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SC State Government
Comments (send your comments to yoursiteSC@comcast.net)
Patricia H. Why can't we use the homes that are seized by the law for subsidized housing or the land that is foreclosed on to build subsidized housing with a mini farm to help
feed the hungry
Veta in SC
Is there any way to bypass Govenor Standford on his stand against the stimulus money. Our state needs every little bit it can get to help put our poeple back to work. Can our
stste houses override his dissesion hurt his state. Please let me know what I can do, who I have to call, etc. Thanks Veta in SC
From LK: Yes Veta, there is a way to bypass the Governor. Congressman Jim Clyburn wrote into the bill that if a Governor declined the money, the state legislature could vote to
accept it. However, Senator Lindsey Graham is concerned that Clyburn's move might violate the 10th Amendment. Although I think that the outrage of the South Carolina
people, the state legislature being on our side and the President of the United States being on our side ... well, all that power will overcome Governor Sanford's stubborn
resistance. In the meantime, he continues to frighten people who need those jobs and the help. Finally, thanks for understanding that we must speak up and let these elected
officials know what we want. The best way to reach Governor Sanford is by a call or letter (they are taken more seriously than email):
Mailing Address:
Governor Mark Sanford
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 12267
Columbia, SC 29211
Fax: 803-734-5167
You may also contact the Governor's Office at 803-734-2100.
Susan D, Murrells Inlet
I am a full-time resident in Murrells Inlet, S.C. I am also a concerned parent. I understand that under age drinking is a problem and that we want to do everything we can to stop
it, but what about the kids that are not drinking and working to earn money to go to school and buy their first cars. Should we not do something to protect them? If the State of
South Carolina is going to allow persons under the age of 21 to sell or serve alcohol should we not have better training for them so that they can identify under age persons
trying to buy beer, wine, etc? Why can we not have a program in the High Schools that educate teenagers before they can make the alcohol sales? We can’t count on employers
to give these kids proper training and if these courses were required before they start their jobs maybe they would understand the gravity of the situation and better be able to
identify under age persons and I.D.’s. Instead we would rather have S.L.E.D. come in make, their stings and cause these kids that are working and trying to make a future for
themselves criminals. Getting them fired from their jobs, making them go to court giving them criminal records, fining them huge amounts, and hurting their chances to get into
college. The devastation of these stings is unimaginable for these hard working teens. My daughter is one of these teens. She is a good student, involved in sports, and had a
job to make her own money. Now she is unemployed and facing criminal charges because of one of these stings. After the sale which she had checked the girls ID, the officers
came in and asked for her driver’s license. They did not identify themselves and proceeded to the manager’s office. She had witnesses that verified she checked the girls ID, it
showed on tape that she was checking I.D’s. She made a mistake that I feel she might not have made if the training she is required to take after the fact! was given before the
fact. What needs to be done so that we can change the law? It needs to be made mandatory for persons under the age of 21 to take this class before they can sell alcohol. I
myself am a nurse and know that prevention is important. Can we please help the good kids from going through this pain, because of those kids that want to consume alcohol
and continue to break the law making others criminals.
Susan, it will take the state legislature to change the law. And changing the law is doable. Write or call your legislators. Get everyone you know to do likewise. Legislators say
when they get 4 letters or postcards, they consider an issue a groundswell of concern.
Also write or call Representative Bobby Harrell, who heads up the SC State House; and, Senator Glenn McConnell, who heads up the Senate. Find all the information you need
to get in touch at this link http://www.scstatehouse.gov/cgi-bin/zipcodesearch.exe%20. Good luck to you and your daughter, Linda
JoAnn, Folly Beach business selling solar power. Our state law does not require the utility companies to buy back any extra power generated. The other question I have for you
has to do with going green. I was looking into solar power for my house, and to start a new Instead, they charge you $150 a month to stay connected to them. Why is this, and
when are we going to join the rest of the country? How can we get this changed so that the utility companies will stop stealing my money?
Thank you for taking the time to listen to what my concerns are at this time. I hope to hear back from you with any solutions or avenues I might be able to look into for help.
