SCHotline Press Releases

Senate Finance Committee Approves Spending Caps, Budget Stabilization Fund

Columbia, SC - The Senate Finance Committee today approved a
constitutional amendment  (S.71  and a statutory bill (S.1220) that
would change the calculation used to determine the state’s annual
spending limit and create a Budget Stabilization Fund. The proposed plan
is intended to take to state off the revenue roller coaster that causes
drastic shifts in the state budget from year-to-year. 

The proposed general fund spending limit would follow a 10-year rolling
average of annual revenue growth rates, typically between four and five
percent, and serve as a way to limit the growth of state government. 

The Budget Stabilization Fund would be used to account for a revenue
shortfall, similar to the one experienced this year when, in early
April, the Board of Economic Advisors reduced revenue projections by $90
million.  Any expenditure from the Budget Stabilization Fund, other than
its intended purpose, would require a two-thirds vote by each branch of
the General Assembly.

The constitutional amendment could be on the ballot in November if
approved by the General Assembly before the legislative session ends in
early June. The bill will now move to the full Senate for
consideration.

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SC Senate Passes Health Care Accessibility for Young Americans Act

Columbia, SC - Today the South Carolina Senate unanimously passed S. 1010,
the Health Care Accessibility for Young Americans Act.  The measure will
require insurance companies to extend families' health insurance policies
for young adults and military veterans.

Currently young adults are eligible to remain on their families' policies
only if they are full-time students in college. They are dropped from
policies if they are part-time students or enter the workforce.  According
to the measure's primary sponsor, state Senator Joel Lourie
(D-Richland/Kershaw) the bill aims to extend the period of time young adults
are covered by their parent's health insurance policies.  

"By passing this legislation, the General Assembly is making it easier for
young adults to buy affordable health insurance", said Lourie. "I am pleased
with the bi-partisan response from the Senate and hope we can get it passed
in the House before the session adjourns" Lourie added. 

Twenty-one states have similar plans in place to extend families' health
coverage to young adults.  In South Carolina, 40% of 18-25 year olds have no
health insurance.  

"Families across South Carolina will benefit from this responsible measure
as young adults should not be penalized for making decisions that meet their
individual needs" said Senator Darrell Jackson (D-Richland), a co-sponsor of
the legislation. 

S.1010 also has provisions to extend health coverage for young men and women
who return from active military status.

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STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
THE SENATE

For Immediate Release
April 29, 2008

Ritchie Continues Fight for Tough Immigration Bill
Vows to shut down Senate to get vote on bill.

Columbia, SC - Senator Jim Ritchie (R-Spartanburg) today continued his
fight for a tough illegal immigration reform bill. Senator Ritchie took
the Senate floor and vowed to shut down all other legislation until
senators agree to address a stronger standard for private employer
verification by removing the I-9 from the list of options available to
confirm someone’s employment eligibility. Senator Ritchie offered an
amendment to H.3032 that would remove the federal I-9, leaving E-Verify
and the South Carolina Driver’s License as the primary methods of
confirming employment eligibility for new hires. 

“I made a commitment to the people of South Carolina to use every
method available to get a strong illegal immigration bill through the
General Assembly this session; today is the next step in that
commitment,” says Senator Ritchie. “There is not another issue more
important than illegal immigration this legislative session.”

The Senate continues its efforts to create a strong, comprehensive
illegal immigration reform bill for the people of South Carolina.  As
the failures of the I-9 system become more apparent, the Senate
continues to look for opportunities to create the strongest bill
possible and stem the flow of illegal immigration into the state.  Using
the House bill prevents the House from rejecting the bill due to the
procedural requirements of the May 1 crossover deadline. 

“I applaud Senator Ritchie in his efforts to get E-Verify through the
Senate,” says Senate President Pro Tempore Senator Glen McConnell
(R-Charleston). “This is the number one issue for the people of South
Carolina. The House has created a logjam in the conference committee and
the Senate continues to look for new opportunities to produce a tough
illegal immigration reform bill this session. The Senate is still the
only chamber that has voted on private employers and we are working to
make sure the House finally has the opportunity to vote on the issue of
private employers.” 

E-Verify is an Internet-based system operated by U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services in partnership with the Social Security
Administration. E-Verify is currently free to employers and is available
in all 50 states. E-Verify provides an automated link to federal
databases to help employers determine employment eligibility of new
hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers.

The Senate adjourned today with Senator Ritchie retaining the floor.
Additional debate on E-Verify and illegal immigration is expected to
continue when the Senate convenes tomorrow (Wednesday, April 30) at
11:00 A.M.
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DR. W.L. BIRCH OF FLORENCE, SC

DELIVERS OPENING PRAYER IN U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Majority Whip and Congressman from South Carolina’s 6^th Congressional District, James E. Clyburn today hosted Dr. William Lloyd Birch of Florence, SC, who delivered the opening prayer in the U.S. House of Representatives. Attending the speech was Dr. Birch’s wife, Jean Birch, his daughter Lindy Birch, and the Kelly family from Clevedon, New Zealand.

