Senate Summary | Week of May 27 - 29, 2008
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Quote of the Week – “We are now going to be able to reassert the rule of law that has been abdicated by the federal government. It is their responsibility, but they have abdicated enforcing federal law and we are reasserting that rule of law at the state level to the greatest extent that we can.”
Senator Chip Campsen (R-Charleston) commenting on the South Carolina Illegal Immigration Reform Act passed this week by the General Assembly.
Immigration Reform Passes General Assembly (Thursday, May 29)
The General Assembly this week approved the nation’s most comprehensive illegal immigration reform bill (H.4400). The bill requires all businesses to use the federal E-verify system or a valid South Carolina driver’s license to confirm the legal immigration status of new hires. Worker verification became the lighting rod issue in the session-long debate on illegal immigration reform.
The final bill, agreed to this week, was the result of negotiations between Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell (R-Charleston) and House Speaker Bobby Harrell (R-Charleston). “This is going to be the toughest bill in the United States,” says Senator McConnell. “This is a comprehensive bill that deals with public benefits, ID fraud and a host of other issues. When you take the entire matrix of this bill and put it out there and start engaging in conduct that violates this law you are in for some rough sledding.”
The bill has been sent to the governor’s office for his signature, which he has suggested he will do in recent comments released to the press.
218th Brigadier General Addresses Senate (Thursday, May 29)
The South Carolina Senate was honored this week to hear from returning Brigadier General Robert Livingston Jr. The Senate, in a rare move, allowed the commander of South Carolina’s 218th Brigade Combat Team to speak from the podium on the Senate floor, an honor typically reserved only for senators. After receiving multiple standing ovations and reporting on the success of the 218th in Afghanistan, General Livingston presented a plaque to the Senate expressing gratitude for its support of the combat team.
Bills Headed to the Governor’s Desk
The following bills have been ratified, or are enrolled for ratification, and will next be sent to the governor’s office for his consideration:
H. 3159 - Historical Documents (enrolled) - allows for certain historical documents to be displayed in public buildings.
H.4662 - Education Accountability Act (ratified) - eliminates PACT test, establishes new ratings for schools performing below expectations, as well as other changes.
S.1329 - I Believe License Plate (ratified) - allows for creation of a new specialty license plate.
H.4900 - Cigarette Ignition Propensity (ratified) - sets new standards for an unattended cigarette’s ability to ignite surrounding material.
S.1022 - Critical Needs Nursing Fund (ratified) - provides for development of a fund to help in the retention of nurses.
S.104 - Civil War Sesquicentennial Advisory Board (ratified) - establishes advisory board to coordinate South Carolina’s commemoration of the Civil War.
Bills On the Contested Calendar
Two bills that are being closely watched, received key second readings this week, but the bills were later placed on the Senate’s contested calendar. The bills are:
H.4538 - the “Government Accountability Act”, which establishes guidelines for legislative oversight of state agencies, and
H.3202 - a Constitutional Amendment guaranteeing the rights of hunting and fishing.
Budget Vetoes Returned to the House (Wednesday, May 28)
Governor Mark Sanford returned to the House of Representatives, 69 vetoes to the 2008-2009 General Appropriations bill. The House began consideration of the vetoes on Thursday, May 29 and is expected to continue consideration on Tuesday, June 3. Since the bill originated in the House, the Senate will only be able to consider vetoes the House votes to override.
DPS Director Nomination Goes Before Full Senate (Tuesday, May 27)
The Senate Judiciary Committee, by a vote of 19-0, gave a favorable recommendation this week to Major Mark A. Keel, the governor’s nominee to be the next director of the Department of Public Safety. The confirmation hearing took almost three hours, during which time Major Keel was asked numerous questions about recent videos that have surfaced related to the conduct of highway patrol officers. The nomination will now go before the full Senate for final consideration.
Major Keel is currently serving as the Assistant Director and Assistant Chief at the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), where he has served since August of 1979.
Sprinkler Bill Returns to House (Thursday, May 29)
The Senate this week gave key approval to a bill (H.4470) that will provide tax credits to homeowners who voluntarily install sprinkler systems in their home. The bill only allows for the tax credits if current law does not require the installation of sprinklers. The measure will now return to the House of Representatives, which could concur with the Senate amendments or make final changes.
