Update – March 2 to March 4, 2010
The House of Representatives met this past week and meets again this Tuesday, March 9. I hope that you find this update helpful and informative:
Traffic Lights in Downtown Aiken: Eight (8) lights; 8 blocks; and 8 stops at those 8 lights. That is how traffic has been in downtown Aiken since the SCDOT implemented its new traffic signal system on Monday, March 1. The change has created substantial congestion problems and generated numerous complaints. I have been in touch with SCDOT officials and local public safety officials as I experienced the new system and I received a large number of constituent calls complaining about the new system. I am working with Senator Ryberg and others this week to find a solution to the problems created by these changes. Read more
Update – February 23 to February 25, 2010
The House of Representatives met this past week and meets again this Tuesday, March 2. I hope that you find this update helpful and informative:
Yucca Mountain: This week, Attorney General Henry McMaster announced that the State will be joining the legal action to obtain an injunction to prevent the federal government from stopping the Yucca Mountain program without congressional approval. State and Aiken County leaders have been working on ways to combat the recent Obama Administration decision to close Yucca Mountain as the permanent site for the nation’s spent nuclear waste. Despite nearly thirty years of public investment and research in the Yucca Mountain project including hundreds of millions of dollars from South Carolinians during that time, the Obama Administration’s recent budget decision to close Yucca Mountain is being made without congressional input or approval. It is critical for our leadership to work together to ensure that high level spent nuclear waste currently stored at SRS does not remain there permanently.
State Budget: The House Ways and Means Committee finished its work on the state budget this past Friday. The budget shows substantial additional cuts in every state agency as the state continues to experience the economic downturn and decreased state revenues. I joined with several other House members in asking that the Committee “zero out” some essential of state agencies before cutting teachers, law enforcement, and health care programs. My understanding is that the Committee did not do this because there is not enough support to make such cuts. The Committee did vote to raise the cigarette tax 30 cents per pack to help pay for substantial cuts in the state Medicaid program. The full House will debate the budget the week of March 15. At $5.1 Billion, the budget is about $2.0 Billion less than two years ago. I assure you that I will do all that I can to make the best of this tough situation.
Tort Law Changes: The House Judiciary Committee approved changes to state tort law including setting reasonable limits on punitive damage awards, adopting a sliding scale on outside counsel fees when attorneys are hired by the Attorney General to represent the State, addressing the Statute of Repose on building code violations, limiting appeals bonds, and allowing admissibility of the use or non-use of seat belts. The bill now heads to the House floor where I plan to support it.
Economic Development: The economic development bill prepared by House leadership this past fall was approved in committee two weeks ago and will come up for a vote on the House floor this week. The legislation includes several tax and regulation changes that businesses said are necessary to help business in creating more jobs. I am working with several House members to identify ways to help small businesses in South Carolina. If you have ideas on what the State can do to help small business in the current economic climate, please email me back with your input.
Sunset Commission: The House passed a bill setting up a “Sunset Commission” which will examine government agencies and programs to evaluate whether they are effective and still need to exist. President Reagan once said that “a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we’ll ever see on this earth.” There is a lot of truth to this statement and the hope is that this commission will put to bed programs and agencies that are not performing or woefully out-of-date. The bill now heads to the Senate where it has stalled in the past.
Restructuring/Secretary of State: Last year, at the beginning of the session, I filed several restructuring reform bills including legislation to allow South Carolina voters to decide whether to amend the State Constitution so that certain constitutional officers who are currently popularly elected would in the future be appointed by the Governor as part of the Governor’s cabinet. The bill concerning the Secretary of State was the first to reach the House floor for a vote. Two thirds of the House (83 votes) had to approve the bill. On Thursday, the bill passed with 85 votes. It will now head to the Senate.
Driving and High School Dropouts: I expected this bill to come up this past week in subcommittee. Unfortunately, it did not. It should at the next meeting. This bill prohibits possession of a driver’s license until age 18 unless the young person is enrolled in, or has completed, high school. The bill does have a hardship provision for some limited exceptions. I am confident that if it becomes law this year, then it will be a way that we can combat the high school dropout rate in the short term.
Texting While Driving: The bill that will ban both texting and cell phone use while driving is on the House calendar. I have received lots of feedback on this issue. Nearly everyone who has talked to me has stated that they want a ban on texting while driving. However, as to cell phone use, folks are mixed on that issue. I have listened to all the feedback and I am leaning toward supporting the bill as is without dropping the cell phone ban. It is important to know that the bill will not prohibit cell phone use when the phone is being used with a hands free device. I welcome feedback on this or any other issue.
