State House Update – January 19 – January 21, 2010
Dear Friends,
The House of Representatives met this past week with most work taking place in committees and very little actually taking place in open session on the floor. Here is a brief update of the week:
First, the subcommittees of the House Ways and Means Committee continue to meet and hear from various state agencies as to budget needs for the upcoming fiscal year. As I mentioned in last week’s column, the 2010 revenues are projected to be 7.4% less than 2009. There will be more cuts to the general fund budget appropriations and some programs may be eliminated. One widely publicized issue this week in this area is that a five day reduction in the public school year is being considered by the K-12 Education subcommittee as a way to deal with the budget shortfall. I am not inclined to support this and welcome feedback on this issue.
Along these same lines, there is increasing scrutiny of (1) programs and their efficiency and (2) where and how all state revenues are spent including fees and fines collected by agencies. Although I am not on the Ways and Means Committee, I am working with other members to make sure that our tax dollars are spent wisely. I strongly believe that the zero based budgeting proposal that I am cosponsoring will help if and when we can get it passed.
Second, I sponsored or cosponsored bills filed this past week including legislation to prohibit insurance companies from being able to deny clams and/or to raise premiums on a person simply because the person was a victim of domestic violence. Also, I am cosponsoring a bill to ensure that the State Conservation Bank receives funding on an annual basis even if state revenues are down. The Conservation Bank has played a pivotal role in the preservation of many tracts of land around South Carolina over the last six years including several here in Aiken County.
Third, on the House Floor, my bill to let the people decide whether the Secretary of State should be popularly elected or appointed by the Governor did not come up this week. It is on the calendar for this coming week. I am working hard to secure the necessary two thirds majority vote to pass the legislation and send it on to the State Senate.
Fourth, Governor Sanford delivered his State of the State address on Wednesday evening. In the speech, the Governor outlined several of the initiatives which we need to get passed in order to streamline state government. I am encouraged by his willingness to work with the legislature in his final year in office.
Fifth, I received a lot of calls and/or emails this past week to assist constituents with various concerns including road problems; unemployment eligibility; and issues with both DSS and DHEC.
Sixth, the January 29, 2010 sale of the Avondale Water System serving Graniteville, Vaucluse and portions of Warrenville has been delayed until some time during the week of February 1, 2010. The reason for the delay is that there are still a few easement issues that need to be worked out prior to the closing. Many folks are still working hard to make the transfer a reality.
I attended the watering trough dedication for the City of Aiken’s birthday celebration on Saturday. Everyone involved in moving the trough, restoring it, and placing it along the serpentine wall on South Boundary behind the County Museum did a great job. If you have not seen it, please take a look the next time you drive down South Boundary.
Also this week, I received a copy of the 2009 Financial Annual Report for the State produced by Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom’s office. The report can be accessed on my website by clicking here.
Finally, if you notice road problems with potholes or other issues in our district, please let me know by email at TomYoung@schouse.gov or call me so that I can assist in letting the SCDOT and/or the County know about the problem.
Thank you for the opportunity to represent you. Please let me know if I can help you in any way.
Sincerely,
Tom Young
PS: Please visit http://reptomyoung.com for more posts, news, video updates and if you have Twitter please click here to start following me!
State of South Carolina Financial Report
Click here to read the State of South Carolina Financial Report
State House Update – January 12 – January 14, 2010
The General Assembly reconvened this week for the first time for the 2010 session. Here are some of the noteworthy things that happened this week in the House.
First, the House Ways and Means Committee met on January 12 to hear from the State economist as to the State’s projected revenue for 2010. The news is not good. Even though revenues were substantially down in 2009, 2010 revenues now are projected to be 7.4% less than 2009. Significant decreases have occurred in both income tax and sales tax collections. The 2009 revenue decline was the worst decline since before 1950. Obviously, we need serious consideration to overhauling our tax structure. In this area, we learned this week that the Tax Realignment Commission requested an extension of the deadline to provide its report and recommendations from March 15, 2010 to November 15, 2010.
