Update – May 10 to May 15, 2010
The House of Representatives met this past week. I hope that you find this update helpful and informative:
Driving and High School Dropouts: This bill (H.3645) received final passage in the House this past Wednesday and is now in the Senate. For the link to see how the House voted on final passage of the bill, please click here. To recap, 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 including where the young person has to go to work to support himself or his immediate family. South Carolina first recognized the need for this legislation in 1989 in the Governor’s Commission on the Future Report. Since then, a generation of children have passed through our schools. It is undisputed that the high school dropout rate perpetuates social ills such as crime, teenage pregnancy, infant mortality, juvenile delinquency, and high unemployment. All of these areas cost taxpayers money in some way or another. The statistics show that about 80% of those who dropout do so in the 9th or 10th grade. If we can get more kids to stay in school until the 11th grade, then it is much more likely that they will graduate. The data also shows that those who finish high school will earn about $1 Million more on average over their lifetime than those who do not finish high school. Raising the average educational attainment of our citizens will also improve the quality of our state’s workforce helping make our state more attractive to new industry expansion. The bottom line is we have to encourage more kids to stay in school and finish versus dropping out. Although this bill is not the “silver bullet” to the high school dropout problem, it is part of the solution in our effort to combat the high school dropout rate in the short term. If you also believe that this bill is long overdue, then I encourage you to contact as many state senators as you can and ask them to support passage of H.3645.
Cigarette Tax: The House and the Senate voted this week to override Governor Sanford’s veto of the cigarette tax legislation. The new law will go into effect on July 1 and it raises the cigarette tax 50 cents a pack. Under the plan, most of the money (about $130 Million) will go into a Medicaid Reserve Fund. A fraction will go toward cancer research and smoking cessation programs. I voted to override the veto based largely upon the overwhelming feedback from hundreds of people in District 81. Additionally, when I campaigned two years ago, I stated several times that I would oppose other tax increases but I would vote to raise the cigarette tax and part of the money should be used for health care including Medicaid. Further, statistics show that for each pack of cigarettes sold in South Carolina, the cost to our State government and taxpayers in smoking-related healthcare costs and lost productivity is $7.59 per pack. Finally, the U.S. Attorney in Charlotte recently documented that cigarette trafficking in the United States has been linked to direct funding for terrorist organizations including al Qaeda. Much of that cigarette trafficking includes purchasing large quantities in South Carolina and then selling the cigarettes on the black market in extremely high cigarette tax states such as New York. I appreciate all of the feedback on this issue during the past two years.
Court Fees – No Good Choice: Do we fund an entire branch of state government with fees or do we shut down our state’s courts? That was the decision we had this year. Because of past excessive spending and poor budgeting priorities coupled with deficiencies in our tax structure, our state has been hit especially hard during this economic crisis. Now we are faced in some areas with a bad choice or a worse choice. This was the case last week when the House had to vote on overriding the Governor’s veto of the court fees legislation. House members had to decide between the lesser of two evils: funding the judicial branch with a temporary increase in court fees or shutting down the system. To recap, the House and Senate recently passed legislation which raised state court civil filing fees and motion fees. The increase was for two years only and then the fees would revert back to their current amount. The fee increases were proposed as a way to fund the judicial branch of government after House and Senate budget writers again refused to fund the court system with sufficient general fund appropriations. The Chief Justice repeatedly told House and Senate members this year since early February that the failure to approve the temporary fee increases or to fund the judiciary fully in the general fund budget would result in literally shutting down our court system. Boeing, Michelin, BIPEC, and other state businesses and business groups supported the temporary increase in filing and motion fees. On Wednesday, Governor Sanford vetoed the temporary fee increases. On Thursday, the House refused to override the veto. The House is expected to take one more vote on the veto override this coming week. I voted to override the Governor’s veto because the proposed filing and motion fee increases are temporary and the business community expressed strong support for the temporary fee increases. I do not support funding our judicial branch long term with fee increases which is why I have repeatedly asked House budget writers to fund the judicial branch as it should be: a separate, but equal, branch of government and not simply another state agency. Unfortunately, such requests have not been granted. The problems highlighted this year by the Chief Justice and the Governor’s veto will hopefully result in changes to how the judicial branch is funded. I will work to ensure that the judicial branch is properly funded without depending on 11th hour fee increases to keep the doors open. Your input on this issue is welcomed.
Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and the Employment Security Commission (ESC): As I wrote in several past columns, reform at the ESC is a top priority in the legislature this year. Earlier this session, the legislature and the Governor approved a bill which creates a new Department of the Workforce in the Governor’s cabinet and moves 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. Another critical area of reform is restoring solvency to the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Trust Fund. This Trust Fund is empty and South Carolina, like at least 26 other states, has been borrowing money from the Federal Government in the past 16 months to pay unemployment benefits. Last week, the Senate passed a bill aimed at fixing the UI Trust Fund. First, the bill proposes using an “array method” which separates companies into 20 categories; reduces rates for those companies that use the unemployment system the least; and increases rates for those that use the system the most. The “array method” is currently being used by 11 other states. Second, the bill raises the taxable employee wage base from $7,000 to $10,000 in 2011, to $12,000 in 2012, and to $14,000 in 2014. The effective date to the changes is January 1, 2011. I appreciate your feedback on this or any other issue.
State Budget: The House may take up the Senate budget this week. If the House concurs, then it goes to the Governor. If the House does not concur, then it goes to a Conference Committee. This past week, House members were provided limited details of the Senate budget. Based on what I know now of the Senate budget, I may not support it. I expect to learn more details this week.
