SCHotline Press Releases

For Immediate Release: May 13, 2008

Contact: Scott Malyerck (803) 446-2881

(Columbia, SC)….State Treasurer Converse Chellis thanked members of the House for their foresight in passing a bill today that will decrease the unfunded liability of the State’s Retirement Systems. “We’re finally addressing a problem that has been plaguing the Retirement Systems for decades,” said Treasurer Chellis adding, “The action by the House today is a bold move that will strengthen the state employees and police retirement systems for years to come.” The bill has also passed the State Senate and it on tract to head to the Governor’s desk for signature.

The bill protects the stability of the State Retirement System while decreasing the System’s $9 billion unfunded liability. The bill also stops the granting of costly ad hoc COLA’s that have contributed to the System’s unfunded liability over the past 40 years. The bill would guarantee retirees a 2% COLA without any additional funding from the General Assembly or the taxpayers. If passed, the bill would also help protect our State’s credit rating by reducing the $9 billion liability.

The bill is supported by the SC Sheriff’s Association, SC Troopers Association, SC Chamber of Commerce,  Teachers and the Education Association, State Retirees Association, State Employees Association, the State Treasurer, State Comptroller General, State Budget and Control Board, and financial experts across the state.

Chellis said, “The bill is a well thought-out comprehensive long-range solution to a major financial problem. Without this legislation, the State will have to find additional funds or raise taxes to pay for the retirees COLA. Or, for the very first time in about 40 years, not grant a COLA to our State’s retirees.”

The Governor is against the bill. He incorrectly state’s in his press release from earlier today that, “The bill seeks to cover that shortfall (in the retirement system’s unfunded liability) by simply changing the state’s assumed rate of return on retirement system investments.” The bill does not set the rate of return. The Governor’s Office release again states that the bill is a “smoke and mirrors move.” It seems that the only smoke in the statehouse is coming from the Governor’s Office when they continue to provide false and misleading numbers in an effort to derail this bill.

“The General Assembly is right on target with this legislation. On behalf of the state’s retirees, law enforcement personnel, teachers, and state employees, I thank them for their strong leadership,” said Chellis. “As the State’s Chief Financial Officer, I am sworn to protect our State’s financial resources, and this bill does just that.”

# # #

May 8, 2008

House Creates Budget Amendment

The House passed several amendments on the Senate budget amendment today.  Some of the key items funded are:

1% State Employee Pay increase

Fully funded Education Finance Act

Fully funded scholarship programs

More money for the Department of Corrections

$4.5 million for state university Light Rail (broad-band high speed network)

$10 million for Destination Specific Grants for Parks and Tourism

The University Center of Greenville

$2.5 million for Hydrogen grants

In order to fund these programs, the House took money from numerous different sources, including:

Eliminating most of the Capital Reserve Fund Items

Recapturing $10 million from Competitive Grants

Recapturing $14.4 million from the Farmer’s Market

In addition to funding state agencies and other programs, the budget often includes provisos and legislation.  This current budget amendment includes legislation that would:

Offer marriage tax relief

Redirect car tax revenues to DOT and SIB

Create the Research Centers of Excellence Review Board and Centers of Excellence Matching Endowment

Create a Spending Limit Reserve Fund.  

The House did vote down several special projects, despite many attempts by representatives to have their favored projects added back into the budget.

Transparency Suffers a Blow in the House

The Senate passed a transparency proviso that mandated all counties put their check register online.  But the House refused to follow suit.  Instead, the House passed a week proviso that simply requires the Comptroller General to provide the service to the counties, not that they participate. 

In the upcoming budget conference committee meeting, legislators will have to place one of the provisos in the final budget.  If true transparency is the goal, then the Senate proviso should be adopted.

Cigarette Tax Increase Passed the Senate

The Senate approved a 50 cent increase of the state cigarette tax. The vote was 33 to 11 with one abstention. The House already approved a 30 cent tax increase. The bill now moves to conference committee for House and Senate lawmakers to reconcile the differences. Governor Sanford said today he will veto any tax increase that is not offset by a tax cut. 

