Cigarette Tax Complex Issue to Resolve
Cigarette Tax Complex Issue to Resolve
Subcommittee Continues to Work with Extended Deadline
Columbia, SC - The Senate Finance Special Subcommittee on Cigarette Tax
(H.3567) met for its sixth time today. During the meeting subcommittee
members heard testimony from a representative of the Tobacco Control
Program with the Department of Health and Environmental Control.
The subcommittee has heard testimony from at least 29 different
individuals and organizations, poured over similar legislation from
other states, and reviewed a variety of proposals on everything from
implementation to the use of revenue.
“Research shows that cigarette taxes in 43 states have been raised at
least 75 times in the last eight years,” says Subcommittee Chairman
Senator Thomas Alexander (R-Oconee/Pickens).”Just as important as the
use of any revenue for healthcare is the overall impact we can have on
continuing to decrease youth smoking.”
Beyond the core question facing the subcommittee, members must also
address implementation of any law change, what methods will be used to
transition into any new proposed increase, and how any new revenue could
be used.
One idea gaining support among subcommittee members concerning the use
of new revenue is the development of a Healthcare Trust Fund. “The
trust fund, which will need to be self-contained with funds generated by
the cigarette tax, could be used to begin addressing the medical costs
for the state’s uninsured,” says Senator Alexander.
The subcommittee has heard testimony from a variety of organizations
with plans to expand uninsured coverage, most of which propose deriving
funds from a cigarette tax increase. The subcommittee has yet to settle
on any specific proposal.
“This is one of the hardest working committees I have seen in some
time,” says Senate Finance Chairman Senator Hugh Leatherman
(R-Florence). “I think what we are seeing is a subcommittee that is
working to produce the best recommendation possible and I applaud their
efforts. I have every confidence in Senator Alexander and the other
members of the subcommittee, and I think we should allow them the time
they need to properly answer all of the questions before them.”
The subcommittee recently asked the Senate for an extension to the
March 5 deadline, which would allow them to continue working toward a
comprehensive resolution before making a recommendation.
###
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham Recognized for National Leadership on Economic Development Issues
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) Recognized for National Leadership on Economic Development Issues
WASHINGTON, DC — United States Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) was presented with the 2008 NADO National Leadership Award today. The award is given each year by the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) to a member of Congress who has demonstrated outstanding support of federal programs and policies that support local job creation and business development efforts.
The award was presented by NADO President Leanne Mazer and David Essex, Executive Director of the Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments (COG) and Chair of the South Carolina Association of Regional Councils during the association’s Washington Policy Conference in Arlington, Virginia. Representatives of the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester COG, Catawba Regional COG, Central Midlands COG, Lowcountry COG, Lower Savannah COG, Pee Dee Regional COG, Santee-Lynches Regional COG, SC Appalachian COG and Upper Savannah COG were also present for the presentation.
NADO Board Member Hartung explained, “Senator Graham has been a staunch supporter of federal community and economic development programs that have proven results and a clearly defined mission. While Senator Graham is a strong fiscal conservative, he is also a passionate leader who is committed to helping our nation’s local communities develop the public infrastructure and capacity to support private sector job growth.”
“Since his early days in the House of Representatives and continuing today as an influential member of the U.S. Senate, Senator Graham has been a leading champion of the U.S. Economic Development Administration,” continued Hartung. “This small but vital agency makes important strategic investments in our nation’s distressed communities, helping them pursuing job creation projects.”
The NADO National Leadership Award is presented annually to a member of Congress who has made significant contributions in promoting regional development and job creation initiatives throughout small metropolitan and rural America. Previous winners include Sens. James Inhofe (R-OK), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME), as well as Reps. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO), Mike McIntyre (D-NC), James Oberstar (D-MN) and Harold Rogers (R-KY).
# # #
Fundraising Dinner to Benefit the Wounded Warrior Project Gaining Support
Fundraising Dinner to Benefit the Wounded Warrior Project Gaining Support
- More Corporate Sponsors Needed to Reach $50,000 Goal -
GREENVILLE, SC (February 28, 200 
– “Since our kick-off press conference in December, generous sponsors are beginning to line up in support of our injured troops,” said Mona Simmons, Chairperson for South Carolina for Wounded Warrior Project (SC for WWP). As of mid-February, corporate sponsors, elected officials, and individuals have pledged $18,000 toward the May 15 fundraising dinner – Tribute to Our Wounded Warriors. Sponsor levels of $10,000, $5,000, $1,000 and $250 are still available and include reserved seats to the patriotic fundraising dinner to be held at Taylors First Baptist Church.
The Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org) is a non-profit organization, dedicated to raising awareness and enlisting the public’s aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women, to help severely injured service members aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs.
