South Carolina Senate Republican Caucus

Quote of the Week– “If you all don’t work together, I’ll be back.”
Senator John Drummond’s final comments to the South Carolina Senate as he gaveled the session closed on Thursday June 05, 2008.

Immigration Reform Signed by Governor (Wednesday, June 04)
Illegal immigration reform was the number one issue going in the 117th General Assembly session and it came to a final resolution on Wednesday, June 04, when the Governor signed the South Carolina Illegal Immigration Reform Act into law. South Carolina now has the strongest, most comprehensive illegal immigration reform law in the nation.

The law requires that all employers use the federal E-Verify or a valid South Carolina driver’s license to confirm the legal status of new employees. The law allows businesses up to five days to verify a new employee’s legal status or be subject to fines and the loss of a newly developed South Carolina License to Hire.

Senator Jim Ritchie (R-Spartanburg) commented after the Governor signed the bill: “The whole point of this bill is to create a level playing field for everyone and prevent those who choose to operate outside the law from gaining a competitive advantage over businesses that play by the rules. The rule of law can now be asserted where the federal government has failed to protect our communities.”

Budget Vetoes Overridden by General Assembly (Wednesday, June 04) Governor Mark Sanford returned 69 vetoes to the 2008-2009 General Appropriations bill, this week the General Assembly overrode 57 of them. Senator Hugh Leatherman says this year’s $7 billion budget, which goes into effect on July 1, is a “lean but responsible budget that addresses the core needs of the state.”

Despite critics’ comments, the State Budget Office constantly monitors the budgeting process to ensure that appropriations do not exceed forecasted revenues. This year’s budget also includes almost $100 million in new money from the General Fund.

Where Are They Now – Bills Status at the End of the Session
Education Accountability Act ………………….. H.4662 – Allowed to Become Law
Concealed Weapons Reciprocity………………….. H.3212 – Pending Conference Committee
Sprinkler Bill………………….. H.4470 – Pending Governor’s Approval
DNA Databank-Post Conviction DNA ………………….. S.429 – Pending Conference Committee
Critical Needs Nursing Fund ………………….. S.1022 – Veto Overridden
Safe-Cigarette Regulations………………….. H.4900 – Veto Overridden
Historical Documents Display………………….. H. 3159 – Pending Governor’s Approval
Government Restructuring………………….. H.3590 – Stalled
Government Accountability Act ………………….. H.4538 – Stalled
Civil War Sesquicentennial Advisory Board………………….. S.104 – Allowed to become law
I Believe License Plate………………….. S.1329 – (Allowed to Become Law)
Constitutional Amend. Guaranteeing the Rights of Hunting and Fishing ……………… H.3202 – Stalled

Keel Confirmed by Senate as New Director of DPS (Wednesday, June 04) The Senate, by an unanimous vote, confirmed Mark A. Keel as the new Director of the Department of Public Safety, he now is immediately eligible to be sworn-in. Mr. Keel gave the following statement concerning his confirmation:

“I appreciate the confidence Governor Sanford has placed in me by nominating me to serve as the Director of the Department of Public Safety and I am grateful to each member of the Senate for their support, confidence and trust in my abilities during the confirmation process. I look forward to being associated with the professional and hardworking employees of this agency who protect and serve the citizens of the State of South Carolina.”
Mr. Keel has been serving as the Assistant Director and Assistant Chief at the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), where he has served since August of 1979.

Senator John Drummond Ends 44 Years of Service to South Carolina Called the standard-bearer for the “Greatest Generation” Senator John Drummond (D-Greenwood) spent his final day in the General Assembly being honored for his life of service. Senator Drummond first came to the General Assembly in 1965, where he served in the House of Representatives until 1966. In 1967, he was elected to serve Senate District 10. Although, Senator Drummond has accomplished many things in his life, including surviving a Nazi prisoner-of-war camp during World War II, his legacy to the Senate will be a spirit of unity and bi-partisanship. The South Carolina Senate unanimously adopted a resolution thanking Senator John W. Drummond for his service.

In addition to Senator Drummond, five other Senators are retiring.
Kay Patterson (D-Richland) served in the Senate from 1985-2008.

Greg Gregory (R-Lancaster) served in the Senate from 1993-2008.

Linda Short (D-Chester) served in the Senate from 1993-2008.

John Hawkins (R-Spartanburg) served in the Senate from 2001-2007.

Lewis Vaughn (R-Greenville) served in the Senate from 2007-2008.

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The 10th week of the legislative session:

STATE BUDGET: The House gave final approval Thursday to a $7.2 billion budget that includes a slight raise for state workers and more money for public schools. The Senate will debate the budget in April.

