Greenville Leader

South Carolina State House Candidate Allen Kellett (R-28) said he’s a free market supporter and, as such, would oppose State Senate legislation that would limit small dollar loans to the state’s consumers. 

The bill, S. 910, has become an issue in the 28th State House Primary, with candidate Kerri Smith (R-Simpsonville), working for, and lobbying on behalf of, a group that supports the legislation. 

“I would vote ‘no’ on this bill, we need to preserve consumer choice in these matters,” Kellett told Greenville Leader. “I am a free market kind of guy.”

“Seems to me the bill would limit credit options for people who may need credit the most,” said Kellett.

The bill failed to pass in the most recent legislative session, but the Dan Walters, the CEO of Greenville-based Credit Central, told Greenville Leader earlier today that he expects the legislation to be reintroduced in the next session.

Smith, who announced her campaign for the 28th State House seat before incumbent State Rep. Ashley Trantham announced her retirement, works for a group that has received more than $2 million from major left-wing political donor George Soros, reported the Greenville Leader in February.

The president of South Carolina President of Self-Help Credit Union, Smith has not responded to Greenville Leader's requests for comment about this issue.

An analysis of IRS filings show a sum of more than $3 million in actual payments and future approved payments from 2018 to 2022 by Soros’ "Foundation to Promote an Open Society" to the "Center for Responsible Lending," the Durham-based advocacy arm of Self-Help.

While the IRS forms show $2.385 million in grants paid out from the Soros foundation to the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL), the foundation's website lists a total of $3.27 million in grants approved and announced since 2018. 

Soros is a "Democratic mega-donor," reported Politico, who "directed his wealth into an under-the-radar 2016 campaign to advance one of the progressive movement’s core goals — reshaping the American justice system." To that end, Soros spent "more than $17 million on local district attorney races across the country "in support of left-wing candidates," reported the NY Post.

His two primary organizations are the Open Society Foundations and the Foundation to Promote Open Society, which are "two multi-billion-dollar left-of-center advocacy grant making foundations" which have "funded the vast majority of the most prominent left-progressive advocacy groups in the United States," reported InfluenceWatch.

Self-Help and CRL were both created by North Carolinian Martin Eakes.

CRL has received more than $25 million during the past ten years from a foundation started by a N.C. couple who Time magazine ranked among “25 people to blame from the (2008) financial crisis. 

State Rep. Robert May III (R-Lexington) told Palmetto State News it’s his understanding that Smith was recruited by House leadership to challenge incumbent State Rep. Ashley Trantham (R-28), who has since announced her retirement. 

“I have heard those same things but I am in this to win with the support of my community,” said Kellett. 

Kellett said he decided to run for the State House after discussing the “state affairs in Columbia” with his wife. 

“I believe I know my community and I think I can represent their interest in Columbia and work to get things done,” he said.