Order of Succession in Absence of Governor: The House Judiciary Committee this past week favorably reported out a bill which defines specifically when the Lt. Governor is to assume control of the State under the State Constitution in the absence of the Governor. Last summer, when Governor Sanford disappeared for five days, the lack of a formal system for succession when the Governor is temporarily absent became evident. This legislation is aimed to correct that problem. The Senate has already passed the bill.
SCE&G Rate Hike Request: Late last week, SCE&G lowered its rate hike request from nearly 10 percent to 4.88 percent. The rate increase would be phased in over three years: 2.5 percent in July 2010, 1.2 percent in July 2011, and 1.18 percent in July 2012. Under the proposal, the average residential customer’s bill would go up about $69.48 a year, or about $5.79 per month if approved. The State Public Service Commission (PSC) has to approve the request and a decision is expected in July of this year. The PSC has held public hearings on the request in Charleston, Summerville, Columbia, and Aiken. Another hearing is scheduled in Columbia on May 24. A transcript of the May 6 Aiken hearing should be available soon, and when it is, I will post it on my website with a link in this newsletter.
South Carolina Department of Transportation: Recently, I received a report from the Secretary of Transportation Buck Limehouse on the current status of the South Carolina Department of Transportation. A copy of that report can be accessed here. In the report, you can see that South Carolina’s Department of Transportation is responsible for maintaining the fourth most highway miles in the United States behind Texas, North Carolina, and Virginia.
Federal Government Settlement with Norfolk Southern: A date has not been set for the public hearing to be held in Aiken at the Federal Courthouse when the Federal Court considers whether to approve the Federal Government’s settlement with Norfolk Southern. When I find out when the hearing will be, I will post it in this column.
Clemson University Board of Trustees: Local dentist and Clemson graduate Dr. Ronnie Lee is the lone remaining candidate for election to the Clemson Board of Trustees this coming Wednesday, May 19. All others offering for the position have formally withdrawn as it is clear that Dr. Lee will be elected by the General Assembly. Aiken County has not had a resident on the Clemson Board of Trustees in a decade. Congratulations to Dr. Lee!
Dr. Tony Harris – Doctor of the Day at the State House: Local physician and Aiken resident Dr. Tony Harris recently volunteered to serve as the “Doctor of the Day” at the State House. Each day that the General Assembly meets in session, a local doctor from around the state volunteers to serve in the State House to see any legislative employee, executive branch employee, or State House visitor who needs medical attention. From what I am told, most of the visits to the clinic are for colds, sinus infections, and other minor ailments. Thank you to Dr. Harris for volunteering in this capacity last week.
Go South Aiken!: The South Aiken High School baseball team is in the state championship this week. They won the lower state title with a dramatic victory over Brookland-Cayce last Thursday. They play this week for the state title in the best of 3 series. Also, the South Aiken boy’s soccer team plays for the Lower State Championship this Tuesday. They are the defending state champions and are working hard to earn the title again. Go Thoroughbreds!
Celebrity Waiter Night, Relay for Life, and Charitable Giving: One of the largest and most widely participated in charitable fundraisers in Aiken County is the Celebrity Waiter Night event held annually in May to raise money for Children’s Place. As a former member and chair of the Children’s Place Board, I can tell you that many children in Aiken County benefit from the efforts of those at Children’s Place. The Celebrity Waiter event held this past Monday was another success and many thanks should go to all of the people who volunteered and contributed financially to the event. Also, Relay for Life is being held this Friday night, May 21, at Aiken High School as hundreds of local residents walk to raise money for cancer research and prevention. Thank you to all those who help with this event. There are dozens of other philanthropic fundraisers and events held in Aiken County throughout the year. Our community’s support for these worthwhile endeavors is one way which makes where we live so special. If you can help with your time or your financial resources, please find a local charitable organization and contribute.
Email Updates: Many people in District 81 are receiving this email update. However, there are many others who do not receive them because I do not know their email addresses. If you know of people who do not receive my updates but they would like to, please email their names and email addresses to me.
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 months, I have received many different reports of problems and I have relayed those to the appropriate agencies.
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 issues. Your feedback is meaningful and appreciated.
Update: May 3- May 8
The House of Representatives met this past week. I hope that you find this update helpful and informative:
Driving and High School Dropouts: This bill (H.3645) was amended on third reading last week on the House floor after two state home school associations expressed concern over language in the bill that may affect how often home school students and their parents report attendance to their home school governing board. Opponents of the bill have also been spreading inaccurate statements including that the bill raises the mandatory school attendance age to 18 and that students who graduate from high school early before age 18 cannot get or keep a driver’s license until they reach age 18. The bill does neither of these and these statements are not accurate. The bill will be up for final third reading passage on Tuesday, May 11. An effort to kill the bill last Thursday was pushed back by a vote of 67-35. The bill must pass the House this week and then two thirds of the Senate will have to agree to take up the bill this month. Otherwise, the bill will not become law this year and it will have to be refiled next year starting over the process to become law. To recap, 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 including where the young person has to go to work to support himself or his immediate family. Although this bill is not the “silver bullet” to the high school dropout problem, it is part of the solution in our effort to combat the high school dropout rate in the short term. In fact, South Carolina first recognized the need for this legislation in 1989 in the Governor’s Commission on the Future Report. Since then, a generation of children have passed through our schools. It is undisputed that the high school dropout rate perpetuates social ills such as crime, teenage pregnancy, infant mortality, juvenile delinquency, and high unemployment. If you also believe that this bill is long overdue, then I encourage you to contact as many state representatives and senators as you can asking them to support passage of H.3645.
