Happy Monday. In case you missed it, here is a fantastic editorial by the Spartanburg Herald Journal laying out the need to pass legislation protecting workers’ rights, which will be up for 3rd reading tomorrow.

Here’s what else is popping this week in the State Senate.

This Week’s Hot Meetings

Sentencing Reform Act: Tuesday, March 9, 9:00 am | Gressette 105 | Judiciary Subcommittee

Freedom of Choice Healthcare Act: Tuesday, March 9, 3:00 pm | Gressette 105 | Judiciary Committee

Spending Caps: Tuesday, March 9, 3:00 pm | Gressette 308 | Finance Committee

Medigap Insurance Coverage: Wednesday, March 10, 9:00 am | Gressette 105 | Banking & Insurance Subcommittee

Lucas Group Briefing on ESC: Wednesday, March 10, 10:00 am | Gressette 308 | LCI Committee

Department of Administration: Wednesday, March 10, 10:00 am | Gressette 105 | Judiciary Subcommittee

Sprinkler Tax Credits: Wednesday, March 10, 11:00 am | Gressette 308 | Banking & Insurance Subcommittee

Tort Reform: Thursday, March 11, 9:00 am | Gressette 105 | Judiciary Subcommittee

Important Bills On The Calendar

Anti-Card Check: Secures South Carolina’s strong right-to-work status, which helped bring Boeing to our state, by guaranteeing that workers have the right to a secret ballot when voting on whether or not to unionize. It is currently on 3rd reading. It failed to reach 31 votes on second reading, which is required for a constitutional amendment.

Texting & Driving: Currently contested on second reading.

Public School Choice: Still being blocked by Senator Robert Ford on second reading.

DDSN Restructuring: Contested on second reading

DHEC Restructuring: Contested on second reading.

24-Hour Waiting Period: This bill makes women wait 24 hours before terminating the life of an unborn child. It is being blocked by the Democrats with a minority report.

Gov / Lt Governor Restructuring: Contested on the calendar.

Spending Caps: Being blocked by the Democrats.

Sembler: Placed on special order. It will come up after the Anti-Card Check bill.

Cigarette Tax: Contested on the calendar.

Kendra’s Bill: Creates minimum sentences for child care workers who severely injure children. It is currently being held up by a minority report.

ICYMI: Good Stuff from The Past Week

• Anderson Independent Mail | Sen. Kevin Bryant to be at legislative forum

• The State | Q & A with Harrell and Leatherman

• The State | For 2 leaders, state is a player in fight for jobs

• The Greenville News | Patients in ‘gap’ ask state to let them buy coverage

• The Post and Courier, Senator McConnell | Peacemakers don’t dwell on bitterness

• ETV | Senators McConnell, Davis, and Ford on Sembler Project

• SHJ | Protecting workers’ rights

• News-Medical.net | Dialysis patients gather to encourage state lawmakers to support Medigap legislation

• SHJ | SC lawmakers vote to kill fee for terrorists

• The Greenville News | Senate proposal restricts credit checks by employers

• SC Radio Network | Groups, legislators rally to spark SC cigarette tax (Video)

• The State | Conservation bank poised to survive

• The State | Boeing chief tells why S.C. chosen

• The State | Trouble ahead for Spratt?

This entry was posted on Monday, March 8th, 2010 at 11:06 pm and is filed under Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.