South Carolina for Wounded Warrior Project is a group of individuals within the South Carolina community who have come together to locally spread the awareness and garner support for WWP and our nation’s injured service members. They see the need that our wounded have, and have made the commitment to themselves, each other, and to their communities to do all they can to help ensure a successful transition for this new generation of war heroes.
SC for WWP spokesman, Jeff Holt, announced that Medal of Honor Recipient Major General James Livingston, USMC-Ret. of Mt. Pleasant, SC, will headline the dinner. “General Livingston is a true patriot who fully understands honor, valor, and how vital it is to support our injured service members,” said Holt. In addition, an educational presentation on post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury will be provided.
Thank You to Our Initial Sponsors!
Lieutenant General Level Roger C. Peace Hospital-Rehabilitation
NewsRadio 1330/950 WORD
Major General Level Brigadier General Level
Ashmore Bros., Inc. Advanced Prosthetics
Dr. & Mrs. Barry Blackston The Cliff’s Communities
Doug Churdar Law Firm Henry Sullivan Law Firm
First Palmetto Mortgage International Plastics, Inc.
US Senator Lindsey Graham Mr. & Mrs. Dan Elmore
Greenville Internal Medicine Mr. Doug Greenlaw
Hampton Inn & Suites – Downtown T.S. Holt Company, LLC
Lockheed Martin Mr. & Mrs. Lucian Lee, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Rick Sumerel
Mr. & Mrs. Mark Weaver
Mr. Paul Wickensimer
Fourteen planning groups awarded grants to promote the development of quality charter school programs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 28, 2008 / Charter school planning grantsFourteen planning groups awarded grants to promote the development of
quality charter school programs
COLUMBIA - Fourteen organizations from across South Carolina have
been awarded $5,000 grants to help them develop quality charter school
applications. Groups that are successful in gaining charters during 2008
will be eligible to receive grant funds up to $200,000 to assist with
initial costs associated with opening new charter schools in August
2009.
The sub-grants were awarded by the South Carolina Department of
Education from Charter School Program funds received from the U.S.
Department of Education to support the creation of additional
high-quality charter schools. The funds were also designated to assist
the Palmetto State in disseminating information about charter school
planning, design and implementation.
“High-quality charter schools let parents, teachers and community
members create innovative and flexible ways to educate children within
the public school system,” said State Superintendent of Education James
Rex. “These grants are one way that we can help community groups who
want to give this option a try.”
Charter schools are public schools, designed and operated with
significant autonomy by educators, parents, community leaders,
educational entrepreneurs and others. They are sponsored either by local
school district boards of trustees or the South Carolina Public Charter
School District’s board of trustees. The sponsoring boards then
monitor charter school quality and effectiveness.
Charter schools also operate with some freedom from local mandates,
state laws and regulations. They are designed to increase learning
opportunities for students; encourage the use of various productive
teaching methods; establish new forms of school accountability; create
professional opportunities for teachers; and assist the state in
reaching academic excellence.
In 1996, the South Carolina General Assembly approved legislation
allowing the development of charter schools within the state’s system of
public education. South Carolina’s 29 charter schools serve
approximately 5,200 public school students.
2008 sub-grantees’ mission statements
Bamberg Charter School for Academic Excellence, Grades K-5 (expanding
to K-12)
To implement recorded personalized educational programs to facilitate
student achievement utilizing educational reform that will serve as a
catalyst to provide change in the way teachers and students learn.
Target population will be students in Bamberg Districts One and Two.
Blue Ocean Charter Academy, Statewide, Grades K-12
To serve as a virtual charter school open to the entire state
population of students. To offer students the flexibility of virtual
instruction that is delivered in the comfort and safety of their own
home environment and that allows students to learn at their own pace and
with personalized support.
Carolina Preparatory Academy, North Charleston, Grades K-3 (expanding
to K-12)
To create an educational environment that is safe, nurturing,
academically rigorous, globally conscious, and promotes a culture of
college-bound students. Target population will be at-risk students
living in neighborhoods adjacent to the North Charleston Navy Yard.
Carolina Central Charter School, Aiken, Grades K4-5 (expanding to
K4-
To provide a challenging educational program focused on allowing
children to learn through individual projects and group collaboration.
To create a center-based learning environment that will encourage
project-guided educational experiences to develop character, a sense of
community support, and faith in their own success.
Horizon Middle Academy, Johns Island (SCPCSD), Grades 6-8
To serve students who thrive in a more individualized and holistic
setting. To provide a rigorous academic program that is relevant and
meaningful to each student, to equip each student with 21st-Century
skills for success in high school and beyond, to support genuine and
healthy relationships, and to encourage global awareness and
environmental stewardship.
