Lieutenant Governor André Bauer names Curtis M. Loftis, Jr. as Director of the Office On Aging
State of South Carolina
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor André Bauer names Curtis M. Loftis, Jr. as Director of the Office On Aging
Columbia, S.C. February 28, 2007 Lieutenant Governor André Bauer has named the leader of a local charitable foundation as the Director of the Lt. Governor’s Office on Aging.
Curtis M. Loftis, Jr., of West Columbia, is founder and benefactor of Saluda Charitable Foundation, a faith-based Christian humanitarian group that operates international missions for the housing and medical care of the elderly.
“Curtis Loftis brings a passion for service to the Lt. Governor’s Office on Aging,” said Bauer. “He is entirely oriented towards helping others, and will continue our philosophy of constituent service for the benefit of the 1 in 7 South Carolinians who are 60 and older. I know he will do a tremendous job for the seniors in our state.”
Loftis, whose appointment is effective immediately, replaces attorney Michael Easterday, who has simultaneously held the positions for the past six months of both Office on Aging Director and Chief of Staff to the Lieutenant Governor.
“Mike deserves a huge thanks for holding down two full-time positions for an extended period of time to make this all work,” said Bauer. “One of the greatest joys of bringing Curtis Loftis to the Office on Aging is that it frees up Mike Easterday to come back to our office full-time to help me further our agenda of fiscal conservatism with our taxpayers’ dollars.”
“I’m excited by the challenge of helping Lt. Governor Bauer provide the best possible service to the seniors of South Carolina at the greatest level of efficiency,” Loftis said. “The Office on Aging has made tremendous strides during the last few years, and I want to continue that positive progress.”
Loftis is a lifelong resident of South Carolina and a 1981 Graduate of the University of South Carolina. Prior to establishing the Saluda Charitable Foundation (www.saludacharitable.com), he had a 20-year career as a successful businessman and real estate investor. He is a member of the First Baptist Church of West Columbia.
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JOHN MCCAIN 2008 LAUNCHES NEW ONLINE EFFORTS
ARLINGTON, VA – U.S. Senator John McCain’s presidential exploratory committee today launched five new online projects to give Americans a new way to interact with the campaign and additional opportunities to learn about and engage John McCain.
John McCain 2008 announced the creation of two official video sharing channels at YouTube, www.youtube.com/johnmccaindotcom and Veoh, www.veoh.com/channels/johnmccain. These channels will host all the same videos available at JohnMcCain.com.
“Video is an integral part of our website at JohnMcCain.com, and we are happy that YouTube and Veoh are giving us additional opportunities for people to watch John McCain speaking directly to the American people,” said Christian Ferry, National eCampaign Director. “They also allow people to share and embed these videos throughout their online communities.”
In addition, the committee today launched official social networking profiles on Facebook, www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=724875122, and MySpace, www.myspace.com/johnmccain.
“People are fed up with politics as usual and Facebook and MySpace are giving them the opportunity to organize and influence the process in ways that could not have been imagined during John McCain’s last campaign for President,” said Christian Ferry. “Working in concert with JohnMcCain.com, these networks will only increase the opportunity for people to join Senator McCain’s effort to bring responsibility to government; we look forward to working with them.”
In addition to new social networking and video sharing outlets, John McCain 2008 has also initiated a discussion with Americans about wasteful spending via Yahoo! Answers, http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070225170327AAErCsL.
“John McCain has long fought for fiscal responsibility and respect for taxpayers in Washington, even if that fight has often been a lonely battle,” said Ferry. “While Congress continues to treat hard earned taxpayer money as a kitty for personal projects and special interest giveaways, Americans realize there are simple solutions to stop this abuse; we are glad to see thousands of Americans responding with their ideas.”
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NEW VIDEO: CLINTON DETAILS PLAN FOR STRATEGIC ENERGY FUND
In second “HillCast,” Hillary talks about her plan to spur development of clean and renewable energy and make America less reliant on foreign oil
In a new video released on her web site today, Hillary Clinton details her plan to create a Strategic Energy Fund to tackle America’s energy challenges. The video is her second “HillCast,” a regular series of web broadcasts Senator Clinton will deliver over the coming months on important issues facing Americans.