Judicial System Funding: Chief Justice Toal addressed the General Assembly on Wednesday expressing the difficulties that the Judicial System has with its funding. State revenues have dramatically decreased as a source of judicial system funding over the past nine years. Businesses like Boeing want a stable judicial system and one of the tasks facing this General Assembly is making sure that we continue to fund the system to ensure its stability and viability.
Warrantless Searches: After a long debate, the House approved a bill allowing law enforcement to conduct warrantless searches of persons who are on either probation or parole. This bill has substantial support from law enforcement agencies and local governments across the state as it is widely viewed as a way for authorities to combat criminal activities by repeat offenders. The bill now heads to the Senate for its consideration of House amendments.
Zero Based Budgeting: Last week, an editorial in the Aiken Standard advocated zero based budgeting principles for state and local government. Last year, I cosponsored legislation that is currently pending which will require state agencies to use zero based budgeting principles. The bill has to get a hearing in the Ways and Means Committee to begin its way through the legislative process. I am hopeful that after the House finishes the budget then this bill will get a hearing this session. If you know other House members, encourage them to support this legislation.
Tax Realignment Commission: As many of you know, this group was established last year by legislation and was charged with reviewing all of the state’s tax structure and revenue sources in order to propose ways to reform the tax code and to improve the state’s revenue stream. The one exception was that the Commission was not to review the property tax problems created by Act 388 in 2006. However, this week, I cosponsored legislation that will require the Commission to review everything including the property tax issues created by Act 388 and to include recommendations addressing those problems in its report which is due by November 15, 2010. This bill should pass the House this month.
Legislative Score Cards: Some interest groups “score” legislators based on certain limited votes in the House. Recently, the S.C Chamber of Commerce issued its 2009 legislative scorecard and I scored a perfect 100. Additionally, the South Carolina Business and Industry Political Education Committee (BIPEC) issued its 2009 scorecard and I scored a 96 out of 100. The SC Club for Growth issued its card and I had a “C+” which was equal to or better than 108 of the other 123 members in the House.
Job Fair: Early last Fall, I asked the Employment Security Commission to host a Job Fair here in greater Aiken to assist those who are looking for work. That Job Fair is set for Saturday, March 27 at a location and time to be determined. I will post more information when I know it.
Road Issues: If you see a road problem, you can call the SCDOT at 641-7665 or Aiken County at 642-1532 to report the problem. If you do not get a prompt response, please let me know at TomYoung@schouse.gov or call me. In the past five weeks, I have received many different reports of problems and I have relayed those to the appropriate agencies.
Update – February 16 to February 18, 2010
The House of Representatives met this week and meets again next Tuesday, February 23. I hope that you find this update helpful and informative:
Yucca Mountain: This week, I met with state and county leaders as both the State and Aiken County consider ways to combat the recent Obama Administration decision to close Yucca Mountain as the permanent site for the nation’s spent nuclear waste. Despite nearly thirty years of public investment and research in the Yucca Mountain project, the Obama Administration’s recent budget decision to close Yucca Mountain is being made without congressional input or approval. The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 appears to require that Congress must affirmatively approve the change that the Obama Administration is trying to do. The County and the State are considering legal action to obtain an injunction to prevent any federal government action to stop the Yucca Mountain program without congressional approval. As of today, Aiken County is moving forward and we are waiting to hear from the Attorney General as to whether South Carolina will join in the County’s effort. As I wrote last week, many people are working to ensure that high level spent nuclear waste currently stored at SRS does not remain there permanently.
State Budget: We met with members of the House Ways and Means Committee this week. The Committee will finish work on the budget next Friday. That budget is expected to show substantial additional cuts in many state agencies as the state continues to experience the economic downturn and decreased state revenues. I along with other members of the House not on the Ways and Means Committee suggested that the Committee look hard at eliminating funding for some state agencies that are not essential to the operation of state government. I believe that we should consider eliminating funding for a nonessential state government programs before we cut education, law enforcement, and health care programs. As I wrote a few weeks ago, South Carolina is one of 46 states experiencing significant budget problems this year. The budget process will be intense and painful, but I can assure you that I will do all that I can to make the best of this tough situation.
Employment Security Commission (ESC) Reform: The House approved a bill this week that reforms the ESC in the wake of the recent audits listing many problems.
The reforms approved Wednesday include creating a new Department of the Workforce in the governor’s cabinet, and moving several workforce and unemployment responsibilities from the ESC and the Department of Commerce to the new agency. The legislation also abolishes the board of the ESC and puts an executive director in charge. This is the second ESC reform bill to be approved by the House this year. The first was a series of procedural reforms that included restricting state payments to employees fired for gross misconduct or drug use and restricting claims by employers who cost the system more than they contribute. I support both bills which now are in the Senate.