JoAnn, hundreds of energy companies across the United States have solar buyback programs (find them at http://www.solarelectricpower.org/index.php?page=utility) but as you
noted, SC does not. We use 4th most electricity in the United States, and homes are the biggest source of energy inefficiency, so we should be doing all we can to encourage
alternative resources. This is a link to utility companies
Patricia H. Why can't we use the homes that are seized by the law for subsidized housing or the land that is foreclosed on to build subsidized housing with a mini farm to help
feed the hungry
Veta in SC
Is there any way to bypass Govenor Standford on his stand against the stimulus money. Our state needs every little bit it can get to help put our poeple back to work. Can our
stste houses override his dissesion hurt his state. Please let me know what I can do, who I have to call, etc. Thanks Veta in SC
From LK: Yes Veta, there is a way to bypass the Governor. Congressman Jim Clyburn wrote into the bill that if a Governor declined the money, the state legislature could vote to
accept it. However, Senator Lindsey Graham is concerned that Clyburn's move might violate the 10th Amendment. Although I think that the outrage of the South Carolina
people, the state legislature being on our side and the President of the United States being on our side ... well, all that power will overcome Governor Sanford's stubborn
resistance. In the meantime, he continues to frighten people who need those jobs and the help. Finally, thanks for understanding that we must speak up and let these elected
officials know what we want. The best way to reach Governor Sanford is by a call or letter (they are taken more seriously than email):
Mailing Address:
Governor Mark Sanford
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 12267
Columbia, SC 29211
Fax: 803-734-5167
You may also contact the Governor's Office at 803-734-2100.
Susan D, Murrells Inlet
I am a full-time resident in Murrells Inlet, S.C. I am also a concerned parent. I understand that under age drinking is a problem and that we want to do everything we can to stop
it, but what about the kids that are not drinking and working to earn money to go to school and buy their first cars. Should we not do something to protect them? If the State of
South Carolina is going to allow persons under the age of 21 to sell or serve alcohol should we not have better training for them so that they can identify under age persons
trying to buy beer, wine, etc? Why can we not have a program in the High Schools that educate teenagers before they can make the alcohol sales? We can’t count on employers
to give these kids proper training and if these courses were required before they start their jobs maybe they would understand the gravity of the situation and better be able to
identify under age persons and I.D.’s. Instead we would rather have S.L.E.D. come in make, their stings and cause these kids that are working and trying to make a future for
themselves criminals. Getting them fired from their jobs, making them go to court giving them criminal records, fining them huge amounts, and hurting their chances to get into
college. The devastation of these stings is unimaginable for these hard working teens. My daughter is one of these teens. She is a good student, involved in sports, and had a
job to make her own money. Now she is unemployed and facing criminal charges because of one of these stings. After the sale which she had checked the girls ID, the officers
came in and asked for her driver’s license. They did not identify themselves and proceeded to the manager’s office. She had witnesses that verified she checked the girls ID, it
showed on tape that she was checking I.D’s. She made a mistake that I feel she might not have made if the training she is required to take after the fact! was given before the
fact. What needs to be done so that we can change the law? It needs to be made mandatory for persons under the age of 21 to take this class before they can sell alcohol. I
myself am a nurse and know that prevention is important. Can we please help the good kids from going through this pain, because of those kids that want to consume alcohol
and continue to break the law making others criminals.
Susan, it will take the state legislature to change the law. And changing the law is doable. Write or call your legislators. Get everyone you know to do likewise. Legislators say
when they get 4 letters or postcards, they consider an issue a groundswell of concern.
Also write or call Representative Bobby Harrell, who heads up the SC State House; and, Senator Glenn McConnell, who heads up the Senate. Find all the information you need
to get in touch at this link http://www.scstatehouse.gov/cgi-bin/zipcodesearch.exe%20. Good luck to you and your daughter, Linda
JoAnn, Folly Beach business selling solar power. Our state law does not require the utility companies to buy back any extra power generated. The other question I have for you
has to do with going green. I was looking into solar power for my house, and to start a new Instead, they charge you $150 a month to stay connected to them. Why is this, and
when are we going to join the rest of the country? How can we get this changed so that the utility companies will stop stealing my money?
Thank you for taking the time to listen to what my concerns are at this time. I hope to hear back from you with any solutions or avenues I might be able to look into for help.
JoAnn, hundreds of energy companies across the United States have solar buyback programs (find them at http://www.solarelectricpower.org/index.php?page=utility) but as you
noted, SC does not. We use 4th most electricity in the United States, and homes are the biggest source of energy inefficiency, so we should be doing all we can to encourage
alternative resources. This is a link to utility companies
Governor Sanford Wanted $700M to Pay Down Debt Rather than Create Jobs
in a state with this kind of poverty ...
See our BLOG for Opinion and Add Yours!
in a state with this kind of poverty ...
See our BLOG for Opinion and Add Yours!
Addition to the below, SC now 2nd in the nation in unemployment. 10.4% and climbing.
UPDATE: Jobless rate hits 12.1% in May
State House Report; NOVEMBER 2008
Worst in smoking prevention. Headlines this month highlighted that South Carolina spends less on smoking prevention than any other state. (You might remember we also
have the nation's lowest cigarette tax at 7 cents per pack.). More.
3rd highest in infant mortality. Like last year, the state has the third highest rate in infant mortality, with 9.4 infants per 1,000 dying, according to the National Center for Health
Statistics (NCHS).