Following is Dr. Birch’s prayer:

Dear Father, we are so grateful for the blessings you have given to us.  But the blessings of the past will not suffice for the needs of today. We know that if we commit ourselves to you, you will help us focus on the needs of our nation.   We confess that so often we fall short of the expectations you have for us.  We are tempted and so often we succumb to these temptations–we put ourselves before others–we fail to show our Brothers and Sisters the love you want us to demonstrate by the quality of our lives.  As we face this day, help us to be honest, unselfish, compassionate people.  What have we gained if we obtain success in the eyes of the world and yet lose the sense of your presence, your Will among us?  May your Kingdom come.  May your Will be done.  We pray in the name of the Lord of our nation. Amen.

Following is the speech Clyburn delivered on the floor of the House of Representatives after Dr. Birch’s prayer:

Mr. Speaker, it is indeed a pleasure for me to welcome and thank the gentleman and scholar who provided us with today’s invocation.  Dr. William Lloyd Birch hails from my Congressional District.  He is an ordained minister in Florence, South Carolina.

Over his illustrious ministerial career, Dr. Birch has served as interim pastor in more than 42 churches.  Dr. Birch is the founder of the Sociology Department at Francis Marion University and chaired it for over 30 years. Prior to his retirement, Dr. Birch was a family therapist and chaired the South Carolina Board of Licensing.

Dr. Birch is known by many in the Pee Dee area of South Carolina as their professor, as the minister who baptized their children or performed their son’s or daughter’s wedding, as the interim pastor at their church, or as the counselor who guided them through a family crisis.

Many have also seen him riding his horses, foxhunting or playing the bluegrass music he loves.  Many of us are thankful for his work throughout the Pee Dee communities in South Carolina.  He is joined here today by his wife of 57 years, Jean, and I thank both of them for their daughter, Lindy’s work in my office on behalf of the people of South Carolina and the nation.

-30-

Vigilant Guard 2008 a success, served South Carolina well

By Staff Sgt. Dan Heaton

BEAUFORT, S.C. —  Living along the Atlantic Coast in South Carolina means that local residents are aware that they could one day be in the path of a major hurricane. As the manager of emergency services in Beaufort County, William Winn can’t do much about the weather. But he can rest easier knowing the National Guard is just a phone call away and ready to assist his local fire departments and police agencies respond to “the big one.”

“Over the past three days, we’ve learned how to better communicate, how to better respond to an emergency and to serve our local population in a time of crisis,” Winn said as Vigilant Guard 2008 was winding to a close.

VG08 was one of the largest disaster response training exercises in the history of the National Guard. The exercise responded to a major notional earthquake centered in Beaufort County, S.C. Over three days, April 21-23, more than 3,000 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from more than a dozen states worked side-by-side with firefighters, police officers, Red Cross volunteers and representatives from numerous other local, state and federal agencies to rescue people “trapped” under collapsed buildings, clear rubble, airlift injured people to various hospitals and deliver food, water and other emergency supplies to survivors. The Guard even made history by landing a C-130 Hercules cargo plane at the Hilton Head Municipal Airport – which features the nation’s shortest commercial runway – to simulate an emergency evacuation.

Beaufort County is home to more than 140,000 people, many of who live on islands that front along the Atlantic Ocean. A hurricane is possible – as is another earthquake like the 1893 temblor that rocked this region. Such possibilities is the reason Beaufort County was more than pleased to serve as the host site of VG08, said Weston Newton, chairman of the Beaufort County Council.

“You could look at the local economic benefit of having all of these Soldiers and this operation come to the Beaufort area and that certainly is a benefit,” he said. “But that pales in comparison to the long-term benefit of developing the relationships and being able to test and improve our plans for what to do in an emergency situation.

“We are able to measure, coordinate and fix the kinks in the system in ways that would simply not be possible in a table-top discussion exercise,” Newton said.

VG08, the 11th such annual exercise designed to test the National Guard’s ability to work with local emergency responders, set the new gold standard in disaster training, said Maj. Gen. Steven D. Saunders, director, joint doctrine, training and force development, at National Guard Bureau headquarters. Saunders’ office oversees the development of Vigilant Guard exercises.

“We expect continuous improvement,” the general said, standing at the Hilton Head airport, moments before the historic C-130 landing. “This exercise brings together a great number of units from different states and puts them together with the local first responders.”

“Watching all these people, wearing a variety of uniforms, working together, not getting in people’s hair, but working cooperatively together – that’s pretty powerful stuff,” Saunders said.

