THE SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS

The RNC released the official list of those serving on the PLATFORM COMMITTEE today. As I mentioned yesterday, I am the Co-Chair for the “Protecting Our Families, Preserving Our Values Subcommittee.” The subcommittee is being Chaired by Pennsylvania State Senator Jane Orie. She serves the 40th Senatorial District in Pennsylvania.

Just to give you an idea of how the process works. The PLATFORM COMMITTEE will produce the overall PLATFORM for 2008. Each subcommittee has the responsibility of producing resolutions that will be adopted to make up the PLATFORM. C-SPAN2 carried some of the committee hearings live.

U.S. Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) is the PLATFORM Committee Co-Chairman. I had a chance to speak with him earlier today, and he was kind enough to pose for the photo above.

One thing I have noticed is a growing enthusiasm among those working on the PLATFORM committee and it is spreading through everyone here. It seems that we are building momentum at a good time, as we head into the convention.

Here are a couple of highlights from the subcommittee’s work. I think most socially conservative Republicans will be pleased with the direction the PLATFORM is heading. A few topics discussed during the subcommittee included: law enforcement, rights of religious people in the market place, sanctity of human life and traditional marriage. We also had a couple of notable conservative Constitutional lawyers on our subcommittee: Jim Bopp from Indiana and Kelly Shackleford from Texas. We were very fortunate to have such a strong subcommittee.

I will say I personally feel the statements concerning the sanctity of human life are stronger than they have been in the past.

Overall, I think the work from our subcommittee will be well received by Republicans everywhere.

Look for more updates later.

Senator Mike Fair

Welcome to a behind the scenes blog about the Republican National Convention. For most of the world the convention will start on September 1st, when the major networks begin their broadcast coverage, but in reality committee work begins this week (Monday, August 25), and I will be serving on the Platform Committee. In fact, I am a Co-Chair on the Protecting Families and Values sub-committee. I also served on the Platform Committee in 2004.

I am just now arriving in Minneapolis - St. Paul. My wife, Judy, and I are attending our 5th Republican National Convention.

In the days ahead I will try to keep you informed about the work being done by the committee and next week I will continue my convention blog with personal stories and views from the convention.

Unitl next time -
Senator Mike Fair

WILL SPEND NEXT THREE MONTHS KNOCKING ON DOORS TO SPREAD MESSAGE OF REFORM

(Edgefield, SC) – State Senator Shane Massey was elected last year by knocking on over 10,000 doors to spread his message of shaking things up in Columbia. Shane has come through on that commitment by working to uncover secret pork barrel spending, forcing drunk drivers off the streets, and pushing the toughest illegal immigration bill in the nation. In his short time in the State Senate, Shane has become known as one of South Carolina’s hardest working legislators in his fight to change the status quo.

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POST AND COURIER

COLUMBIA — A big announcement coming today is intended to turn around South Carolina’s economy and get more people working.

House Speaker Bobby Harrell and Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, both Charleston Republicans, are scheduled to unveil a plan at the South Carolina Employment Security Commission alongside other legislative leaders, researchers, academics and private businessmen.

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