THE SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS

Legislators reacted mostly with approval Monday to the news that Clemson’s head football coach was leaving his job in the middle of the season, though some questioned the $3.5 million “orange parachute” buyout that will be paid to Tommy Bowden.

The buyout comes as Clemson and other state agencies face new budget cuts and at a time of national financial crisis that university President James Barker recently said could impact “every source of revenue” at Clemson and result in cuts that “will be felt.”

Reacting to Bowden’s departure, Rep. Harry Cato of Travelers Rest said, “It was time.” (more…)

Contractors must not hire undocumented workers

The state Department of Transportation will start making contractors promise they’re not hiring undocumented workers almost a year before a new state law requires it.

New DOT contracts will require companies that get state road projects to promise they are in compliance with the South Carolina Illegal Immigration Reform Act, DOT Chief Counsel Linda McDonald said Friday.

Gov. Mark Sanford signed the law in June. One of the provisions is that employers must verify the immigration status of new workers. That part of the law takes effect next summer for larger companies. (more…)

DUI DAILY

Governor Sanford Signs DUI Law That Strengthens Penalties and Gets Rid of Loopholes.

Governor Mark Sanford signed H.3496, a new law to toughen the state’s DUI penalties and remove enforcement loopholes, which the governor called for in his State of the State address as part of his “First 30 Days Agenda.”

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“I believe the good people of Pickens County were able to see what was happening and I think they decided not to yield to special interest groups.”

- State Rep. B. R. Skelton

Incumbent State Rep. B.R. Skelton will face Democratic opposition in November, but he may have fended off the biggest challenge to his political career on Tuesday.

Skelton topped challenger Troy Whitehurst 1,524 to 1,280, in a battle that, like the parallel race in Oconee County, was charged with claims of outside money influence by Skelton and big spending in Columbia by Whitehurst. Unlike Oconee, however, Gov. Mark Sanford did not throw is formal backing to Skelton’s challenger, but that didn’t soften the winner’s comments Tuesday night. (more…)