The Senate reached a compromise Thursday on a controversial Voter ID bill that phases in over two years new requirements for a picture ID in order for a person to vote in South Carolina. The bill also establishes a new 15-day early voting period prior to elections, maintains walk-in absentee voting for 30 days prior to an election and retains mail-in absentee voting beginning at 45 days before an election. The photo identification requirement takes effect Jan. 2, 2012, and the State Election … [Read more...]

South Carolina voters could vote early starting in 2012 but must show photo IDs to cast a ballot under a compromise Thursday that ended two days of partisan debate in the Senate. Senators said the deal, approved 36-2, would increase voter participation by increasing when people could vote, while preventing fraud. "It means fewer lines for the voting public in the 2012 cycle, more opportunities to vote and greater confidence in the process," said Sen. Chip Campsen, R-Isle of Palms, among a … [Read more...]

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Voters would decide in November whether candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run on a ticket rather than separately under a measure approved by a legislative panel. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the resolution by a 9-6 vote on Tuesday. The House bill now heads to the Senate floor for debate. It will require a two-thirds majority to pass the Senate and the House would have to go along with changes which the Senate included. The lieutenant governor would remain in charge of … [Read more...]

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford praised the wife he cheated on and apologized Wednesday for what he said is the last time for an affair in his final state-of-the-state address. Sanford has routinely noted her thrift and efforts to save taxpayers money in past statewide addresses. But Wednesday, he praised her "in her truly phenomenal grace that she showed the world and the state in the storm that I brought to our family and to the state at large." She filed for a divorce last month that is … [Read more...]

Memo to Congress: South Carolina affirms its sovereignty under the 9th and 10th amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Ditto for the Second and 14th amendments. And when it comes to the proposed federal health care reform, thanks, but no thanks. That's the message the state Senate delivered on Tuesday, bringing an end to a fight that began last February. The brawl ended with a 31-11 vote – with all of the votes in opposition coming from Democrats. Sen. Glenn Reese, D-Boiling Springs, broke … [Read more...]

Watch: This week in the Senate below! … [Read more...]

Powerful senator says state agency inconsistent in application of the law One of South Carolina's most powerful lawmakers says improvements are needed at the state's environmental agency - and he will work to make that happen. Sen. Glenn McConnell said he remains against putting the governor in charge of the Department of Health and Environmental Control, as conservationists proposed in a bill last year. But after a legislative briefing about conservation issues Wednesday, McConnell said he … [Read more...]

One of South Carolina's most powerful lawmakers says improvements are needed at the state's environmental agency — and he will work to make that happen. Sen. Glenn McConnell said he remains against putting the governor in charge of the Department of Health and Environmental Control, as conservationists proposed in a bill last year. But after a legislative briefing about conservation issues Wednesday, McConnell said he will consider a compromise that could improve operations at … [Read more...]

Democrats Let Federal Government Intrude On Our Rights Today the South Carolina Senate Democrats continued their filibuster of a bill strongly declaring our state’s rights and requesting the Attorney General to fight an attempt to socialize our health care system. Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler released the following statement today on behalf of the State Senate Republican Caucus: “Our great nation was founded by men of principle who stood strong against an overreaching government. … [Read more...]