Senate Summary – Week of 1/15 – 17, 2008
Quote of the Week:
“…we need to pass Sen. Ritchie’s [immigration] reform bill requiring more businesses to document the citizenship status of their workers.” - Governor Mark Sanford – State of the State Address – January 16, 2008
English-only, Constitutional Convention, DNA Database
The Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Glenn McConnell (R-Charleston) Chairman, held its first meeting of the 2008 session Tuesday, January 15. The agenda included: (S. 856) a call for a Constitutional Convention to allow local enforcement of federal immigration laws; (S. 857) legislation requiring state agencies to provide services only in English, except where otherwise instructed by federal law; and (S. 890) a bill creating a DNA database. This important crime-fighting tool allows DNA samples to be taken from persons arrested for felonies that carry a sentence of five-years or more. All of the bills were passed out of the committee and will go before the full Senate for further debate.
Spending Caps Public Hearing
The Senate Spending Caps Study Committee, Senator Greg Gregory (R-Lancaster) Chairman, held a public hearing Tuesday, January 15, on possible legislation imposing state and local spending caps. More than 20 people spoke, representing local municipalities and chambers of commerce, most in opposition to local spending caps. The next meeting of the study committee will be Wednesday, January 23, at 10 a.m. in the Gressette building.
Cigarette Tax
The Senate Finance Special Subcommittee on Cigarette Tax (H. 3567), Senator Thomas Alexander (R-Oconee/Pickens) Chairman, met on Tuesday, January 15, for organizational purposes. The subcommittee will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, January 22, at 3 p.m. in the Gressette Building. The public is invited to speak. Although the bill is back in committee, it is automatically scheduled to return to the Senate calendar on Wednesday, February 6.
Illegal Immigration
The Senate “Illegal Immigration Reform Act,” which had been sitting in a House Judiciary Subcommittee, was passed out of the Constitutional Law Subcommittee with amendments. The bill is expected to be on the agenda for the next full meeting of the House Judiciary Committee Tuesday, January 22, at 2:30 p.m. in the Blatt Building.
The Week Ahead
The Senate Finance Special Subcommittee on Cigarette Tax will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, January 22, at 3 p.m. in room 308 of the Gressette Building.The Senate Spending Caps Study Committee will meet on Wednesday, January 23, at 10 a.m. in room 105 of the Gressette Building.A Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee will discuss H. 428, which is the “Water Withdrawal, Permitting, Use and Reporting Act”on Wednesday, January 23, at 10:30 a.m. in room 209 of the Gressette Building.