4th highest in premature births. Some 15.6 percent of South Carolina's babies are born prematurely, which won the state an "F" rating from a recent new March of Dimes study.
5th in stroke, diabetes. The state's rankings for rates of stroke and diabetes have improved slightly. Instead of being first in the nation on stroke, we're now 5th with 58.5 victims
per 100,000 people, according to the NCHS. Instead of having the third highest diabetes rate , we're now fifth - even though a slightly higher percentage (9.8 percent now,
compared to 9.4 percent last year) have diabetes, according to the Trust for America's Health.
5th worst place for kids. Like last year, the state is ranked 46th out of 50 in places for children to grow up, according to KidsCount.
7th in adult obesity. Some 28.4 percent of the state's adults are obese, up 0.6 percent from last year, but the state's ranking dropped from fifth, based on numbers from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
11th highest in child deaths. The state rose from six slots in having the high rates of child deaths, according to numbers from KidsCount.
11th in poverty. The state's poverty rate has gone from 15th in the country to 11th, based on the most recent statistics by KidsCount. Some 15 percent of South Carolinians --
and 21 percent of children -- live in poverty.
Per capita growth slightly better. South Carolina has moved from next to the last to 46th out of 50 in per capita economic growth, according to federal estimates.
1st in violent crime. For the second year in a row, South Carolina has the worst violent crime in the nation, according to the FBI. While the murder rate is slightly down,
aggravated assaults and burglary are up.
7th in domestic violence. The State continues to rank seventh in the country in the number of women killed by men, according to the Violence Policy Center.
48th in SAT score. South Carolina students scored slightly better to come in at 48th in SAT scores, up one slot from last year, according to the State Department of Education.
ACT scores are up for the fifth straight year. More.
UPDATE: Jobless rate hits 12.1% in May
State House Report; NOVEMBER 2008
Worst in smoking prevention. Headlines this month highlighted that South Carolina spends less on smoking prevention than any other state. (You might remember we also
have the nation's lowest cigarette tax at 7 cents per pack.). More.
3rd highest in infant mortality. Like last year, the state has the third highest rate in infant mortality, with 9.4 infants per 1,000 dying, according to the National Center for Health
Statistics (NCHS).
4th highest in premature births. Some 15.6 percent of South Carolina's babies are born prematurely, which won the state an "F" rating from a recent new March of Dimes study.
5th in stroke, diabetes. The state's rankings for rates of stroke and diabetes have improved slightly. Instead of being first in the nation on stroke, we're now 5th with 58.5 victims
per 100,000 people, according to the NCHS. Instead of having the third highest diabetes rate , we're now fifth - even though a slightly higher percentage (9.8 percent now,
compared to 9.4 percent last year) have diabetes, according to the Trust for America's Health.
5th worst place for kids. Like last year, the state is ranked 46th out of 50 in places for children to grow up, according to KidsCount.
7th in adult obesity. Some 28.4 percent of the state's adults are obese, up 0.6 percent from last year, but the state's ranking dropped from fifth, based on numbers from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
11th highest in child deaths. The state rose from six slots in having the high rates of child deaths, according to numbers from KidsCount.
11th in poverty. The state's poverty rate has gone from 15th in the country to 11th, based on the most recent statistics by KidsCount. Some 15 percent of South Carolinians --
and 21 percent of children -- live in poverty.
Per capita growth slightly better. South Carolina has moved from next to the last to 46th out of 50 in per capita economic growth, according to federal estimates.
1st in violent crime. For the second year in a row, South Carolina has the worst violent crime in the nation, according to the FBI. While the murder rate is slightly down,
aggravated assaults and burglary are up.
7th in domestic violence. The State continues to rank seventh in the country in the number of women killed by men, according to the Violence Policy Center.
48th in SAT score. South Carolina students scored slightly better to come in at 48th in SAT scores, up one slot from last year, according to the State Department of Education.
ACT scores are up for the fifth straight year. More.