Jonesville Lockhart Charter School, Union, (SCPCSD) Grades K-12
To provide a safe learning environment that enables all students to
achieve their best, while also challenging these students to become
lifelong learners, independent thinkers, respectful individuals, and
responsible citizens, thus preparing them for a 21st-Century global
economy.
Nu Vision School of Excellence, Lee, Grades 9-12
To provide a safe environment where each individual is accepted,
supported, valued and challenged to work up to their full potential. To
enable students to become totally self-aware and seamlessly integrated
in society. To offer an academically challenging, developmentally
appropriate, experiential, holistic, child-centered education to all
young people.
Riverview Charter School, Beaufort
To provide a small, nurturing setting that actively engages students in
authentic, meaningful, and integrated learning experiences. To create an
academic environment that is both joyful and rigorous, providing
students with diverse experience-based opportunities to demonstrate and
strengthen their individual intelligences and become personally,
socially, and globally responsible citizens.
S. L. Finley Alternative School, Chester, Grades 9-12
To create a center-based learning environment that will encourage
project-guided and community-based educational experiences utilizing
innovative strategies that lead to the improvement of student academic
achievement, attendance, and to motivate students to achieve their full
potential by developing faith in their own success to become actively
engaged in the learning process. The educational program will focus on
allowing children to learn through natural experiences and
investigation.
South Carolina Connections Academy, SCPCSD, Grades K-12
To provide individualized instruction tailored to the learning needs of
students throughout South Carolina who seek an alternative to the
traditional classroom. The virtual learning approach is a choice for
under-served students who have chronic illness, who are gifted or
struggling, those living in isolated rural areas with limited access to
rich curriculum resources, students with special education needs, and
children who simply learn differently.
South Carolina Virtual Charter School, SCPCSD, Grades K-12
To add a needed, innovative, research-based, and effective model of
virtual education to the state’s public education system that combines
web-based and offline lessons. To utilize technology to provide a new
and individualized South Carolina Academic Standards-based education for
students across the state.
The Apple Charter School, Charleston, Grades 3-8
To educate students in a stable, consistent single-gender environment
while preparing them for higher education and maximizing their potential
for success in an ever changing world.
West End Academy, Greenville, Grades K5-5
To provide a quality educational experience that will develop and
enhance the intellectual and artistic abilities of its students in an
inquisitive, child-centered environment. To offer a curriculum that is
inquiry-based, using project-based learning that integrates academic and
artistic competencies for real-world applications.
William Edward School of Technology, Charleston, Grades K-8 (expanding
to K-12)
To promote technology as an avenue for success among students. To
increase high school and college graduation rates, employment
opportunities, masterly levels of technology usage, and community
awareness. To equip students with the skills necessary to succeed in any
industry, at any post-secondary institution, and/or with any
entrepreneurial endeavor.
McConnell Calls on House to Lift Drought on Reform
McConnell Calls on House to Lift Drought on Reform
Columbia, SC - After members of the House Judiciary Committee moved
to adjourn debate on the DNA database bill and a bill dealing with
Sentencing Reform, President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell called on the
House of Representatives to spend some time working on those reform
issues in order to save South Carolina lives.
Senator McConnell said, “The Senate passed a series of reform bills
that were designed to make every day a safer one for South Carolina
families. Unfortunately, the House has consistently delayed
consideration of these crime-fighting bills. I hope that the citizens
of South Carolina will call their Representatives and say enough is
enough. That it is time for the House to debate and pass these bills to
make our state safer. As our state works out of a water drought, we
don’t need to deal with a drought of reform.”
The Senate has passed several bills designed to make South Carolina
safer. These bills include the South Carolina Teacher Protection Act,
the DNA database bill, and a bill to reconstitute the Sentencing Reform
Commission. “Sadly, these bills languish with other Senate reform
bills like English only and a constitutional convention on illegal
immigration.”
Senator McConnell explained the importance of each of these components
in the war on crime and justice. “We cannot expect our teachers to
teach if they have to be afraid of injury or lawsuit in the performance
of their duties. The Teacher Protection Act allows teachers to do their
jobs without looking over their shoulder. Another major issue is that
law Enforcement has said that the DNA bill is the most important thing
our state can do to fight crime especially crime against women and
children. Finally, the Sentencing Guideline Reform is designed to allow
for alternative sentencing for minor crimes so that the state will have
the room to hold those who commit violent crimes for a very long
time.”
Finally, Senator McConnell stated, “We need to backup the police, not
hinder them and we need to protect law abiding school teachers. I
cannot imagine anything more pressing than the safety of our people.”
###
Congressman Barrett Votes Against Energy Tax Increase
Congressman Barrett Votes Against Energy Tax Increase
House GOP Reforms PACT, holds the Line on Education Accountability
House GOP Reforms PACT, holds the Line on Education Accountability
COLUMBIA — The House of Representatives has unanimously approved a the first significant changes in the Education Accountability Act since it was enacted in 1998 — reforming the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test while not weakening our state’s education standards.
