Columbia – “Today, I again introduced a joint resolution that would limit the growth of government. My desire was to give the people of South Carolina the opportunity to decide at the ballot box if government should grow faster than their wallets. I have introduced this bill every session since 2007, and hope that it will pass this year. The need for this legislation has been made clear by the current crisis we are in. I believe that we should have manageable growth that allows for … [Read more...]
Immigration crackdown debated
November 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment
South Carolina lawmakers are approaching the matter of a further crackdown on illegal immigration from several perspectives. Take the state budget. Lawmakers face a $1 billion budget shortfall when they return to session in January, but the state continues to pay unknown amounts to house illegal immigrants in prisons and jails, process them through the judicial system and provide social services and schooling to their children. "It's costing us as a society a significant amount of money for … [Read more...]
State Officials Buckle Down on Patriots Point
November 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Mount Pleasant, S.C. - Patriots Point owes the state 9.2 million dollars. Two years ago, the historic site took out a loan to fix the Laffey. The loan is to be paid back by December 1st, but now they don't have the funds. State lawmakers, on the other hand, say they must pay back the loan. Executive Director, Mac Burdette says Patriot Point may ask for more time to collect the cash. State Senator Glenn McConnell says the state may negotiate the due date, but will not grant the military … [Read more...]
McConnell: We have to make the tough choices
November 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Courtesy: The State Newspaper With the state Department of Health and Human Services warning that it may end all payments to doctors, hospitals and other health-care providers in March if it isn’t allowed to run a deficit, a lot of people seem to be getting carried away by emotion and forgetting some basic principles about government. Rather than focusing on how the lack of funds may impact the delivery of services for those South Carolinians who rely on Medicaid, we should be talking about … [Read more...]
McConnell: SC cannot afford health care program
November 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment
The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is asking the state’s top budget office for permission to run a deficit next year. The agency says part of its rising costs are due to the recently passed health care reform. But Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell says the state cannot afford increasing health care funding for the poor. "We cannot afford to continue doing the same thing that we are doing. It is insanity to think that every year you can throw more money into this … [Read more...]
Columbia Urban League's Equal Opportunity Day Dinner
November 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Jim McNerney, the President and CEO of The Boeing Company, recognizes Senator Leatherman Speaker Harrell, and Senator McConnell for their efforts in bringing Boeing to South Carolina. Due to their efforts, Boeing increased its presence in our state, which paved the way for hundreds of jobs for South Carolina families. … [Read more...]
Subcommittee holds last immigration hearing in Myrtle Beach
November 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Tonight in Myrtle Beach a special Senate Judiciary Subcommittee is hosting the last of four public hearings on illegal immigration reform. Pickens Senator Larry Martin is a member of the panel– "This is an opportunity for the public to comment on the current state of the immigration reform law we passed in 2008. We also want to hear from the public regarding any other concerns they have about illegal immigration to the extent that South Carolina as a state can address it." Martin says the … [Read more...]
Senate judiciary hearing discusses gaming laws
November 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment
A senate judiciary committee and citizens of South Carolina convened Tuesday night at Florence-Darlington Technical College to discuss rewriting the state’s gaming law, which prohibits charitable raffles. More than 20 citizens from around the state met at the college to discuss the implications of changing the law. The current law, written in the 1800s, has not been rewritten and has led to confusion about what is or is not legal when it comes to raffles. State Sen. Ray Cleary said the law … [Read more...]
Senators set to address charity raffle issue at Florence hearing
November 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment
FLORENCE -- Current gaming laws prohibit charitable raffles, but a senate judiciary committee plans to bring the gaming law up for discussion Tuesday night at a public hearing in Florence. The committee’s final public hearing to discuss the ramifications of the law is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at Florence-Darlington Technical College. The current law, which was written in the 1800s, has not been rewritten and has led to confusion about what is or is not legal when it comes to raffles and … [Read more...]
Haley needs Senate's help
November 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Gov.-elect Nikki Haley got off to a good start with Senate Republicans, who gave her a standing ovation at their caucus meeting on Thursday. Let's hope the good feeling continues. Big problems are ahead for the state that will require cooperation to resolve. Mrs. Haley met with Republican senators at Pinopolis during their annual caucus meeting, prior to January's legislative session. Even Sen. Jake Knotts, who infamously called Mrs. Haley "a raghead" during the campaign, joined in the … [Read more...]