To find out how your Senator voted go to: http://www.scstatehouse.net/sess117_2007-2008/sj08/senjour.htm. 

The Senate bill passed today directs that money be used to increase the number of South Carolinians eligible for Medicaid. Taxpayers will ultimately shoulder the burden when Medicaid growth outpaces cigarette tax revenue and lawmakers are forced to cover the difference out of the state general fund.

 Other states that have used cigarette tax increases to fund state programs have often found actual revenue collections fall short of the predicted amount. For example,

Georgia projected $180 million in new revenue after a 25 cent increase in  2003, but actual revenue was just $117 million –  35 percent less than the projected amount

Virginia projected $62 million in new revenue after a 10 cent increase in 2005, but actual revenue was $52 million — 16 percent less than the projected amount.

Nothing in the foregoing should be construed as an attempt to aid or hinder passage of any legislation.

Copyright 2008. South Carolina Policy Council Education Foundation, 1323 Pendleton Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29201.

Visit the Policy Council online at www.scpolicycouncil.com.

Bryan D. Cox

Communications Director

South Carolina Policy Council

1323 Pendleton Street

Columbia, SC 29201

Phone: (803) 779-5022 Ext. 4

Fax: (803) 779-4953

Subject: Town hall Debate (Rep. Carl Gullick and Kyle Boyd/ Councilman Paul Lindemann and Jeff Updike)
Location: Beef O’Bradys @ Baxter (940 Market St. Fort Mill, SC 2970
Contact: Greg Rogers – 803-517-7825

York County Young Republicans is hosting a moderated debate for Congressional District 48 and York County Council District 1. YCYR Chairman Greg Rogers said, ” I feel that town hall debates have lost their prevalence in state and local races. Candidates feel that putting a campaign sign up and sending a mailer will suffice for voters. We have serious issues to face and we need a forum that voters can determine who the strongest candidate is according to their needs.”

Event Date/Time: May 15th, 2008. Doors open at 7:00 p.m.

Popular radio personality Lee Stuart will moderate for the evening.
This event is open to the public and there is no charge to attend.

York County Young Republicans is a group of 18-40 yr olds committed to conservative values. YCYR is a grassroots organizations that strives to provide members with accurate political knowledge and understanding of current issues.

chairman@yorkyr.com

Fundraising Dinner for the Wounded Warrior Project this Thursday, May 15!
- $50,000 Goal -

GREENVILLE, SC (May 13, 200 – Local businesses, veterans groups and residents will gather on May 15 to honor and assist our troops, especially those severely injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. Proceeds of a fundraising dinner and silent auction will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.

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.

“Our silent auction will feature some very special items, including a fiddle with instrument case, autographed by Charlie Daniels and a guitar from the Marshall Tucker Band,” said Mona Simmons, Chairperson for South Carolina for Wounded Warrior Project (SC for WWP). There will also be military displays, headlined by a Cougar Series vehicle MRAP (mine resistant ambush protected), manufactured right here in South Carolina by Force Protection, Inc.

Who: Medal of Honor Recipient Major General James Livingston, USMC-Ret., U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (scheduled), U.S. Congressman Bob Inglis (scheduled), Dr. Frank Page, President of the Southern Baptist Convention and Robert Richards, MD.

What: SC for WWP fundraising dinner to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.

Where: May 15, 2008, 7 pm @ Taylors First Baptist Church. Doors open @ 6 pm.

Why: To educate the public on the needs of our nations injured service members. A few individual tickets, $50 each, are available.

DeMint to Offer Amendments to Protect American Workers, Not Union Bosses
Amendments would protect secret ballot elections, guarantee right to work

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina) announced that as part of the debate on the monopoly bargaining bill this week, he will offer two amendments to protect American workers from union abuses. Senator DeMint will seek to protect workers right to work without being forced to pay union dues and to protect workers’ right to a secret ballot union election.

“While American families are facing an uncertain economy, Democrats are shamefully pushing another job-killing bill to help line the pockets of organized labor,” said Senator DeMint. “Let’s be honest: this bill is a political pay-off to big labor bosses, whose political support is needed to keep Democrats in charge of Congress. We should be protecting workers’ rights, not taking them away.”

