UPCOMING EVENTS

VOLUNTEER MANIA!

Our office has been bustling with volunteer help these last few days! We are so fortunate to have this level of support. Our phone bank continues to be a great success, and we are still trying to find new homes for Tom Rice signs! Just click here and let us know you want to help! Or, give us a call if you can spare time on Tom’s behalf! 492-9423!

CONWAY BBQ A BIG SUCCESS

This past Saturday, we had a huge BBQ at the Peanut Warehouse in Conway. We had more than 150 people come out to listen to the band and meet Tom! Thanks to all who came out to see us. Thank you also to sponsors who contributed to making this event such a huge success!

Sponsors

A Thank you to our Firefighters and First Responders

This past weekend, my home county of Horry had a devastating fire erupt very close to a large suburb. Our local firefighters and emergency personnel heroically fought the flames and because of their efforts, the fire was overcome quickly.
These men and women in uniform are true patriots, and we should all be thankful for them.

In the midst of the weekend’s turmoil, two firefighters were seriously injured in an accident on Highway 501. On Saturday, as Wrenzie and I were returning home from Conway, we fell in behind two water firetrucks from Fair Bluff. They were on their way to help with the forest fire. Suddenly, the lead truck’s front tire blew out. The truck lurched into the left lane then back sideways to the right and flipped. As the cloud of dust and water cleared, a badly injured woman staggered from the wreckage onto the highway. Before I could get out of my car, another motorist drove through the wreck and almost hit her. The injured woman, a firefighter, made it to the grass median beside the second truck and collapsed.

Wrenzie and I were out of our car by then, and I stopped traffic, then ran to the overturned vehicle. The top of the truck had been ripped completely off. The other firefighter in the truck was also seriously injured, and stuck under the wreckage. Wrenzie called 911, and a mere 35 minutes later, our local heroes from the Conway and Horry County fire departments had freed the firefighter from under the truck, and were on the way to the hospital.

The injured firefighters were from the Fair Bluff Fire Department, and they were coming here to help. Through no fault of their own their lives were changed in the blink of an eye.

On Mother’s Day, Wrenzie and I went to visit these two selfless firefighters in the hospital. Their families had surrounded them and were comforting them. We weren’t sure what we would find since their injuries appeared so severe immediately after the accident. Thanks be to God, both Captain Jeremy Meares, and Volunteer Firefighter Ashley Wilson are recuperating!!!

As of Sunday, Mrs. Wilson (who is a mother to three children under the age of five) was awake, alert, and in amazingly good spirits. Her parents and one of her children were with her and, though worried about her, they were justifiably proud of their very tough, community-minded daughter and mom.

Captain Meares was really banged up, including a broken neck. But his arms and legs are working and his head is sewn and bandaged. In fact they’ve already moved this tough young man from ICU to PCU!

Please pray that God continues to provide a swift recovery for Captain Jeremy Meares and Volunteer Firefighter Ashley Wilson. Thank you to our countless emergency personnel who put their lives on the line every day to make us safer! We are so grateful for their courage and hard work.

“Job creation has been my number one priority,” Rice said. “The cooperation we received on this project from the other members of County Council, the Governor’s Office, Doug Wendel, Brad Lofton and the rest of the staff at the EDC and the executives at Frontier is proof positive that we can succeed when we all work together toward a common goal.”

Rice has made job recruitment a top priority in the 17 months he’s been on Horry County Council. He’s also made it a key platform for his race for the Republican nomination for the new 7th Congressional district.

Since January 2011, more than 260 new jobs have been announced in Horry County as a result of the efforts of the Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation.

Frontier Communication Media Announcements:

Frontier Communications to offer additional jobs in #MYR; The Myrtle Beach Digital
Frontier Communications to bring call center, 100 jobs to Horry Co; WMBF News
110 new jobs expected in Horry county; WPDE News

Saturday, May 5th, 3 pm to 7 pm
Grand Strand Young Republicans
Rossi’s, 9600 N. Kings Highway
Contact Mallory Morris at (843) 457-9435 or
Russell Fry at (843) 421- 4587 to purchase tickets-
$10 for nonmembers, free for GSYR members!