While the exercise brought together numerous military and governmental agencies, it also allowed non-governmental agencies to test their plans. Among those participating in the exercise were agencies such as the Salvation Army, the Southern Baptist Convention’s Disaster Relief Team and the American Red Cross. The exercise also had an international flavor. Small military contingents from Denmark, Canada, England and Moldova were invited to observe various parts of the operation.

“An exercise like this stretches and flexes our volunteers,” said Debbie Szpanko, director of the Palmetto chapter of the American Red Cross, which services Beaufort and neighboring counties in southeast South Carolina.

“Our volunteers have experience responding to smaller, local emergencies, such as a house fire,” she said. “This helps us better prepare to be ready for a major event.”

In addition to Red Cross volunteers learning how best to communicate and interact with the National Guard and other agencies, Szpanka said she was pleased that during the exercise other agencies learned more about the capability of her volunteers.

“We have several retired doctors and nurses who are among our volunteers,” she said. “When they identified themselves at some of the scenarios, they were put to use, utilizing their medical skills. Our mission is to help in whatever way we can.”

At the conclusion of the exercise, the various involved parties will meet to review what went right and what needs to be improved, said Brig. Gen. Eisner, deputy adjutant general for Army in South Carolina and commander of troops for Vigilant Guard 2008.

“We will be updating our plans, protocols and procedures based on what we learned this week, so that we are better able to serve the citizens of South Carolina,” Eisner said.

For many of the soldiers involved in the exercise, VG08 involved long days and plenty of hard work, still the troops in the field saw the value and purpose in the exercise, said Capt. Samone McNeil Chapman, Alpha Company commander of the 118th Mechanized Infantry Battalion of the South Carolina National Guard.

“We are Citizen-Soldiers,” Chapman said. “Missions like this puts the focus strongly on both sides of that, we are citizens using our skills as soldiers to help citizens. That’s a mission that we take a great deal of pride in.”

The positive attitude expressed by VG08’s senior leaders was echoed by one of the exercise’s most junior Soldiers, Pvt. George Green, an infantryman in C Company of the 118th Mechanized Infantry Battalion based at the Florence Armory. He enlisted in the South Carolina National Guard just about a year ago and VG08 was his first major exercise.

“This gives me a chance to help out, which is why I joined the Guard in the first place,” Green said.

– 30 –

DeMint Launches New Senate Website

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina) announced the launching of a new Senate website that can be accessed at http://demint.senate.gov. The website includes important information for South Carolinians on the latest national and regional news as well as numerous constituent services.

“The Internet has changed a great deal since we launched our first site in 2005, so we’ve made a complete revision,” said Senator DeMint. “This new site uses the latest technology to keep people up to date on my efforts in the Senate to strengthen our nation. I’m also proud of the new regional blogs that will better connect people with what our office is doing around the state. I hope the website becomes a regular destination and a valuable resource for people in South Carolina.”

Features available on the new site include:

• Jim’s Blog – Regularly updated with links and unique web content, including videos and photographs.

• Regional Blogs – Visitors can access region-specific information from around the state by entering their zip code or by choosing a county.

• RSS Feed – RSS, or Really Simple Syndication, allows users to receive the latest content without having to continually visit the website.

• Freedom Alert Sign-Up – Regular e-mail updates on Senator DeMint’s efforts to preserve liberty in America.

• Constituent Services – Detailed information and forms for assistance with federal agencies, competitive grants, passports, service academies, internships, Capitol tours and more.

• Key Issues – Information on Senator DeMint’s legislative agenda in areas such as Economic Growth, Education, Health Care, Wasteful Spending, National Security, and Border Security.

• South Carolina Veterans History Project – Information on Senator DeMint’s ongoing project with the Library of Congress to preserve the oral history of our nation’s veterans.

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TO:		News Media

FROM:         Jim Foster

DATE:          April 29, 2008

RE:		School-level Advanced Placement/IB Scores

Attached are South Carolina's school-level scores for the College
Board’s Advanced Placement tests.  We release state-level AP data
early each school year, but the College Board does not provide local
high school scores until later.  Also included in the attached report
are local scores from 23 high schools in the International Baccalaureate
program.  

Here's a summary from the August release of state-level scoring:

South Carolina high school seniors continued to improve their AP
performance in 2007.  An all-time high of 14,922 scored high enough to
earn college credits, an 11 percent increase over 2006's 13,457.   The
number of exams attempted rose from 24,137 to 26,117, also an all-time
high.  The number of African-American students whose scores qualified
for college credit increased by nearly 15 percent.  

Nearly 1,500 more South Carolina AP scores were high enough to earn
college credit, up from 13,457 exams with scores 3-5 on the five-point
AP scale in 2006 to 14,922 in 2007.  The percentage of students scoring
3-5 went up, too, from 55.7 last year to 57.1 this year.  

