Archive for April, 2008
DEMOCRATIC LEADERS ENDORSE LOTZ FOR CONGRESS
DEMOCRATIC LEADERS ENDORSE LOTZ FOR CONGRESS
Local Democratic Party Chairs Announce Support
Buddy Witherspoon for U.S. Senate Campaign Schedule for April 28th – May 5th
Buddy Witherspoon for U.S. Senate Campaign Schedule for April 28th – May 5th
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 28th, 2008
All Events Open to the Public & Media
Monday April 28th – “This Is Politics” w/ Ben Miller, Radio Interview – 6:00pm – 6:30pm
Listen to the live interview at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/tip
Wednesday April 30th – Evangel Cathedral - 7:00pm – 8:30pm
500 Evangel Rd., Spartanburg, SC. Buddy will be attending service and speaking w/ supporters.
Thursday May 1st – Disabled American Veterans – 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Broadway at the Beach, 2988 Church St. Myrtle Beach, SC. (Event to be held in the old church building). Buddy is a featured speaker at this event.
Friday May 2nd – Batesburg Poultry Festival – 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Batesburg, SC. Buddy will be attending this event w/ supporters.
Saturday May 3rd – Memorial Parade – 11:00am – 12:30pm
South Carolina Statehouse, Columbia, SC. Buddy will be attending this event w/ supporters.
Monday May 5th – Downtown Columbia Lion’s Club – 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Summit Club, 1301 Gervais St., Columbia, SC. Buddy is a featured speaker at this event. This event is free and open to the public, lunch is available for a nominal cost.
The South Carolina Republican Primary will be held June 10th 2008.
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South Carolina Libertarian Party Press Release
South Carolina Libertarian Party Press Release For release April 28, 2008 Charleston, S.C.---On April 19, 2008 the South Carolina Libertarian Party in convention elected Michael Carmany of Anderson as the state party Chairman of the SCLP. Victor Kocher of Richland County was picked as Vice-Chair. Chairman Carmany is small business owner in Anderson County and a leader in the Anderson County Libertarian Party. After the convention Chairman Carmany said: I want to thank the Delegates of the South Carolina Libertarian convention for supporting me and giving me the opportunity to serve as Executive Chairman for the next Election cycle. I believe that 2008 is an opportunity that cannot be passed up. Many Republican and Democrats are disillusioned and are searching for an alternative political party. I believe that the Libertarian Party is that alternative. We are citizens, voters that are tired of being told sit down, shut up and fall in line vote for who we tell you to vote for. We have the power to make the 2 party system a 3 PARTY OPTION and open the way for more options. Let's STOP the system that selects who we can vote for and start electing more options. The Libertarian Party truly stands for smaller Government with less spending. We are not bound to the commitments that entangle the 2 big parties. We are bound to the citizens, the voters who are supposed to be represented. I want to invite R's and D's to learn about the Libertarian Party. Join and help build the new Big Party. Many elections are determined when the Primary is run. The primary is the race held by the party to determine who will be the candidate in the real ELECTION which occurs in November. Sadly the majority of November Elections are held unopposed. We need to have a choice of candidates and policies to choose from. I hope to push the growth of the South Carolina Libertarian Party by showing it is the sensible fiscally conservative choice for freedom. (end) Contacts: SCLP - (803)788-2226 pobox 291383 Columbia, SC 29229 Michael Carmany SCLP Executive Chair parrot-dise@earthlink.net (864)287-8200 119 Smith Cir. Anderson, SC 29695
Planned Parenthood coming to Charleston SC; Won’t say where; Won’t say when!
Planned Parenthood coming to Charleston SC; Won’t say where; Won’t say when!
By Holly Gatling, Executive Director
South Carolina Citizens for Life
On Wednesday April 23, Channel 2 in Charleston aired a remarkable story about Planned Parenthood’s plans to move into Charleston, S.C. The story is remarkable because Planned Parenthood won’t say where or when it plans to open its second facility in South Carolina.