High School Students and Technical Coursework: During the debate about the high school dropout bill, some people have asked about nontraditional course work and what is available for students in South Carolina public schools. I researched and found out that there are a total of 39 Career and Technology Centers in the state with an enrollment of 30,098 students. There are 104 Comprehensive High Schools that offer a full compliment of Career and Technical Programs as part of the high school program. The remaining 100 high schools feed into one of the 39 Career and Technology Centers. Also, these 100 high schools offer Career and Technical Programs on their campuses as well. A total of 170,000 of the 200,000 high school students in South Carolina public schools take one or more technical courses. Here in Aiken County, over 400 students are enrolled at the Career and Technology Center across from Aiken Tech. They can take courses related to computers, electrical, automotive, cosmetology, and other fields while also continuing to get their basic core curriculum in one of the seven county high schools.
Voter Identification: The House approved legislation on Wednesday that will require voters in South Carolina to present a valid photo identification when casting a ballot in elections. The bill now heads to a conference committee because there are differences in the House and Senate versions as to the length of time to be allowed for in person early voting and absentee voting. Requiring photo identification to vote has been instituted in other states and upheld as constitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. If a resident voter does not have a photo identification, then the S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles is authorized to issue one under the legislation. I voted in favor of the bill.
Cigarette Tax: The Senate voted 41-1 to concur with the House’s amendments to the cigarette tax legislation. The bill raises the cigarette tax 50 cents a pack. Under the plan, most of the money (about $130 Million) will go to fund Medicaid programs. A fraction will go toward cancer research and smoking cessation programs. There is no funding for projects in communities located along I-95. (An earlier Senate version included such spending.) The Governor is expected to veto the bill. I plan to vote to override the veto based largely upon the overwhelming feedback from hundreds of people in District 81. I appreciate feedback on this or any other issue.
Handguns Stored Under the Seat: The Full Judiciary Committee considered this bill that would allow people to store a handgun under the seat in their automobile. Current law allows a handgun to be stored in the glove compartment, console, or trunk of a motor vehicle. The bill was amended to allow Concealed Weapon Permit Holders to store a gun under the seat of a vehicle. I supported the amendment.
Protection of Police Officers: The Full Judiciary Committee also passed legislation that will require violent crime offenders to have an identification code placed on the back of their South Carolina driver’s licenses for up to five years after the completion of their sentence and/or parole. The intent is to alert police officers to former violent crime offenders in a roadside stop quicker than the time it takes for the officer to go back to the patrol vehicle and enter the driver’s license information and criminal history. The bill has already passed the Senate. I support the legislation.
Real Estate Transfer Fees: The House did not get to this bill last week. To recap, a bill is pending that will prohibit Transfer Fee Covenants or Freehold Licensing Arrangements as fees for residential real estate developers. This practice is not currently being used in South Carolina to my knowledge. However, it is a growing trend in some other states and current state law will not prohibit it if it was to happen here. The way it works is that the residential real estate developer attaches covenants to the properties in the new subdivisions. The covenants provide that fees are to be paid to the developer or some trust for the benefit of the developer every time the property changes hands over a period of up to 99 years. In other words, it allows the developer to create a stream of passive income for many years to come after the subdivision is built, every lot/house is sold, and all active participation in the subdivision by the developer is ended. Buried in the covenants is a fee (usually a percentage of the price of the home) that is required to be paid to the developer or his successor upon the sale or transfer of the property. I plan to vote in favor of the bill prohibiting this practice in South Carolina.
State Budget: The House is waiting on the Senate budget to come back to it for consideration. If the House concurs, then it goes to the Governor. If the House does not concur, then it goes to a Conference Committee. Hopefully, House members will be provided details of the Senate budget this week
MCA Sign Company Investment for Aiken County: Last week, the S.C. Department of Commerce and the Aiken/Edgefield Economic Development Partnership announced that MCA Sign Company (“MCA”) will locate its new company headquarters in Aiken County. MCA has been in business for over 100 years and is consolidating its operations in several states into one location here in the former Avondale Horsecreek building in Graniteville. MCA’s investment will total $12 Million and it plans to employ 125 people at the site.
SCE&G Rate Hike Request – Local Hearing Held on May 6: The State Public Service Commission (PSC) held a public hearing on SCE&G’s proposed rate hike request on Thursday, May 6 at 6:00 p.m. at Aiken Tech. Another hearing is scheduled in Columbia on May 24. A transcript of the Aiken hearing is to be made available soon. I will provide a link to it in a future column.
Federal Government Settlement with Norfolk Southern: A date has not been set for the public hearing to be held in Aiken at the Federal Courthouse when the Federal Court considers whether to approve the Federal Government’s settlement with Norfolk Southern. When I find out when the hearing will be, I will post it in this column.
Congratulations!: Congratulations to all of those who graduated from USC Aiken and Aiken Tech last week. Additional congratulations to Aiken resident Paul Rideout who was named the U.S. Small Business Administration Financial Services Champion of the Year. Paul is a Senior Vice President at Security Federal Bank.
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 and a half months, I have received many different reports of problems and I have relayed those to the appropriate agencies.
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 issues. Your feedback is meaningful and appreciated.