An analysis of union membership by the U.S. Census Bureau reveals that union membership has been rapidly declining, falling from 20 percent of American workers in 1983 to just 12 percent in 2006. The most recent study by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics confirms that unions are becoming reliant on federal, state and local government employees for membership: “The union membership rate for public sector workers (35.9 percent) was substantially higher than for private industry workers (7.5 percent). Within the public sector, local government workers had the highest union membership rate, 41.8 percent. This group includes many workers in several heavily unionized occupations, such as teachers, police officers, and fire fighters.”

“Organized labor is rapidly losing membership because the free market is helping workers more than unions. Realizing they can’t compete in a free market, organized labor is desperately trying to force more public workers to unionize.”

“Americans must have the freedom to work without being forced into paying dues to a union and they must have the freedom to vote by secret ballot in union elections. The right to work and the right to a secret ballot election are fundamental American freedoms that must not be trampled on.”

• Right to Work: make it unlawful in any state to force public safety or private sector workers to pay fees to a labor union as a condition of employment. No American should be forced to pay tribute to a union in order to get or keep a job.

• Secret Ballot Protection: make it unlawful to certify a union as the representative for a group of employees without a secret ballot election. No American should be forced to choose their representatives under pressure or coercion from a union or their employer.

###

Buddy Witherspoon for U.S. Senate Campaign Schedule for May 12th – May 20th
www.BuddyWitherspoon.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 12th, 2008

Monday May 12th – Spartanburg GOP BBQ / Candidates Forum - 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Ron’s BBQ, Boiling Springs, SC. $11.00 for dinner/free for event. Buddy is a speaker at this event.

Thursday May 15th – Calhoun County GOP Meeting – 7:00pm – 8:30pm

Calhoun County Courthouse Annex, St. Matthews, SC. Buddy is the featured speaker.

Friday May 16th – News 19 WLTX – Columbia, Live TV Interview – 7:00pm – 7:30pm.

Monday May 19th – Aiken Republican Club Luncheon – 12:00pm – 1:00pm

Newberry Hall, Aiken, SC. Buddy is the featured speaker.

Monday May 19th – Myrtle Beach Republican Club’s Whistle-Stop Candidate Forum – 5:30pm – 7:30pm

Myrtle Beach Train Depot, Myrtle Beach, SC. Buddy is a speaker at this event.

Monday May 19th – Waccamaw Neck GOP – 7:00pm – 8:00pm

Library, Pawley’s Island, SC. Buddy is a speaker at this event.

Tuesday May 20th – Lancaster GOP Meeting – 7:00pm – 8:00pm

USC-Lancaster, Bradley Building, Lancaster, SC. Buddy is the featured speaker.

The South Carolina Republican Primary will be held June 10th 2008.

Graham Announces South Carolina Values Coalition
Pro-family and Pro-life Leaders Praise Senator’s Conservative Record

GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham today announced the formation of his South Carolina Values Coalition comprised of top pro-family and pro-life leaders supporting his re-election.

The coalition is co-chaired by Former South Carolina Attorney General Charlie Condon and longtime pro-life leader Lisa Van Riper, who is president of South Carolina Citizens for Life. Coalition members, who hail from all regions of the state, will focus on building support for Senator Graham’s campaign among pro-family and pro-life voters in their communities.

“Lindsey Graham has been a staunch defender of South Carolina values in the United States Senate,” said Charlie Condon. “He has fought for traditional marriage, protection of the unborn, and perhaps most importantly, conservative judges. Many of the issues and values we hold dear are being threatened by activist judges. Lindsey understands the danger they pose. It’s why he was a leader in confirming conservative judges like John Roberts and Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court. I know Lindsey Graham and am proud to stand with him as he stands for the conservative values we share.”

