South Carolina Senate Republican Caucus

The Lexington Senior Center is holding their groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, November 23, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. The expansion of the facility comes from a Lt. Governor’s Office on Aging grant Senator Jake Knotts presented to the Lexington County Recreation and Aging Commission in August.

Some of the renovations will include a new kitchen, expansion of the dining room so seniors eating congregate meals can be in the same room, an expanded senior activities area and additional office and storage spaces.

The Center, located at 108 Park Road in Lexington is a focal point for seniors in the area. This groundbreaking renovation will bring much needed space to serve the growing senior population. Major participants in the ceremony will include Lt. Governor Andre Bauer, Senator Jake Knotts, Lexington Mayor Randy Halfacre, Lexington County Recreation and Aging Commission Director Randy Gibson and the Lexington County Aging Director, Lynda Christison.

A fried turkey Thanksgiving dinner will be served immediately following the ceremony. For more information about the agenda and ceremony please contact Mary Beth Callais at mbcallais@lcrac.com.

WHAT: Lexington Senior Center Groundbreaking Ceremony

WHERE: 108 Park Road | Lexington, SC

WHEN: Monday, November 23, 2009, 11:30 AM

WHO: Lt. Governor Andre Bauer, Senator Jake Knotts, Lexington Mayor Randy Halfacre, Lexington County Recreation and Aging Commission Director Randy Gibson and the Lexington County Aging Director, Lynda Christison.

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To call what struck Steve Sawyer on the night of May 24 an “epiphany” might be overstating the moment.

Mostly what struck him, he said, were the fists and knees of Brandon Gaines, his opponent in their mixed martial arts bout in Alexandria, La. “He’s the best I’ve fought to date,” Sawyer said, drawing on his 18-month, five-fight (4-1 record) experience as a professional.

Amid the flurries of punches, kicks and other moves, Sawyer, 34, said he sensed a mutual respect, the recognition of two fighters who take seriously the “art” part of martial arts. Read the rest of this entry »

“People are ready for change,” challenger says amid contentious race in LexingtonSenate District 23

The GOP primary race for a Lexington Senate seat:
35 of 35 precincts — 100%
Jake Knotts (i) — 4,858, 45%
Katrina Shealy — 4,395, 41%
Michael Sturkie — 1,521, 14%

JAKE KNOTTS
- Age: 63
- Education: Midlands Technical College, 1975
- Occupation: Retired law enforcement officer
- Elected political experience: 13 years in the S.C. House and Senate Read the rest of this entry »

COLUMBIA — Senators questioned Thursday whether the state Highway Patrol has exceeded its mission by creating drug-interdiction squads and a SWAT team and allowing troopers to accompany college coaches as security during games.

“That’s not the scope of the Highway Patrol,” said Sen. Jake Knotts, a West Columbia Republican and former law enforcement officer. “Their duty is to patrol the highways and make the highways safe.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Remarks by Senator KNOTTS

Thank you Mr. PRESIDENT.

I’m not going to be very long on the podium today; however, I was sitting back there at my seat and I heard something that I felt very strongly needs to be addressed to this body. As you know we are accused of spending money in this body on all types of things—some things foolish, some things necessary. Sometimes we don’t spend money on things that money needs to be spent on. Today we’re debating the question of spending money to defend potential lawsuits on this prayer Bill, which budget the money will come from, what agencies will be responsible for defending this Bill. I don’t care how much money is going to be spent or what we have to do to defend this Bill or who is going to defend this prayer Bill.
Read the rest of this entry »

Here are a few shots from Senator Jake Knotts’ new constituent photo album.

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 »

Senate and House Members Want to Produce Strongest Bill Possible

Columbia, SC – Senate and House members sat down today to begin working out the differences between the two versions of H.3496. The conference committee consisting of three Senate members and three members from the House of Representatives went to work quickly as chairman of the Joint Legislative Conference Committee Senator Larry Martin (R-Pickens) oversaw today’s discussions.

“I am just glad we are at this point and have an opportunity to produce a strong DUI reform bill,” says Senator Martin. “I think we will be able to work through the differences quickly. Everyone here wants the same thing and that is to produce a strong DUI bill for the citizens of South Carolina.”

