Chairman Tom Cole Names Rep. Barrett to NRCC Executive Committee
For Immediate Release: Contact: Press Office
January 30, 2007 (202) 479-7070
Chairman Tom Cole Names Rep. Barrett to
NRCC Executive Committee
Washington—National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman Tom Cole announced today that Representative Gresham Barrett has been named to the NRCC Executive Committee. As a member of the NRCC Executive Committee, Representative Barrett will play a key role in setting up the structure, raising the funds and implementing the strategy for the 2008 campaign.
“I am looking forward to working with Gresham Barrett to develop and execute our game plan for the 2008 elections. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but with the leadership and hard work of this executive committee, we will be well on our way to victory,” Chairman Tom Cole said. “We will be doing everything we can to grow our Republican Conference in the House.”
“Gresham Barrett is one of the Republican Conference’s most able and dedicated members. Having his help and political expertise on the NRCC Executive Committee will be a tremendous asset,” Tom Cole said.
The NRCC Executive Committee is composed of Republican Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The NRCC Executive Committee is an advisory committee appointed by NRCC Chairman Tom Cole. The NRCC is a political committee devoted to increasing the 202-member Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Spratt, Clyburn to Discuss “100 Hours Agenda” on TV Program
Wednesday, January 31, 2007 – For Immediate Release
Contact: Chuck Fant, 202-226-2651
Spratt, Clyburn to Discuss “100 Hours Agenda” on TV Program
WASHINGTON – On his next TV program, U.S. Rep. John Spratt (D-SC) hosts House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC) for a discussion of the bills House Democrats passed in the first 100 hours of the 110th Congress.
Clyburn, who holds the third highest rank in the House Leadership, was a chief architect of the agenda.
The program can be seen on the following stations:
York-Chester-Lancaster Viewing Area:
WNSC-TV (ETV), Channel 30, Rock Hill
Sunday, February 4, at Noon.
COMPORIUM CABLE, Channel 14, Rock Hill
Mondays at 7:30 p.m.
Sumter Viewing Area:
TIME WARNER CABLE, Channel 2, Sumter
Thursdays at 8:00 p.m.
Statewide:
SC ETV’s “SC CHANNEL”
Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m.
Fridays at 12:30 p.m.
Sundays at 10:00 a.m.
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Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02) tonight at 6:15 p.m. EST will join Lars Larson
Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02) tonight at 6:15 p.m. EST will join Lars Larson as a special guest on The Lars Larson National Show to discuss the newly formed Anti-Terrorism Caucus.
*TONIGHT*
6:15 p.m. EST
Kimberly A. Olive
Communications Director
Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02)
212 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-2452
MAJORITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN HOUSE MEMBERS ENDORSE SENATOR MCCAIN
For Immediate Release Contact: Danny Diaz
Wednesday, January 31, 2007 703-418-2008
ARLINGTON, VA – U.S. Senator John McCain’s presidential exploratory committee today announced that the majority of Republican members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are supporting the Arizona Senator. Surrounded by fellow legislators, Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives Bobby Harrell made the announcement in Columbia.
Earlier this month, Speaker Harrell participated in a series of news conferences across the state with Senator McCain to announce his endorsement and support.
At Wednesday’s statehouse press conference, Harrell released the names of 40 members who are supporting Senator McCain should he decide to seek the presidency. Harrell called the list “a signal of incredible support for Senator McCain among grassroots Republicans all across South Carolina.”
Describing the endorsements as a “history making moment,” Speaker Harrell said, “This endorsement shows how important we believe the next presidential election is. A majority of Republican House members want to help make Senator McCain, President McCain.” He also said McCain’s strong leadership on the war against global terror was a major factor. “John McCain knows that losing the war in Iraq is simply not an option for our country,” stated Harrell.
House Majority Leader Jim Merrill, one of the legislators endorsing Senator McCain, said South Carolinians are looking for a leader who can inspire the nation. “People know what they’re getting in Senator McCain, and that’s a strong, principled leader who tells the truth,” said Merrill. “They know where he stands, and they know he won’t waver or shift in the face of changing political winds.”
Over the last few months, Senator McCain has gained key endorsements from the state’s top Republican elected officials and leaders, and the addition of the majority of House Republicans demonstrates his increasing momentum in the Palmetto State.
Senator McCain welcomed the latest additions to his team in South Carolina. “Having the support of a majority of the state’s Republican representatives means a great deal,” said Senator McCain. “These dedicated men and women will be the strength of our efforts in South Carolina and I am honored to have their support.”