UPDATES & INFORMATION
A good EARLY VOTING BILL, H 3608, made it out of the Election Laws subcommittee and will be considered by the House Judiciary Committee. Update: this bill was defeated in Judiciary Committee the week of April 27th . Click Here for commentary by James Smith. |
State: Senators' and Representatives Record of Votes
There is no record of votes for the legislators in the SC House or Senate because all business is done with "yeas" and "nays." Hard to believe but true. Read more:
http://www.theitem.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081206/APNEWS01/712069954Under Construction - Check Back
Click here to Let Your Representative Know That You Oppose This Blatant Lack of Accountability
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/cgi-bin/zipcodesearch.exe%20
There is no record of votes for the legislators in the SC House or Senate because all business is done with "yeas" and "nays." Hard to believe but true. Read more:
http://www.theitem.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081206/APNEWS01/712069954Under Construction - Check Back
Click here to Let Your Representative Know That You Oppose This Blatant Lack of Accountability
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/cgi-bin/zipcodesearch.exe%20
South Carolina Is No. 5 of Most Dysfunctional States
National Journal
MOST DYSFUNCTIONAL STATES
No. 5: South Carolina
by Louis Jacobson
Monday, July 13, 2009
Submitted by Pat Caddell
Leadership Problems: 10
After his now infamous sojourn to Buenos Aires to visit his mistress, Gov. Mark Sanford (R) returned to
South Carolina in a drastically weaker position than when he left. He had already alienated many in his
state with his effort -- blocked by the courts -- to decline certain federal stimulus monies. Then he irked
political leaders and constituents by leaving the state for several days without providing forwarding
information. Finally, after his return, Sanford inexplicably volunteered to journalists a wealth of details about
his unsettled personal life.
"He continues to be held in less-than-glowing stature by Republican and Democratic members of the
legislature, as he has frittered away multiple opportunities to partner with them and build trust," said Andy
Brack, who publishes the South Carolina Statehouse Report, a political newsletter.
Rather amazingly, some in South Carolina have decided that, despite all this baggage, the state would be
better served by having Sanford stay on, rather than resign and hand the governorship to Lt. Gov. Andre
Bauer. While Bauer is credited with being a skilled campaigner, many in the state see him as unseasoned
in policymaking, and they worry about a few widely reported incidents in which he got away with speeding
on state highways, allegedly because he pulled rank. Bauer is one of a number of Republicans who are
interested in running for governor when the seat opens up in 2010.
National Journal
MOST DYSFUNCTIONAL STATES
No. 5: South Carolina
by Louis Jacobson
Monday, July 13, 2009
Submitted by Pat Caddell
Leadership Problems: 10
After his now infamous sojourn to Buenos Aires to visit his mistress, Gov. Mark Sanford (R) returned to
South Carolina in a drastically weaker position than when he left. He had already alienated many in his
state with his effort -- blocked by the courts -- to decline certain federal stimulus monies. Then he irked
political leaders and constituents by leaving the state for several days without providing forwarding
information. Finally, after his return, Sanford inexplicably volunteered to journalists a wealth of details about
his unsettled personal life.
"He continues to be held in less-than-glowing stature by Republican and Democratic members of the
legislature, as he has frittered away multiple opportunities to partner with them and build trust," said Andy
Brack, who publishes the South Carolina Statehouse Report, a political newsletter.
Rather amazingly, some in South Carolina have decided that, despite all this baggage, the state would be
better served by having Sanford stay on, rather than resign and hand the governorship to Lt. Gov. Andre
Bauer. While Bauer is credited with being a skilled campaigner, many in the state see him as unseasoned
in policymaking, and they worry about a few widely reported incidents in which he got away with speeding
on state highways, allegedly because he pulled rank. Bauer is one of a number of Republicans who are
interested in running for governor when the seat opens up in 2010.
Criminality: 2
Aside from questions about whether Sanford used state funds while visiting his mistress, there has been no suggestion that any of South Carolina's recent tribulations are
anything more than moral transgressions.
Statewide Challenges: 7
At 12.1 percent, unemployment in South Carolina ranks third in the nation and No. 1 in the South. The Palmetto State ranks among the five worst states in such measures as
infant mortality, premature births, stroke, diabetes, smoking prevention and violent crime, according to statistics compiled by Brack.
"State highways are in terrible shape," said Jack Bass, a political scientist at the College of Charleston. "Public schools and state higher education institutions both remain
seriously underfunded."
Media Circus: 9
The Sanford story caught fire internationally and bequeathed a new euphemism -- "hiking the Appalachian Trail" -- to the English language. But as Sanford looks more and
more likely to stay put, South Carolina has already begun to return to normalcy.
TOTAL DYSFUNCTIONALITY: 7
Aside from questions about whether Sanford used state funds while visiting his mistress, there has been no suggestion that any of South Carolina's recent tribulations are
anything more than moral transgressions.
Statewide Challenges: 7
At 12.1 percent, unemployment in South Carolina ranks third in the nation and No. 1 in the South. The Palmetto State ranks among the five worst states in such measures as
infant mortality, premature births, stroke, diabetes, smoking prevention and violent crime, according to statistics compiled by Brack.
"State highways are in terrible shape," said Jack Bass, a political scientist at the College of Charleston. "Public schools and state higher education institutions both remain
seriously underfunded."
Media Circus: 9
The Sanford story caught fire internationally and bequeathed a new euphemism -- "hiking the Appalachian Trail" -- to the English language. But as Sanford looks more and
more likely to stay put, South Carolina has already begun to return to normalcy.
TOTAL DYSFUNCTIONALITY: 7