What is Planned Parenthood trying to hide?
According to its own annual report Planned Parenthood Federation of America:
Øis the largest abortion provider in the United States, committing 289,750 abortions annually.
Øderives a third of its budget — $336 million — from tax dollars.
Øreported record revenues of more than $1 billion ($1,017, 900,000) in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007.
Planned Parenthood already operates an abortion business in Columbia, S.C., that is responsible for well over 1,000 abortions annually.
According to the regional Planned Parenthood Health Systems Inc.’s annual report (which is also on the web at pphsinc.org) “On the final day of 2007, Planned Parenthood Health Systems purchased a new facility in Charleston, S.C. We will begin providing a full range of preventative services in Charleston later this year.”
This tells us Planned Parenthood probably has purchased an existing building and that it will open for business in 2008. Channel 2 reports the business will be located in “downtown” Charleston.
The annual report describes Charleston, S.C., as “underserved.” Underserved? Abortions are performed at the Medical University of South Carolina and Charleston already supports a private abortion business which may not be too pleased to see a tax-funded competitor come to town. It seems out of touch with reality for Planned Parenthood to describe Charleston, S.C., as medically underserved in any way.
The PPHSINC annual report notes one of its largest contributors is “Anonymous Fund of the Coastal Community Foundation” with funding of $175,000 for the Charleston Health Center Campaign; and $100,000 to “increase access to preventative care in South Carolina.”
Channel 2’s report features Kate Hampton, a Planned Parenthood representative, addressing pro-abortion medical students “to try and muster up support.” The accompanying article notes that Hampton “pointed out that the clinic, still in the planning stages will not perform ‘elective’ abortions. Those are abortions done by choice without referral. ‘Therapeutic’ abortions are performed for medical reasons such as when the health of the mother or unborn child are at risk.”
Obviously Channel 2 is unaware that almost all abortions (except those necessary to save the life of the mother) are “elective.” The mother elects not to have a baby because she doesn’t want it for whatever reason.
In other words, Planned Parenthood of Charleston will be aborting unborn children.
Ah Ha! Maybe that’s what Planned Parenthood is trying to hide. Whatever the reason for its secrecy, Planned Parenthood can’t hide forever.
To watch the Channel 2 video and read the web article click here:
http://www.wcbd.com/midatlantic/cbd/search.apx.-content-articles-CBD-2008-04-23-0024.html
¿DÓNDE ESTABA GLORIA ARIAS-HASKINS?“ WHERE WAS GLORIA ARIAS-HASKINS?”
¿DÓNDE ESTABA GLORIA ARIAS-HASKINS?
“WHERE WAS GLORIA ARIAS-HASKINS?”
Americans Have Had Enough Coalition Calls for Arias-Haskins to resign or to not seek re-election!
SC State Representative Gloria Arias-Haskins, self-appointed chair of the SC Hispanic Caucus, appears to be more interested in making headlines than doing her job. As the legislative year approaches to an end, this week she introduced a bill to stop awarding contracts to China. This bill has no chance of passing both chambers of the legislature at this late juncture. However, Ms. Arias-Haskins, rather than lash out at from what country the contractor is, she should look to see whether Americans are doing the actual work, given South Carolina’s recent rise in unemployment rate.
Whereas the Americans Have Had Enough Coalition (AHHEC) supports keeping jobs in the USA and hiring American workers, the Coalition is currently placing its efforts in making states, particularly South Carolina, pass meaningful legislation to stop the illegal alien invasion that the USA in general, and SC in particular, are currently experiencing. This is where Ms. Arias-Haskins has failed South Carolinians miserably for quite some time.
While the now infamous immigration bill, S392, sat idle in her house judiciary committee during most of 2007, attempts to pull it out of committee were thwarted by objections on the house floor by Ms. Arias-Haskins. When constituents tried to get her support for passage of this bill, she replied by saying, “I don’t represent you or your kind, I represent the Hispanic Caucas (sic).” It was the citizens of South Carolina that elected Ms. Arias-Haskins, and not the illegal alliens nor even resident aliens she claims to represent. Perhaps Ms. Arias-Haskins needs to read the oath of office that she took when the citizens of House District 22 elected her to office.