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STATE REPRESENTATIVES SUPPORTING SENATOR MCCAIN
Speaker Bobby Harrell
Charleston & Dorchester Counties
Speaker Pro-Tempore Doug Smith
Spartanburg County
House Majority Leader Jim Merrill
Berkeley & Charleston Counties
Representative Bruce Bannister
Greenville County
Representative Kenny Bingham
Lexington County
Representative Joan Brady
Richland County
Representative Catherine Ceips
Beaufort County
Representative Converse Chellis
Charleston & Dorchester Counties
Representative Bill Cotty
Kershaw & Richland Counties
Representative Kris Crawford
Florence County
Representative Tom Dantzler
Berkeley & Charleston Counties
Representative Ralph Davenport
Spartanburg County
Representative Tracy Edge
Horry County
Representative Marion Frye
Lexington & Saluda Counties
Representative Mike Gambrell
Abbeville & Anderson Counties
Representative Carl Gullick
York County
Representative Ben Hagood
Charleston County
Representative Nelson Hardwick
Horry County
Representative Jim Harrison
Richland County
Representative Gloria Haskins
Greenville County
Representative Bill Herbkersman
Beaufort County
Representative Shirley Hinson
Berkeley County
Representative Phillip Lowe
Florence & Sumter Counties
Representative Jay Lucas
Chesterfield, Darlington, Kershaw & Lancaster Counties
Representative Joe Mahaffey
Spartanburg County
Representative Gene Pinson
Greenwood County
Representative Mike Pitts
Abbeville, Greenwood, & Laurens Counties
Representative Wallace Scarborough
Charleston County
Representative Gary Simrill
York County
Representative Donald Smith
Aiken & Edgefield Counties
Representative Garry Smith
Greenville County
Representative Murrell Smith
Clarendon & Sumter Counties
Representative Roland Smith
Aiken County
Representative Adam Taylor
Greenville & Laurens Counties
Representative Mac Toole
Lexington County
Representative David Umphlett
Berkeley County
Representative Thad Viers
Horry County
Representative Bill Whitmire
Oconee County
Representative Bill Witherspoon
Horry County
Representative Annette Young
Charleston & Dorchester Counties
Wilson Joins Anti-Terrorism Caucus
CONTACT: Kim Olive
(202) 225-2452 (Office)
(202) 420-9493 (Cell)
Wilson Joins Anti-Terrorism Caucus
WASHINGTON - Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02) this week joined the newly formed Anti-Terrorism Caucus, a bipartisan group to educate Members of Congress about the threat of terrorism at home and abroad.
Vice Chair of the Republican Conference Kay Granger (R-TX), along with Representatives Sue Myrick (R-NC), Bud Cramer (D-AL), and Ben Chandler (D-KY), founded the Caucus to provide Members with current information regarding terrorist threats, their fundamentalist ideology, and the strategies and tactics they employ. The group is currently 68 members strong.
“If we are to protect our nation from future attacks, we must understand the mindset of those seeking our destruction. Members of Congress must make decisions everyday that impact the direction of our country. It is imperative we have current, practical, and accurate information.
“I commend Vice Chairwoman Granger for recognizing the need for a bipartisan, educational organization to keep Members informed and foster cooperation between parties on the most important issue of our day,” stated Wilson.
Caucus leaders plan to hold monthly meetings featuring terrorism and counter-terrorism experts who will brief Members on current and evolving terrorist threats in the United States and around the world.
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SCGOP, Columbia to host Republican National Committee State Chairmen’s Meeting
GOP Chairmen from across the country to meet in May
COLUMBIA – The Republican National Committee today announced the 2007 Republican National Committee State Chairmen’s Meeting will be held in Columbia, South Carolina, May 15th -18th, 2007. Republican Party chairmen from across the country will meet in Columbia for their annual strategy and planning sessions designed to strengthen local, state and national party organizations.
“We are very excited to host state Republican chairmen from across the country here in South Carolina.” said Katon Dawson, South Carolina Republican Party Chairman. “Having our Fox News nationally televised presidential debate and the Republican National Committee State Chairmen’s meeting the same week solidifies South Carolina’s role in presidential politics. It’s a huge opportunity for the news networks and the country to see a presidential debate in Columbia and then hear commentary from Republican chairmen representing every state in the U.S.”
Dawson has worked closely with Governor Mark Sanford, Lieutenant Governor Andre Bauer, Columbia Mayor Bob Coble, University of South Carolina President Dr. Andrew Sorenson and the Columbia City Council, in addition to Republican National Committee officials, to bring the annual state chairmen’s meeting to Columbia.
“I want to thank all the people whose hard work made it possible for Columbia to host our Republican Party chairmen from all over the country,” said Dawson.
The South Carolina Republican Party will also host the First-In-The-South Republican Presidential Primary debate, at the Koger Center at the University of South Carolina and a televised live by the Fox News Channel on May 15th. The week of Republican Party events will be capped off by the State Party’s convention Saturday, May 19th.
“Along with the tremendous economic impact on the city of Columbia and on the state of South Carolina, this lineup of events will continue to make the South Carolina Republican Party, Republican elected officials and thousands of state and local Republican activists, the focus of national political coverage,” said Dawson.