EDITORIAL: Keep our kids in schools
The passage of a bill that would intertwine high school attendance and the holding of a state driver’s license is one step closer to reality.
The S.C. House last week passed the bill that would cause a teen under 18 from holding a driver’s license if he or she drops out of school or is seen as truant. Proposed by Rep. Tom Young Jr. of Aiken, the bill now needs approval in the state Senate.
South Carolina has a less than stellar history of on-time graduation, and Young and his fellow House members view this as a responsible way to fight that problem.
“The dropout rate perpetuates social ills such as crime, teenage pregnancy, infant mortality juvenile delinquency and high unemployment,” Young said. “This legislation is not the silver bullet to the problem but it is a positive step toward encouraging young people to stay in school and get at least a high school education.”
There are those who think this is a shortsighted approach to the dropout problem. It is not the only answer, that is for sure. But it is a measure that will cause some students to pause when they are thinking of quitting school. And it could be the incentive for others to go back and resume their educations if they have already dropped out.
In the 21st century, a high school diploma is the least amount of education that is needed for an economically successful adulthood. Everything possible should be done to see to it that our students stay in school until they earn a high school diploma. The S.C. Senate should quickly pass this measure and send it on to the governor for his signature.
Update – April 26 to May 1, 2010
The House of Representatives met this past week. I hope that you find this update helpful and informative:
Driving and High School Dropouts: This bill (H.3645) passed its second reading on the floor on Thursday afternoon by a vote of 67-29. However, the bill did not receive unanimous consent for third reading on Friday before the “crossover deadline” of May 1. Because the bill did not receive third reading before the “crossover deadline” of May 1, two thirds of the Senate will have to agree to take up the bill this month. Otherwise, the bill will not become law this year and it will have to be refiled next year starting over the process to become law. To recap, 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 including where the young person has to go to work to support himself or his immediate family. Although this bill is not the “silver bullet” to the high school dropout problem, it is part of the solution in our effort to combat the high school dropout rate in the short term. In fact, South Carolina first recognized the need for this legislation in 1989 in the Governor’s Commission on the Future Report. Since then, a generation of children have passed through our schools. If you also believe that this bill is long overdue, then I encourage you to contact as many state senators as you can asking them (1) to take up H.3645 and (2) to support H.3645 this month.
School Districts and Pay Raises: On Tuesday, the House voted to give School Districts the discretion this year to decide whether or not to give teachers in the district their annual pay raises. Under the measure approved by the House, school districts which decide not to give teachers pay raises cannot then give administrators pay increases. In other words, districts cannot raise administrators’ pay without also raising teachers’ pay. I voted in favor of this legislation.
Warrantless Searches: On Wednesday, the House overrode the Governor’s veto of this bill by one vote – 74 to 37. I voted to override the veto. To recap, this bill allows warrantless searches of people on either probation or parole. The 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. Both the House and Senate passed the bill earlier this year. Governor Sanford then vetoed this bill. The Senate then overrode the veto. Now, the House has done the same.
Restructuring — Superintendent of Education: Last year, 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. It received the necessary two thirds vote in favor in the House in late February and then went to the Senate. On Thursday of this past week, the bill concerning the Superintendent of Education failed to receive the necessary two thirds vote (83 votes) in favor in the House falling short with 72 votes. That bill is now defeated for this session.
Real Estate Transfer Fees: A bill is pending that will prohibit Transfer Fee Covenants or Freehold Licensing Arrangements as fees for residential real estate developers. This practice is not currently being used in South Carolina to my knowledge. However, it is a growing trend in some other states and current state law will not prohibit it if it was to happen here. The way it works is that the residential real estate developer attaches covenants to the properties in the new subdivisions. The covenants provide that fees are to be paid to the developer or some trust for the benefit of the developer every time the property changes hands over a period of up to 99 years. In other words, it allows the developer to create a stream of passive income for many years to come after the subdivision is built, every lot/house is sold, and all active participation in the subdivision by the developer is ended. Buried in the covenants is a fee (usually a percentage of the price of the home) that is required to be paid to the developer or his successor upon the sale or transfer of the property. I just learned about this last week and a bill to prohibit this practice is on the fast track in the House. I plan to vote in favor of the bill prohibiting this practice in South Carolina.
Cigarette Tax: As I wrote last week, the House agreed to a 50 cents a pack increase to the cigarette tax. Under the plan, most of the money (about $130 Million) will go to fund Medicaid programs. A fraction will go toward cancer research and smoking cessation programs. A push to lower the tax to 30 cents failed in the House. The House removed any funding for projects in communities located along I-95. The Governor is expected to veto the bill. I plan to vote to override the veto based based largely upon the overwhelming feedback from hundreds of people in District 81. I appreciate feedback on this or any other issue.
Sprinklers Bill: The House also passed the sprinklers bill this week. To recap, South Carolina has adopted certain portions of the model residential building code effective January 1, 2011. One of the requirements of the code is that newly constructed single family homes after January 1, 2011 will have to have sprinklers installed in them. The cost can add several thousand dollars to the expense of building a new home. The “sprinklers bill” eliminates the sprinklers requirement in new single family homes. It should be noted that the sprinkler requirement in the residential building code will not apply to new mobile homes. I voted in favor of the bill to eliminate the sprinkler requirement.
State Budget: Early Friday morning, the Senate finished working on its version of the State Budget. I will provide more information when the Senate bill comes back to the House in the next couple of weeks.
