Sanford approves stricter DUI law
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In a year when the number of alcohol-related driving arrests has increased in the City of Aiken by 50 percent, new legislation aimed at closing loopholes that proponents say will help prosecute those cases has been applauded locally.
The bill, signed by Gov. Mark Sanford on Tuesday, toughens penalties for most first-time offenses and all second and subsequent offenses, removing community service sentencing options after a repeated conviction and requiring jail time.
But it also closes loopholes that Solicitor Barbara Morgan once said, at times, makes prosecuting a drunken driver in the Palmetto State more difficult than prosecuting a murderer. Read more
Augusta Chronicle: Neighbors help neighbors in time of need
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Current state law represents an egregious affront to women
By Shane Massey - Guest Columnist
The old joke goes like this: I’m from the government — and I’m here to help.
We rightly snicker at that line because it seems that much of what government does is backward when you compare it to common sense. We’re trying to shake things up in Columbia to see if we can give our state government a wake-up call.
Index Journal: McCormick GOP discusses issues facing county, state
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McCORMICK — U.S. Senate candidate Buddy Witherspoon, who is challenging incumbent Lindsey Graham, has a daughter, a son-in-law and three grandchildren — and he says those are his inspiration for seeking a Senate seat.
“When I look into the eyes of my daughter, my son-in-law and my grandchildren, I see the future of America,” Witherspoon said. “I see the hopes and dreams of Americans.”
Witherspoon was one of four speakers Thursday night at a McCormick County Republican Party meeting.
He said immigration is the most important issue Americans face.
“Folks, it is going to take more than WD-40 and duct tape to straighten this problem out,” Witherspoon said. “We haven’t secured our borders. If we don’t do something about that, then our country will continue to be infiltrated.
Aiken Standard: Massey serves well in S.C. Senate
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By Katon Dawson
Chairman, South Carolina Republican Party
Last October, voters in Aiken sent a message to Columbia when they elected Shane Massey to represent them in the South Carolina State Senate: They said it’s time to make government more accountable to everyday citizens and rein in excessive government spending at the Statehouse.
Today, the people of Aiken - and people all over State Senate District 25 - can be proud of Senator Shane Massey. He is committed to constituent service, making government accountable to everyday citizens, and he has made good on his promise to fight out-of-control spending.
Senator Massey has distinguished himself as one of the hardest working legislators in Columbia. He is passionate about public service. He meets face-to-face with constituents from all over his district regularly during “Neighborhood Chats.” He keeps constituents up-to-date on what’s happening at the Statehouse through an interactive website. And he makes himself available anytime by cell phone to discuss the issues most important to his constituents. State government is becoming more accountable to everyday citizens thanks to Senator Massey.
But there’s even more to Senator Massey’s impressive record.
Senator Massey believes, just as I do, that taxpayers have the right to know how their money is being spent in Columbia. After all, undisclosed earmarks add up to billions of dollars of government waste every year and put an undue tax burden on hardworking families.
As a good steward of the public purse, Senator Massey called for earmark reform and government spending transparency in the first piece of legislation he introduced in Columbia. Senator Massey knows politicians in Columbia are addicted to earmarks - funding their pet projects with our hard-earned tax dollars. Many times, politicians are able to sneak these funding requests into huge pieces of spending legislation without any sort of oversight or accountability to their constituents.
Under Senator Massey’s legislation, members of the General Assembly are required to explain to their constituents and to the Senate Finance Committee or House Ways and Means Committee exactly what their spending request would fund.
This election year, voters are going to check campaign rhetoric against records of accomplishment. Fortunately for the voters of Senate District 25, Senator Massey’s record of accomplishment and bringing accountability to Columbia will earn him another term.
http://www.aikenstandard.com/opinion/dawson-letter