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Henry White Named Executive Director of Budget and Control Board
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
MARK SANFORD, GOVERNOR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joel Sawyer
803-734-2100
jsawyer@gov.sc.gov
WHITE BECOMES FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO LEAD AGENCY,
TOM DAVIS TO TAKE OVER AS GOVERNOR’S CHIEF-OF-STAFF
Columbia, S.C. - January 30, 2007 - Henry White today was named Executive Director of the S.C. Budget and Control Board, becoming the first African-American in state history to occupy the post. The Budget and Control Board is responsible for a litany of functions in South Carolina, including procurement, personnel functions, bond oversight, and property management. White, 45, an attorney, has served in Gov. Sanford’s administration for the past four years as Chief Legal Counsel and more recently as Chief of Staff as well. His position with the Budget and Control Board was effective immediately after this morning’s vote by the Board, with Gov. Sanford, Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom, and Treasurer Thomas Ravenel voting in favor of naming White as Executive Director.
“When you look at what has traditionally been the case in South Carolina, putting Henry in this role is an incredibly significant step toward making sure all South Carolinians are represented in the upper levels of state government,” Gov. Sanford said. “More importantly, working with Henry over the past four years I’ve come to know him as an incredibly fair and deliberate individual, which I think makes him well-suited to take over an agency which by its very nature is difficult to manage. I look forward to working with him in this new capacity, and know that his leadership on the Board will prove to be a real benefit to every taxpayer in South Carolina.”
White said his first priority will be to assess the current structure and management of the board to determine ways to make it more efficient and accountable.
“Leading the Budget and Control Board will be an incredibly challenging task, and it’s a challenge I’m eager to meet,” White said. “I agree with the governor that parts of this board should be ultimately transformed into a Department of Administration similar to what is found in 49 other states, but in the meantime my goal will be to run this agency to the best of my ability with an eye always toward looking out for the taxpayers.”
Tom Davis, 46, who recently rejoined the governor’s staff, has been named Chief of Staff and Chief Legal Counsel to replace White. Davis was formerly an attorney with Harvey and Battey, and has previously served as co-Chief of Staff and Senior Policy Advisor to Gov. Sanford.
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY ON NITELINE
ABC’s “Nightline”
January 29, 2007
ABC’s Terry Moran On The Trail With Governor Mitt Romney:
ABC’s TERRY MORAN: “One of the contenders you might not have heard much about yet. The competition for the Republican nomination’s wide open, so pay attention to the man from Massachusetts, Mitt Romney, and the big question about him. How much will his faith be a factor? I spent the day with him in Iowa as part of our series, ‘The Contenders.’”
GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY: “Wow. Look at the size of this group. Oh, my.”
MORAN: “Mitt Romney, a Republican candidate for president, sure is nice.”
MORAN: “He’s personable, polite, cheerful, nice all the time, it seems.”
MORAN: “Do you find people know you out here?”
GOVERNOR ROMNEY: ”They don’t yet. But that’s exactly what I mean. That’s an itch. I mean, you know, we got a year to go. So it’s just a lot of trips, get to know people, learn who they are on a personal basis. They get to know you.”
MORAN: ”But a lot of people think Mitt Romney is going to be a formidable candidate. He’s got the money, the skills, the looks, and the track record that might appeal to a lot of Republicans.”
MORAN: “Romney is definitely smooth, polished, a political pro.”
GOVERNOR ROMNEY: ”When you face challenges, you go to your core beliefs. And I happen to believe something about America’s source of strength.”
MORAN: “He’s already assembled a top-flight campaign team. They managed to pack every event when we were with him. And he’s done his homework on the issues. Here he is at a massive ethanol plant in rural Iowa.”
GOVERNOR ROMNEY: “As a nation, we need to support the development of new technologies and the adoption of new technologies so that we can free ourselves from the non-market OPEC stranglehold on energy in this country.”
MORAN: “As he ends this campaign day with a lot more ahead of him, Mitt Romney seems full of hope. Hope that Republicans and Americans, in general, are ready for a new face, a pretty handsome one at that, and a new voice, a voice that just happens to belong to a Mormon.”
Governor Mitt Romney On His Faith:
MORAN: “But there’s something else about Mitt Romney, something that makes him different from every other candidate. He’s a Mormon. Would you describe yourself as a devout Mormon? True believer?”
GOVERNOR ROMNEY: “Absolutely. I’m proud of my faith. It’s part of my heritage. I think the American people respect individuals of faith. That’s the kind of person they wanna lead the country.”
Governor Mitt Romney On His Pro-Life Record:
MORAN: “What’s your position on abortion?”
GOVERNOR ROMNEY: “I’m pro-life.”
