THE SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS

Today the Board of Economic Advisors announced that the state must trim 6%, nearly $420 million, from the state budget.  Senator Shane Massey told WRDW that he will refuse pay when the legislature returns to debate those cuts:

He (Massey) says, if the lawmakers are called back, it would cost somewhere around $50,000. But, he says, if he is called back, he will not accept the money. He says, that is because this is a problem that everyone needs to fight together.

See interview at http://www.wrdw.com/politics/headlines/30587964.html

South Carolina has about a $7 billion budget. Just about a year ago, Senator Shane Massey says the state had about a billion dollars extra. But that was all spent and the state is facing some big budget cuts.

It’s not just lawmakers crunching numbers, PTA mom of four Karen Skiff is also worried about money.

“They can’t cut our budgets anymore,” says Karen. “They’ve been cut. We need to educate our kids.” Karen, the Aiken Elementary PTA Treasurer says with a tough economy now, she’s worried education will take a budget hit. (more…)

Schools need adequate funding, candidates in the race for the Aiken County Board of Education and the state Senate and House agreed during two separate forums held Monday.

At the Aiken County Historical Society, candidates running for the Legislature talked about the need to change the state’s funding mechanism for education.

“Funding has to be leveled out among counties, rich and poor,” said Greg Anderson, the Democratic candidate for Senate District 25. Mr. Anderson lives in Edgefield County, which, he said, is a rural county that does not see its fair share of funding. (more…)

S.C. Sen. Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, and his Democraitc opponent in District 25, Greg Anderson, expressed their support for public education at a legislative forum Monday.

The USC Aiken chapter of Phi Delta Kappa, a professional organization of educators, hosted the event at the Aiken County Historical Museum.

Massey, an Aiken attorney, said education funding will be one of the top legislative issues in the 2009 session. He acknowledged that the timing was terrible for Act 388, the property tax reform measure, to go into effect. (more…)