“The more energy self-sufficient we become, the more we can stop spending billions of dollars and sending them to unstable regimes all over the world, some of whom are even financing terrorism against us. And the sooner we can start protecting our planet, the better off we will all be.” Senator Clinton says in today’s video. “I’m proposing we undertake an Apollo-like effort to make clean and alternative energy the energy of America.”
The Strategic Energy Fund would raise $50 billion to fund energy technologies that will reduce America’s oil dependence and greenhouse gas emissions while promoting new jobs and a cleaner environment. The Fund would be created by eliminating oil company tax breaks, placing a temporary fee on oil company profits that exceed a 5-year baseline and ensuring that they pay their fair share of royalties for drilling on public lands. The fee would be in place for two years, and companies could offset their fee by investing in alternative energy technologies such as ethanol and wind power.
“The country that both split the atom and that put a man on the moon can take the oil out of our tanks and utilize the power of technology to find smart solutions for our energy future and to create millions of jobs throughout the United States,” Senator Clinton adds in the video. “Together we’re going to transform this country from energy dependence to energy independence, and turn global warming into what I believe will be an historic global renewal.”
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SC House Judiciary Committee votes for Ultrasound Bill
COLUMBIA, SC – (February 27, 2007) The SC House Judiciary Committee voted to amend the Woman’s Right to Know Act of 1996 to include ultrasound information for all pregnant women seeking abortion. The Ultrasound Bill (H3355) requires abortionists to perform ultrasound on any woman seeking an abortion and to show her the ultrasound image of the baby. The bill passed on a voice vote.
In a letter to the Committee members, Holly Gatling, executive director of South Carolina Citizens for Life, explained that under the current state law, girls and women contemplating abortion have a right to be informed of the probable age of the unborn child. At present, however, the fetal development material a girl receives when she goes to an abortion facility is a text-only booklet. The material contains no photographs or drawings of the developing unborn child. The pregnant woman has one hour to read the information which is virtually useless to the illiterate or low-reading pregnant female.
The Woman’s Right to Know Act of 1996 states the abortion facility must provide to the pregnant woman
(2) materials designed to inform the woman of the probable anatomical and physiological characteristics of the embryo or fetus at two‑week gestational increments from the time when a woman can be known to be pregnant to full term. . . . The materials must be objective, nonjudgmental, and designed to convey only accurate scientific information about the embryo or fetus at the various gestational age[.]
“Ultrasound is the best clinical, objective, nonjudgmental method to give the woman accurate, scientific information about the probable gestational age of her baby,” Ms. Gatling said. “H3355 fulfills the intent of informed consent.”
In testimony before the Constitutional Laws Subcommittee last week, Charleston nurse Carla Harvey who volunteers at the Lowcountry Crisis Pregnancy Center told the committee that girls and women who see their unborn child on the ultrasound choose to give birth in more than 80 percent of the cases. “In ultrasounds, a baby at eight weeks will jump on the screen and suck their thumbs,” she told the subcommittee members. “A lot of times, a maternal bond is made when they can see that baby.”
South Carolina Citizens for Life, the SC Baptist Convention, Palmetto Family Council, and the Catholic Diocese of Charleston all strongly support the Ultrasound Bill. The bill now goes to the full SC House of Representatives and could be voted on as early as Thursday. If it passes the House it will go to the SC Senate which is considering a similar companion bill.
36 Senators Object to Provision Jeopardizing Air Travel Safety
Presidential Veto of Bill Forcing Collective Bargaining on TSA will be Sustained by Senate
Washington, D.C. – Thirty-six U.S. Senators have now signed a letter to President Bush objecting to a provision in S. 4, the 9/11 Commission Recommendations bill, which would threaten the safety of the traveling public by introducing mandatory collective bargaining for airport security workers. With more than thirty-four senators currently on the letter, it now confirms that the Senate will sustain a presidential veto of the bill if it includes the TSA provision. The collective bargaining provision was recently added to S. 4 on a party-line vote in the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. The letter states:
“We are concerned that one of the provisions in S.4, the 9/11 Commission Recommendations bill, will undermine efforts to keep our country secure. Like you, we believe we need an airport security workforce that is productive, flexible, motivated, and can be held accountable. S.4 would introduce collective bargaining for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers, which would reverse the flexibility given to TSA to perform its critical aviation security mission. Removing this flexibility from TSA was not recommended by the 9/11 Commission and it would weaken our homeland security. If the final bill contains such a provision, forcing you to veto it, we pledge to sustain your veto.”
