South Carolina Senate Republican Caucus

Anderson, SC – March 15, 2010 – State Senator Kevin Bryant today requested an audit of Anderson School District 5 construction contracts after allegations that the school district has hired companies with illegal aliens. South Carolina law prohibits taxpayer-funded projects by companies that hire illegal aliens. Senator Bryant requested an audit by the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation upon receiving affidavits from School District 5 officials.

In a letter to Dr. Mack Burris, Chairman of Anderson School District 5, Senator Bryant wrote “I have been in touch with numerous Anderson County citizens that are frustrated with the current economic climate and in particular, the continued presence of illegal aliens in Anderson County. It is unacceptable that the taxpayer may be funding construction projects that employ illegal aliens.”

Please find the full letter below.

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Dr. Mack Burris, Chairman

Anderson School District Five

400 Pearman Dairy Road

Anderson, SC 29625

Dear Mr. Chairman,

I want to thank you for your service to the taxpayers, parents and children of Anderson County. I also want to commend your office for providing me with affidavits regarding the employment practices of the companies with construction contracts with School District 5. These affidavits have been passed on to the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation along with a request for audits of the same.

I have been in touch with numerous Anderson County citizens that are frustrated with the current economic climate and in particular, the continued presence of illegal aliens in Anderson County. It is unacceptable that the taxpayer may be funding construction projects that employ illegal aliens.

You are aware that Section 8-14-20 of the South Carolina Code requires that as of January 1, 2010 that all “services contract(s) with a contractor for the physical performance of services within this State” must be completed only with legal workers verified with the Federal verification program known as e-verify.

I join our constituents in asking the Anderson School District 5 Board to review current and future construction contracts and require e-verify for all employers as required by law.

Respectfully,

Kevin L. Bryant

South Carolina Senate District 3

The South Carolina Senate Republican Caucus has launched a brand new live web show titled “Senate Time” to give you an opportunity to chat with your Republican State Senators.  In this short clip, I explain how Senate Time works.

Senator Shane Massey and I had a great time chatting with views on Twitter and U-Stream. We talked about everything from cigarette taxes to spending caps. We even talk about his use of technology. I’d love to show you the video, but I was so excited about our first live broadcast that I forgot to hit the record button. DOH!  I won’t make that mistake again.

We will be broadcasting again this Tuesday at 10 am. I’ll announce tomorrow who will our next guest.

Reduction plan sent to Sanford

The Senate on Thursday gave key approval to nearly $500 million in budget cuts, after swatting down proposals to shorten next year’s legislative session, raise the cigarette tax or use one agency’s surplus to pay for shortfalls in children’s programs.

Gov. Mark Sanford criticized some parts of the budget-cutting plan and attacked what he called “misinformation” used on the Senate floor during the debate about an agency’s surplus.

“While we’re pleased that the Senate stuck with the overall approach we called for in making targeted cuts, we’re disappointed that they didn’t take this opportunity to address some real flaws in this spending plan,” Sanford said in a statement. Read the rest of this entry »

Gov. Mark Sanford highlighted the importance of transparency in government during his visit to American Concrete in Anderson on Wednesday.

Sanford visited the area as part of a two-day, 10-city tour of the state. He pushed four key reforms he would advocate for this year including spending limits, restructuring the government, transparency in on-the-record voting and ethics legislation.

“The things we have outlined are keys to good operating government that causes us to spend money as effectively as possible,” Sanford said. Read the rest of this entry »

Education and health-care issues divide candidates in state Senate District 3 race in northern Anderson County, where first-term state Sen. Kevin L. Bryant, a local pharmacist, faces Dr. Marshall Meadors, a family physician.

The Democratic challenger said he is passionate about protecting public education, and the Republican incumbent said he is a proponent for school choice.

Both candidates work in the medical field and want affordable health care but differ on how to get there. Read the rest of this entry »

Coming Thursday in print in the Independent-Mail: A profile of Dr. Marshall Meadors, Democratic challenger to South Carolina Sen. Kevin Bryant

South Carolina Senate District 3

* Candidate: Kevin Bryant, incumbent
* Party: Republican
* Age: 41
* Education: T.L. Hanna High School graduate, 1985; University of Georgia School of Pharmacy graduate, 1989 Read the rest of this entry »

District 3 state Senate candidates Marshall Meadors and the incumbent Kevin Bryant fielded a wide range of questions before about 100 people Monday night at Tri-County Technical College.

From the question of abortion to the Anderson County 1-cent sales tax, the candidates were questioned by nearly two dozen citizens.

Meadors, a family physician in Anderson and Democrat, proposed improved health care and support of public education as keystones of his term if elected to the senate.

Bryant, a Republican, said pork-barrel spending needs to be reigned in, which if done would provide money for the district’s needs, especially for infrastructure. Bryant also repeated his support for school vouchers and for opposing tax increases – unless there is a corresponding tax reduction. Read the rest of this entry »

The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the state’s largest broad-based business organization, is pleased to announce our endorsement of Kevin Bryant for Senate District 3.

As the unified voice of the business community, the Chamber believes that supporting pro-business candidates that have demonstrated support for business priorities and a commitment to advance a legislative agenda that promotes competiveness in South Carolina is of the utmost importance. The South Carolina Chamber will devote resources to your key race in 2008, working with its members and allies to hold fundraisers, educate citizens and organize Get Out the Vote (GOTV) efforts. Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s the new radio spot we’re running.

“Hello, I’m Senator Kevin Bryant. If tax and spend solutions would solve all of our state’s problems, we wouldn’t have any problems. As you know, South Carolina needs better roads, a better business climate, and our children need more educational opportunities. Since the beginning, we’ve stood together for more reform and less taxes. More more information, please visit kevinbryant.com. For reform vote Bryant. Paid for by Bryant for Senate.” Read the rest of this entry »

From the Office of Senator Kevin Bryant – District 3

For Immediate Release
September 12, 2008

Bryant Asks Public to Report Potential Price Gouging

Columbia – Senator Kevin Bryant today issued the following statement related to gas-price increases related to supply disruptions caused by Hurricane Ike: Read the rest of this entry »

The public can get a closer look at the incumbent and challenger running for election to the state Senate District 3 seat in Anderson County on Sept. 29 when Tri-County Technical College hosts an interactive look at state politics.

The event is free and open to the public and is scheduled from 7-9:30 p.m. in the Marshall Parker Auditorium on the Pendleton campus.

State Sen. Kevin Bryant, R-Anderson, and challenger Dr. Marshall Meadors will talk with political science instructor Bob Peter about state-level politics and the job of a state senator. Read the rest of this entry »

Political strategists are predicting that this year’s presidential election will revolutionize South Carolina politics when it comes to using the Internet to stay connected to the public.

Phil Noble, president of S.C. New Democrats, said many legislators are communicating through Web sites, and he said he expects even more to turn to the Internet following the success Barack Obama’s presidential campaign has seen.

Republicans said they believe that interest drummed up by John McCain’s Web site and the upcoming tech-savvy GOP convention will promote similar interaction statewide. Read the rest of this entry »