Silver Crescent LLC

Dwight Cauthen provides strategic government relations counsel to clients navigating South Carolina’s legislative and regulatory landscape. Known for his deep institutional knowledge and longstanding relationships, Dwight advises clients on developing and executing customized legislative strategies designed to advance business and policy objectives.

Dwight’s practice is informed by decades of experience working within state government and alongside legislative leadership. His understanding of legislative rules, process, and emerging policy trends enables him to offer practical guidance and effective advocacy across a wide range of industries.

Long term clients allow him to develop subject matter and issue expertise in diverse industries. He keeps up with developing trends and enjoys the continuing education needed to effectively represent client interests.

Dwight M. Cauthen

Dwight began at the State House as a page for former Speaker Bob Sheheen and gained valuable experience by working on the House Floor, Legislative Counsel and House Research. He handled appointments for former Governor Carroll Campbell and scheduling for former Governor David Beasley. His political experience includes working on the reelection of Governor Campbell, being Communication Director for Inglis for US Senate and helping Republicans take control of the SC Senate in 2001.

Dwight served as the first Executive Director of the South Carolina Senate Republican Caucus. He later began lobbying for clients of the state’s largest law firm where he worked for two legendary SC lawyer/lobbyists to hone his skills before establishing his own practice in 2003.

Dwight earned his undergraduate degree in political science with a minor in South Carolina Studies and a master’s degree in public relations from the University of South Carolina.

Dwight is a South Carolina native born in Georgetown and lived in Orangeburg before going to Camden Military Academy where he spent his formative years.

Accomplishments

Healthcare & Health Insurance

Successfully advocated and leading strategy to repeal certificate of need laws that required physicians, hospitals and other health care providers to seek state approval to offer certain services, buy equipment and build facilities.
Successfully advocated to make telemedicine legal in SC and bring improved patient access to care by carefully navigating physician, insurer, hospital and regulator interests.
Successfully advocated to allow out of state licensed mental health practitioners that are licensed in other state and meet certain criteria to register and provided needed telehealth services in South Carolina.
Successfully advocated for amendments to the then “worst in the country” pharmacy benefit manager legislation that made it generally acceptable to pharmacy benefit managers, insurers and employers.
Successfully advocated for a sales tax exemption on drugs used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Successfully advocated for medical malpractice reform that limits noneconomic damages to $350,000 per provider and $1.05 million per occurrence.
Successfully advocated to require direct billing of anatomic pathology services and prohibit referring physicians for billing for such services.

Voting & Elections

Successfully advocated for election integrity legislation that implements 17 reforms that “make it easier to vote and harder to cheat”. This is the strongest reform in the country and ultimately passed unanimously.
Successfully advocated for the South Carolina Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voters Act in a session where huge partisan fights dominated other major election measures. The bipartisan bill had 41 Senate sponsors and passed both house unanimously.
Successfully advocated for an act that modernizes SC’s voter registration by allowing online registration and sharing of data with other states.

Banking & Finance

Successfully advocated for limited state regulation of the now recognized business of providing earned wage access services (EWA) to consumers in the state.
Successfully advocated for an update to the SC Credit Union Charter law that allows community charters and provides parity with federally chartered credit unions.
Successfully advocated for amendments to the Uber bill that serve as a model for lenders and give some of the strongest protections in the nation to drivers and lienholders of vehicles used by transportation network companies.

Alcohol & Tobacco

Successfully advocated to maintain a three store limit on the number of licenses a retailer may hold and the "Class B" liquor distribution system (after the mini-bottle requirement ended) where bars and restaurants continue to purchase from licensed retails.
Successfully advocated for amendments to cigarette stamping legislation that resulted in satisfactory compensation and tax credits for wholesalers who apply stamps.

Education & Athletics

Successfully advocated for the landmark Equal Access to Interscholastic Activities Act that allows home school students to participate in athletics and extracurricular activities in their local public school.
Successfully advocated to protect private schools from being discriminated against by a state funded high school athletic association.

Environment & Water

Successfully advocated to protect existing water systems’ interests in significant surface water withdrawal legislation, stopped several efforts to prohibit local governments from requiring annexation for service and charging different rates or tap fees for nonresidents.

Minority & Majority

Achieved the first majority in the South Carolina Senate in over 120 years, rewrote Senate rules, managed reapportionment, political strategy, legislative strategy, media relations and fundraising.

South Carolina government relations and PuBlic Policy

Dwight M. Cauthen

Accomplishments

Message Dwight M. Cauthen

Silver Crescent LLC