The provision would reverse the flexibility given to the agency to perform its critical aviation security mission. Collective bargaining was specifically rejected by Congress following the 9-11 attacks, because Congress understood that airport security needs to be more responsive and adaptive to terrorist threats. In the Aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2001, Congress recognized that special flexibility for personnel performing key homeland security roles is critical.
“Forcing collective bargaining on TSA would be a homeland security disaster,” said Senator DeMint. “Adding needless layers of bureaucracy will destroy our ability to quickly respond to new terror threats. It adds the kind of needless red tape that has weakened our security for years. We need to remember that TSA exists to protect American lives and it must have the tools to accomplish that mission.
“TSA employees already have the ability to join a union and they enjoy better working conditions, wages, and benefits than many Americans. Collective bargaining may generate millions of dollars in dues for union bosses, but it will do nothing to make American families safer from a terrorist attack.”
According to an official statement released in January, the White House said it “vigorously disagrees with these provisions of the bill, which were not recommended by the 9/11 Commission and would substantially diminish the Secretary’s flexibility to effectively manage the Department.” It maintains that “by reducing TSA’s flexibility to change the nature and location of TSA employees’ work and other aspects of their employment” the measure “would reduce travelers’ security.”
The letter to President Bush has currently been signed by the following thirty-six senators: Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Wayne Allard (R-CO), Robert F. Bennett (R-UT), Christopher S. Bond (R-MO), Sam Brownback (R-KS), Jim Bunning (R-KY), Richard Burr (R-NC), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Tom Coburn (R-OK), Thad Cochran (R-MS), Bob Corker (R-TN), John Cornyn (R-TX), Larry E. Craig (R-ID), Jim DeMint (R-SC), Pete V. Domenici (R-NM), John Ensign (R-NV), Michael B. Enzi (R-WY), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Judd Gregg (R-NH), Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), James M. Inhofe (R-OK), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Trent Lott (R-MS), Mel Martinez (R-FL), John McCain (R-AZ), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Richard C. Shelby (R-AL), Craig Thomas (R-WY), John Thune (R-SD), David Vitter (R-LA), John Warner (R-VA).
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South Carolina’s 2006 Exports Soar
Exports Reveal Expansion and Opportunities in Developing Countries
Columbia, S.C. – The South Carolina Department of Commerce today announced the state’s 2006 exports totaled more than $13.6 billion in goods sold to 197 countries around the world. The state’s top ten export industries last year were vehicles, machinery, plastics, rubber, organic chemicals, paper and paperboard, optics and medical equipment, wood pulp, and cotton yarn and fabrics.
“Today’s news is further evidence that we are not only engaged in the global economy, but we are taking advantage of the opportunities it presents. From day one, this administration has been committed to improving the state’s economic soil conditions for business growth. Exports continue to present growth opportunities for our state’s economy and we remain committed to furthering those efforts,” said Gov. Mark Sanford.
The product sector that led South Carolina’s export growth in 2006 was aluminum, which rose 58.3% with exports totaling nearly $90 million. The fastest growing export product sectors included iron and steel – up 37.6%, iron and steel products – up 29.6%, optics and medical instruments – up 27.9%, and paper and paperboard – up 14.3%.
“As South Carolina’s exports grow, so do our opportunities. Thanks to the work of our Export Development Office, we are witnessing exceptional results that directly translate to more jobs and investments for the Palmetto state. South Carolina’s diverse economy is producing products enjoyed by people around the world and the potential continues to grow as we pursue developing markets,” said Joe Taylor, Secretary of Commerce.
Canada remained South Carolina’s number one export market in 2006, purchasing more than $3 billion in products. Canada’s top purchases mirror the state’s overall exports including: vehicles, machinery, rubber, paper and paperboard, and plastic.
South Carolina’s most impressive growth market of 2006 was China. Exports to China rose 12.5% to more than $869 million and jumped one notch to become the state’s fourth largest export destination, surpassing the state’s most historic trading partner, the United Kingdom. As the state’s exports to China rapidly approach the $1 billion mark, proving to be a strong consumer and avid purchaser of South Carolina goods. China’s top purchases include: machinery, cotton yarn and fabric, plastics, chemicals, and aluminum.