“I deeply appreciate Lindsey Graham’s pro-life leadership,” said Lisa Van Riper. “He has stood with us in our efforts to pass legislation protecting the unborn and fought to build a culture in which every child is protected. Lindsey was the original author of the Unborn Victims of Violence Act which recognizes the mother and unborn child as victims when they are injured or killed during the commission of a federal crime. He deserves great credit for pushing this important protection of the unborn into law at the federal level. He also played an important role in helping prod the South Carolina state legislature to pass protection for unborn victims here at home as well. I will continue to work diligently to spread Lindsey Graham’s strong pro-life and pro-family record to the voters of South Carolina.”

“I am honored to have the support of these pro-family and pro-life leaders,” said Graham. “Charlie, Lisa, and the members of this coalition are some of the strongest voices for South Carolina’s conservative values. They are the gold standard in the pro-family and pro-life communities. I am grateful for their support and proud to have them on our team.”

Below are the members of the South Carolina Values Coalition:

South Carolina Values Coalition Co-Chairs

Hon. Charlie Condon – Former South Carolina Attorney General, Charleston

Lisa Van Riper – President, South Carolina Citizens for Life, Greenville*

South Carolina Values Coalition Members

Anne Badgley – Founder, Lowcountry Crisis Pregnancy Center, Charleston*

Dee Benedict – Pro-family activist and former member of the State Board of the Christian Coalition, Greenville*

Kathy Bigham – Former Co-chair, Changing South Carolina, a statewide anti-video poker effort; Chairman, No Lottery 2000; President, Thursday’s Too restaurant, Rock Hill*

Hon. Chip Campsen – South Carolina Senate, Charleston

Wayne Cockfield – Alternate Director of South Carolina Citizens for Life, Florence*

Roberta Combs – President, Christian Coalition of America, Charleston*

Hon. Greg Delleney – South Carolina House of Representatives, Chester

Hon. Shannon Erickson – South Carolina House of Representatives, Beaufort

Hon. Mike Fair – South Carolina Senate, Greenville

Carl Falk — Chairman, Palmetto Family Council; Founder and Chairman, Falk-Griffin Foundation, Pawleys Island*

Holly Gatling – Executive Director, South Carolina Citizens for Life, Columbia*

Hon. Wes Hayes – South Carolina Senate, Greenville

Barbara Leonard – Republican National Coalition for Life State Director and National Board Member, Myrtle Beach*

Bob McAlister – Former Chief of Staff to Governor Carroll Campbell; President, McAlister Communications, Columbia*

Glenn McCall – Pro-family activist and Chairman, York County Republican Party, Rock Hill*

Janice McCord – Former South Carolina Field Director for the Christian Coalition; Abbeville County Republican Party Executive Committeewoman*

Ed McMullen – Former President, South Carolina Policy Council; President, McMullen & Associates, Columbia*

Hon. Mick Mulvaney – South Carolina House of Representatives, Lancaster

Alexia Newman – Director, Carolina Pregnancy Center; First Vice Chairman, South Carolina Republican Party, Spartanburg*

Randy Page – President, South Carolinians for Responsible Government; former Chief of Staff, Office of Lt. Governor Andre Bauer, Columbia*

Dr. Oran Smith – President, Palmetto Family Council, Columbia*

Hal Stevenson – Pro-family activist and former President, Palmetto Family Council; Columbia*

Susan Swanson – Director, Augusta Care Pregnancy Center, Aiken*

Zan Tyler – Founder, South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools, Columbia*

Ken Wingate – Pro-family activist and attorney with Sweeny, Wingate & Barrow, Columbia*

*Professional position and organization provided for identification purposes only. Listing does not imply endorsement or support of organizations or businesses.

CONSERVATION VOTERS ROLLS OUT PRIMARY ENDORSEMENTS

(Columbia, SC) – Conservation Voters of South Carolina is announcing Primary endorsements on a statewide conference call with reporters on Tuesday, May 13, at 11:00 a.m. Members of the press are welcome to call in at specific times to discuss specific races or remain on the call for the duration.

Conservation Voters is pleased to endorse the following candidates for State House or State Senate. Our endorsement process includes a candidate questionnaire, candidate interview, an objective analysis of the candidate’s record and viability and a vote by our statewide bipartisan 23-member board of directors.