MORAN: “Your critics say you’re flip-flopping rather conveniently when you’re running for president.”
GOVERNOR ROMNEY: ”Well, you know, we all learn from experience. And I’m just like other people in this nation. Not everything I believed 12 or 13 years ago is the same today, with regards to the issue of abortion. And so about two years ago, I said I am pro-life. And prior to that time, I had a different position.”
Governor Mitt Romney On Iraq:
MORAN: “Was it the right thing for the United States to invade Iraq?”
GOVERNOR ROMNEY: ”Well, I supported the President at the time. He indicated that based on intelligence, we had weapons of mass destruction, a threat to this land. He proposed a solution and I supported it. And I’m not going back in trying to second-guess that. I don’t have the data or inside sources to suggest doing that.”
GOVERNOR ROMNEY: “There’s no question about the fact that we have not conducted the war as effectively as we might…and it’s been problematic and has caused part of the problems we face today.”
Brownback Reintroduces Public Expressions of Religion Act
Would require all parties in Establishment Clause cases to pay their own legal fees
WASHINGTON Jan. 29 /Standard Newswire/ — U.S. Senator Sam Brownback today reintroduced the Public Expressions of Religion Act, which would prevent activist groups from using a 1970s-era civil rights law to recover attorney’s fees when they sue local cities and towns in cases related to public displays of religion and faith.
“It is not fair for taxpayers to pay the legal bills for groups like the ACLU,” said Brownback. “Currently many small towns comply with the demands of the ACLU rather than risk going to trial and paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees to the ACLU if they lose the case.”
Today, legal activist groups recover hundreds of thousands of dollars from state and local governments based on a provision of the 1976 Civil Rights Attorney Fees Awards Act, which was intended to assist underprivileged plaintiffs in obtaining legal representation in civil rights cases. If legal activist groups win a lawsuit related to the Constitution’s Establishment Clause, the 1976 law entitles them to compensation for costs incurred in litigating the case.
Brownback continued, “The legislation I introduced today would still allow plaintiffs with legitimate claims to have their day in court. However, it would prevent local cities and towns from being coerced into settling claims out of a fear of huge monetary losses.”
For example, when several groups won a case in Alabama to remove a Ten Commandments display from the Alabama Supreme Court building, taxpayers were forced to pay the groups’ attorneys nearly $550,000.
The Public Expressions of Religion Act would require parties in Establishment Clause cases to pay their own attorney’s fees.
Brownback is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and is the ranking member on the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights.
Ben Gregg joins SC Wildlife Federation as new Executive Director
Hiring comes at critical juncture for state’s natural resources
COLUMBIA - Ben Gregg, a veteran conservationist and community leader, has been named as Executive Director of the South Carolina Wildlife Federation.
Gregg will join the state’s oldest and largest conservation membership group at a time when South Carolina’s natural resources are in peril by threats ranging from out-of-control sprawl to rapid climate change.
In announcing the hiring, new SCWF Chair Johney Haralson of Bamberg County said, “We made an extensive search, and at the end of the day, Ben’s broad experience in conservation, public policy, communications and law was most impressive. From the mountains to the sea, Ben knows the state and its people very well. Our board of Directors saw the right mix of judgment, enthusiasm and knowledge. We are delighted Ben Gregg will be joining us.”
A native of Florence, Gregg is a former member of the SC Natural Resources Board. He began his career in state government as the SC Coastal Council’s first staff attorney and then as Director of Natural Resources under Governor Dick Riley. In the private sector, he has practiced law and also been a public relations and communications counselor.
Gregg’s community involvement record includes serving on the boards of the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, Richland Memorial Cancer Center, Congaree Land Trust, SC Migratory Waterfowl Committee and Friends of Congaree Swamp. He also served a stint on the Atlantic States Fisheries Commission. He is a graduate of Leadership South Carolina.
Gregg’s undergraduate degree is from Presbyterian College. He is also a graduate of the University of South Carolina Law School and the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.
“With it’s rich history and proven conservation ethic, the Wildlife Federation is at the forefront of protecting South Carolina’s outdoor traditions and improving our quality of life”, explained Gregg. “It’s an honor to be associated with SCWF, and I look forward to taking the organization to the next level in terms of membership and advocacy”, he concluded.
Gregg lives in Columbia with his wife Ann Timberlake. They have a son, Ted and a daughter Elizabeth.
The South Carolina Wildlife Federation is the state’s oldest and largest membership conservation group. Formed in 1931 to find ways to reverse the trend of dwindling game and fish populations and to promote outdoor ethics and stronger conservation laws, the Federation is still a strong proponent of its original values in addition to resolving today’s pressing environmental issues. The Federation has over 4,000 individual, family and other memberships totaling over 8,000 individuals.
More information can be obtained about SCWF by visiting www.scwf.org or calling 803-256-0670.
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