate

Bright announced on August 13, 2013 that he would seek his party's nomination for United States Senate against incumbent Republican Lindsey Graham.[9][10] After a long campaign and being outspent 25-1, he ultimately lost the election. Graham won with 55% of the vote. Bright was endorsed in that election by the Gun Owners of America, Representative Thomas Massie, The Republican Liberty Caucus, over 75 Tea Party leaders, and many more organizations.

Political Positions

Abortion

Bright has been a strong opponent of abortion and has been a sponsor of the “Life Begins at Conception Act” for three years. In April 2013, Bright introduced a bill attempting to "require doctors performing abortions to have board certification in obstetrics and gynecology. Doctors performing abortions in outpatient settings also would been required to have staff privileges at a local hospital." Pro-Choice proponents argued that the legislation would end all abortions in South Carolina and the bill was defeated in subcommittee.[9][11]

Education

In May 2013, Bright was one of four senators who voted against a bill that would reduce government oversight of Clemson University.[12]

Elections

In 2011 Bright cast the lone "no" vote in the South Carolina senate against a measure that would allow early voting, explaining "I think people ought to vote on Election Day."[13] Along with Democrat Vincent Sheheen, Bright helped to write an ethics reform package that would require state legislators to wait eight years after leaving office before they could lobby their peers.[14]

Endorsements

Bright backed Mark Sanford in his 2006 race for Governor of South Carolina. Bright described himself as troubled by the 2009 revelation that Sanford had flown to Argentina to meet with his mistress, but stopped short of joining calls for the governor's resignation.[15]

In the United States presidential election, 2012, Bright served as South Carolina chair of Michele Bachmann's bid for the Republican nomination.[16] After Bachmann withdrew from the race, Bright switched his endorsement to Ron Paul.[17]

Fiscal Policy

In 2011, Bright introduced S.500 to study the solvency of money and the Federal Reserve.[18] In advocating his proposal, Bright quipped "If at first you don't secede, try again." [19]

Bright has also been an outspoken critic of government spending, and was designated as one of four "taxpayer heroes in the Senate" by the South Carolina chapter of the Club for Growth for the legislative session of 2011-2012.[20] The Club for Growth is a PAC that describes themselves as "fiscally conservative" and has been opposed by Republicans Haley Barbour and Karl Rove.[21] Bright also received the Friend of Taxpayer Award from the Spartanburg County Taxpayers Association. He had the highest rating of the Palmetto Liberty PAC on its legislative scorecard, and was unanimously endorsed by The Republican Liberty Caucus of South Carolina [22] In 2012, after Governor Nikki Haley vetoed funding for a private organizations, unsustainable teacher pay raises, and funding for the privately operated South Carolina Arts Commission, Bright voted to sustain the veto.[23]

Gun Control

In 2010 Bright sponsored legislation that would make any firearm produced in the state exempt from federal regulations, but the legislation stalled while being processed by committee. On December 13, 2012, Bright re-filed to reintroduce the legislation.[24]

On January 19, 2013, Bright proposed legislation that would allow public schools to offer a class in firearms marksmanship.[25] [26]

Bright is the author of the Constitutional Carry Act of 2013 which would allow citizens to carry firearms without a permit.[27][28] Bright was one of six senators to oppose the bi-partisan "Boland Bill," a bill that would make it easier for the state to track people found to be legally incompetent and make it more difficult for them to obtain a firearm.[29]

Health Policy

Bright has been an outspoken opponent of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and sponsored a bill that would criminalize the act. Bright explained his bill by stating, “It's a sad situation that the government put us in...an unpleasant task you have to do from time to time.” [30]

Personal life

A member of Roebuck Baptist Church (Southern Baptist), Bright is a member of the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary’s Board of Visitors. In 2013 he was re-nominated to a second four-year term on the board of trustees of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission.[31] Bright also served as a member of the Palmetto Family Council’s Board of Directors.[32][33] and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Commission on the Family 2001 Advisory Board.