Economic Development: The economic development bill prepared by House leadership this past fall was approved in committee this week and will be on the House floor next week. The legislation includes several tax and regulation changes that businesses said are necessary to help business in creating more jobs. I am joining several House members to include more in the bill to help small businesses in South Carolina. If you have ideas on what the State can do to help small business in the current economic climate, please email me back.
Campaign Finance Reform: This bill has been worked on since early last year and passed the House this week. It requires all elected officials and candidates for those offices from city council candidates to state-wide candidates to file on-line so that their financial reports (contributions and expenditures) can be easily viewed by voters too. The bill also addresses the so-called “black out” period which exists between the time that a candidate files the last pre-election report and the day that the voters go to the polls. This “black out” period is roughly the last twenty days before the election. The bill says that state law now requires that contributions received in the “black out” period have to be reported within 48 hours of receipt. I cosponsored and supported the bill. The bill now heads to the Senate.
Driving and High School Dropouts: The bill that I sponsored last March prohibiting possession of a driver’s license until age 18 unless the young person is enrolled in, or has completed, high school did not come up this week in subcommittee. It is set for a subcommittee hearing this coming week with the House Education and Public Works Committee. As I wrote last week, I have spoken to many groups of students from 3rd graders to 12th graders and I mentioned this bill. Without exception, this bill gets their attention and I am confident that if it becomes law this year, then it will be a way that we can combat the high school dropout rate in the short term.
Texting While Driving: On Tuesday, the full House Education and Public Works Committee passed out the ban on both texting and cell phone use while driving. The bill now heads to the House floor. I have received lots of feedback on this issue. Everyone who has talked to me has stated that they want a ban on texting while driving. However, as to cell phone use, folks are mixed on that issue. I welcome feedback on this or any other issue.
Avondale Water System: Great News! The closing to transfer the system from Avondale to VPSA and Aiken County took place this week on February 16, 2010. Thank you to all of those people with VPSA, the County, the State, the Legislative Delegation, Avondale, and other concerned citizens who worked real hard over the last eighteen (18) months to make this transfer a reality to help the affected areas of our District and County.
Golf Cart Use: Last year, I was contacted by several folks in our district asking me to look at expanding the distance from a home or business in which a golf cart could legally be driven on secondary roads. After review, I sponsored a bill last year to allow golf cart use on secondary roads within five miles of the owner’s home or business. Current law allows use within two miles. The bill came up this week for a subcommittee hearing. At the hearing, the Director of the State Department of Public Safety stated that he did not have any data to support his opinion but he provided some reasons as to his personal belief that expanding the distance was not a good idea. I agree and I have taken the necessary steps to stop the legislation from going further.
Job Fair: Early last Fall, I asked the Employment Security Commission to host a Job Fair here in greater Aiken to assist those who are looking for work. That Job Fair is set for Saturday, March 27 at a location and time to be determined. I will post more information when I know it.
Road Issues: If you see a road problem, you can call the SCDOT at 641-7665 or Aiken County at 642-1532 to report the problem. If you do not get a prompt response, please let me know at TomYoung@schouse.gov or call me. In the past four weeks, I have received many different reports of problems and I have relayed those to the appropriate agencies. The SCDOT and the County Transportation Committee have identified a list of roads in Aiken County that have been prioritized for resurfacing. I have posted the list of primary roads and it can be accessed at this link.
Thank you for the opportunity to represent you. Please let me know if I can help you in any way or if you have questions about these or other issue
Update – February 9 to February 11, 2010
The House of Representatives did not meet this past week. The House returns to session this Tuesday, February 16. I hope that you find this update helpful and informative:
S.C. House of Reps.: Many people in our District have asked me to provide more information about the S.C. House of Representatives in general. There are 124 members – currently 73 Republicans and 51 Democrats. All members serve two (2) year terms.
Of the 124 current members, 24 were brand new in 2009 – 17 Republicans and 7 Democrats. Half of the membership has been elected since the 2002 elections. Each House District has between 30,000 and 35,000 people in it. Reapportionment of state and federal political districts will take place in 2011 after the 2010 elections. Six (6) House members have all or a portion of his district in Aiken County. The S.C. House meets three (3) days a week from the second Tuesday in January to the first Thursday in June each year. There may be some furlough weeks mixed in as this past week was. After the first Thursday in June, the House may come back in session for gubernatorial vetoes or for other reasons usually in the discretion of the Speaker of the House.