Visitors at the State House: Dr. Beth Everitt, Superintendent of the Aiken County Public Schools, was at the State House on Wednesday. She was joined by other school board members including Rosemary English, Levi Green, Wesley Hightower, and Ray Fleming. Also, at the State House this past week was Dr. Ronnie Lee who is a candidate for the Clemson University Board of Trustees. Finally, Barb Rollins and several students from the Aiken area in the AAA Home School Band performed on the State House grounds on Wednesday.
SCE&G Rate Hike Request – Local Hearing is this week on May 6: The State Public Service Commission (PSC) will hold a public hearing on SCE&G’s proposed rate hike request on Thursday, May 6 at 6:00 p.m. at Aiken Tech. The PSC will have to approve the rate hike request. Currently, the PSC has public hearings scheduled in Columbia (May 24), Summerville (April 26), and Charleston (April 27). I will not be able to attend the hearing that night, but I will be provided a summary of the comments. If you want me to know your thoughts, please let me know.
Federal Government Settlement with Norfolk Southern: I do not know the date for the public hearing to be held in Aiken at the Federal Courthouse when the Federal Court considers whether to approve the Federal Government’s settlement with Norfolk Southern. When I find out when the hearing will be, I will post it in this column.
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 and a half months, I have received many different reports of problems and I have relayed those to the appropriate agencies.
Responding to Email Feedback: I have received a very large volume of email feedback two weeks ago. I am responding to it as quickly as I can. Please know that if you have not heard back from me, you will soon.
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 issues. Your feedback is meaningful and appreciated.
SCDL an Incentive for Graduation
Bill requires work toward graduation for teen driving privileges
Today, the South Carolina House of Representatives passed a measure (H. 3645) that will create an incentive for teens to work their way towards a high school diploma. In an effort to combat our state’s high dropout rate, lawmakers are seeking to combine a teens desire to drive with their need to succeed in the classroom.
House Speaker Bobby Harrell said, “Dropout rates in South Carolina are far too high and this is a persuasive tool we can use to turn those numbers around. Under this graduation plan drafted by Rep. Tom Young, students will see an immediate consequence for dropping out of high school. Unfortunately, many students do not recognize the long term effect on their lives that dropping out of high school causes.”
The bill applies to South Carolina students below the age of 18 who are eligible and meet all other requirements needed to obtain a SCDL. Students who drop out of school or who are habitually truant will have their driving privileges revoked until they have proven that they are committed to their education and eventual graduation.
Representative Tom Young (R – Aiken), the lead sponsor of the bill, said, “The dropout rate perpetuates social ills such as crime, teenage pregnancy, infant mortality juvenile delinquency and high unemployment. This legislation is not the ‘silver bullet’ to the problem but it is a positive step toward encouraging young people to stay in school and get at least a high school education.”
Update – April 19 to April 24, 2010
The House of Representatives met this past week. I hope that you find this update helpful and informative:
Driving and High School Dropouts: 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. We worked with representatives from both the Department of Education and Department of Motor Vehicles to redraft the bill. I presented the amended version in subcommittee this past Thursday morning. The subcommittee unanimously approved the bill. We then were successful in getting unanimous consent on the floor of the House to move the bill to the House calendar for this Tuesday bypassing a full committee hearing. Because of the upcoming May 1 “crossover deadline” for House bills going from the House to the Senate, this move was critical if the bill is to pass the House and have a chance to become law this year. This week, we will be working hard to get the bill passed. All of the Aiken House delegation are cosponsoring the bill with me including Reps. Jim Stewart, Bill Clyburn, Roland Smith, Don Smith, and Kit Spires. Although this bill is not the “silver bullet” to the high school dropout problem, it is part of the solution in our effort to combat the high school dropout rate in the short term.
Warrantless Searches: This bill allows warrantless searches of people on either probation or parole. The 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. Both the House and Senate passed the bill earlier this year. Governor Sanford vetoed this bill. The Senate then overrode the veto. However, this past week, the House failed to override the Governor’s veto. Another vote is expected soon in the House to try to override the veto. I support overriding the veto.
Cigarette Tax: The House agreed to a 50 cents a pack increase to the cigarette tax. Under the plan, most of the money (about $130 Million) will go to fund Medicaid programs. A fraction will go toward cancer research and smoking cessation programs. A push to lower the tax to 30 cents failed in the House. The House removed any funding for projects in communities located along I-95. The bill now heads back to the Senate. Governor Sanford is expected to veto the bill. A two thirds vote of both the House and Senate will be necessary to override the Governor’s veto. If the veto is not overridden, then the cigarette tax will stay at 7 cents a pack for at least another year. I voted for the 50 cent increase based largely upon the overwhelming feedback from hundreds of people in District 81. Some interesting facts that you may be interested in on this issue are as follows: 34% of people in South Carolina over the age of 18 smoke. In North Carolina, that number is 29% and in Georgia that number is 28%. The health-related costs to taxpayers in South Carolina of people who have smoking-related illnesses is very substantial. At 7 cents a pack, South Carolina’s cigarette tax is the lowest in the nation and has not changed in nearly 35 years. North Carolina’s current cigarette tax is 45 cents a pack. Georgia’s current cigarette tax is 35 cents a pack. Both states have recently considered legislation to raise their cigarette tax again.
