South Carolina Senate Republican Caucus

Fast Movement Shows Senate’s Commitment to Port Stability

Columbia, SC – February 3, 2009 – A plan to bring significant reform to the State Ports Authority passed a key legislative committee today. S.351, the State Ports Authority Restructuring Act, moved through the Senate Transportation Committee Tuesday, receiving a significant majority vote.  The bill now heads to the full Senate.

Sponsored by Transportation Committee Chairman Larry Grooms and Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell, the plan ensures more accountability from the State Ports Authority (SPA), creates additional oversight and restructures the SPA’s governance, management, and planning structure. Senator Grooms says “the plan creates the level of stability that world-class businesses expect from a world-class port.”

“The South Carolina Senate realizes that we need to run the SPA more like a business with the strictest accountability, stability, and transparency,” Grooms said. “This restructuring bill ensures that we have a long-term strategic plan to create jobs for South Carolina.”

The restructuring plan:

• Demands stability and strong management.

• Emphasizes long-range and strategic planning, oversight, accountability, and transparency.

• Increases stability by ensuring that Board members can only be removed with just cause.

• Ensures that Board members have experience relevant to the Port’s mission. The plan sets all duties and qualifications for the Board members and the Executive Director.

• Creates an Advisory & Oversight Board to assist in developing a long-term policy for Port success. The Advisory & Oversight Board will carry out oversight duties and provide annual reports to the General Assembly.

• Requires the SPA to create a twenty-year strategic plan, which must be reviewed by the General Assembly.

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Senator McConnell on the Teacher Protect Act

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Cherokee County suffered a great loss today with the passing of Representative Olin Phillips. A true statesman, Olin spent his life serving others and every Cherokee County family has benefited from his work.  I’m thankful for the opportunity to have served beside Olin over the past thirty years and I pray that the Lord grants comfort on his wife and children today.

- Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler

(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

Notes from Tuesday, September 02

Yesterday, much of the “public” part of the convention was cancelled on concerns that Hurricane Gustav would have a devastating impact in the Gulf Coast, and it was more important for us, in the words of Cindy McCain, “to take off our Republican hats and put on our American hats.” Fortunately, the damage to the Louisiana coast, while destructive, was not as devastating as had been predicted earlier in the week.

Out of respect for those who were directly impacted I was glad to see that as a party we recognized the seriousness of the situation and opted to fore-go the celebrations typically associated with these conventions.

I must give Senator McCain credit. He was leading the way. At a time when everyone is gathered to rally behind his nomination he rightly did what was best for the nation. Just one more example of the type of leader he will be as president.

On Monday, and again today, things got started with a variety of breakfast events being hosted by the various state delegations. This morning the South Carolina delegation partnered with the New Hampshire delegation to host a breakfast with an impressive group of speakers. One of the speakers, Buddy Roemer, former Governor of Louisiana (1988-1992) who served in the House of Representative (1981-1988) with John McCain, said Senator McCain, “sees America as it should be.”

Another of the special speakers for the breakfast was Cindy McCain, she thanked South Carolina for the role we played in the primary process and said she would be talking about the family, her family, to the convention.

Another inspirational speaker was Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who said when he called the White House on 9/11 that he was glad the Bush Administration was on the other end of the phone. He went on to say we must elect Senator John McCain, because in times like these the right man must be on the other end of the phone.

I am hearing that there have been some changes to the scheduled speakers due to the delayed “start” of the convention. But it should be an exciting line-up for the first night of public speeches. I will post pictures of the evenings events later.

Below are a few pictures I took over the weekend and a couple from today. Please excuse the quality, I am taking these photos and supporting the Blog from my new Blackberry.

L-R Tony Denny, Roxanne Wilson, State Representative Alan Clemmons, and Lisa Sox – Executive Director SC Senate GOP Caucus.

Members of the SC Delegation

I know this picture is a bit blurry, but I wanted you to see that all the major players are here at the RNC. George Washington opened Monday’s delegation breakfast with a prayer from his journal. This is actually the actor who played George Washington in the History Channel’s “The Revolution.”

SC Delegation members on Convention Floor – Monday, August31.

