Voter ID compromise reached
January 29, 2010 by senatormcconnell
The Senate reached a compromise Thursday on a controversial Voter ID bill that phases in over two years new requirements for a picture ID in order for a person to vote in South Carolina.
The bill also establishes a new 15-day early voting period prior to elections, maintains walk-in absentee voting for 30 days prior to an election and retains mail-in absentee voting beginning at 45 days before an election.
The photo identification requirement takes effect Jan. 2, 2012, and the State Election Commission must begin issuing voter registration cards with photo ID by July, 1, 2011, pending state funding being made available for the cards.
The system carries an educational, public outreach component, so that currently-registered voters for whom obtaining a photo identification may pose a difficulty, could be assisted.
The compromise proposal must be cleared by U.S. Justice Department and still must go back to the S.C. House for its consideration and passage.
“This is another example of the Senate at its finest hour,” said Sen. Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, Senate president pro-tempore.
“There were some strong feelings in this body. This is one of the most divisive issues I’ve seen come before this body,” he said. Read more
SC senators approve bill on photo ID requirement
January 29, 2010 by senatormcconnell
South Carolina voters could vote early starting in 2012 but must show photo IDs to cast a ballot under a compromise Thursday that ended two days of partisan debate in the Senate.
Senators said the deal, approved 36-2, would increase voter participation by increasing when people could vote, while preventing fraud.
“It means fewer lines for the voting public in the 2012 cycle, more opportunities to vote and greater confidence in the process,” said Sen. Chip Campsen, R-Isle of Palms, among a group of senators who worked more than five hours on a compromise.
Read more
Election Reform passes senate
January 29, 2010 by senatormcconnell
Vote on governor-lieutenant governor ticket OK’d
January 27, 2010 by senatormcconnell
Voters would decide in November whether candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run on a ticket rather than separately under a measure approved by a legislative panel.
The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the resolution by a 9-6 vote on Tuesday. The House bill now heads to the Senate floor for debate.
It will require a two-thirds majority to pass the Senate and the House would have to go along with changes which the Senate included.
The lieutenant governor would remain in charge of the state Office on Aging. But it would be up to the governor to decide what other duties his lieutenant governor would perform.
Republican Sen. Larry Martin of Pickens argued lieutenant governors aren’t needed and the office should be eliminated.
Peeler, McConnell, and Cleary on State of the State
January 22, 2010 by senatormcconnell
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford praised the wife he cheated on and apologized Wednesday for what he said is the last time for an affair in his final state-of-the-state address.
Sanford has routinely noted her thrift and efforts to save taxpayers money in past statewide addresses. But Wednesday, he praised her “in her truly phenomenal grace that she showed the world and the state in the storm that I brought to our family and to the state at large.”
She filed for a divorce last month that is expected to be final next month as her memoir is published.
Legislators have long said it was time for Sanford to move on and stop talking about the affair. “I felt a collective sigh of relief from the state of South Carolina when he said that,” said Senate Majority Leader Harvey, R-Cherokee.
The remarks came at the start of a speech that lasted more than 45 minutes. It laid out a slimmed-down legislative agenda: overhauling the state’s Employment Security Commission; streamlining state bureaucracy and imposing spending caps.
Rep. Tracy Edge, R-North Myrtle Beach, who was reached before he heard the speech, said the legislative agenda sounded like items Sanford has discussed in his past speeches, which showed he hasn’t wavered from his philosophy any and that “not a whole lot has been accomplished in the last seven months because of the controversy.”
Legislators, already at work on issues Sanford cites as top priorities, noted the governor’s conciliatory tone.
“He took a practical focus and charged us with the country politically,” said Rep. Thad Viers, R-Myrtle Beach. “We can make some good changes and at the heart of those changes are the ways we as a government spend money.
“And if we are more fiscally responsible, we won’t have to make bad cuts and bad budget years because we’ll have more of a reserve fund to stretch the dollar.”
Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell said “it was an appeal to work together to get something done.” The Charleston Republican said he loved the call for spending limits, something he’s worked on, and Sanford is “absolutely correct” in pushing to reform the Employment Security Commission. Read more
S.C. Senate affirms state’s rights, says ‘no’ to health care reforms
January 19, 2010 by senatormcconnell
Memo to Congress: South Carolina affirms its sovereignty under the 9th and 10th amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
Ditto for the Second and 14th amendments.
And when it comes to the proposed federal health care reform, thanks, but no thanks.
That’s the message the state Senate delivered on Tuesday, bringing an end to a fight that began last February. The brawl ended with a 31-11 vote – with all of the votes in opposition coming from Democrats.
Sen. Glenn Reese, D-Boiling Springs, broke rank and voted for the measure.
The resolution does not carry the weight of law, but informs Congress of the state’s position.
Sen. Lee Bright, R-Roebuck, one of the original sponsors of the resolution when it included only the 10th amendment, said he was glad to be finished with the protracted battle.
“If at first you don’t secede, try again,” Bright said with a laugh. Read more
McConnell, Peeler, Hutto on This Week In The Senate
January 19, 2010 by senatormcconnell
Watch: This week in the Senate below!
McConnell: Reform DHEC
January 14, 2010 by senatormcconnell
Powerful senator says state agency inconsistent in application of the law
One of South Carolina’s most powerful lawmakers says improvements are needed at the state’s environmental agency – and he will work to make that happen.
Sen. Glenn McConnell said he remains against putting the governor in charge of the Department of Health and Environmental Control, as conservationists proposed in a bill last year.
But after a legislative briefing about conservation issues Wednesday, McConnell said he will consider a compromise that could improve operations at DHEC.
Read more
Powerful S.C. Sen. McConnell joins push to improve operations at DHEC
January 14, 2010 by senatormcconnell
One of South Carolina’s most powerful lawmakers says improvements are needed at the state’s environmental agency — and he will work to make that happen.
Sen. Glenn McConnell said he remains against putting the governor in charge of the Department of Health and Environmental Control, as conservationists proposed in a bill last year.
But after a legislative briefing about conservation issues Wednesday, McConnell said he will consider a compromise that could improve operations at DHEC.
“We’ve got to make some changes, in my opinion,” said McConnell, R-Charleston, noting DHEC might not be consistent in how it applies environment and health laws. Read more
Statement from Senate Majority on Democrat Filibuster
January 13, 2010 by senatormcconnell
Democrats Let Federal Government Intrude On Our Rights
Today the South Carolina Senate Democrats continued their filibuster of a bill strongly declaring our state’s rights and requesting the Attorney General to fight an attempt to socialize our health care system. Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler released the following statement today on behalf of the State Senate Republican Caucus:
“Our great nation was founded by men of principle who stood strong against an overreaching government. It’s unfortunate that a nation founded on such principles now intrudes on the people and their states from which its power is granted. Washington politicians are claiming power never granted to them by the states.
They say we have a choice while giving us none. They say we must take the bailout or our tax dollars will be sent to California. They say we must accept higher energy costs with cap and trade tax hikes or risk the future of our planet. Now they say government must takeover America’s health care system or our families must accept skyrocketing medical costs. Read more
Loading ...
