THE SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS

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.

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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

Sen. Jake Knotts, R-Lexington, has been appointed to replace Sen. Ray Cleary, R-Georgetown, on the S.C. Judicial Merit Selection Commission, according to a commission release.

“I have been involved in some aspects of the judicial system in this state my entire career,” Knotts said. “I look forward to assisting in this process and ensuring that the integrity of the judicial selection process is protected.” (more…)