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.