“Voters are demanding action on issues like clean, abundant water, and clean, renewable energy. Our endorsed candidates have demonstrated their commitment to addressing these and other conservation issues. Furthermore, this diverse group of candidates demonstrates that conservation is not a partisan issue to South Carolinians. Voters are less and less concerned with whether candidates are red or blue – the public wants ‘green’ candidates,” said Ann Timberlake, Executive Director of Conservation Voters.

Conservation Voters is turning traditional conservation values into state priorities. We are the independent bipartisan organization holding elected leaders accountable for a safe, clean, healthy South Carolina.

Conference Call in Number: 888-346-3659
Password: 29212#

Conference Call Agenda

Conservation Voters asks that questions be directed toward the races in the region being discussed at the allotted time. Reporters will have another opportunity to ask questions about any region or race at noon.

11:00 am – General Overview – Ann Timberlake, Executive Director

11:10 am – Upstate Endorsements

Upstate Endorsements
Larry Martin, R, Pickens Senate #2
Ralph Anderson, D, Greenville Senate #7
Jim Ritchie, R, Spartanburg Senate #13
Scott Talley, R, Spartanburg Senate #12
BR Skelton, R, Pickens House #3
Chandra Dillard, D, Greenville House #23
Harold Mitchell, D, Spartanburg House #31

Derham Cole, Jr., R, Spartanburg House #32
Mike Forrester, R, Spartanburg House #34
Keith Kelly, R, Spartanburg House #35
Ralph Davenport, R, Spartanburg House #37

11:25 am – Midlands Endorsements

Midlands/Pee Dee Endorsements
Creighton Coleman, D, Fairfield/Chester Senate #17
John Scott, D, Richland Senate #19
Darrell Jackson, D, Richland Senate #21
Phil Leventis, D, Sumter Senate #35
Boyd Brown, D, Fairfield House #41
Carl Gullick, R, York House #48
Robert Williams, D, Darlington House #62
Chris Hart, D, Richland House #73
Kit Spires, R, Lexington House #96
Ken Kennedy, D, Williamsburg House #101

11:40 am – Lowcountry Endorsements

Lowcountry Endorsements
Dwayne Green, D, Charleston Senate #42
Clementa Pinckney, D Jasper Senate #45
Catherine Ceips, R, Beaufort Senate#46
Heyward Hutson, R, Dorchester House #94
Clay Middleton, D, Charleston House #111
Joe Bustos, R, Charleston House #112
Thayer Rivers, D, Jasper House #122
Stu Rodman, R, Beaufort House #123

Noon – Closing Remarks/Questions

###

EMBARGOED - DO NOT RELEASE BEFORE
10:30 a.m. Monday, May 12, 2008

‘One Laptop per Child’ pilot project will give personal computers to state’s youngest students

GRESHAM - Five hundred kindergarten and elementary students in one of
the state’s most rural school districts will receive their own
personal laptop computers beginning this week as part of a new campaign
to make South Carolina the first state with laptop technology in its
primary grades.

State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex announced the initiative
Monday at a press conference at Britton’s Neck Elementary in Marion
School District Seven. That school, along with Rains Centenary Early
Childhood Center in Mullins, is a pilot site for “One Laptop per
Child/South Carolina.”

Rex said the pilot is a partnership between the South Carolina
Department of Education and the non-profit Palmetto Project and is
underwritten with private funding. It has the potential to expand to
every school district in South Carolina.

“Our goal is to promote affordable laptop technology for students and
communities across the state,” Rex said. “Students who can get
technology into their hands early will have a head start on acquiring
the kinds of computer skills they’ll need for learning at all stages
of life.”

The XO laptops were developed by One Laptop per Child, a non-profit
organization created by Nicholas Negroponte and others from the MIT
Media Lab to design, manufacture and distribute laptop computers that
are sufficiently inexpensive to provide every child in the world access
to knowledge and modern forms of education. Charleston entrepreneur Phil
Noble worked with Negroponte to bring the idea to South Carolina.

“By giving children their very own connected XO laptop, we are giving
them a window to the outside world, access to vast amounts of
information, a way to connect with each other and a springboard into
their future,” Negroponte said.