Sprinklers Bill: This bill did not come up this past week. I expect that we will get to it this week. To recap, South Carolina has adopted certain portions of the model residential building code effective January 1, 2011. One of the requirements of the code is that newly constructed single family homes after January 1, 2011 will have to have sprinklers installed in them. The cost can add several thousand dollars to the expense of building a new home. Legislation is pending which eliminates the sprinklers requirement in new single family homes. It should be noted that the sprinkler requirement will not apply to new mobile homes. I plan to support the bill to eliminate the sprinkler requirement.
Handguns Stored Under the Seat: The Full Judiciary Committee did not meet last week to take up this bill that would allow people to store a handgun under the seat in their car. Current law allows a handgun to be stored in the glove compartment, console, or trunk of a motor vehicle. I am talking with law enforcement and others about this bill to form a position. I received lots of feedback on this bill last week.
Cumbee Center: Recently, an issue arose as to whether state law would allow local government and local citizens to approve local option sales tax revenue for infrastructure improvements at the Cumbee Center in Aiken. (The Cumbee Center provides assistance to domestic violence and sexual assault victims. Aiken County has the highest rate of domestic violence incidents in the State.) Because the issue involved an interpretation of state law and I represent the area where the Cumbee Center is located, I requested an Attorney General Opinion for an interpretation of the statute. Last week, the Attorney General Opinion came back stating that state law would allow local government and local citizens to use local money for infrastructure improvements at the Cumbee Center if approved in the local option sales tax referendum. Whether that happens or not is a decision for local government and local citizens in the Local Option Sales Tax process.
State Budget: The Senate is still working on its version of the State Budget. I will provide more information when the Senate bill comes back to the House in the next couple of weeks.
Aiken High School Culinary Team at State House: Aiken High teacher Jean Gorthy and her students from Aiken High’s Culinary Arts Class were at the State House on Wednesday cooking as part of the annual “Taste of South Carolina” event sponsored by the State Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism (“PRT”). The Aiken High team was the only cooking team from any traditional high school in South Carolina invited to participate in the event. They were able to attend with the assistance of a grant from PRT and food donations from Houndslake Country Club. They did a great job!
SCE&G Rate Hike Request – Local Hearing Scheduled: The State Public Service Commission (PSC) will hold a public hearing on SCE&G’s proposed rate hike request on Thursday, May 6 at 6:00 p.m. at Aiken Tech. The PSC will have to approve the rate hike request. Currently, the PSC has public hearings scheduled in Columbia (May 24), Summerville (April 26), and Charleston (April 27). I will not be able to attend the hearing that night, but I will be provided a summary of the comments. If you want me to know your thoughts, please let me know.
Federal Government Settlement with Norfolk Southern: Recently, the Federal Government proposed a settlement with Norfolk Southern as to the Government’s lawsuit for environmental contamination after the 2005 chlorine spill in Graniteville. The proposed terms of the settlement include $4 Million being paid by Norfolk Southern to the Government’s Oil Spill and Hazardous Waste funds. Also, the local communities affected by the spill will receive 3,000 fish released into Langley Pond and some trees to be planted along Horse Creek. I filed an objection during the 30 day period to object to the proposed settlement. A public hearing is expected in Aiken at the Federal Courthouse when the Federal Court considers whether to approve the settlement. When I find out when the hearing will be, I will post it in this column. The proposed Settlement may be examined on the following Department of Justice Web site: http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/Consent-Decrees.html.
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 months, I have received many different reports of problems and I have relayed those to the appropriate agencies.
Responding to Email Feedback: I have received a large volume of email feedback in the past two weeks. I am responding to it as quickly as I can. Please know that if you have not heard back from me, you will soon.
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 issues.
Dropout bill heads to floor
South Carolina teens who drop out of school or skip too many classes would lose their driver’s license until they’re 18 under a bill cruising through the House.
A House Education subcommittee unanimously approved the measure Thursday morning. The House then agreed to let the bill skip the full committee and come directly to the floor for debate. Legislators hope to move the bill to the Senate so it has a chance of passing this year.
“We’re trying to fast-track it,” said Education Committee Chairman Phil Owens, R-Easley. “This is an important bill that can have a positive impact.”
Its sponsor, Rep. Tom Young, has called it a short-term solution to the state’s long-term problem of too many students not graduating. He believes threatening to yank students’ driving privileges would be a powerful incentive for them to stay in school.
Students who return to school or enroll in GED classes could get their license back.
South Carolina’s on-time graduation rate is 74 percent.
At least 20 states have passed similar laws, including neighboring Georgia and North Carolina, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. West Virginia was the first to pass it in 1988, followed by Florida a year later.
Last week, the subcommittee delayed voting on the measure, saying too many questions remained on implementing the idea.
Changes approved Thursday to erase opposition from school groups included keeping the legal dropout age at 17, rather than increasing it to 18 – a change officials feared would be costly at a time of deep budget cuts – and delaying when the law would take effect, to Aug. 1, 2011.
Under the tweaked bill, the driver’s license of a student who misses seven unexcused days of class, drops out or has been expelled will be suspended. Public, private and home schools would be required to electronically report the absences of 15- to 18-year-olds to the Department of Motor Vehicles, which would send a letter notifying the teen of the suspension.
A student’s parent could appeal for an exception if the teen needs a license to get to work or to drive a sick family member to medical treatments. If approved, the waiver would allow a limited license that allows the teen to drive from home to work or to medical appointments during certain hours and along certain routes.
That restricted license would cost $100, with 80 percent going to the DMV to offset the law’s cost.
Rep. Mike Anthony, a teacher and coach, said he supported the idea, though he generally opposes putting more mandates on schools.