Additional export activity of note includes:
- Vietnam purchases of South Carolina products increased by nearly 50% in 2006.
- Australia purchases of South Carolina products increased by 8.6% in 2006 to $386 million. This export market is the eighth largest enjoying steady growth over the last decade.
In the year ahead, the Export Development Office, a division of the South Carolina Department of Commerce, will conduct trade missions to Canada, Guatemala, El Salvador, China, Australia, and Vietnam. The goal of these missions will be to support the desires of small and mid-sized South Carolina companies looking to participate and expand in overseas markets.
Working with the U.S. Commercial Service and other S.C. International Trade Coalition partners such as The Export Consortium, the S.C. District Export Council, the S.C. World Trade Center, the Midlands International Trade Association and the City of Columbia, planning and recruitment for these five trade missions is underway. Please contact Clarke Thompson, Export Development Director, at 803.737.0438 to inquire.
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Congressman Brown is Primary Co-Sponsor of Clean Beaches Resolution
Washington D.C. - Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr. (R-SC) joined with Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) to introduce a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Clean Beaches Week and recognizing the considerable value of American beaches and their role in American culture.
“This resolution is an excellent opportunity to highlight the importance of our coastal resources and their impact on our overall economy and quality of life,” Brown said. “As Co-Chair of the Congressional Coastal Caucus and the Congressional Shellfish Caucus, I am committed to heightening awareness of the value of our beaches and the fragile coastal ecosystems.”
House Resolution 186 has been referred to the Committee on Natural Resources where Brown is Ranking Republican Member of the Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans Subcommittee.
National Clean Beaches Week will be observed from June 29th to July 5th. For more information, visit the Clean Beaches Council’s website at www.cleanbeaches.org
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Inglis wants Iraqi “success checkpoints” so that surge can succeed
U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis (R-SC) released today a letter to President Bush suggesting the public announcement of a schedule of key policy decisions by the Iraqi government. Inglis said that a schedule of “success checkpoints” would make the Iraqi government accountable and would give “our troops and our people” the confidence that political leaders are doing their best while America’s troops “are doing their incredible best.”
”We’re committed in Iraq; let’s get the Iraqis committed to us,” Inglis said. “The surge must be more than a military surge; it must be a surge in political will among Iraqi leaders.”
“We’ve waited long enough for the Iraqis to act,” Inglis continued. “We have the right as their protectors to insist on a schedule of success checkpoints. We have an obligation to our service men and women to insist that the Iraqi leaders make the decisions that could stop some of the sectarian violence.”
Inglis’ letter to the President suggests that, “At a minimum, these success checkpoints should include (1) a fair division of oil and (2) the return of banned Baath Party members to positions of public trust.”
Following earlier public statements questioning the value of a military-first surge [release dated January 9, 2007], Inglis on February 16 voted with 16 other Republicans and 229 Democrats for a non-binding resolution disapproving of the surge.
“I am not sold on a military-first surge,” Inglis said. “As good as our military is, only the Iraqis can win this phase of the effort in Iraq. The President can secure the road ahead by establishing some success checkpoints that would reward policy successes and that would carry consequences for inaction.”
Noting recent news accounts of the Kurds’ agreement on Saturday to a draft of an oil law, Inglis said, “Now’s the time to push hard for hard dates. The Cabinet could agree quickly, and the Parliament could ratify the agreement when they return from recess next month. Then they could turn their attention to reversing de-Baathification, and we could be on the road to reasonable stability in Iraq. And that-’reasonable stability’-is a good definition of success for this final phase of the war in Iraq.”
”From here, the Shia-Sunni fight looks like senseless violence rooted in ancient religion,” Inglis continued. “That’s part of it, but the violence in Iraq is also a very practical fight over oil and jobs. That practical fight won’t end until a fair oil law is passed and the restrictions are lifted on former Baath Party members holding offices of public trust. Meanwhile, our service men and women are in some crossfire that Iraqi leadership could stop.”
In the letter Inglis points to what he terms President Bush’s “effective” use of a schedule for the adoption of a constitution and elections in Iraq. “Success checkpoints worked well when you used them in 2005. Let’s use them again and make the surge a success,” Inglis writes.
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Little River_Long Cane Friends of the NRA Banquet and fundraiser
Coming on March 17th (SAINT Pat’s Day) 2007 the Second Annual Friends of
NRA for Abbeville, SC
Wear your green and put some in your pockets to leave with us for luck
as we put on our Second FONRA event in Abbeville.