CHILD CARE VOUCHERS: Gov. Mark Sanford’s staff is working to prevent the loss of child care vouchers provided by the Department of Social Services for moms in shelters and foster parents. Rep. Tracy Edge, who handles the budget for DSS, said he didn’t find out until Wednesday that the voucher program would be cut by nearly 900 slots. The Republican said he only knew the agency wanted $6 million less than it had originally sought in new state spending. The state budget passed later that day before any changes could be made.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION: Legislators working out the differences in the immigration reform proposals got little done during their second meeting Tuesday. The six-member conference committee voted on a few minor issues but said they couldn’t spend too much time on the proposals because House members were needed for budget debate. The committee won’t meet this week because the House takes a one-week break before Easter. Read the rest of this entry »

CAPITOL CONNECTION

Caucus’ concerns put nominee ‘on hold’ The confirmation of state Department of Public Safety director James Schweitzer will be reconsidered by a Senate panel because of concerns raised by the Legislative Black Caucus.

Caucus members met with Senate president pro tem Glenn McConnell on Tuesday to discuss inappropriate behavior by some members of the Highway Patrol. The Highway Patrol is under the Department of Public Safety.

In one incident the caucus cites, an African-American woman was handcuffed to the bumper of a patrol car by a Highway Patrol officer. In another incident, a trooper stopped a black motorist who then ran. The trooper yelled a racial slur at the motorist.

“(McConnell) was very receptive to our concerns,” said Rep. Leon Howard, D-Richland, chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus. “So until we get some answers, the confirmation is still on hold.”

Schweitzer has told an S.C. media outlet that the officers’ behavior was wrong and that the officers were punished.

Both officers were suspended for 12 hours, Howard said. Howard, along with other caucus members, will meet with Gov. Mark Sanford on Thursday to discuss the issue further.

TETHERED-DOG BILL

The Senate will further study a bill designed to prohibit the tethering and chaining of dogs for certain periods of time in a day.

Amid concerns the proposed new law was too broad, and could be used to interfere with what some legislators said are legitimate instances of tying up dogs for several hours a day, the Senate Judiciary Committee decided Tuesday to amend the measure, though it already contained exemptions for activities such as hunting and leashed walking.

Sen. Chip Campsen, R-Charleston, worried the proposal could affect working dogs. Specifically, Campsen said he was concerned about dogs used in training and hunting activities associated with field trials.

“Every instance of tethering a dog is not cruelty,” Campsen said.

Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg, raised questions about how time constraints in the measure might affect tethered dogs at major hunting events.

Committee members will review questions about the bill, sponsored by Sen. Jake Knotts, R-Lexington, and take it up again next week.

CONCEALED WEAPONS

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill Tuesday keeping state lists of residents with concealed-weapons permits private.

The House-passed bill, sponsored by Rep. Mike Pitts, R-Laurens, restricts the circumstances under which the State Law Enforcement Division can release such lists to requests from law enforcement agencies involved in an investigation, subpoena and court order.

SLED does not release such lists, according to Lexington Sen. Jake Knotts, a retired police officer and committee member, but he said the agency is under pressure to do so.

“This gives them something to stand on,” Knotts said.

Knotts and other senators said requests for release of the information are designed to serve open government, but feed Internet enterprises and media snooping. “They have absolutely no reason to have this list except they want to have more knowledge and be in everybody’s business,” said Sen. John Hawkins, R-Spartanburg, who supported the bill.

The measure was amended to require an annual report be published by SLED profiling the transactions of gun permits in the state, such as the number issued, denied or renewed each year.

The bill also was amended to require that all existing lists of permitted gun carriers be destroyed under penalty of law once the bill is enacted. Other changes are expected in the bill when it reaches the Senate floor, legislators said.

CAR SALES TAXES

Buying a car would help repair South Carolina roads and bridges under a bill that cleared a House panel Tuesday.

The legislation calls for at least $10 million in taxes generated from car sales to go toward overdue maintenance of roads and bridges.

House Speaker Bobby Harrell said the proposal would generate about $104 million in taxes during the next several years. And that money could be used to back around $1 billion in bonds for road work, state Rep. Tracy Edge said.

The House discussed a similar bill last year, splitting the cash between new projects and maintenance. “Here, we’re putting it toward the state highway fund, which is used for maintenance and paving and generally not for construction” said Edge, R-Horry.

TRAINS

White Rock residents battling a proposed rail siding in the area got help Tuesday from Richland County lawmakers.

Measures that would stop railroads from forcing landowners to sell a site for projects were introduced by Sen. John Courson and Rep. Nathan Ballentine.

WIRELESS CLOUD

A House panel has begun discussions on converting ETV’s broadband service licenses from analog to digital — a move that could result in a windfall of new revenue for the state.

The transition will free up 80 percent or more of ETV’s capacity that could then be used for some other purpose. One use being considered is a “wireless cloud” that would cover the state. In essence, it’s high-capacity Internet access that would be available to nearly all of the state’s residents.