“Once one or two kids realize they could lose their license, it could change conduct in school,” said Anthony, D-Union.
House members are pushing the bill through to get past a timing hurdle. Bills not passed in one chamber by the end of next week must get two-thirds approval to be considered by the other.
Read more: http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/04/23/1437370/dropout-bill-heads-to-floor.html#ixzz0lvSqnuLE
Update – April 12 to April 17, 2010
The House of Representatives reconvened this past week after a two week furlough. I hope that you find this update helpful and informative:
Driving and High School Dropouts: 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. The bill received a hearing in subcommittee this past Wednesday. Both the Department of Education and Department of Motor Vehicles expressed concerns over the current draft. At the committee’s request, I redrafted the bill and will present it again this Tuesday. It is critical that the bill come out of committee this week in order to have a chance to pass the General Assembly this year. Although this bill is not the “silver bullet” to the high school dropout problem, it is part of the solution in our effort to combat the high school dropout rate in the short term.
Sprinklers Bill: After writing about this bill last week, I received lots of comments most of which were in favor of eliminating the requirement for new residential construction to have sprinkler systems installed. To recap, South Carolina has adopted certain portions of the model residential building code effective January 1, 2011. One of the requirements of the code is that newly constructed single family homes after January 1, 2011 will have to have sprinklers installed in them. The cost can add several thousand dollars to the expense of building a new home. Legislation is pending which eliminates the sprinklers requirement in new single family homes. It should be noted that the sprinkler requirement will not apply to new mobile homes. I plan to support the bill to eliminate the sprinkler requirement. The bill may come up this week.
General Reserve Fund: The House passed a bill raising the general reserve fund requirements from three percent to five percent. The bill has already passed the Senate and now heads to the Governor for his consideration.
Handguns Stored Under the Seat: The Full Judiciary Committee will consider a bill this week that would allow people to store a handgun under the seat in their car. Current law allows a handgun to be stored in the glove compartment, console, or trunk of a motor vehicle. I am talking with law enforcement and others about this bill to form a position. I welcome your feedback on this or any other bill.
Cigarette Tax: The Senate approved a 50 cents a pack increase to the cigarette tax. Under the Senate plan, most of the money (about $130 Million) will go to fund Medicaid programs. A fraction will go toward cancer research and smoking cessation programs. The Senate took out several “pork projects” which it had inserted in an earlier version of the bill. Because the Senate version is different from the bill that the House passed last year, the House will have to consider the Senate bill in the coming weeks.
Board of Trustee Elections: The General Assembly held elections for several college and university board of trustee seats this past Wednesday. While most of the seats were decided before the elections on Wednesday since many candidates withdrew prior to Wednesday’s elections, a handful of seats were not decided until Wednesday. One of the seats which received a substantial amount of media attention in recent weeks was the race for the 16th circuit seat on the USC Board of Trustees. Leah Moody, the only African American on the USC Board, was running to hold on to the seat which she had held since being appointed by the Governor to fill the seat last year after the resignation of the previous trustee holding the seat. By a vote of 80-77, Moody held on to the seat this past week. I voted for Moody.
Splash Blending Bill: The House by a near unanimous vote overrode Governor Sanford’s veto of the splash blending bill. This bill would allow small gas and oil companies and distributors to blend ethanol in South Carolina. Current law only allows large companies like BP and Exxon to blend ethanol in South Carolina. If the Senate overrides the Governor’s veto, this bill should help lower the price of some types of gas in our state.
Speaking in Aiken: Last Tuesday, I spoke at the Kappa Delta Pi education honor society induction at USC Aiken. If you know of a group that would like me to speak, please let me know.
Ola Hitt’s 100th Birthday Celebration: On Saturday, I attended Ola Hitt’s 100th Birthday Celebration at Aiken’s First Baptist Church. While there, I presented Ms. Hitt with a House resolution honoring her for her many contributions to greater Aiken and to South Carolina. Over two hundred people attended the event to honor Ms. Hitt.
Federal Government Settlement with Norfolk Southern: Recently, the Federal Government proposed a settlement with Norfolk Southern as to the Government’s lawsuit for environmental contamination after the 2005 chlorine spill in Graniteville. The proposed terms of the settlement include $4 Million being paid by Norfolk Southern to the Government’s Oil Spill and Hazardous Waste funds. Also, the local communities affected by the spill will receive 3,000 fish released into Langley Pond and some trees to be planted along Horse Creek. I filed an objection during the 30 day period to object to the proposed settlement. A public hearing is expected in Aiken at the Federal Courthouse when the Federal Court considers whether to approve the settlement. When I find out when the hearing will be, I will post it in this column. The proposed Settlement may be examined on the following Department of Justice Web site: http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/Consent-Decrees.html.
Celebrate Aiken!: I attended the Jim Harrison “Scenes of Aiken” Exhibition on March 31 at the Aiken Center for the Arts on Laurens Street. The exhibit will be displayed through May 8. If you have not seen it, I encourage you to do so. Mr. Harrison’s art includes over 20 new originals of local scenes here in greater Aiken.
SCE&G Rate Hike Request – Local Hearing Scheduled: The State Public Service Commission (PSC) will hold a public hearing on SCE&G’s proposed rate hike request on Thursday, May 6 at 6:00 p.m. at Aiken Tech. The PSC will have to approve the rate hike request. Currently, the PSC has public hearings scheduled in Columbia (May 24), Summerville (April 26), and Charleston (April 27). I will not be able to attend the hearing that night, but I will be provided a summary of the comments. If you want me to know your thoughts, please let me know.