Committee members agreed to adopt the Senate language adding the offense of driving with a blood alcohol concentration of .08% or higher to be added to the list of offenses eligible for charging a person 18 years of age or older with child endangerment when a child is in the car.

The committee also agreed to remove a provision from the bill that would require those convicted of DUI to carry increased minimum liability limits on their automotive insurance, due to technical errors in the original version of the bill. “I want it to be understood that I am all for raising the minimum liability limits, and I want us to work to find another bill that we can use to move this amendment forward,” says Senator Martin. The language currently in the bill requires minimum limits on personal property damage not common among insurance carriers.  The committee requested the language be corrected and attached to another bill germane to the matter.

The committee also began preliminary discussions on the questions that a jury must answer during a DUI case, and whether or not the initial question put to the jury should include the various levels of blood alcohol content. “I think the common objective is the same and that is to make the process for the jury as simple and straight forward as possible; not to run over anyone’s rights but to insure that the process is fair for the prosecution and the defense,” says Senator Martin.

The next Joint Legislative Conference Committee on DUI is expected to meet on Wednesday, April 2 at 9: 00 AM in the Gressette building. The debate is expected to center around the differences currently separating the House and Senate versions of the bill.

In addition to Senator Martin, the conference committee consists of Senators Jake Knotts (R-Lexington), and Brad Hutto (D-Orangeburg), as well as Representatives George Murrell Smith (R-Sumter), Scott Talley (R-Spartanburg), and David Weeks (D-Sumter).

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Columbia, SC – The Senate Judiciary Committee today gave unanimously approved legislation establishing a new formula limiting state spending.  Senate President Pro Tempore, Senator Glenn McConnell (R-Charleston), introduced the historic legislation as a way to curb state spending and stabilize the budget in years of economic downturns.

“The Budget Stabilization Fund will take the State off the financial roller coaster that affects the budget on an annual basis and prevent run-a-way spending,” says Senator McConnell. “This spreads the money out so that our growth and the handling of finances represents the 10 year average of annual growth increases. I’d also like to point out that there is nothing in the legislation that would prevent the General Assembly from spending less money.”

The Constitutional Amendment (S.718) establishes a formula limiting annual spending to the amount of money received during the prior fiscal year increased by the average revenue growth rates from the previous ten years. Any money available above and beyond the spending limit would be placed into a Budget Stabilization Fund, which could not exceed fifteen percent of the prior year’s actual revenue collections.

The implementing legislation (S.1220) outlines the conditions under which the General Assembly could withdraw funds from the Budget Stabilization Fund. In order for money to be taken out of the Budget Stabilization Fund, except for revenue stabilization and declared emergencies, the General Assembly would need to give approval by a two-thirds majority vote of the House and Senate members present and voting, but not less than three-fifths of the total membership of both the House and the Senate.

“This is perhaps the most important piece of legislation, in regards to the budget, that I have seen in the 24 years that I have been here,” says Dr. William Gillespie, chief economist for the state’s Board of Economic Advisors.

The legislation passed today is a result of more than 12 months of work by a special bi-partisan Spending Caps Study Committee, which has worked closely with Dr. Gillespie to create a spending limit that will create real financial accountability for state government. The two bills will now head to the full Senate for consideration. The constitutional amendment could be on the ballot in November if the House gives the bill priority status and moves it through the legislative process.

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Legislators who carry concealed weapons say they do so mainly because of fear of the unknown

South Carolina’s lawmakers are far more armed than their constituents.

About one in 50 South Carolinians 21 and older has a permit to legally carry a concealed firearm.

One in five state lawmakers has a concealed-weapons permit.

According to an analysis by The State newspaper, 37 lawmakers — seven of 46 state senators and 30 of 124 state representatives — can carry a firearm legally.

How many state lawmakers carry concealed weapons has become an issue because of two proposals before the Legislature.

One would make secret the now-public list of South Carolinians who can carry concealed weapons. The other proposal —watered down last week — would allow anyone to keep a weapon in a car while parked at the State House.

Lawmakers who pack heat interviewed by The State say they carry concealed weapons primarily out of fear of the unknown.

“Lawmakers fall into that category of people who sometimes become targets,” said Rep. Todd Rutherford, D-Richland, who doesn’t have a concealed-weapons permit but keeps a Glock in his car.

READ MORE ->

The State Newspaper
Gina Smith
3/9/08

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