SCHotline Press Releases

It’s been a long time since I’ve sent ya’ll an e-mail update, so here’s a big one. Here are some highlights of this year, but as you know, the blog (www.kevinbryant.com) has more detail on the day-to-day debate from the Senate floor. I’ve separated everything into 3 categories: campaign, under debate, and legislation signed into law.

It is hard to believe we’re in the last year of our first term. As I’ve always said, reform is essential. With your help, we can continue our push for change in a second term. I’d be honored to have your support in our re-election efforts.

Campaign

Old-Time Stump Meeting - Join Congressman Gresham Barrett, myself, and all other Anderson County Republican candidates in Powdersville on Thursday, May 22^nd at 6:30 at the Farm of Freddie & Christie Zink. Please e-mail me if you’d like to attend.

August Event - Governor Mark Sanford will join us for a fundraiser in early August. We’ll get you more details as they develop, however, we are gathering many sponsors for this event. We will have Red, White, & Blue sponsors with a suggested contribution of $500, $250, & $100 respectively. Please consider helping us with this occasion. For your convenience, we accept credit card contributions by following this link: http://www.kevinbryant.info/contribute.htm

Under Debate

Immigration- The Senate has grappled with immigration reform four times and will probably make more attempts. E-verify is a Federal Employee verification system that appears to be the most accurate means we have. Currently, the possibility of requiring e-verify for employees doing business with the state is strong. To require e-verify of all employees in the state is a mandate I’ve supported, but we fall 2 or 3 votes short on each measure. Do we need to pass a bill that falls short of true reform or accept nothing until we get all we want? (So far, I’ve been voting against weak bills.)

PACT - The Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test is dead. For those teachers, parents, or children that enjoy the PACT (I don’t know of anyone that enjoys this yearly agony) this is the last year our schools will be administering the test. The bill ending the PACT passed the Senate and will go to a conference committee.

Cigarette Tax - After much thought and seeking legal advice, I decided to recuse myself for voting on this bill and any amendment increasing Medicaid since I would benefit. However, the Senate passed a 50 cent per pack increase in the cigarette tax. After $5 million goes to smoking cessation, ½ will be applied to tax credits for insurance premium assistance and ½ will be used to increase the rolls of Medicaid.

Budget - We’ve examined the appropriations bill for anything labeled special project. At this point, the tally is $249,925,878.00. I’m disappointed in this year’s process. Sure, it’s much easier to apply across the board cuts, but that’s not how it’s done at the kitchen table when families toil their budget. We scrutinize each expenditure and decide priorities. I disagree with those that will call this is a pork free budget, but I guess “pork is in the eye of the beholder.” Other essential items not getting attention are state employee pay raises and new school busses. Again, I could not vote for this budget.

Spending Caps - The spending caps bill has this provision: “When the balance in the Budget Stabilization Fund is greater than 15% of the prior year’s actual general fund revenue collection, 50% of the overage must be used for debt retirement and 50% must be used for capital improvement projects.” Adding to capital improvement projects would be adding to a slush fund, which in turn, spending is not capped at all. I agree with the Budget Stabilization Fund. It keeps us from the current roller coaster ride of up and down years. If the Senate doesn’t adopt my amendment for an automatic tax rebate, we’re not really capping spending.

Campaign Finance Restriction - The South Carolina Senate, to my great disappointment, considered a piece of legislation that will require individuals that band together in order to engage in political speech to register with the government. Not exactly a constitutional scholar, I seized the floor on this horrible piece of legislation and hopefully killed this bill for good.

English Only - S. 857 requires all state agencies to provide services in English. Though English became the official language of South Carolina in 1987, decisions about whether state taxpayers will pay for multilingual services like welfare and driver’s license applications are currently made by state agencies, defying the actions intended by the legislature. S. 857 passed the Senate and awaits action from the House.

Transparency – I was able to get a budget proviso calling for transparency in local governments that receive aid to subdivisions. This proviso will only apply to one year yet would set the stage for future permanent legislation. Governor Sanford ordered last summer that all agencies under his cabinet to post each and every financial expenditure on the internet. South Carolinians are entitled to full and complete information regarding how their hard-earned tax dollars are spent by government. Shining the light on government spending will lead to more accountability to the taxpayers of South Carolina.

Signed into Law

Economic Development – I’m excited to share with you that Anderson will get 350 new jobs in a recent announcement by The Department of Commerce. “…our state’s ability to attract new investment and jobs is increasingly important.  Today’s announcement of Cross Country Home Services’ decision to create 350 jobs here certainly speaks to our success in that regard, as well as to our efforts to enhance the economic soil conditions to encourage business growth.  We remain committed to continuing these efforts to keep growing the state’s economy and creating opportunity throughout South Carolina,” said Governor Mark Sanford. As one of Sanford’s ally in the Senate, I’ve worked hard to cut taxes, restructure government, and limit the scope of government since the beginning. I will continue to pursue these goals as they are crucial to the needed soil conditions for economic recovery.

DUI Reform - Statistics show SC may be as high as 3rd in the nation for alcohol related deaths on our highways. This bill creates a “tiered” system of penalties. In other words, penalties will be proportional to blood alcohol levels. This legislation strengthens penalties at all levels especially for repeat offenders. Let’s hope the implementation and enforcement of this reform will increase safety on our roads.

ID Theft - This legislation has been a priority for the Senate for the past three years.  We worked with the Department of Consumer Affairs, consumer groups, business leaders, industry specialists, SLED, and consumers who have been victimized in our efforts to draft a bill that will protect South Carolinians against identity theft.

Small Business Healthcare – Earlier this year Governor Sanford signed legislation that will allow small businesses to pool together to purchase competitive health insurance. Traditionally, small businesses have been crippled in efforts to offer their employees health insurance because of the high costs of purchasing insurance in small numbers. This statute allows the “little guy” to attract quality personnel necessary to compete in the ever-changing global market. Small businesses are our economy’s backbone; employing approximately 70% of our citizens.

Real ID – South Carolina will not participate in the National Real ID, however, we have been granted an extension. According to the National Real ID standard, a regular SC drivers license is not an acceptable form of identification. We may suffer delays due to the requirement for enhanced security screening. The time table has been extended by the Federal Government, but those of us that desire to fly commercially, we may be required to keep an updated passport. Although this may be an inconvenience, this required is better than forcing the same inconvenience on all South Carolinians that wish a drivers license.

I’d also like to mention that the 2008 Legislative Manuals have finally arrived. If you would like one, please send me your address & I’d be glad to mail you a copy.

It is a privilege to serve Anderson County in the Legislature. Please contact me if you need any assistance. Have a blessed summer!

Kevin L. Bryant