Not only has Arias-Haskins consistently ignored her constituents’ cry for a solid immigration bill, she has been condescending telling them how difficult this issue was to explain. However, back on January 23, 2008, when the house judiciary committee took up the crucial immigration bills S392 and H4400, Ms. Arias-Haskins was AWOL. This meeting lasted over 4 ½ hours. Had she personally witnessed the crucial discussions that took place this day, she may have learned what was on this bill in a manner that she could have gone back to her constituents and explained it. But Gloria decided to skip the meeting. ¿Dónde estabas Gloria? (Where were you Gloria?)
More recently, a terrible bill that she had introduced in 2007, H3343, dealing with requirements for voter registration, was finally taken up by the entire House Judiciary Committee for discussion. Being the lone sponsor of such bill, one would have expected Gloria to be present to discuss it. This bill would have allowed the use of photocopies of passports, birth certificates, US Naturalization documentation or other federal government documents as proof of citizenship for someone to register to vote in SC. Photocopies of documents have become the MO for illegal aliens and non-citizens to rob our American citizens of their identity. All one has to do is go to your local flea market to check this out. However, Gloria should have been present, April 1, 2008, when the full House Judiciary Committee met to discuss this terrible bill that she sponsored. She should have been present to defend her reason for this huge loophole that would have given illegals an easy way to register to vote. Consequently, the bill was sent back to subcommittee and effectively killed for this year because Ms. Arias-Haskins chose not to show up to the Judiciary Committee meeting. ¿Dónde estabas Gloria? (Where were you Gloria?)
District 22 deserves better representation than what Ms. Arias-Haskins, has provided. Since she appears to not be interested in her job, she should resign immediately or at the very least she should not seek re-election. We are sure that the pro illegal-alien lobby that she seems to represents would give her a job.
People should call Gloria Arias-Haskins and ask her where she stands on illegal immigration today at 864-268-8191. Her email address is: gah@schouse.org.
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WILSON’S VOTE AGAINST HOSPITALS & CHILDREN OUTRAGEOUS
Contact: Trav Robertson FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 803.238.5320 Friday NTR@sc.rr.com 25 April 2008 WILSON’S VOTE AGAINST HOSPITALS & CHILDREN OUTRAGEOUS Joe Wilson votes against the SCHIP program ORANGEBURG, SC-----Today, Blaine Lotz criticized Joe Wilson’s vote against The Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008. The candidate for the 2nd Congressional District argued, “ This is exactly the type of vote that proves Wilson is out of touch with people in our district. People are losing jobs, paying astronomical gas prices and can’t afford decent health-care. Yet he votes against a bill that provides health-care to children. Even Governor Mark Sanford, a member of his own party, supported this legislation.” The Protecting Medicaid Safety Net Act extends benefits to Veterans, Katrina Recovery and the Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act until 2009, according to the non-partisan Congressional Research Service. The bill extends the moratorium on eliminating and changing the aid to local states. “Medicaid accounts for one of the largest expenses for state governments. Mr. Wilson voted against hospitals in and state child welfare agencies. He wanted to redefine the Federal-State partnership in that the entire burden would shift to the state. During these hard economic times, Joe Wilson wants the state, every county and city in the 2nd Congressional District to bear the entire cost of these federal programs”, explained Lotz. According to The Energy and Commerce Committee report, the failure of this bill would have • Limited state Medicaid payments to public hospitals, thereby limiting federal matching payments • Barred compensation from state child welfare agencies that provide Medicaid services • Limited Medicaid payments to hospitals and nursing homes that service Medicaid patients In conclusion Lotz stated, “ Fortunately for the people of South Carolina and the nation, this legislation passed the US House of Representatives by a vote of 349-62. Can you imagine how devastating this could have been to the hospitals in Lexington, Orangeburg and Richland counties? It would have crippled them. Where is the compassionate conservatism we have heard during Wilson’s terms in Congress? When our state needs him most Joe Wilson, votes against children, against veterans, against the 2nd Congressional District and against South Carolina. Blindly following George Bush is not leadership and the people of our district deserve better."