Tuesday, May 8, 6 pm to 8 pm
Meet and Greet with Tom Rice
The Oyster Bar
155 2nd Street
Cheraw, SC
rsvp@votetomrice.com

Saturday, May 12, 1 pm to 5 pm
Tom Rice for Congress Event
The Peanut Warehouse, Conway
Free Barbeque, featuring Clay Rice & the
Boiled Peanuts Band
Rsvp to 843-492-7423 or
rsvp@votetomrice.com

Monday, May 14, 7pm
Florence GOP Congressional Debate
West Florence High School

PHONE BANK HAS BEGUN!

Our phone bank has begun, and we need your help! You can even volunteer from the comfort of your home for this project. Just click here and let us know you want to help!

We are also working on our TOP SECRET project and we need lots of help! You can volunteer at your convenience – weekdays, evenings or weekend.

SIX WEEKS UNTIL THE BIG DAY!

Though it seems like yesterday we announced my candidacy, we are only 42 days away from the Primary. In these coming 42 days, we need to reach tens of thousands of voters who are undecided about this election.

Please make sure that you, your friends and associates are registered to vote! If you need help, just call us! We have registration forms available in our campaign office. But hurry! Registration ends next week!

Editorials from the Campaign trail…

The Sun News: Letter to the Editor, May 1, 2012

The Sun News: Letter to the Editor, May 1, 2012

The Sun News: Editorial, May 1, 2012

The Sun News: Editorial, April 27, 2012

DEBT & DEFICIT: THE MATH

By the end of this year, the United States will owe a staggering debt of $16 trillion. Our national debt is increasing at about $1.5 trillion each year (our yearly deficit), while our annual revenues are around $2.2 trillion. Interest on our multi-trillion dollar debt surprisingly hovers around the 2% mark—much less than interest on the typical home, business, or student loan – but that is not likely to continue.

If, for example, interest rates on federal debt were to rise to 10%, then ALL of our current national revenues would be needed for interest payments alone! Our country cannot sustain this reckless spending! Congress must get control of spending and reduce the deficit to insure the survival of our country. The biggest single threat to our national security is our debt and deficit. In Washington, I will fight for a balanced budget amendment and work to reduce the deficit. Vote Tom Rice on June 12, and let’s get our country back on track!

Saturday, May 12
Tom Rice event
The Peanut Warehouse, Conway
1 to 5 pm
Free Barbeque, featuring Clay Rice & the
Boiled Peanuts Band
Rsvp to 843-492-7423 or
rsvp@votetomrice.com

Tuesday, May 14
Florence GOP Congressional Debate
West Florence High School
7:00 PM

CALLING ALL TO ACTION!

So many friends and supporters have already stopped by to volunteer their valuable time. But, with the election so close, we really need volunteers to help us with three very important projects! Our phone bank will begin this week, so call us if you want to call others! You can even volunteer from the comfort of your home for this project! Just click here to learn more!

In Horry County, campaign signs can go up beginning this Saturday. Signs can be up everywhere else right now. We need as many volunteers as possible to get our signs in the ground! We can meet you somewhere with signs or you can pick them up from our campaign headquarters. If you are interested in helping us, click here or call our office at (843) 492-RICE. If you know of a high traffic spot in your area, let us know and we will send our volunteers out to put a sign there!

A TOP SECRET job is underway as well! So, if you can keep a secret, and have some time after work or during the day to come by and assist, we’ll be here! Any amount of time is appreciated. We have started this TOP SECRET project and it won’t be long before it’s completed, so hurry and get involved!

VIDEO VICTORIES

As you probably know, our campaign launched our first TV ad last week, and, the Myrtle Beach Tea Party shared this video of Tom speaking at the tax day rally held April 14. Tom was also featured in a news segment last week on News Channel 13! Click here to see that story!

FRIDAY FORUM

Last Friday, Tom held a Forum in Surfside Beach for local business people to discuss the economy and economic development. The Forum was part of the campaign’s “Open for Business” job circuit. Elected leaders and business people met to discuss challenges and opportunities facing our district. From evacuation routes to road construction to dredging, people are frustrated about the lack of support our area has received from both the federal and state level. This district has so much to offer if we can pool our resources and work together towards common goals.

As your Congressman, I will fight for critical infrastructure projects, like dredging the Georgetown port and completing I-73. I will work to balance the budget, reduce our deficit, and eliminate wasteful spending. We will be hosting more Forums and Town Halls because I value your input. If you are interested in joining me or hosting an event like this, please contact my office!