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ "Lee Bright's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  3. ↑ Bradburn, Bridget (3 November 1999). "Anderon, Harris, Lee, Bright Take District 6 Seats". Herald-Journal (Spartanburg).
  4. ↑ Bradburn, Bridget (29 October 1999). "Challenger for district 6 makes stand for creationism". Herald-Journal (Spartanburg).
  5. ↑ "County Councilman Nutt Honored". Herald-Journal (Spartanburg). 16 June 2005.
  6. ↑ Witt, Brett (30 April 2005). "Bright files protest against District 12 primary election results". WIS-TV. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  7. ↑ Doughman, Andrew (2012-11-06). "Lee Bright garners 65 percent of votes to serve for a 2nd term". GoUpstate.com. Retrieved 2013-05-04.
  8. ↑ http://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?code=0193181795
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Collins, Jeffrey (2013-04-08). "SPARTANBURG COUNTY, SC: Bright readies for possible Senate run | Politics". The State. Retrieved 2013-05-03.
  10. ↑ "Could this be the man that defeats Lindsey Graham?". Glenbeck.com. 2013-06-21. Retrieved 2013-05-10.
  11. ↑ Self, Jamie (2013-04-24). "COLUMBIA, SC: SC Senate panel shelves bill regulating abortion | Politics". The State. Retrieved 2013-05-03.
  12. ↑ "Clemson University enterprise bill wins Senate approval » Anderson Independent Mail". Independentmail.com. Retrieved 2013-05-10.
  13. ↑ "GOP's early voting opposition may nix Gov. Haley's agenda". Aiken Standard. Retrieved 2013-11-18.
  14. ↑ Associated, The. "Senators advance ethics reform package to floor | WCNC.com Charlotte". Wcnc.com. Retrieved 2013-05-10.
  15. ↑ "As more details emerge, future's uncertainty ripens". Aiken Standard. Retrieved 2013-11-18.
  16. ↑ NBC's Anthony Terrell and Domenico Montanaro. "Conservative State Senator Lee Bright to Serve as Bachmann State Chairman". The American Presidency Project at UCSB. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  17. ↑ NBC's Anthony Terrell and Domenico Montanaro. "Paul: This is a 'two-man race' - First Read". Firstread.nbcnews.com. Retrieved 2013-05-06.
  18. ↑ "2011-2012 Bill 500: Currency - South Carolina Legislature Online". Scstatehouse.gov. Retrieved 2013-05-06.
  19. ↑ Largen, Stephen (2011-02-12). "Sen. Lee Bright: SC should coin its own money". GoUpstate.com. Retrieved 2013-05-04.
  20. ↑ "South Carolina Club for Growth Releases 2011-12 Legislative Scorecards". Scclubforgrowth.org. Retrieved 2013-05-07.
  21. ↑ Club for Growth
  22. ↑ "Republican Liberty Caucus of SC Endorses Senator Lee Bright for Re-election - Republican Liberty Caucus of South Carolina". Rlcsc.org. Retrieved 2013-05-10.
  23. ↑ "General Assembly overrides governor's veto of Charles Lea Center funds". GoUpstate.com.
  24. ↑ Doughman, Andrew (2012-12-27). "Sen. Lee Bright reintroduces bill to exempt guns made in SC from federal laws". GoUpstate.com. Retrieved 2013-05-03.
  25. ↑ Kitzmiller, Felicia (2013-01-18). "State lawmaker files bill to allow schools to offer gun classes". GoUpstate.com. Retrieved 2013-05-03.
  26. ↑ "Home - 7 On Your Side - WSPA-TV". .wspa.com. 2013-04-17. Retrieved 2013-05-03.
  27. ↑ "2013-2014 Bill 115: Constitutional Carry Act - South Carolina Legislature Online". Scstatehouse.gov. Retrieved 2013-05-03.
  28. ↑ "South Carolina is Considering Constitutional Carry of Firearms". TargetFreedom.com. 2013-03-22. Retrieved 2013-05-03.
  29. ↑ Drury, Shawn (2013-05-02). "Gov. Nikki Haley Will Sign the 'Boland Bill' Gun Legislation". Columbia, SC Patch. Retrieved 2013-05-10.
  30. ↑ "South Carolina Lawmakers Propose 5-Year Jail Sentence for 'Obamacare' Implementation". US News and World Report. 2012-12-17. Retrieved 2013-08-03.
  31. ↑ "Baptist Press - SBC Executive Committee, Boards, Commission, Seminaries, Committee Nominees Announced - News with a Christian Perspective". Bpnews.net. 2013-04-26. Retrieved 2013-05-03.
  32. ↑ "Columbia SC News, Events, Restaurants and Classifieds". Free-times.com. Retrieved 2013-05-03.
  33. ↑ "South Carolina Legislature Mobile". Scstatehouse.gov. Retrieved 2013-05-03.

External links