Sprinkler bill would ban extra connection fees
Filed Under McConnell, Thomas, Top News | Leave a Comment
The Post and Courier
By David Slade and Yvonne Wenger
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Water companies would be banned from charging extra fees to connect new fire sprinkler systems, and the state would encourage businesses to install sprinklers through a combination of tax credits and insurance discounts, under legislation proposed Wednesday in the state Senate.
Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell introduced the bill. His Charleston district includes the section of West Ashley where nine city firefighters were killed in June while fighting a blaze at the Sofa Super Store.
McConnell learned in the weeks following the fire, from reports in The Post and Courier, that it was the Charleston Water System’s policy to charge as much as $116,700 to connect a new sprinkler system to the utility’s waterlines. That’s when he first announced he would consider banning connection charges related to sprinkler systems, which are also levied by utilities in Summerville, Columbia, Greenville and other cities.
Thomas: Study Alleges Mortgage Discrimination High in Greenville
Filed Under Caucus, Thomas | Leave a Comment
Senator David Thomas of Greenville plans to propose a law to make lenders report more on the loans they grant. Said Thomas, “One of the things you additionally have to do is accumulate information with each of your clients that would categorize them racially and list their credit score.”
WSPA: Study Alleges Mortgage Discrimination High in Greenville
Wednesday, Sep 19, 2007 - 04:37 PM
By Heather Sullivan
While foreclosures on homes continue to rise across the country, two State Senators plan to hold a hearing tomorrow on a startling report.
The National Community Reinvestment Coaltion says Greenville is the tenth worst city in the country for racial discrimination in home loans. It says Charleston tops the list. What does this mean? The report says black families often end up in more expensive home loans than similar white families.
But banking and mortgage associations say federal regulation prevent lenders from discriminating and the study’s numbers don’t reveal the whole picture.
Thomas: ‘Angels for Autism’ made a difference
Filed Under Caucus, Thomas | Leave a Comment
The following op-ed by Senators David Thomas and Joel Lourie ran today in The State newspaper. It discusses the passage of Ryan’s Law, the legislation recently passed requiring insurance companies to provide coverage for children with autism.
Senator David Thomas talks with WYFF about the state budget
Filed Under Thomas | Leave a Comment