BEST WEEK OF THE CAMPAIGN SO FAR!

 We have a lot of exciting news….

• Our campaign outraised every other campaign!

With the financial disclosure reports out, we can claim the top spot for donations in the entire 7th! More than 500 donors have given to the campaign, and our numbers grow all the time. We still have a long way to go to hit our budget, so please consider investing in our campaign. Click here to help!

• Our TV ads are on the air and the response is great!

Our commercial, “One of Us,” is airing on TV. The message is simple- Tom is concerned about the future of this country, especially the debt that is being charged to our children and grandchildren. We need a common sense, conservative Republican with strong Christian, family values to represent this district. We need someone who knows how to balance books because they sure need that in Washington! Tom Rice is the best man for the job and he will work hard to justify your support.

Help us spread the message: Send this link with our commercial to YOUR E-MAIL CONTACTS! We need their votes!

In order to broadcast our ad to the entire 7th District, we need YOUR help. We have purchased many spots on the evening news and Fox News Channel, but now we need to expand our buy to cover other audiences- and that can be costly. Would you consider making a donation to cover the cost of one of our ads? To do so, simply click here and you’ll be directed to a secure website and be able to donate online to purchase air time.

• The First Debate, held last night, went extremely well!

The first congressional debate took place at the Horry Georgetown Tech campus, and we won the straw poll! We appreciate the Carolina Patriots, CCU College Republicans, South Strand Republicans, and Conservatives for a Responsible Government for hosting the debate. Job well done! Thanks to all who attended the debate, and for those who came early to join our Tom Rice for Congress tailgate party! A special thanks to our musician, Mr. Vinnie Lehotsky!

• People from throughout the District know “The Rice Krispy Man”!

In the last two weeks alone, we’ve been to Hartsville, Darlington, Florence, Georgetown, North Myrtle Beach, Conway, Loris, Cheraw, Chesterfield, Pageland, McBee, and Bennettsville! While in Chesterfield County, our waitress, Sue, at the breakfast house said “Oh, I know you! You’re “the Rice Krispy Man”!!!” It truly made our day! Our message is reaching all the way to Chesterfield County!

Thanks to all who have called their friends and relatives in the district! Is there anyone else you can talk to on my behalf? I have YOUR support! The best part about our campaign is YOU! We have SO MANY SUPPORTERS who have volunteered their time, contributed money, held events, and put up signs. If it were not for your support and encouragement, we would not be able to get our message out! THANK YOU!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

We need volunteers to help us put signs up in the community and make phone calls. If you are interested in helping us, call our office at (843) 492-RICE. If you know of a high traffic spot in your area, let us know and we send our volunteers out to place a sign there!

Another project is underway that requires a lot of “man hours”! If you have an hour or two to stop by and assist with this very important project, we will welcome you with a drink and a Rice Kripsie treat! Come on over and get involved!

In order to broadcast to the entire 7^th District, we need YOUR help. We have purchased many spots for shows like the evening news and Wheel of Fortune. But to stay on the air and diversify our audience, we have to pay for it. If YOU want to contribute to help us buy TV time, please click here.

In case you’re interested here is the transcript of the first ad:

“This country is absolutely on the wrong track. I’m worried about my children, your children, and our grandchildren. What makes me uniquely qualified to be your Congressman is that I’ve been a businessman for 30 years. I’ve been happily married for 29 years. I’ve raised 3 fine sons. I’ve employed people. I know what it’s like to make payroll. I know how to balance books and they sure need that in Washington. I’m Tom Rice, and I approve this message.”

Don’t forget to watch for the commercial when you’re flipping through the channels!