Immigration Reform Letter From Speaker Harrell
Here is the PDF copy of the letter Bobby Harrell sent the senate. Click here immigration-letter
Senate Summary Week of April 22 - 24, 2008
Senate Summary Week of April 22 - 24, 2008 Quote of the Week– “The people of South Carolina deserve better than what the House is doing. The House has tried to kill this bill twice this year and they are now hiding behind some strange interpretation of the rules to avoid delivering strong illegal immigration reform to the people of South Carolina.” Senator Jim Ritchie (R-Spartanburg), Chairman of the Joint Legislative Conference Committee on illegal immigration reform, commenting on the events of the past week by the House of Representatives and their refusal to seek approval for free negotiating powers. Immigration Reform Needs House Vote to Move Forward (Wednesday, April 23) The Senate is waiting on the House to vote on free conference powers in hopes of resolving the current legislative stalemate on illegal immigration reform. Senator Jim Ritchie (R-Spartanburg) received unanimous, bipartisan approval this week from Senate members that a vote on free conference powers would be taken without extended debate after the House has voted to grant free conference powers to its Joint Legislative Conference Committee members. Free Conference Powers are needed to allow the committee members from both chambers to craft new provisions, currently not in either bill, needed to reach an agreement. Child Abuse to Include Exposure to Dangerous Drugs (Thursday, April 24) The Senate approved the expansion of the child abuse definition to include “knowingly exposing” children to dangerous chemicals like those used in the manufacturing of methamphetamines. The bill (S.1038) is expected to receive final Senate approval next week. Education Funding Effectiveness and Fairness Panel (Thursday, April 24) The Senate approved the establishment of the Public Education Funding and Fairness Panel (S.1311) sponsored by Senator Hugh Leatherman (R-Florence) and co-sponsored by the entire membership of the Senate. The eleven-member panel will conduct a comprehensive study of how South Carolina currently funds public education and recommend legislative changes by January 01, 2010. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. Fallen Heroes Appreciation Bill Approved (Thursday, April 24) The Senate gave key approval to the Fallen Heroes Appreciation Bill (S.1006), sponsored by Senator Jim Ritchie (R-Spartanburg), which provides for continued health and dental benefits to spouses or dependents of law enforcement officers and fire fighters killed in the line of duty. The bill is expected to get final Senate approval next week McConnell Energy Bills Receive Approval (Thursday, April 24) Several key pieces of an energy conservation package, sponsored by Senator Glenn McConnell (R-Charleston), gained key approval in the Senate this week. S.1140 requires all state agencies to replace all incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs by July 1, 2011. S.1141 also known as “The Energy Efficient Manufactured Homes Incentive Program,” provides income tax credits to people who purchase energy efficient, manufactured homes. The bill also provides additional tax credits for certain energy efficient upgrades to existing manufactured homes. S.1143 will provide sales tax relief on energy efficient appliances purchased in the month of October, beginning in 2009, and continuing each year until 2019. October is also National Energy Efficiency Month. All three of the bills are expected to get final Senate approval next week. Post Conviction DNA Act Gains Approval (Thursday, April 24) The Senate gave key approval to the “Post-Conviction DNA Procedures Act” (S.429). The bill designates the procedures to be followed for testing the DNA of someone convicted of a crime when that testing may confirm the identity of the perpetrator. If the DNA testing shows a person may be innocent of the crime for which they were convicted the bill outlines the subsequent legal proceedings. The bill is expected to receive final Senate approval next week. Public Prayer (Thursday, April 24) The Senate gave final approval to the “South Carolina Public Invocation Act" (S.638), sponsored by Senator Chip Campsen (R-Charleston). The bill will allow a local or state government body to adopt policies preserving the tradition of opening public meetings with an invocation. The invocation must be administered on a rotating basis by a member of the public body, or the body can elect a chaplain from among its members, or an invocation speaker may be selected on a rotating basis from religious leaders serving established religious congregations in the local community in which the public body meets. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration Tax Realignment Commission Passes Senate (Wednesday, April 23) The Senate approved the establishment of The South Carolina Taxation Realignment Commission (S.1242) sponsored by Senator Hugh Leatherman (R-Florence). The eleven-member commission will conduct a comprehensive study of the state’s tax system with the goal of maintaining the state’s competitive edge in attracting new businesses and individuals to South Carolina. Recommendations and proposed legislation would be required of the commission by January 1, 2010. The bill was sent to the House of Representatives and was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee. ###
Barrett Drills Democrats: ‘Where is Promised Energy Plan?’