Yucca Mountain: The recent Obama Administration decision to close Yucca Mountain as the permanent site for the nation’s spent nuclear waste has significant long-term implications for those of us here in Aiken County. Currently, high level spent nuclear waste is being processed and stored underground at SRS in specially made sealed containers. For years, the plan has been for these containers eventually to end up at Yucca Mountain. However, the recent federal decision may change that. For that reason, on January 20, the S.C. House unanimously passed a Resolution that I sponsored with other members from Aiken and Barnwell Counties calling upon the Federal Government to reverse its decision. This past week, Governor Sanford called upon our Congressional Delegation to unite in the effort to reverse the federal decision on Yucca Mountain. Additionally, Aiken County Council requested a reversal of the Yucca Mountain decision. I expect that we will hear more on this subject in the coming weeks as many area and state leaders work to ensure that high level spent nuclear waste currently stored at SRS does not remain there permanently.
Driving and High School Dropouts: The bill that I sponsored last March prohibiting possession of a driver’s license until age 18 unless the young person is enrolled in, or has completed, high school is set for a subcommittee hearing this week with the House Education and Public Works Committee. I expect it to pass and move on to the full Committee next week. Since last Fall, I have spoken to many groups of students from 3rd graders to 12th graders and I mentioned this bill. Without exception, this bill gets their attention and I am confident that if it becomes law this year, then it will be a way that we can combat the high school dropout rate in the short term.
Texting While Driving: As I reported last week, a House subcommittee recently passed legislation that will ban both texting while driving and cell phone use. The bill now heads to the full House Education and Public Works Committee where it will probably be amended to ban only texting while driving. I do not believe that a ban on both texting while driving and cell phone use will pass the legislature this year. However, I do think that a stand alone ban on texting while driving will pass this year. Since last week, I have heard from many people in the district on this issue. Everyone who has talked to me has stated that they want a ban on texting while driving. The large majority said that they do not want an outright ban on cell phone use for those over the age of 18. Many people have also expressed concerns about other types of distracted driving such as eating; shaving; and putting on make up. I welcome feedback on this or any other issue.
Avondale Water System: The closing to transfer the system from Avondale to VPSA and Aiken County is set for this week on February 16, 2010. A lot of people have worked real hard to make this transfer a reality to help the affected areas of our District and County.
Job Fair: Early last Fall, I asked the Employment Security Commission to host a Job Fair here in greater Aiken to assist those who are looking for work. This week, I learned that the Job Fair is tentatively set for Saturday, March 27 at a location and time to be determined. I will post more information when I know it.
Road Issues: If you see a road problem, you can call the SCDOT at 641-7665 or Aiken County at 642-1532 to report the problem. If you do not get a prompt response, please let me know at TomYoung@schouse.gov or call me. In the past three weeks, I have received many different reports of problems and I have relayed those to the appropriate agencies. The SCDOT and the County Transportation Committee have identified a list of roads in Aiken County that have been prioritized for resurfacing. I am waiting to receive the lists of primary and secondary roads. I will post both upon receipt.
Thank you for the opportunity to represent you. Please let me know if I can help you in any way.
Update – February 2 to February 4, 2010
The House of Representatives met this week. Here is a brief update for the week:
State Budget: In recent months, we have read a lot about South Carolina’s state budget problems and I wrote about them three weeks ago. Last week, I read that 46 of the 50 states are facing a combined $170 Billion budget deficit this year. Many states are looking at trimming services; contracting out key functions; and other ways to save money. South Carolina is doing the same thing. If you have ideas in this area, please let me know.
Judicial Elections: Judicial elections were held on Wednesday. Locally, Vickie Johnson Snelgrove was elected to serve as the next Family Court judge in the Second Judicial Circuit which includes Aiken County.
Texting While Driving: A House subcommittee passed legislation that will ban both texting while driving and cell phone use. The bill now heads to the full House Education and Public Works Committee where it is expected to be amended to ban only texting while driving. I do not believe that a ban on both texting while driving and cell phone use will pass the legislature. However, I do think that a stand alone ban on texting while driving will pass this year.
Warrantless Searches: The House Judiciary Committee approved a bill that will allow law enforcement to conduct warrantless searches of persons who are on either probation or parole. This bill has substantial support from law enforcement agencies and local governments across the state as it is widely viewed as a way for authorities to combat criminal activities by repeat offenders.
National Board Certification for Teachers: A House Ways and Means subcommittee approved a change to stop the National Board Certification program for new teacher enrollees effective this year. Under the recommendation, the program will remain in effect for existing enrollees. The program pays an annual stipend of $7,500.00 to teachers who earn national board certification. The recommendation will now head to the full House Ways and Means Committee.
