South Carolina lawmakers will soon be back at work at the capitol. An estimated 2,100 bills are expected to be introduced during the next few months. Among them are a handful of measures that will cover transportation funding and highway safety. Sens. Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, and Larry Grooms, R-Bonneau, have offered similar versions of a bill that is intended to ensure roads and bridges get more money. Revenue from the collection of sales, use or vehicle titling would be required to be … [Read more...]
Scrutiny for third med school
December 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment
A few weeks ago, it seemed as if plans for a third state medical school in Greenville had been all but wrapped up, despite criticism from MUSC and some leading legislators. But the state Commission on Higher Education has wisely decided to require a full review of the program. CHE recognizes it for what it is -- a separate medical school, not the expansion of an existing program. As such, it should get the CHE's closest scrutiny and a full debate. South Carolina has medical schools in … [Read more...]
Raffles could get OK of state
December 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment
COLUMBIA -- A bill to legalize charitable raffles and casual gambling is moving forward in the Senate, but senators caution that doesn't mean they are opening the door to professional gambling. "It is not bringing organized gambling to South Carolina," Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell said. "It isn't opening up casinos. It's allowing charities to do what they are already doing and to prevent selective enforcement of the law in South Carolina." McConnell, Sen. Brad Hutto, an … [Read more...]
Social gambling up for debate again in SC
December 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Some South Carolina legislators say they'll try again to legalize games of poker between friends and church raffle tickets. Efforts to modernize South Carolina's centuries-old gambling laws have repeatedly died since 2007 - a year after a raid on a Mount Pleasant home, where 22 poker players, including a 79-year-old woman, were arrested. While proponents argued tweaking the law was common sense, opponents feared any change could have unintended consequences and lead to … [Read more...]
Bill on gambling will be proposed
December 2, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Poker is still on the minds of some members of the Legislature, and a proposed Statehouse gambling bill seems tailor-made to let small groups of friends play legally in the comfort of their homes. Included in a measure prepared for the start of next month's session are four key "affirmative" defenses that players could use if their game ever draws the attention of law enforcement. They are: A requirement the gambling be done in a private setting, that no one receives an economic benefit … [Read more...]
SCDOR responds to McConnell’s tax protection proposal
December 2, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Some South Carolina lawmakers say the South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR) is making its own rules on what is taxable and what is not. Small business owners are claiming they are suffering, and some are closing their businesses as a result of additional taxes. Adrienne Fairwell with the DOR responded to Senator Glenn McConnell’s proposal to protect taxpayers, requiring the DOR to go through a process to tax. "Our response is that it is always the department’s goal to implement the … [Read more...]
S.C. proposal to protect those who gamble at home
December 2, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Poker is still on the minds of some members of the legislature, and a proposed Statehouse gambling bill seems tailor-made to let small groups of friends play legally in the comfort of their homes. Included in a measure prepared for the start of next month's session are four key "affirmative" defenses that players could use if their game ever draws the attention of law enforcement. They include: a requirement the gambling be done in a private setting, that no one receives an economic benefit … [Read more...]
SC legislative leaders back claims against Sanford
December 2, 2010 By Leave a Comment
COLUMBIA — Two top Republican lawmakers named in a small town's lawsuit against Gov. Mark Sanford say they support the town's opposition to a plan to use money allocated for rural water and sewer systems to pay for the state's budget oversight agency, according to documents filed in the case. The case is scheduled to be heard Friday before the state Supreme Court. "The Governor chose to pillage and raid a trust fund, even though he has so loudly championed trust funds' fiscal sanctity and … [Read more...]
Voter ID, illegal immigration back up for debate
December 2, 2010 By Leave a Comment
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Photo identification at the polls and a further clampdown on illegal immigrants are among proposals prefiled by South Carolina's senators. Wednesday was the first day senators could prefile bills for the upcoming session. Voter ID was the first of 210 measures filed. Republicans have argued for the past two years that it's an issue of voter integrity. The bill died in June as Senate Democrats pushed to allow more days of early voting. They argued the version Republicans … [Read more...]
Bill aims to stop tax 'witch hunt'
December 2, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Top state lawmakers took the first step toward fixing what some business owners are calling a witch hunt -- one that's led by South Carolina's tax collectors. Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, prefiled the Taxpayer Fairness Act of 2011 that would issue a formal wrist slap to the S.C. Department of Revenue, which he said began charging certain taxes to businesses that state lawmakers never intended them to collect. The bill, he said, is meant to address what he called an … [Read more...]
