According to a post published by Caitlin Byrd of the Post and Courier, newly elected U.S. 7th District Congressman Russell Fry hired District 68 S.C. State Representative Heather Ammons Crawford as his Federal District Manager.
The job requires Ammons represent Fry on any constituent grievances, suggestions, or concerns about Federal laws affecting the 7th District.
The job pays over $120,000 annually.
According to Byrd, Ammons-Crawford plans to keep her Socastee Area State Representative elected office.
INHERENT CONFLICTS
Heather Ammons Crawford heads the S.C. State House Highway Infrastructure Subcommittee.
Fry is requesting a seat on the The U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce has been working a plan to construct Interstate 73 through Dillon County and rural Horry County for more than 20 years. The interstate is unpopular among residents in those areas.
WHAT IS PREEMPTON?
Currently there are thousands of Federal laws that are in conflict with different state laws throughout America.
As a State Rep., Heather Ammons Crawford has considerable power. As a Federal District Manager, that power only increases.
With Conflict, which side will Crawford come down on?
Preemption occurs when law at a higher level of government is used to overrule authority at a lower level. State law can be used to preempt local ordinances, and federal law can be used to preempt state or local law.
Unless State Representative Heather Ammons Crawford chooses to step down from her $10,400/year + per diem job as S.C. State Representative, she will be confronted with choices that may work against her very own constituent base.
Taxpayers could find themselves on the hook for locally funding Federally mandated items.
MyrtleBeachSC News reached out to State Representative Crawford about this article on Tuesday, December 20th. She chose not to respond.