A House panel will resume discussions today. The deadline for a conversion plan is January 2009.

The State
2/27/08

The Senate has agreed to tougher restrictions on payday loans.

The bill requires lenders to check a borrower database and places a $500 limit on loans. It also bans multiple loans in a seven-day period.

Spartanburg Senator John Hawkins spent more than an hour Tuesday calling for a ban, saying the state can never contain the industry.

Fountain Inn Senator David Thomas says payday lenders provide a needed service. Read the rest of this entry »

Spartanburg lawmakers on opposite sides of banning industry

John Hawkins and Jim Ritchie sit next to each other in the Senate chamber.

But the two Spartanburg Republicans couldn’t be farther apart when it comes to payday lenders.

Hawkins, one of 13 lawyer-legislators involved in a class-action lawsuit against the industry, wanted an outright ban. Ritchie helped author compromise legislation that regulates payday lenders but allows them to stay in business. Read the rest of this entry »

The Senate has agreed to tougher restrictions on payday loans.

The bill requires lenders to check a borrower database and places a $500 limit on loans. It also bans multiple loans in a seven-day period.

Spartanburg Senator John Hawkins spent more than an hour Tuesday calling for a ban, saying the state can never contain the industry. Read the rest of this entry »

Spartanburg lawmakers on opposite sides of banning industry

John Hawkins and Jim Ritchie sit next to each other in the Senate chamber.

But the two Spartanburg Republicans couldn’t be farther apart when it comes to payday lenders.

Hawkins, one of 13 lawyer-legislators involved in a class-action lawsuit against the industry, wanted an outright ban. Ritchie helped author compromise legislation that regulates payday lenders but allows them to stay in business. Read the rest of this entry »

Check out this quick video from the Spartanburg Herald Journal of Senators Jim Ritchie and John Hawkins discussing their view of recently passed payday lending legislation.

Senator John Hawkins has announced through the Spartanburg Herald Journal that he will not seek re-election in 2008.  Read the article below.

Hawkins to leave Senate after ‘08
By ROBERT W. DALTON, bob.dalton@shj.com

State Sen. John Hawkins, a two-term incumbent, said Wednesday he will not seek re-election in 2008.

Hawkins, R-Spartanburg, also spent four years in the House. He said he was stepping down to devote more time to his growing law practice.

“After 12 years of political life, it’s time to move on and put all my professional efforts into my law firm,” Hawkins said. “I have a lot of court appearances, depositions and meetings with clients. It was becoming difficult to do all that and serve in Columbia.”

Candidates already are lining up to fill the pending vacancy. State Rep. Scott Talley, R-Moore, said he will give up his House seat to take a shot at moving up, and Lee Bright, who lost to Hawkins by 37 votes in the 2004 Republican primary, will be back for another try.

Bright said he’s been looking forward to a second run at the seat ever since his narrow defeat.

“I’m running, and I’m running hard,” Bright said. “I feel like Spartanburg needs a new senator who will be independent of the good ol’ boy network.”

Talley, who is in his fourth term, said he has a record of service in the House, and he wants to build on it in the Senate.

“I’ve been a leader in the House on issues important to Spartanburg County and its citizens,” Talley said. “I think my eight years there have prepared me to move to the Senate, where ultimately some of those issues have been decided.”

Talley’s candidacy creates a vacancy in the House, and June Bond, one of Spartanburg County Republican Party Chairman Rick Beltram’s top lieutenants, was said to be eyeing that seat. Bond said Wednesday night that she was unaware the game of political musical chairs was under way.

“I haven’t given any thought to something that I would have no reason to think about,” she said.

Hawkins, 39, began his political career in 1997, when he was elected to the House. After two terms, he gave up the seat for his successful Senate run.

He had an unsuccessful bid for state attorney general in 2002 and then had the close call in his re-election campaign in 2004.

The Wofford College and University of South Carolina Law School graduate said he’s most proud of fighting to ban the video gambling industry.

“I was one of the first legislators in the state to come out against video poker,” Hawkins said. “It was an ill for our state, and I’m glad we took those people on.”

Beltram said Hawkins had been a “good servant.”

“I hate to see him retire,” Beltram said. “But anytime there’s a retirement it opens a slot, and I expect to have an active primary for the Senate seat – and for the House seat if Talley runs.”

Hawkins said he has one more year to look forward to, and some things he wants to get done. He said his top priority in the coming year would be to push “responsible regulations” on the payday lending industry.

After that, he’ll leave the fights to his successor, he said, and he’ll leave with no regrets.

“It just feels right, and I feel at peace,” Hawkins said. “I’ve come to realize that my ambition has become representing my clients and helping them get justice.”