Employment Security Commission (ESC): Problems at the ESC continue. A recent audit revealed that the ESC failed to pay income taxes withheld from unemployment checks during a period in 2009. The State will now face undetermined penalties and interest from the IRS for this oversight. As I wrote in the past several columns, reform at this agency cannot happen soon enough this year.
Avondale Water System: I attended another meeting this week of the Valley Public Service Authority Board as the Board continued to work on the sale of the Avondale Water System serving Graniteville, Vaucluse and portions of Warrenville. The due diligence period expired on February 5 with no parties withdrawing from the agreement. The closing is set for the morning of February 16, 2010.
Road Issues: In the last two columns, I asked that you let me know about road problems with potholes or other issues in our district by emailing me at TomYoung@schouse.gov or calling me so that I can let the SCDOT and/or the County know about the problem. I heard from many of you and I have let the appropriate agencies know of those concerns. If you see a road problem, you can call the SCDOT at 641-7665 or Aiken County at 642-1532 to report the problem. If you do not get a prompt response, please let me know. The SCDOT and the County Transportation Committee have identified a list of roads that need to be resurfaced. I requested a copy of that list and will post it on my website next week.
Thank you for the opportunity to represent you. Please let me know if I can help you in any way.
Update – January 26 – January 28, 2010
The House of Representatives met this past week. I hope that the following report is useful to you:
First, at the beginning of the week, representatives from the State Commission on Higher Education spoke at the downtown Rotary Club. Their presentation emphasized the need to support higher education and getting more people educated. South Carolina is 39th in the country in the percentage of people with a bachelor’s degree or higher. We are also 45th in the country in per capita personal income. If we can raise the number of people getting two year degrees or higher, then we will see lower unemployment, less poverty, better health, higher labor force participation, and less incarceration. I hope you join me in making higher education a priority to transform our economy and quality of life.
Second, on the House floor, the final vote was taken on Wednesday on my bill to let the people decide whether the Secretary of State should be popularly elected or appointed by the Governor. I worked to secure the 83 votes necessary for passage. Unfortunately, the bill failed by one vote: 82 to 34 . I am hopeful that we will get another chance to vote on this legislation later in the session. This is one of several restructuring reform bills that I am working to move through the General Assembly.
Third, a House subcommittee approved a proposal to reduce the public school year by 5 days and to eliminate testing of students not required under federal law. Many of you responded to me last week on this issue and nearly everyone who responded is against reducing the public school year by 5 days. I do not support reducing the school year by 5 days. We have to find ways to cut spending with the smallest impact possible on students and teachers in the classroom. This measure now heads to the House Ways and Means Committee where it will be considered with others in the general fund budget preparation process.
Fourth, Employment Security Commission (ESC) reform is a top priority this year as I reported in the past few columns. Two weeks ago, the House approved several systemic changes including restricting state payments to employees fired for gross misconduct or drug use and restricting claims by employers who cost the system more than they contribute. This week, the Legislative Audit Council’s Management Review of the ESC was issued and it revealed the following:
• The ESC did not warn the General Assembly that the unemployment trust fund balance plummeted from a $835 million surplus 10 years ago to an $800 million deficit today.
• The ESC did not properly investigate mismanagement.
• S.C. workers fired for misconduct collected $171 million over three years – equating to 10 percent of the jobless benefits paid during that three years.
• While the ESC is charged with helping South Carolinians find jobs, only 40 percent of the jobs available in our state are listed with the ESC.
The Full report can be found at www.lac.sc.gov. Legislation to reform this agency and to restore the trust fund is very much needed and will be filed soon.
Fifth, I attended two meetings this week of the Valley Public Service Authority as the Board continued to work on the sale of the Avondale Water System serving Graniteville, Vaucluse, and portions of Warrenville. Despite several recent “bumps in the road,” it appears that the transfer will take place as hoped by February 16, 2010. Many people are working to make sure that the transfer becomes a reality.
Several residents of House District 81 were at the State House this week for various reasons including Dr. Susan Winsor; Chuck Munns; Ronnie Lee; Ingrid Kupprat; and Mary Jo Dawson. I enjoyed meeting with each of them as to their respective concerns.
Finally, last week I asked that you let me know about road problems with potholes or other issues in our district by emailing me at TomYoung@schouse.gov or calling me so that I can let the SCDOT and/or the County know about the problem. I heard from many of you and I have let the appropriate agencies know of those concerns.
Thank you for the opportunity to represent you. Please let me know if I can help you in any way.
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.