Lawmakers override governor’s veto of port bill

June 19, 2009 by senatormcconnell

Lawmakers in the House and Senate overwhelmingly overrode Gov. Mark Sanford’s veto of the so-called port restructuring bill, nixing the state’s chief executive of his ability to remove members of the S.C. State Ports Authority board at will.

Lawmakers in the Senate voted 35-9 and House members voted 102-3 to override the governor’s veto. The new law, effective immediately, requires a number of governing changes to the SPA and its board. Sanford vetoed the measure particularly because it strips a governor’s ability to remove members. Read more

Vetoes tossed in special session

June 17, 2009 by senatormcconnell

Lawmakers preserve laws on ports, payday lending

Gov. Mark Sanford’s concerns about 10 new laws were summarily dismissed Tuesday when the Legislature breezed through a special one-day session to overturn his vetoes, including one that will put new regulations on the payday lending industry.

After years of fights over how to regulate the payday lending practices that charge high interest rates on short-term loans, South Carolina borrowers will be limited to one $550 loan at a time and be subject to a cooling-off period between loans. Advocates consider the legislation consumer protection from a predatory industry, but Sanford argued in his veto that the service is needed and using it responsibly is up to the borrower. Read more

State Ports Authority to be restructured

June 17, 2009 by senatormcconnell

The South Carolina Senate has overridden Governor Mark Sanford’s veto of a bill to restructure the State Ports Authority. The most contentious feature of the new statute is that the governor is now prevented from firing state Ports Authority Members–at will. It also mandates that members of the ports board have certain business or industry-based qualifications, experience or expertise.

Berkeley Senator Larry Grooms doggedly pushed the measure through, saying that it gives the state access to high-quality jobs. Read more

Sanford trumped on payday loans, ports

June 17, 2009 by senatormcconnell

Lawmakers take some of governor’s power, will study state’s tax structure

The S.C. General Assembly overrode Gov. Mark Sanford’s vetoes Tuesday and approved a bill to study and recommend changes to the state tax structure.

Lawmakers overturned all 10 Sanford vetoes, creating laws that would limit the number of payday loans, allow lawmakers to choose those who oversee state ports, and limit where sex offenders can live. Read more

Glenn McConnell Responds to Supreme Court Ruling

June 5, 2009 by senatormcconnell

Columbia, SC – June 4, 2009 – South Carolina Senate President Pro Tempore
Glenn McConnell released the following statement today in response to the
State Supreme Court’s stimulus lawsuit ruling:

I want to first applaud the South Carolina Supreme Court for understanding
the time constraints faced by our citizens regarding the potential loss of
the stimulus money and quickly and thoroughly dealing with the two lawsuits
that were pending before it. It was very important that our Supreme Court
hear and decide the constitutional arguments and not a federal judge. Read more