Senate Overrides Majority of Governor’s Vetoes
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Columbia, SC - As the South Carolina Senate adjourned from a one-day wrap-up session, several significant pieces of legislation will now become law. In all, the General Assembly overrode 15 of the 20 bills vetoed by Governor Sanford since the end of the regular session.
“Today was a very productive day,” says Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell (R-Charleston). “We got the sprinkler bill through and we got the DNA bill through today, two important pieces of legislation. We also took care of the school bus fuel, the cost of the elections and made sure that we handled any contingences in a prudent way, which means the lowest possible price to the taxpayer.”
Included in the overrides were eight Senate bills and twelve House bills. The final result of the action taken on the bills is listed below. (O = overridden, S = sustained)
Senate originating bills
S H
O S S.181 Sentence reduction
O O S.577 Increased penalty for assaulting coaches and sports officials
O S S.799 Relating to Acupuncture licensure
O O S.968 Definition of weapons and allowing concealable weapons on Statehouse grounds
O S S.970 Eliminates requirement for DHEC to notify schools when students test positive for HIV/AIDS
O O S.1141 Energy efficient manufactured homes income tax credits
O O S.1143 Energy efficient appliance tax holiday, gun tax holiday, Splash blending for gas
O O S.1252 Centers of Excellence Matching Endowment Funding
House originating bills
S H
O O H.3812 Allows increase in property millage for development around military bases
O O H.3912 Medical Practices Act, Medical Necessity bill
- S H.3993 Historic Baseball Leagues Day - MLB Opening Day
O O H.4339 National Guard retirement benefits
O O H.4470 Fire sprinkler system optional tax credits, limitation of tap fees
O O H.4554 Real estate licenses and fees
O O H.4743 Affordable housing to be included in tax increment financing, allows rural water districts to provide sewer service
O O H.4773 Federal Money for Employment Security Commission building in Spartanburg County
O O H.4815 Film Office moves from Commerce to PRT
S O H.4950 Textiles Revitalization Act
O O H.4982 Dillion County millage increase
O O H.5012 Nurses subject to criminal background checks, must wear name badges
The House and Senate also adopted conference committee reports on two additional bills, which will send them to the Governor’s desk. The bills include:
S. 429 - DNA database and post-conviction relief
H. 4355 - Amends the General Appropriations bill to cover the cost of school bus fuel and the general elections.
In an effort to provide responsible management of state revenue, the Senate and the House passed a new Sine Die resolution (S.1469). The resolution was a proactive move allowing the General Assembly to return if state revenue fall by more than four percent of projected estimates during the first quarter of the new fiscal year, which begins July 1, or if the Governor vetoes amendments to the General Appropriations Bill.
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Larry Martin Re-Elected to Senate
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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. Read more
Horry County senate race not a close one
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An Horry County election that generated a lot of attention, and some controversy, is the race for Senate District 33. ??
Republican incumbent Luke Rankin faced Horry County Council Chairman Liz Gilland and attorney Howard Bond in Tuesday night’s primary. ??
The unofficial results from Horry County with all the precincts reporting have Howard Bond with 322 votes, Liz Gilland with 2,442, and Luke Rankin with 5,994. Read more
Gilland’s shot at senator falls short
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Four-term state Sen. Luke Rankin crushed Horry County Council Chairwoman Liz Gilland more than two to one in complete but unofficial returns to hold onto his place for nomination for the Republican slate on the November ballot.
“I am relieved and gratified,” Rankin said. “I’m looking forward to going back to work.”
After vote totals were in, Gilland said: “I just got shellacked.”
Later Rankin said: “The margin of victory certainly indicated that it was a well-crafted campaign.” Read more