State Superintendent Jim Rex said the state could learn valuable
lessons from its continuing successes in Advanced Placement programs.

“Our AP classes have top-quality teachers, an intense focus on
clearly understood goals and high expectations for all kids,” Rex
said.  “We need to approach every class that way, not just AP classes.
 Once we do that, our success stories will come in by the truckload.”

AP courses - and the accompanying College Board exams that demonstrate
mastery of the course material - let students earn college credit while
still in high school.  Since 1984, South Carolina has paid for AP
instructional materials, paid students’ test fees and offered
specialized training for teachers.  Every student enrolled in an AP
course is required to take the test.

The five most-taken AP exams in 2007 were the same five as the previous
year: United States History, English Literature and Composition, English
Language and Composition, Calculus AB and Biology.

CLYBURN ON SUPREME COURT DECISION ON VOTER ID LAW

WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn today commented on a decision by the Supreme Court of the United States to uphold Indiana’s voter ID law.  The law requires voters to show government-issued IDs before voting.  Following is Clyburn’s statement.

“I am very disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision today.  All across the country, we are witnessing unprecedented voter turnout. Millions of Americans are becoming involved in the political process for the first time. The Supreme Court’s decision threatens to undermine this enthusiasm and disenfranchise voters.

“Our nation should be moving forward to help all Americans participate in our democracy, not deterring people from casting their votes. I will work hard in Congress to ensure that the Supreme Court’s ruling is not used to suppress voter turnout and I will fight any effort to reverse years of progress made to ensure that all eligible Americans have an equal opportunity to vote.”

-30-

CONGRESSMAN BROWN WELCOMES VA SECRETARY PEAKE TO FIRST DISTRICT

CHARLESTON, SC – Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr. (SC) teamed with Congressman Steve Buyer (IN), ranking member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, in welcoming VA Secretary Dr. James B. Peake to the First District as he toured VA facilities in the Charleston area.

Brown and Buyer were joined by Dr. Raymond Greenberg, President of the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and Mr. John Barilich, Director of the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center (VAMC) as they reviewed collaborative health care efforts between the two local entities.  They toured the new MUSC Ashley River Tower and Secretary Peake also visited the Johnson VAMC and met with staff while on site.

“I welcome the occasion to have Secretary Peake visit the First District and gain valuable insight as he is presented information on the ongoing collaborative projects,” Brown said.  “The ‘Charleston Model’ is a concept in which Congressman Buyer and I take great pride.  The path we are charting here can become a blueprint for numerous locations throughout the VA healthcare system.  We have the opportunity to make the most of our VA budget while remaining steadfast to the primary mission of providing the highest quality care to the veterans of this country who have the greatest need.”

Buyer echoed those sentiments and said, “As we work with the VAMC and MUSC, we continue to see that their goals are not that different.  In touring these facilities with Secretary Peake, I can see that he ‘gets it.’  He knows what the goal is – not only in Charleston, but in Orlando, New Orleans, Denver, and beyond.”

In thanking all those involved with the opportunity to view these facilities, Secretary Peake noted, “Since 1946, we have had a great affiliation between VAMC and MUSC.  We look forward to the future as we continue to build on these partnerships.”

Dr. Greenberg thanked the Secretary for taking the time to make a first-hand visit and added, “Having a physician in this position is extraordinary.”  The MUSC President also thanked the Congressmen for their persistence in advocating the collaborative approach and pointed out the tremendous progress made in joint research and joint acquisition of leading-edge technology.

Some 243 physicians – about 95 percent of all local VA physicians – hold faculty appointments at MUSC.  The Johnson VAMC has been ranked as one of the nation’s best VA medical centers.

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Inglis to test drive hydrogen-powered Chevy truck

Drive featured during FuelCellSouth Southeastern Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Conference in Greenville

U.S. Rep. Inglis (R-SC) will test drive a hydrogen-powered truck and deliver remarks this afternoon at the Fifth-Annual FuelCellSouth Southeastern Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Conference in downtown Greenville.

Co-chair of the House Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Caucus, Inglis will take a spin around downtown in the Chevy Silverado pickup before speaking to the Conference at approximately 6 p.m.

The hydrogen-powered Chevy Silverado is owned by the Center for Hydrogen Research, part of the S.C. Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Alliance, and is the first officially registered hydrogen vehicle in the State.

What: Fuel Cell South Industry Conference

When: Today, April 28, 2008 at 5:15 p.m.

Where: Hyatt Regency (220 N. Main St., Greenville)

• Contact: Please contact Price Atkinson if you are interested in attending this afternoon. Interested media should be on sight by 5:15 p.m.

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