Cindy McCain at the SC/NH Delegation Breakfast

Notes from Sunday, August 31

Around here there are opportunities to attend a myriad of functions that involve a meal (breakfast or lunch) and a celebrity. The celebrities are people like Mary Madelyn and Jon Voight. Conservative leaders are all over the place as well, from Newt Gingrich to Anne Coulter.

This Monday is going to be a scary proposition for Gulf Coast residents and the political leadership in Gustav affected states.

The Convention has been abbreviated from 10 hours to about two. The two hours will be perfunctory tasks.

One is to adopt the Platform that was completed last Wed.

The platform was already setting the tone for an outstanding convention to give Sen. McCain a strong document. The next day was the announcement of Gov. Sarah Plain, which has been received with phenomenal enthusiasm around the convention and the incredible excitement around the country.

I’ll mention just a few lines from scattered places in the Platform Doc.

“All Americans should affirm that our first obligation is the security of our country. To all those who defend it, we owe our full support and gratitude.”

“Border security is essential to national security.”

“E-verify must be renewed and receive the federal government’s full support. It does not mean a national ID card.”
“It does not mean a driver’s license for illegal aliens…. we oppose amnesty.”

“To protect our service men and women and ensure that America’s Armed Forces remain the best in the world, we affirm the timelessness of those values, the benefits of the traditional military culture, and the incompatibility of homosexuality with military service.”

“We simply must draw more American oil from American soil if we are to have the resources we need to achieve energy independence.” Sarah Palin as VP could bring ANWAR back into serious consideration.

I believe, and I have heard many say that this platform is both the most conservative platform and the most forward thinking platform in the history of the Republican Party.

The Senate Republican Caucus will send you a copy of the platform upon request, or you can click here to go to the 2008 Platform online.

Stay tuned for more timely information from Minn.
Senator Mike Fair

Notes from Friday, August 29

Obviously, the buzz of the day is about Senator John McCain’s vice presidential pick – Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska. I can tell you that the people I have spoke with about Senator McCain’s choice have been very excited. As I wrote earlier in the week I have noticed a real sense of excitement growing as the week progressed and today’s announcement only added to the excitement. This was a real GRAND SLAM choice for Senator McCain.

I am sure there will be more than enough information about Gov. Palin available through other media sources, but here are just a few of the things that people are excited about in relation to her.
1. She brings an exciting element to the ticket.
2. She has cut taxes and fought corruption in state government.
3. She pushed through a strong ethics reform bill in Alaska.
4. She supports exploring our natural resources in an effort to gain energy independence.
5. She is an avid sportswoman that understands the need to protect the environment.
6. She will be a tremendous boost to the American family.
7. She is a strong Pro-Life advocate, and is a mother of five.
8. Her oldest son is a member of the armed forces. (He will be heading to Iraq on Sept. 11)
9. May appeal to disenfranchised voters from the other party.

Senator McCain’s move today provides the Republican Party with a new boost of energy and excitement. Click here for more information.

The Republican party is known to be the “conservative” party. However, the platform will surprise some as to just how conservative it is. Here are just a few of the amendments passed today.
1. The Mexico City Policy – This policy prohibits federal monies from being given to Non-Government Organizations that promote abortion as a method of family planning in other countries.
2. We support a commitment to continued clean-coal production and utilization.
3. We support strengthening our connections with both Canada and Mexico through increased trade and a continued development of our shared values and common purpose.
4. We support sanctions being expanded to all sectors in Iran, not just the energy sector.
5. We support Jerusalem being an undivided city and the capitol of Israel.
These are just a few examples that illustrate the committee’s commitment to conservative principles.

The convention begins next week and I expect it will demonstrate to the American people the level of enthusiasm that Republicans are experiencing nationwide about the conservative platform. The energy and excitement of the convention will also show the delight with which the McCain campaign is embracing these conservative principles.

The platform developed for 2008 is truly a grassroots-driven platform. The Republican Party conducted an extensive online effort to reach out to the American people and get their input on platform issues. This year’s platform has been significantly reduced from previous years. The working draft of the platform is 48 pages, whereas in years past it has grown to more than 100.

The platform is an easy to understand and readable document that outlines the core values of the Republican Party. You can find a link to the 2008 working draft of the platform draft by clicking here.

I’ll have more updates soon as we head into the convention.
Senator Mike Fair