Second, the House passed a Joint Resolution allowing for immediate action to assist in restructuring the Employment Security Commission (ESC). The legislation restricts the discretion that ESC commissioners have concerning unemployment benefits to employees fired for gross misconduct. Also, it increases oversight of benefit payouts including limiting employer filed claims to those companies with a positive cash balance in the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. Although this legislation does not address all long term issues at the ESC, it does address some short term issues. Long term legislation is being drafted and expected to be filed in the coming weeks. Since the beginning of 2009, the ESC has borrowed more than $700 million from the federal government to pay claims and in the past four years over 20% of benefits paid have gone to claimants who were fired for misconduct or who voluntarily quit their jobs. It is obvious that serious reform is needed in this area.
Third, on the House Floor, my bill to let the people decide whether the Secretary of State should be popularly elected or appointed by the Governor passed the House on both second (77-41) and third readings (72-44). However, neither vote reached the necessary two thirds majority (83 votes in favor) for this issue to go to the voters. (It has to be voted on by the people since it will alter the State Constitution.) I am expecting another vote this week on Reconsideration and I am hopeful that we can reach the necessary two thirds vote in favor. The bill that would allow the voters to decide whether or not the State Superintendent of Education should be appointed by the Governor is on the House calendar but has not yet had second reading.
Fourth, the resolution to censure Governor Sanford came up on Wednesday, January 13. After less than one hour of debate, the Resolution passed overwhelmingly 102 to 11. It now heads to the Senate. I do not expect the House to focus on any other issues related to Governor Sanford this session based on what we know now.
Fifth, I attended the Conservation briefing on Wednesday morning to learn what issues are important to the Conservation community this session. These issues include keeping the Conservation Bank alive; protecting our water; and reducing mercury pollution. I was glad to see Dr. Harry Shealy from Aiken at the event as he addressed the attendees about the history and importance of the Conservation Bank.
As to the Avondale Water System in our district, everything is still on schedule for the January 29, 2010 sale of the system serving Graniteville, Vaucluse and portions of Warrenville.
I recorded a new video posted on my website briefly touching on issues that we face as the session begins. Please take a look.
Finally, if you notice road problems with pot holes or other issues in our district, please email me at tomyoung@schouse.gov as soon as you can so I can assist you in letting the SCDOT and/or the County know about the problem.
Thank you for the opportunity to represent you. Please let me know if I can help you in any way.
Legislature faces challenging year
On Tuesday of this week, the South Carolina General Assembly will convene for the 2010 legislative session facing significant concerns about our state’s economy; tax structure; and budget. When it comes to these issues, all of us in South Carolina – families, small business and large business – have a lot at stake. To address these areas, we must work to make state government more efficient and accountable; to improve our state’s labor force; and to ensure that our state’s tax dollars are spent wisely with as low a burden on you and me as possible. Pending bills addressing these and other long-time concerns include the following:
- Overhaul the state’s tax structure by examining all taxes on the state level and eliminating inequities and inefficiencies. The Report of the Tax Realignment Commission is due in March
- Analyze the property tax burden in South Carolina and recommend levels of property tax revenues necessary to finance both public school and local government programs
- Reform the State’s Employment Security Commission and how South Carolina funds the State’s unemployment trust fund
- Consolidate school districts including establishing a minimum size to eliminate waste, duplication and inefficiencies
- Combat the high school dropout rate with measures including prohibiting possession of a driver’s license until age 18 unless the licensee is enrolled in, or has completed, high school
- Fully fund higher education to produce a better educated workforce necessary to compete in the global economy
- Enact a cap on state spending growth
- Create a larger rainy day fund for down budget years
- Expand roll call voting requirements to increase transparency
- Improve the state’s roads and bridges through regional cooperation and more consistent, dedicated funding for such improvements
- Reduce the legislative session to a maximum of 40 days
- Raise the tobacco tax for the first time in over 30 years
- Preserve our state’s natural resources in the face of urban growth
- Prevent out-of-state dumping of waste in South Carolina unless there exists strict and equitable reciprocity agreements with other states
- Strengthen the executive branch of government by giving the governor more control of the duties now held by the State Budget and Control Board
- Appoint certain constitutional officers by the governor rather than popular election of those officials
- Move toward a constitutional convention to reform our State’s constitution for the 21st Century
Coupled with the above, we need vision and leadership to focus on our state’s low per capita income which results largely from the number of educational system dropouts that in turn produces citizens with health, financial and social problems requiring action by government at the expense of taxpayers.