“These laptops are all about a much bigger picture,” Noble said.
“If we want a better South Carolina, with better jobs, better SAT
scores and a better prepared workforce, this is the key. If we fail to
act now, our children will be playing catch-up their entire lives.”

The XO laptops are spillproof, rainproof, dustproof and drop-proof.
They have a keyboard designed for children’s small hands and come
loaded with easy to use software, a built-in camera, built-in microphone
and stereo speakers, and a screen that rotates into a tablet
configuration. The cost of each computer is currently less than $180.

District officials plan the first XO laptop distribution at a parent
meeting May 20 at Rains Centenary. After tips on laptop care and use,
parents will sign user agreements for the center’s four- and
five-year-old kindergarten students. A parent meeting and distribution
for students at Britton’s Neck Elementary will be held May 22.

Executive director Steve Skardon said the program fits the Palmetto
Project’s mission to “put new ideas to work solving problems in
South Carolina.” Since its founding in 1984, the non-profit agency
has formed more than 180 public-private partnerships to work on issues
ranging from education and health care to race relations and election
reform.

“Since 2001, the Palmetto Project has been a leader in using cutting
edge technology to improve math and reading skills for students,”
Skardon said. “Everyone realizes that mastery of computer technology
will determine whether the next generation of South Carolinians can
compete in a global economy. Marion Seven’s teachers and students
will help us understand how to make the best use of this amazing
educational resource.”

Skardon said a One Laptop per Child/South Carolina interactive website
at www.onelaptopsc.org will track the district’s progress and help
raise funds for expanding the program to other areas in the state.

“Several communities are already interested,” Skardon said. “We
are open to working anywhere in South Carolina. We hope to be able to
order another 5,000 laptops in August.”

Pilot program funding was provided by Greenville executive Erwin
Maddrey and by Charleston businesswoman and philanthropist Linda Ketner,
who called the initiative “a small but critical step in preparing our
children for success in a very competitive world.”

“Computer competence will give these children advantages in
everything from academics to getting a job or running a business,”
Ketner said. “The question is not if we can afford to do this, but
whether we can afford not to do it.”

Marion Seven superintendent Everette Dean said the district plans to
integrate XO laptops into its summer programs for students. Teachers
and media specialists also will be trained on how to use the new
technology.

“We’re grateful to be able to offer so many of our students a
chance for creative learning and problem-solving experiences,” Dean
said. “The more they’re exposed to technology as part of everyday
life, the sooner they can become more comfortable with it.”

Dean said the district’s Creek Bridge High School is taking part in a
separate pilot - the iAm Laptop Program - that provides computers for
its 77 ninth-graders and their teachers. Clemson University’s Strom
Thurmond Institute of Public Policy is monitoring and reviewing that
program.

ATLANTA:  The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced Monday that WPDE NewsChannel 15’s Jim Heath and Kevin Abadie have been nominated for an Emmy® award for their work on “South Carolina:  On the Road to the White House.”

The special, pre-recorded from the White House, aired last November and featured one-on-one interviews with all the leading presidential contenders. The program was produced, written and anchored by Heath, and photographed and edited by Abadie.

WPDE News Director Victoria Spechko, positioning her station as the dominant campaign news station leading up to the South Carolina presidential primaries in January, sent Heath and Abadie across South Carolina throughout 2007 to land exclusive interviews with the leading contenders which included Senators Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain.

“This nomination is the single greatest achievement of my career,” Heath said Monday.  “I am so very honored that our industry recognizes the importance of quality campaign coverage in 2008, and I am so grateful to our station for leading the way.”

“It proves that quality campaign coverage is still respected in our business,” Abadie added.  “I hope it will serve as an inspiration for even more political reporting, regardless of market size, in the future.”

A panel of broadcast experts selected the nominees in the News Excellence/News Special category.  The other nominees are:  Georgia’s Water Crisis from WSB TV, and Honoring Our Heroes, Profiles in Courage from WCSC TV.

The Emmy® winner will be announced on June 21st at the 34th Annual Black Tie Gala in Atlanta.  This is the first Emmy® nomination for both Heath and Abadie.

# # #