South Carolina Senate Republican Caucus

Senator Thomas Alexander wanted to pass along this note to anyone who may be interested :

All cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sales calls.

You will be charged for these calls.

To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone: 888 382 1222

It is the National DO NOT CALL list. It will only take a minute of your time.. It blocks your number for five (5) years. You must call from the cell phone number you want to have blocked. You cannot call from a different phone number.

Help others by passing this on. It takes about 20 seconds

Gov. Mark Sanford, Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom and S.C. Policy Council President Ashley Landess huddled together inside Kroeger’s Marine Construction in Seneca on Wednesday while Eckstrom and Sanford painted a bleak picture.

“It’s very appropriate that we’re at Kroeger Marine Construction,” Eckstrom said. “Because the ship of state in Columbia is fixing to sail into a treacherous sea of red ink.”

So went the rest of the presentation, as Sanford, Eckstrom, Landess and Rep. Nathan Ballentine warned of the dire consequences of what they’ve labeled runaway spending and lack of government transparency. Read the rest of this entry »

Who has the best experience and who best handles money were the key topics Monday as candidates for the South Carolina Senate District 1 seat and the School District of Oconee County Board of Trustees made pitches to voters.

Incumbent state senator Thomas Alexander, R-Walhalla, said his years of experience have brought him positions on legislative committees that permit him a tremendous opportunity to serve the public.

As chair of the subcommittee on health issues of the Senate Finance Committee, Alexander said, he is able to “see the needs are taken care of for some of our most vulnerable citizens.” Read the rest of this entry »

The leader of the South Carolina Senate says the state needs a comprehensive energy plan.

Walhalla Sen. Thomas Alexander said his State Regulation of Public Utilities Review Committee is excited and ready to go to work to make that happen.

Alexander said Monday the committee would begin work within a week, hoping to have recommendations ready by the end of the year.

Charleston Sen. Glenn McConnell wrote Alexander’s committee, outlining challenges the state faces. The president pro tem of the Senate said South Carolina faces problems that go well beyond $4 per gallon gasoline prices and double-digit increases in wholesale power costs prompted by coal prices. Read the rest of this entry »

MCCONNELL CALLS FOR COMMITTEE TO STUDY ENERGY

With the energy crisis at its political and socioeconomic nadir, there have been a lot of great ideas floating around the forum of public debate lately.

It’s difficult to say which proposal is the best, and in 10 or 20 years I’m sure we’ll be doing a lot of Monday morning quarterbacking, but everyone agrees we must act now. Even the state legislature, lead by Sen. Glenn McConnell, who has requested that a joint legislative body provide members of both the General Assembly and the state’s Congressional delegation with a comprehensive overview of South Carolina’s energy resources.

“I believe responsibility lies with our General Assembly to conduct research, hold hearings, and act when it comes to policy that will put our state among a list of winners – both as to energy supply and environmental stewardship,” McConnell said in a press release Monday. “While the onset of $4 per gallon gasoline and double–digit increases in wholesale power costs caused by skyrocketing coal prices have moved ‘energy’ to front and center in the public’s mind, the challenge for our state is truly a long-term one. Read the rest of this entry »

South Carolina Must Not Look to Federal Government for Secure Energy Future

Columbia, SC – Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell (R-Charleston) has requested that a joint legislative body provide members of both the General Assembly and the state’s Congressional delegation with a comprehensive overview of South Carolina’s energy resources. Findings of the Public Utilities Review Committee will be used to draft legislation for the upcoming session of the General Assembly in January of 2009 and to formulate a message to the state’s Congressional delegation about the challenges that South Carolinians would face if certain federal energy policies are adopted.

“I believe responsibility lies with our General Assembly to conduct research, hold hearings, and act when it comes to policy that will put our state among a list of winners – both as to energy supply and environmental stewardship,” says Senator McConnell. “While the onset of $4 per gallon gasoline and double–digit increases in wholesale power costs caused by skyrocketing coal prices have moved ‘energy’ to front and center in the public’s mind, the challenge for our state is truly a long-term one. Most likely, it will be one of the single greatest factors affecting our state’s economy and quality of life for the foreseeable future.” Read the rest of this entry »

Sen. Alexander says panel will begin analysis before the week is out and will meet the goal for recommendations before year’s end

As America’s attention shifts to future energy needs, state Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell has called for immediate plans for South Carolina.

McConnell wrote a four-page letter to the State Regulation of Public Utilities Review Committee that outlined the challenges facing South Carolina and the need for a comprehensive analysis.

“While the onset of $4 per gallon gasoline and double-digit increases in wholesale power costs caused by skyrocketing coal prices have moved ‘energy’ to the front and center in the public’s mind, the challenge for our state is truly a long-term one,” wrote McConnell, R-Charleston. “Most likely, it will be one of the single greatest factors affecting our state’s economy and quality of life.” Read the rest of this entry »

Senator Alexander: Pleased with the outcome.