We need courage to remedy the state’s budget difficulties that necessitate the cuts being considered by our public education system. Our state’s tax structure deficiencies and our state’s dependency on sales tax revenue make us especially vulnerable to downturns in the economy such as we are experiencing in the current recession.
When this happens, we have no choice but to make deep cuts which result in critical economic foundations such as education, workforce quality, infrastructure and research and development being substantially underfunded. We can no longer afford to follow this path. South Carolina’s future – both in the short and the long terms – depends on the state’s leadership working to address all of these areas. There is no better time to start than now.
Please join me in working to make these improvements become a reality. Call or e-mail other representatives and senators and ask them to support these initiatives. Check my website at www.reptomyoung.com for weekly legislative updates. By enacting many of these reforms, we can count 2010 as a year in which we made great strides toward improving South Carolina despite the challenges that we face.
Midland Valley Monthly – January 2010
Happy New Year to you and your family! Now that the Holidays are over and the new year is upon us, it is time to do all that we can to make 2010 a great year for living and working in Aiken County. This column is to keep you informed about what is going on at your State House and around our district during the past month of December.
First, it has been five years this month since the tragic train wreck that permanently left its mark on this area of Aiken County and the families of those who were killed or injured in the chemical spill. While time rolls on, we cannot forget those who were killed; those who lost their jobs in the subsequent industry closings; and those who worked heroically for weeks to help fellow citizens in need. Please take a moment this month to reflect on these things as we continue to work hard for a better future in this part of Aiken County.
Second, as to the Avondale Water System, Rep. Roland Smith, Senator Massey and I continue work with VPSA, Aiken County, and Avondale to bring the transfer to reality. Other members of the Aiken County legislative delegation including Rep. Bill Clyburn have been particularly helpful to the effort. Many folks are working to meet the deadlines for both the transfer agreement and the federal monies that are available for improvements. We expect the transfer to take place before the end of January based on all indications to date. That will be a great day for our community!
Third, here is the latest on the July bills and the water rate hike: Contrary to Avondale’s recent letter to some folks in the district, the July bills are not due until the end of January of 2010 by order of the Public Service Commission. The PSC wrote Avondale again on December 23 at the request of our legislative delegation reminding Avondale that the July bills are not due until the end of January. If anyone has any questions or concerns about this, please call Representative Roland Smith, Senator Massey, or me.
At the House of Representatives, a resolution to impeach Governor Sanford was debated in the House Judiciary Committee on December 15. By a vote of 18 to 6, the resolution failed. Soon after, the Committee voted unanimously to censure Governor Sanford. I voted not to impeach because (1) Governor Sanford is in his last year in office; (2) the constitutional standard to impeach is very high and I am not sure that the Governor’s transgressions arise to the impeachment level; and (3) in today’s economic climate, it is important for the State Legislature to focus on the problems affecting all of us in South Carolina and not become bogged down in an impeachment fight that consumes the 2010 legislative session. It is critical that the 2010 session be productive. Bogging down in impeachment proceedings for at least half of the session will not get us to where we want to be. If you have a different view, please let me know.
Finally, the South Carolina House of Representatives reconvenes on January 12 for the 2010 session to last through early June. During my first year in the House in the 2009 session, I sponsored or cosponsored several bills to improve South Carolina consistent with my campaign vision of “A Plan for Palmetto Progress” including bills focused on strengthening our economy; improving education; reforming our tax structure; fixing our road and bridge infrastructure; reinforcing transparency with roll call voting; and restructuring state government. I will be working hard on these initiatives during this upcoming session.
Please know that I am always available to you and your family should you ever need assistance. I can be reached by telephone (649-0000 or 215-3631); email (TomYoung@schouse.org); regular mail (P.O. Box 651, Aiken, SC 29802); or just pull me aside when you see me. If you would like for me to speak to your church or other civic group about pending legislation or other concerns to you, please let me know. Remember to check my website – www.reptomyoung.com – for updates about is going on at the State House and in our district. Thank you for the privilege and the opportunity to represent you.