Monday, April 16
7th Congressional Debate
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Horry Georgetown Tech
Burroughs and Chapin Auditorium

Saturday, May 12
Tom Rice event
The Peanut Warehouse, Conway
3 to 6 pm
Free Barbeque, featuring Clay Rice & the
Boiled Peanuts Band
Rsvp to 843-492-7423 or
rsvp@votetomrice.com

Wednesday, May 14
Florence GOP Debate
West Florence High School
7 to 9 pm

Tuesday, May 22
Georgetown GOP Debate,
Waccamaw High School
7 to 9 pm

Sunday, June 3
Chamber of Commerce 7th District Debate
Myrtle Beach
8 to 10 pm

Monday, June 4
Florence 7th District Debate
Francis Marion Performing Arts
Center
Florence
7 to 9 pm

Thursday, June 7
Horry 7th District Debate
Coastal Carolina University, Conway
7 to 9 pm

Tuesday, June 12
ELECTION DAY – REPUBLICAN PRIMARY

Sixty-two days until the primary

In less than nine weeks, the Republican primary will be held. Our campaign is making great progress and we are working hard throughout the district to earn your vote and your support. Over the last week, we have visited Georgetown, Conway, North Myrtle Beach, Hartsville, Darlington, Florence, Loris, Cheraw, McBee, Pageland and Chesterfield! We are covering much territory and meeting so many concerned citizens throughout the district. We are spreading our message of tax reform, limited government regulation, job creation, and other local priorities for the 7th district.

As a CPA and business attorney, I have fought for years for businesses, small and large. As your congressman, I will work to make things simpler, less costly and less burdensome for all businesses in America. I will fight to reduce your tax burden and stop government waste of your tax dollars. I will strive to balance the budget and reduce the deficit that threatens the very existence of this great nation. We cannot continue to pile debt on our children and grandchildren!

In order to advance our campaign, I hope you will consider donating to this cause. Contributions in any amount are greatly appreciated.. We cannot win without your help and support!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Help is needed with our campaign signs in the district. Though sign ordinances vary by city and county, there are many areas where signs can be put in place right now. If you would like to help install signs or know of a good high traffic spot in your area, please let us know!

We need volunteers for another project that requires many “man hours”! If you have an hour or two to stop by and assist with this very important project, we would appreciate your help! Our campaign office is located in Parkway Office Plaza in Myrtle Beach, Suite 117 (corner of Grissom Parkway and 48th Avenue North). For more information, please call our office at 843-492-7423.

Second Financial Quarter Underway!

With your generous outpouring of support for our campaign, Wrenzie and I are humbled that so many have sacrificed their resources of time and financial support. We promise to be a strong advocate for the entire district and will work to justify your support.

This week begins a new fiscal quarter for the campaign. Please consider donating if you haven’t already, or consider adding to previous donations if you are able. While our financial figures are strong, our district is large and requires a lot of funding to spread our message throughout the counties in this great district. Contributions in any amount are greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Guns and Horry County

Recently, a handful of residents in Horry County have spurred a controversy over our 2nd Amendment rights. County Council discussed this issue tonight and decided that our public safety department can resolve this issue by enforcing existing laws. As a strong supporter of gun rights, I am proud that so many attended the council meeting tonight and made their position known in this important debate. I want to thank the leadership of local gun rights supporters who have fought against unnecessary infringement on 2nd Amendment rights.

Regulations Strangle Small Businesses

Nationwide, all commercial pools must install a permanent chair lift for certain disabled users by May 21, 2012. The Justice Department’s interpretation of a 2010 regulation (part of the ADA) means this mandate applies to every commercial pool, including hotel pools along the Grand Strand and in the Pee Dee. Each one of these lifts can cost several thousand dollars to install.

Because of this high-priced demand on small business, Congressman Mick Mulvaney introduced legislation to change the Justice Department’s stringent read of the 2010 regulation, and give commercial pool operators a choice between the costlier permanent lift, or a cost-conscious portable lift. I support Congressman Mulvaney’s efforts. Despite the Justice Department’s good intentions, such an interpretation by federal bureaucrats perfectly illustrates bureaucratic shortsightedness. Small businesses cannot endure the costs that so often arise from this sort of regulation.

As your Congressman, I will fight against the bureaucracy that forces expensive, cumbersome regulation on us. My common-sense business experience will provide our district with a sensible voice for small businesses in the 7th District and the entire nation.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Yard and road signs have been delivered! We need volunteers to help us put them up in the community. If you are interested in helping us, call our office at (843) 492-RICE. If you know of a high traffic spot in your area, let us know and we send our volunteers out to place a sign there!

I hope you will take the time to read more here on my website and contact my campaign if you have any questions. Our campaign headquarters is located at 1113 48th Avenue North, Suite 117, Parkway Office Plaza, in Myrtle Beach and our telephone number is 843-492-7423 (RICE).