Columbia, SC – The South Carolina Senate today concurred with House amendment to H. 3567, the proposed 50-cents per pack cigarette tax increase. Senator Thomas Alexander, who chaired a Senate Finance Subcommittee that studied the proposed tax increase, gave the following comments on the Senate’s actions.

“I am very pleased with the outcome. This has been a long road and we are on the verge of a historic moment. I appreciate the support of the House. This was a joint effort with a number of people contributing to the success of this bill. I would say this is a great day for all those, who we will never know by name, which would have had countless health issues caused by smoking, but never started smoking because of the actions of this General Assembly. If we reduce the number of smokers we all win.

Despite the bill passing both the Senate and House and enjoying widespread public support, Governor Mark Sanford has vowed to veto the bill.

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Quote of the Week: “After looking at this year’s budget I think the Governor should change the name of Pork and Barrel to Olive Oyl and Twiggy.”

Senate Finance Committee Vice-Chairman Senator Harvey Peeler, referencing the piglets Governor Mark Sanford brought into the State House during the 2004 budget process and the elimination of
special project spending in the budget approved by the Senate Finance Committee this week.

Pork-free Budget Passes Senate Finance Committee
The Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Senator Hugh Leatherman (R-Florence), approved an appropriations bill that clearly demonstrates education is a top priority for the Senate.  The $7 billion budget fully funds the Education Finance Act, maintains the school bus replacement program, and continues four-year-old kindergarten among other educational priorities.

Based on warning signals from the Board of Economic Advisors the Senate started its budget process assuming available revenue would be $50 million less than the House budget. In order to address this deficiency the Senate eliminated $30 million in special projects included in the House version of the budget.

Details of the budget include funding the Education Finance Act with $2,578 per student, replacing 551 school buses this year as part of the 15-year cycle program, funding teacher salaries at $300 above the Southeastern average, and providing a 2% pay raise for other state employees.

Money from the SC Education Lottery was used to fully fund Life, Hope and Palmetto Fellows Scholarships eliminating the need to use money from the general fund. The Senate version of the budget also provides continued funding to four-year-old kindergarten programs in 35 school districts.

On average state agencies will receive a 3.6% cut in funding under the Senate plan. Senate floor debate on the appropriations bill is expected to begin April 15.

Broadband Plan Moves to Senate Floor
The Senate Judiciary Committee approved an amendment to H.4735 creating the South Carolina Educational Broadband Service Commission. The seven-member commission would be charged with obtaining and evaluating proposals from private broadband providers seeking to lease South Carolina Educational Television’s excess broadcasting bandwidth.

Beginning in 2009, ETV will begin a process of opening much of its licensed spectrum for other uses, including wireless broadband Internet availability.  The bill was placed on the Senate calendar on Thursday, April 3 and is expected to receive a key second reading next week.

Candidate Drug Testing Caught-up in Filibuster
The Democrat filibuster of the Candidate Drug Testing bill continued this week on the Senate floor. The Senate Republican Caucus hopes to bring the debate to a close and move the bill to the House prior to budget discussions that are expected to begin April 15.

Cigarette Tax Increase Narrowly Passes Senate Finance Committee
The Senate Finance Committee narrowly agreed, on Wednesday, April 2, to a proposal that would increase taxes on cigarettes by fifty cents a pack. The proposed increase was the product of more than six-months of work by a Special Senate Finance Subcommittee, led by Senator Thomas Alexander (R-Oconee).

The initial proposal submitted by the subcommittee was voted down; however the Finance committee did accept an amendment to the proposal by a 12-11 vote.  The measure now moves to the full Senate for consideration. Debate on the bill could begin as early as Tuesday, April 8.

DUI Conference Committee Reaches Agreement
The Joint Legislative Conference Committee on DUI Reform, chaired by Senator Larry Martin (R-Pickens), finalized work on a stronger DUI law for South Carolina on Thursday, April 3.  The agreement provides for a tiered structure of penalties tied to the blood-alcohol concentration of the driver and removes some of the roadblocks to prosecuting drunk drivers.

Both the House and Senate must approve the conference committee report before it heads to the Governor’s Office. Governor Sanford has indicated his desire for a strong DUI bill and is expected to sign the bill once approved by the General Assembly.

Education Subcommittee Reviews Accountability Act
A Senate K-12 Education Subcommittee, chaired by Senator Wes Hayes (R-York), met on Tuesday, April 1, and reported-out, with amendment, the Education Accountability Act (H.4662).  The amendment passed by the committee moves forward the first testing date of the Elementary and Middle School Assessment Program (EMSAP) to the 2008-2009 school-term. The amendment also revised the school Education Oversight Committee’s School Report Card methodology, changing the “unsatisfactory” classification to “priority.” The full Education Committee will consider the bill on Wednesday, April 9.

