THE SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS

(Columbia, SC) – In a joint statement about the Legislature returning to make targeted budget cuts, House Speaker Bobby Harrell and Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell said:

“The House and Senate will return in session Monday, October 20th in order to make targeted budget cuts. Using input from members from both bodies and the Executive Branch, House and Senate Leaders are putting together a proposed plan and have been seeking input from members.

“The plan will make targeted cuts to agencies while protecting the funding for some of the most critical areas of government. Additionally, we are recommending that our cuts need to go beyond the 6 percent requirement of the Board of Economic Advisors. Our budget plan will go an additional percentage point and addresses a 7 percent reduction in spending to better secure this budget and future budgets.

“No Representative or Senator will receive any salary for the time spent in Columbia working on this budget plan. Reimbursements for mileage and lodging will be available for members.

“In an effort to save the taxpayers as much money as possible, we knew a plan must be in hand before a date was set. This date to return was decided by the House Speaker and Senate President Pro Tempore today and we have been contacting members today to try and give them as much time as possible to prepare for a Legislative session next week.

“To pass this measure, a bill must be reported out and read three times in each body. By law, each of the three readings must take place on separate legislative days. This Friday, October 17th at 10:00 am the House Ways and Means Committee will meet to debate these cuts and report out a bill containing targeted cuts. The full House will take up that bill when it convenes at Noon on the 20th. Also, the Senate Finance committee will begin meeting on the targeted cuts Monday, October 20th.”

Response to Greg Anderson Release:

“We’re glad to see that Mr. Anderson doesn’t deny that he’s opposed to offshore drilling and he has no real energy plan. In a news release filed with name calling, he refused to address the fact that he’s completely wrong on energy independence.”

- Wesley Donehue, spokesman for the SC Senate Republican Caucus

Notes from Wednesday Evening, September 03

The schedule of speakers Wednesday evening was outstanding and Governor Sarah Palin hit a homerun. Spirits on the convention floor were high and as former Gov. Mike Huckabee said the media reports over the last few days seem to have unified the convention, and hopefully the party, in a way that few things could.

I thought Gov. Palin’s speech was honest, on-point, funny, and provided the insight that America needed to realized that John McCain’s choice as a running mate is the right choice.

I was glad that she took the time to acknowledge the members of her family. It demonstrated a sincerity about her that I think is important.

Everybody is talking about the speech. She has certainly added a new level of excitement to the convention.

Looking forward to Senator McCain’s acceptance speech on Thursday.

Notes from Tuesday, September 02 and Breakfast on Wednesday, September 03, 2008

The first full day of the convention was great! The excitement continues to grow here and I am glad to be a part of this enthusiastic group.

The President spoke to the convention last night via satellite. I am not sure that made it on the national television coverage. I think he spoke before most of the network coverage began. First Lady Laura Bush also spoke, as with Monday’s appearance, she was warmly received by the delegates.

Former Senator from Tennessee and one-time presidential candidate, Fred Thompson, addressed the convention and gave Senator McCain a ringing endorsement. Senator Thompson was very animated and he almost appeared excited, it was certainly a different side than that exhibited on the campaign trail. The final comment from Senator Thompson sums up most of his speech related to John McCain.

Sen. Thompson: “John McCain cannot raise his arms above his shoulders. He cannot salute the flag of the country for which he sacrificed so much. Tonight, as we begin this convention week, we stand with him. And we salute him. We salute his character and his courage. His spirit of independence, and his drive for reform. His vision to bring security and peace in our time, and continued prosperity for America and all her citizens. For our own good and our children’s, let us celebrate that vision, that belief, that faith so we can keep America the greatest country the world has ever seen.”

After Senator Thompson spoke, Independent-Democrat Joe Lieberman spoke. Despite being a Democrat he received a very warm welcome. Here is a quote from Senator Lieberman’s speech that addresses the quality and character of the man that is John McCain.

Senator Lieberman: “What you can expect from John McCain as President is precisely what he has done this week: which is to put country first. That is the code by which he has lived his entire life, and that is the code he will carry with him into the White House. I have personally seen John over and over again bring people together from both parties to tackle our toughest problems we face.”

This morning I attended a breakfast where T. Boone Pickens was the featured speaker. He is the billionaire that has been promoting an alternative energy plan, known as THE PICKENS PLAN for the last few months on the Internet. Basically, he is a big proponent of utilizing our natural gas reserves, wind and solar power.

Pickens has been somewhat prophetic on predictions that oil import problems would cause oil prices to escalate, which we have seen in recent months. Pickens is also pushing the utilization of break through technology to extract shale oil and the use of natural gas for cars. Pickens stated that several natural gas fields around the country have reserves as large or possibly larger than the Barnett Shale Area Formation located outside of Dallas, TX. The Barnett field is estimated to have between 2.5 and 30 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Pickens also said that IRAN has started moving more toward natural gas powered vehicles, so that they can use less oil, thus having more to sell on the world market. His argument is that we have an abundant supply of natural gas, why can’t we start to convert cars here in the US, using an abundant domestic energy source to power our vehicles.

Pickens wants US automakers to produce and promote more natural gas models for the US market. GM makes 19 models that are sold worldwide, but only one in the United States. Most natural gas vehicles go to large corporations and governments. The US consumer is not being educated about the fact that natural gas is cheap, clean and domestic says Pickens.

Pickens says, “We must have a plan” one that includes all options, “DRILL HERE. DRILL NOW” and other alternatives, because we cannot drill ourselves out of the problem of imported oil.

I will send more updates later in the day. Below are some pictures I took yesterday and this morning.

This is a picutre of the volunteer work center. They are packing boxes headed to the Gulf Coast.

T. Boone Pickens - featured speaker at the breakfast I attended this morning.

This crowd is amazing! I hiked all the way to the upper deck back row for this one.

I know everyone has seen this on TV, but this is a shot of the stage from the convention floor.

I was finally able to slow Lisa Sox - Executive Director of the SC Senate GOP Caucus - down long enough to take this picture.

On the convention floor with fellow SC Delegate Tony Denny

Glenn McCall - York County Delegate and National Committeeman

Outside the Convetnion Center