Senator Jim Ritchie: “A victory for the people of South Carolina”
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SPARTANBURG, SC — Senator Jim Ritchie (R - Spartanburg) issued the following statement today following Senate passage of the Illegal Immigration Reform Act:
“Today’s action is a victory for the people of South Carolina. After nearly two years of passionate and oftentimes heated debate, we are on the verge of meaningful, enforceable illegal immigration reform. Our bill is the strongest in the nation. It builds on the successes of other states and ensures that all businesses in South Carolina uphold the rule of law.
I’m proud to have led this effort and appreciate the hard work of the people to keep this critical legislation at the forefront. In a process where all too often contentious reforms fail, we’ve been successful in keeping this fight alive. I look forward to continuing our efforts until this bill is signed into law.”
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Senate Gives Final Approval to Immigration Reform Bill
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Columbia, SC - The Senate today gave final approval to the South Carolina Illegal Immigration Reform Act (H.4400). The bill, which now goes to the House of Representatives, is the most comprehensive immigration reform bill in the country. The legislation addresses the major issues in the fight for illegal immigration reform, including employer verification for all employers through the federal E-verify system or with a valid SC driver’s license.
“Today the Senate passed the most effective reform bill in the nation. It has a strong E-verify requirement and very aggressive penalties for those who knowing hire illegal aliens,” says Senator Jim Ritchie (R-Spartanburg). “Everyone will now be playing by the same rules and those who choose to break the rules will be punished. Senator Ritchie introduced the first comprehensive immigration reform bill in February 2007, but says “today’s success was made possible by the extensive behind-the-scenes work of Senator Glenn McConnell.”
Senator McConnell (R-Charleston) worked extensively with House leadership to find common ground on some of the major sticking points of previous legislation. “This bill enjoyed wide support before the Senate included private employers. After private employers became a part of the equation it took the work of everyone, the House leadership, Senator Ritchie, Senator Campsen, and the leadership across the aisle to bring in private employers in a way that adheres to federal law, but has the enforceability elements to create a strong bill.”
Senator Ritchie and the Senate Republican Caucus also extend their appreciation to the governor for his consistent support of illegal immigration reform. In a statement release after the bill received a key second reading on Tuesday, May 27, the governor said “There’s been a lot of back and forth on this bill over the past few weeks, but we believe the end result that the Senate approved today is what everyone was after the whole time – a strong and enforceable immigration bill.” The governor went on to say he is looking forward to the bill coming to his desk as soon as possible.
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SENATOR CATHERINE CEIPS RECEIPIENT OF SC FEDERATION OF REPUBICAN WOMEN’S 2008 STROM THURMOND AWARD
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Senator Honored for Excellence in Public Service and Government
(Columbia, SC) – The South Carolina Federation of Republican Women (SCFRW) elected South Carolina Senator Catherine Ceips as the winner of the 2008 Strom Thurmond Award for Excellence in Public Service and Government at its recent quarterly meeting.
The Strom Thurmond Award for Excellence in Public Service is awarded to a South Carolina elected official who has proven his/her dedication to serving South Carolina’s families. Senator Ceips was selected for her consistent hard work to promote and preserve our conservative Republican ideals. Senator Ceips is known around the Statehouse as a dependable voice for lower taxes and immigration reform, but she’s most known as one of the hardest working members of the South Carolina General Assembly. Her commitment to constituent service is rarely matched.
In a letter to Senator Ceips congratulating her on the award, Senator Jim DeMint wrote “Catherine, your hard work has earned you both respect and admiration. I know you will continue to provide strong leadership in the State Senate. Thank you for all you do for South Carolina.”
SCFRW President Mary McAbee stated “Senator Ceips was selected because of her proven leadership skills and her excellent constituent service. We look forward to many more years of excellence in public service.”
The award was first given to Senator Strom Thurmond in November 2002. A delegation of SCFRW members led by President Jan Allgood traveled to Washington, DC to present the Senator with his award just before his retirement from the United States Senate.
Senator Ceips previously served two and a half terms in the State House before being elected to the Senate and is currently the only female Republican in the South Carolina Senate. Her constituents love her because she puts them first, in the true tradition of Strom Thurmond.
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