Immigration Conference Committee Nears Agreement
Senate and House conference committee members working on the Illegal Immigration Reform Act (S.392) are close to a final agreement.  Senator Jim Ritchie (R-Spartanburg), following the Wednesday, April 2, meeting, announced his intention to finalize the committee’s work in hopes of sending a comprehensive illegal immigration reform bill to the Governor in the next two weeks.

The joint conference committee is expected to meet again next week for a final review of the bill prior to taking the bill back to the General Assembly for final approval.

Judiciary Subcommittee Prepares for DPS Director Confirmation Hearings
Even before a Department of Public Safety Director nominee has been presented, Senate Judiciary Chairman Senator Glenn McConnell (R-Charleston) assembled a subcommittee to determine what questions should be asked of a prospective candidate. The subcommittee, being chaired by Senator McConnell, also includes Senators Robert Ford (D-Charleston), Jake Knotts (R-Lexington), Vincent Sheheen (D-Kershaw) and Ray Cleary (R-Georgetown).

“We are interested in understanding what a new director will be confronted with in terms of challenges,  and we want to know how that person plans on dealing with those challenges,” says Senator McConnell.

The subcommittee hopes to focus the information requested and needed by the full Senate Judiciary Committee prior to the beginning of confirmation hearings. After the meeting, Senator McConnell issued a memo to Senate Judiciary staff outlining the scope of the research to be conducted.

Post Conviction DNA Testing
The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee working on an amendment to S.429, the Post-Conviction DNA Procedures Act, completed its mission this week. The amendment will be on the Senate Judiciary agenda when the full committee meets Tuesday, April 8.

Sprinkler Tax-Credit Plan Heads to Senate Floor
The Senate Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee, chaired by Senator Greg Ryberg (R-Aiken), met on Thursday, April 3, concerning the “Sprinkler Bill” (S.860). The committee approved an amendment to the bill that would provide a property tax credit of up to 25% of the direct expenses related to the voluntary installation of sprinklers in a commercial or residential structure.  The bill now heads to the full Senate and is expected to be on the calendar Wednesday, April 9.

Water -Withdrawal Permitting on Senate Calendar
The water-withdrawal permitting bill (S.428) was placed on the Senate calendar this week; however, the bill is being contested, which prevents the bill moving forward without being set for Special Order.

Quote of the Week: “After looking at this year¹s budget I think the
Governor should change the name of Pork and Barrel to Olive Oyl and
Twiggy.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Subcommittee Continues to Work with Extended Deadline
 
Columbia, SC – The Senate Finance Special Subcommittee on Cigarette Tax
(H.3567) met for its sixth time today. During the meeting subcommittee members heard testimony from a representative of the Tobacco Control Program with the Department of Health and Environmental Control. 
 
The subcommittee has heard testimony from at least 29 different individuals and organizations, poured over similar legislation from other states, and reviewed a variety of proposals on everything from implementation to the use of revenue.
 
“Research shows that cigarette taxes in 43 states have been raised at least 75 times in the last eight years,” says Subcommittee Chairman Senator Thomas Alexander (R-Oconee/Pickens).“Just as important as the use of any revenue for healthcare is the overall impact we can have on continuing to decrease youth smoking.”
 
Beyond the core question facing the subcommittee, members must also address implementation of any law change, what methods will be used to transition into any new proposed increase, and how any new revenue could be used.
 
One idea gaining support among subcommittee members concerning the use of new revenue is the development of a Healthcare Trust Fund. “The trust fund, which will need to be self-contained with funds generated by the cigarette tax, could be used to begin addressing the medical costs for the state’s uninsured,” says Senator Alexander.
 
The subcommittee has heard testimony from a variety of organizations with plans to expand uninsured coverage, most of which propose deriving funds from a cigarette tax increase.  The subcommittee has yet to settle on any specific proposal.
 
“This is one of the hardest working committees I have seen in some time,” says Senate Finance Chairman Senator Hugh Leatherman (R-Florence). “I think what we are seeing is a subcommittee that is working to produce the best recommendation possible and I applaud their efforts. I have every confidence in Senator Alexander and the other members of the subcommittee, and I think we should allow them the time they need to properly answer all of the questions before them.”
 
The subcommittee recently asked the Senate for an extension to the March 5 deadline, which would allow them to continue working toward a comprehensive resolution before making a recommendation.

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Senator Alexander joins Senator Glenn McConnell to discuss new energy legislation in the SC Senate.