We will once again be at the National Guard Armory with good food, fun,
and fellowship to fund all the many things we love so much to support
our shooting heritage.
Yes this event is on a Saturday, has no booze or beer or wine (OK I may
whine a bit myself) and is family friendly.
Please call or email to let us know we are are on your calender of
things to do and see this Spring! Email me here at
www.longgun1951@yahoo.com or call me at 864 348 7403 (H) or 864 958 0076
if no answer on home phone.
Do not hesitate and prepare to come away with goodies, a full belly, and
that warm fuzzy feeling of doing good things for some great causes.
Robley T Moore, NRA Benefactor member, Life GOSC member, member of
GRSCGR, NSSF, Abbeville FONRA Comm., and a confirmed Southern
Libertarian
Bill Passes in Senate to Combat Identity Thieves
“The Senate voted to move a bill forward that will crack down on the criminals who traffic in stolen identities, and protect South Carolina families from this devastating crime,” said Senator David Thomas (R-Greenville), Chairman of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee. The bill creates the Financial Identity Fraud and Identity Theft Protection Act and addresses several areas of a theft and protection of personal identification information. The issues addressed in the bill include: Security freeze and lift, social security number protection, disposal of personal information, sanitization of public IT equipment, a security breach, law enforcement action, obtaining identification through the trash or other means, age provision for credit care issuance, and penalties for violations.
Thomas said “Identity thieves are clever and heartless. The effects don’t stop with a few unauthorized charges. A ruined credit history can be an unbearable burden that lasts for years.” Many times identity thieves specifically target the most vulnerable members of society - families of the recently deceased, seniors, hospital patients, and men and women serving our nation overseas.
Senator Thomas said this has been a priority issue for him and the Senate Banking and Insurance. “We worked with the Department of Consumer Affairs, consumer groups, industry specialists, SLED, and heard from consumers who have been victimized in our efforts to draft a bill that will protect South Carolinians against identity thieves. The federal government has been attempting to enact legislation that would preempt states rights; however, as of yet they have not. This has left individual states the responsibility of protecting its consumers and South Carolina is stepping up to the plate,” Thomas said.
The legislation will allow consumers to put a freeze on their credit account information that would stop credit reporting agencies from releasing their information without first asking their permission. However, the consumer would have to ask for the freeze to be lifted before applying for anything that requires a credit report. The bill originally provided a three-day waiting period for a lift of a freeze. This was amended by the committee to provide for a 15 minute response time by the credit reporting agencies to lift the freeze, provided proper identifying information is given when the request is made. This change will make it easier for the consumer to access their credit information should they need to do so. If a consumer is a victim of identity theft, there will be no charge by the agencies for the freeze or the temporary of lift of the freeze; however, if a consumer is not a victim there will be a $10.00 charge for the freeze and for temporary lifts of the freeze.
The bill also provided guidelines for disposal of computer information by public and private entities, and would make it illegal for them to release private information. The bill provides penalties for a violation.
Another amendment that passed on the Senate floor would not allow issuance of a credit card or similar loan advance access device to a dependent under the age of twenty-one, without first obtaining consent from the dependent’s parent or legal guardian. If a company issues a card and does not receive a parent’s or legal guardian’s consent it will not be able to collect from the dependent or the dependent’s parent or guardian any debt incurred by the minor.
A victim of identity theft should be afforded all remedies to protect their assets. Thomas further said that businesses and public bodies should protect the privacy of an individual, and the General Assembly should offer laws to enforce those rights and penalties for those breaking the law.
The bill (Senate Bill 453) will now go to the House of Representatives where it will be referred to the House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee for consideration. Thomas said he hopes the House will act quickly to address this problem.
If you are already a victim of identity theft, notify the fraud department of the three credit reporting companies — Experian (888-397-3742), Equifax (800-685-1111), and Trans-Union (800-888-4213). Your file will be flagged and creditors will be required to call you before extending credit. Next, file an identity theft report with local law enforcement, the Federal Trade Commission, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357), or use the complaint form at www.ftc.gov, and let your credit card companies know. Accounts with fraudulent charges should be closed. If you’ve had checks, your ATM or debit card, or bank account number stolen notify your financial institution.
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