Barrett Drills Democrats: ‘Where is Promised Energy Plan?’
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Barrett delivered the following speech yesterday on the House floor asking why the Democrat’s promised plan to solve American’s energy crisis had not yet been introduced in Congress.
Click photo to view video
Mr. Speaker,
“I quote, Democrats have a commonsense plan to help bring down skyrocketing gas prices, end quote, said Mrs. Pelosi in press release on year ago today.
The price at the pump then was $2.91 a gallon. That was actually very good news compared to the near $4 a gallon Americans are paying today.
Also, two years ago Mrs. Pelosi vowed, if her party took over Congress, they would cut energy prices and they said especially gasoline.
It is obvious there is a fast growing need for energy in our country and this need must be met with a solution.
To provide a reduction in gas prices for Americans, we need to find resources here at home to support domestic energy production.
Our country needs to research and fund alternative energy production to become less dependent of foreign sources for the security of our country and to ease the burdening gas prices for American families.
American families were promised a commonsense plan by the Democrat majority. If there is a commonsense plan, if there is one, isn’t now the time to see it?”
VIDEO NEWS RELEASE- C-130 lands at HHI airport for Vigilant Guard 2008
VIDEO NEWS RELEASE
To download all broadcast products, go to the following Web site:
http://www.ngb.army.mil/features/vigilantguard2/mm-videos.aspx
UPDATE ON 2008 VIGILANT GUARD EXERCISE
VIDEO: 080423-F-9668F-001.WMV
DESCRIPTION: A165th Airlift Wing C-130 Hercules aircraft touches down on the runway at Hilton Head Island Municipal Airport, S.C. April 23. The C-130 is the largest airplane to land at the airport which is now certified for military aircraft of that size as a result of the flight. The aircraft landed at the Hilton Head airport as part of an exercise Vigilant Guard scenario in which simulated earthquake victims were evacuated from the island by the C-130 and airlifted to Beaufort, S.C. Vigilant Guard is a three-day National Guard-hosted exercise in Beaufort County, which began April 21. The exercise is designed to better prepare the National Guard for natural disasters in a cooperative effort with various national, state and local government agencies. (National Guard video by Master Sgt. Lester A. Finuf) (RELEASED)
INTERVIEW: Larry Yeager, Chief of Operations at Hilton Head Island Airport, Hilton Head, South Carolina
BEAUFORT, S.C. - The South Carolina National Guard is hosting Vigilant Guard 2008 that will test the capabilities and interoperability of local regional and state level first responders including the South Carolina National Guard, the state’s first military responders.
Vigilant Guard is a three-day National Guard-hosted exercise beginning April 21 in Beaufort County, S.C. The exercise is designed to test the ability of the National Guard, along with federal, state, and local “first responders,” to react to a domestic emergency.
Vigilant Guard reinforces that all emergency events are local. Vigilant Guard’s emergency exercises will run Monday through Thursday, April 21-24. This year’s scenario will be a mock 7.3 earthquake centered in Beaufort County. After-effects of the earthquake will result in over 50 various scenarios at incident site locations throughout the county.
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