Senate tries to propel immigration bill
April 30, 2008 by senatormcconnell
COLUMBIA — The state Senate on Tuesday devised a way to bypass stalled negotiations with the House over immigration reform.
After about an hour and a half of debate while supporters tried to gather votes on narrowing worker verification standards for private employers, the Senate adjourned.
Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell said it was necessary to avoid a filibuster and give supporters time overnight to swing some more votes in favor of eliminating the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form in the bill.
S.C. Senate OKs budget; McConnell gets $5 million more for Lowcountry schools
April 21, 2008 by senatormcconnell
The state Senate approved a $7 billion spending plan Wednesday after a 12-hour session that had coastal lawmakers sparring for cash and ended with promising state workers a 1 percent raise.
Final deals were reached just after 10 p.m. after Charleston and other Lowcountry legislators were promised millions to shore up spending for their schools, as well as more tourism promotion cash as soon as the economy turns around.
That cleared the way for the budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 to head back to the House. A joint conference committee will work out final deals in the next few weeks amid fears a weak economy could prompt more spending reductions. Read more
Senate needs to see the light on immigration reform bill
April 21, 2008 by senatormcconnell
The current standoff between the House-Senate conferees on the immigration reform bill still can be resolved if only the state Senate would see the light. To its credit, the House has. That’s why its conferees are insisting that a major loophole in the legislation be removed.
All that’s needed is for the Senate to concede that the House is right in its interpretation of the rules governing the conference committee. The House takes the position that its conferees are empowered to remove what’s known as the I-9 form from the options private employers are allowed to use to verify an immigrant’s legal status. The Senate has taken the position that for technical reasons the removal of that option would require the conferees to get “free conference” powers. Read more
McConnell Dispels Wireless Broadband Misconceptions
April 10, 2008 by senatormcconnell
Weekly ETV show features Senators on Wireless Broadband Study Committee
Columbia, SC – Today, Senator Glenn McConnell (R-Charleston), President Pro Tempore, helped to allay some of the misconceptions surrounding wireless broadband on his weekly ETV show, This Week in the Senate. Guests Senator Luke Rankin (R-Horry) and Senator Brad Hutto (D-Orangeburg), who both served on the Wireless Broadband Study Committee, provided much needed clarity to the current status of wireless broadband in the state.
Read more
P&C: McConnell prepares staff for Highway Patrol probe
April 4, 2008 by senatormcconnell
COLUMBIA — In an internal memo dated Wednesday, state Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell directs Senate staff on an investigation into the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
The memo obtained by The Post and Courier, comes on the heels of shake-ups in the patrol and its parent agency, the Department of Public Safety. Senators will meet today to discuss for the first time evidence of troopers mistreating motorists.
“I will do anything within my power to ensure that any material or people that you feel you need to talk to are made available as soon as possible,” McConnell, R-Charleston, wrote.
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