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Winter
2002
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THIS DISTRICT 15 REPORT is a quarterly newsletter concerning your State Government.
Due to the cost of mailing, I will not be able to mail a copy to
everyone in the District; however, I will do my best to place these
reports in various public locations so that individuals within District
15 will have an opportunity to get this information. Any ideas you may
have as to how this newsletter could be improved are most
welcome. Since you have elected me to serve in the General
Assembly, I have endeavored to keep you informed about state and local
issues and my work in the General Assembly through this newsletter and
district meetings. The response has been outstanding. I hope I can
continue to count on you to share your views and concerns with me about
our district and state. I always appreciate hearing from you and cannot
tell you how valuable your input is to me during the deliberations on
these issues. Presently, I serve on six Senate Committees. It is an
honor to be the Chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee. Having helped
to craft the Campaign Reform Act of 1992 and its subsequent amendments
in 1995, I find chairing the Committee that oversees the application of
these laws in the State Senate to be a rewarding experience. I also
serve on the Finance Committee that renders the Senate version of your
state budget, the Banking and Insurance Committee, the Education
Committee, the General Committee, and the Medical Affairs Committee.
These are all committees where significant legislation important to York
County is considered. As we enter the year 2002, we are faced with
new challenges. Things we all took for granted, we now realize to be
precious. Terrorism is no longer a threat; it is a reality for which
Americans citizens have valiantly taken the reins of responsibility to
insure the protection of families, communities, and personal liberties.
I am proud to stand with you to insure your state government fulfills
your expectations. Here are some of the issues to be considered.
BUDGET
The State’s Appropriation Bill is the main priority of any legislative
session. Due to economic conditions, state revenues are very low. This
budget must meet the needs of the State while considering the $500
million dollars that was cut from the last year’s budget, as well as
the cuts needed again to provide a balanced budget this year. As a
member of the Senate Finance Committee, I will work diligently to
protect South Carolina’s “Triple A” credit rating. I will oppose
any effort by the General Assembly to initiate new taxes. I will work to
protect education from budget cuts. Also, the state’s Department of
Motor Vehicles needs attention in order to correct deficiencies in it
service to constituents. LOTTERY
Now that a lottery is up and running with a series of scratch-off
tickets available, the General Assembly has the responsibility to
determine the appropriate distribution of the revenues from anticipated
lottery ticket sales. Last year the legislature decided that after
administrative costs, all lottery money should go to education. CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM During the 114th Session (1999 - 2000) Senator Leatherman and I introduced major Campaign Finance Reform Legislation. The primary emphasis of this Bill required disclosure of funds contributed on behalf of candidates to third party organizations. This money, meant to benefit a candidate’s campaign without involving the candidate, is called “soft money,” and is presently unregulated. This Bill was passed by both chambers of the General Assembly and was sent to the Governor for approval. Governor Hodges chose to veto the bill. However, after vetoing this bill, the Governor appointed a special task force to study the issue of campaign funding reform. This task force completed its study with a report to the Governor that supports the basic tenets of my bill. Unable to cause the Governor to act on their findings, some members of that task force met with Representative Becky Meachum-Richardson, House Ethics Committee Chairperson, and me requesting that I resubmit this Bill with their recommendations included. Accordingly, I have decided to reintroduce a Campaign Reform Bill to include the findings of the Governor’s Task Force. MINI-BOTTLE LEGISLATION
I am also hopeful that we will see some movement on the minibottle legislation I introduced last year, which is presently in a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee. This bill calls for a public vote in this November’s General Election to amend the South Carolina Constitution’s provision mandating use of minibottles in bars and restaurants. Should the public vote to amend the minibottle provision, advocates want lawmakers to de-emphasize minibottles, and allow “free pour” service. Mini-bottles contain two & one-half ounces of alcoholic beverage. The “free pour” method puts far less alcohol in each drink served. STATE PORTS AUTHORITY A decision will be made this year about the future expansion of the State Ports Authority. The state port in Charleston is a vital part of South Carolina’s economic structure. To accommodate economic growth now and in the future, the state benefits by a modern, viable seaport. Expanding a seaport of this magnitude is costly, but substantial income revenue can be realized if this expansion is done properly. As this development takes shape, I will work to make sure the seacoast environment of South Carolina is protected and the quality of life for citizens in the Charleston area is sustained and improved. BOND BILL
Last year the House passed a bond bill that the Senate will now
consider. Included in this Bill is funding for facilities in York
County. These are the renovation of Peabody Gym at Winthrop, new
classrooms for York Tech, and a new facility for the York County Museum.
Also, the Governor has recommended a bond bill in his annual budget
proposal. A bond bill is a separate piece of legislation allowing
for the issuance of a “certificate of debt” by the state where
private investors can lend the state money for a guaranteed return.
These investments must be applied to the designated capital improvement
projects identified in the Bond Bill. Generally, revenues generated by
the bond-funded projects pay off the bond’s investors thus avoiding
the use of tax revenues. |