The House Republican Caucus led the way on education reform as it did 10 years ago with the original Accountability Act. The bill approved Wednesday was written by House Speaker Bobby Harrell and Education Committee Chairman Bob Walker.
“Our state has some of the highest education standards and accountability measures in the nation,” said Speaker Harrell. “I am pleased to see the House keep those high standards in place with the passage of this bill.”
A key goal for the Republican Caucus was not weakening education standards that are consistently rated as among the toughest in the nation. The bill makes changes that bring South Carolina in line with the federal No Child Left Behind Act and the new test will allow us to accurately compare our students with others nationwide. The bill also clarifies student grades and a school’s accountability report card grades.
“Improving our public schools is a top priority for the House Republican Caucus,” said Chairman Walker. “I’m proud that we could come together and create a bill that replaces the PACT test with a diagnostic exam while still maintaining our commitment to high standards.”
The new law will be fully implemented in 2010.
“This bill makes it easier for parents to know, first, how their student is doing, and second, how their school is performing,” said Majority Leader Jim Merrill. “That is the true achievement of the Education Accountability Act — shining a bright light on school performance so parents know if their school is achieving.”
This completes the fourth of seven Republican Caucus agenda items. The Caucus already approved illegal immigration reform, stopped hidden earmark spending, and approved the small business healthcare legislation.
-30-
Sen. Glenn McConnell Launches New Website
Sen. Glenn McConnell Launches New Website
Improves Communications with Constituents
(Charleston, SC)-Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell announced the launch of his new website www.glennmcconnell.com. Sen. McConnell’s website will feature the latest news from the legislature and regular entries in his blog about the issues facing South Carolina. “As technology continues to improve the way people communicate, I think it is important for public officials to embrace these new developments,” said Sen. McConnell. “I’ve always strived to keep my constituents more informed about our efforts in the legislature. I think this website will allow me to accomplish this goal.”
The website already features a series of YouTube videos about current legislation Sen. McConnell is fighting for in the Senate. These videos include McConnell’s ideas for solving problems such as energy independence, illegal immigration, and crime. The Senator plans on releasing other detailed policy ideas on his blog throughout the year. “People can visit my website to find out where I stand on key issues,” said Sen. McConnell. “Most importantly, it gives voters the opportunity to hear the reasons I support or oppose certain pieces of legislation.”
Sen. McConnell hopes people visiting the website will use it to share their thoughts and ideas about legislation with him. “I never forget the primary function of my position is to serve the people living in my district by listening to their concerns and taking their ideas to Columbia. I want this website to be another place for people to share with me their own opinions about problems in the state, as well as ideas concerning pending legislation.”
###
DeMint Statement on the Death of William F. Buckley, Jr.
DeMint Statement on the Death of William F. Buckley, Jr.
Washington D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina) made the following statement:
“America has lost one of its sharpest intellects and truest patriots today. William F. Buckley has been a guiding light for the conservative movement for over half a century. He was an inspiration to millions and a personal hero of mine. Buckley’s passing reminds us that a generation of great Americans who built the modern conservative movement are leaving us, but thankfully their philosophical underpinnings are not. Standing on the shoulders of giants is an enormous responsibility; it is left to new generations of conservatives to do just that by carrying the banner of freedom and liberty forward.”
“Debbie and I offer our deepest condolences to the Buckley family, his friends and his colleagues, who are all in our thoughts and prayers.”
###
Plan to Replace PACT Test Passes House
Plan to Replace PACT Test Passes House
Brings the changes teachers need while keeping our high standards in place
(Columbia, SC) – Today, the South Carolina House of Representatives approved a plan that will replace the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test (PACT) in favor of a diagnostic test. This move is the first major change lawmakers have made to the Educational Accountability Act (EAA) since passing it ten years ago.
“By allowing teachers to use a diagnostic test, we are no longer simply testing our students’ progress,” House Speaker Bobby Harrell said. “We will be providing teachers with real results they can use to adapt their teaching methods and help them provide our students the best education possible.”
The bill (H. 4662) replaces the PACT test with a diagnostic test and brings our state in line with No Child Left Behind, giving us the ability to compare the success of our students with other students around the country.
Bob Walker, Chairman of the House Education and Public Works Committee, said, “With this bill, we are creating a more responsive educational system. The changes we have made puts more control in the hands of our state’s teachers. Now concerns can be addressed in the classroom, instead of the next grade.”
Providing these needed reforms while keeping the high standards of the EAA was a top priority for House members.
Speaker Harrell said, “Our state has some of the highest education standards and accountability measures in the nation. I am pleased to see the House keep those high standards in place with the passage of this bill.”
# # #