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 months, I have received many different reports of problems and I have relayed those to the appropriate agencies.
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 issues. Your feedback is meaningful and appreciated.
S.C. bill: No driving for dropouts
South Carolina teens who drop out of school or habitually skip their classes would lose their driving privileges until they’re 18 under a bill pushed by a freshman lawmaker.
Rep. Tom Young called it a short-term solution to the state’s long-term problem of too many students not graduating. He believes threatening to yank the rite of passage of truant youth would be a powerful incentive for them to stay in school.
“It’s time we do something about it,” said Young, R-Aiken, noting that whenever he talked about the idea on the campaign trail in 2008, students were in rapt attention. “A lot of problems in South Carolina stem from the fact that so many people are not adequately educated.”
Under the proposal, co-sponsored by 45 House members of both parties, a student’s parent could appeal for an exception if the teen needs a license to get to work or to drive a sick family member to medical treatments.
Officials at the S.C. Education Department say the idea has potential, and if it works, would benefit a state where the on-time graduation rate is 74 percent. But they note that moving up the age when students can drop out, from 17 to 18, will cost money at a time when education faces drastic cuts.
“The economy overshadows anything this year,” said Scott Price of the state School Boards Association. “Anything that causes additional staff costs should get a closer look. … Right now, districts are laying off and furloughing. We can’t add more at this point.”
Young said legislators must consider the long-term costs.
“The cost of paying for high school dropouts far exceeds the cost of incentives to keep them in school,” he said.
A House Education panel last week postponed voting on the bill, saying too many questions remain. The subcommittee chairman, Rep. Lester Branham, said the idea still needs lots of work on how its implemented.
“It will not cure the problem of truancy,” said Branham, D-Lake City. “It’s really putting a burden on schools to enforce laws about drivers’ licenses.”
At least 20 states have passed similar laws, including neighboring Georgia and North Carolina, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. West Virginia was the first to pass it in 1988, followed by Florida a year later.
Their effectiveness is a matter of debate.
Georgia’s graduation rate has improved since lawmakers passed a 1997 law allowing the license suspension of a teen who misses 10 or more consecutive days of school without permission. But Garry McGiboney, an associate superintendent for that state’s education agency, attributes the improvement to a larger effort that can’t be directly correlated to the law.
A Florida report shows that of the 8,400 teens whose licenses were suspended in 2007-2008 for dropping out or accumulating 15 unexcused absences over 90 days, 96 percent of them re-enrolled.
The issue has popped up periodically in South Carolina over the years. Most recently, a Senate bill pre-filed in December 2006 for the 2007-2008 session never even made it to the chamber floor.
An economic study commission created by former Gov. Carroll Campbell recommended it in 1989.
“The current dropout rates perpetuate many social ills such as crime, teenage pregnancy, infant mortality and health problems,” it reads, asking lawmakers to approve a bill by 1991.
There was never any effective follow-up to the report, and no legislator championed the proposal, said Phil Noble, founder of the nonprofit Palmetto Project.
Read more: http://www.heraldonline.com/2010/04/19/2099282/sc-bill-no-driving-for-dropouts.html#ixzz0lYRdD3OQ
Update – April 5 to April 9, 2010
I hope that you and your family enjoyed Masters week which was also Spring Break here in Aiken County for the schools. The House of Representatives did not meet this past week. The House is on furlough and reconvenes this week on April 13. I hope that you find this update helpful and informative:
Cross Over Deadline: May 1 is the “Cross Over Deadline” in the General Assembly. This means that for any bill that is still pending to have a chance to pass this year, the bill has to pass either the House or the Senate on or before May 1 and then go to the other body for consideration. If passage of the bill does not meet that deadline, then the bill essentially dies for the year unless it can be tacked on to another piece of legislation that makes the deadline. Because of the “Cross Over Deadline,” both the House and the Senate will be busy in the coming weeks.
Driving and High School Dropouts: I expect this bill to come up this week in subcommittee as we try to beat the “Cross Over Deadline.” 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.
Sprinklers Bill: South Carolina has adopted certain portions of the model residential building code effective January 1, 2011. One of the requirements of the code is that newly constructed single family homes after January 1, 2011 will have to have sprinklers installed in them. The cost can add several thousand dollars to the expense of building a new home. Legislation is pending which would eliminate the sprinklers requirement in new single family homes. It should be noted that the sprinkler requirement will not apply to new mobile homes. Compared to the other 49 states, South Carolina has one of the highest percentages of its citizens living in mobile homes. I am planning to support the bill to eliminate the sprinkler requirement. I welcome your feedback on this or any other issue.
Prescribed Burning: Last year, Horry County saw a huge forest fire which burned thousands of acres of forestland and also burned many homes in the greater Myrtle Beach area. Forestry officials working with many conservation groups and other parties have crafted a bill which will change the liability standard in current state law to encourage more landowners to use prescribed burning techniques. The bill will be on the House calendar when we return. In Aiken, prescribed burning is used in Hitchcock Woods each year to burn undergrowth. I have spoken with the Hitchcock Woods staff and others about the pending legislation and the benefits of prescribed burning. I will support the bill.
Census: By now, you should have received your census form in the mail. I strongly encourage you to complete it and return it. Census data will determine how billions of dollars in federal aid to states is divided for highways, airports, Medicaid, housing, and business loans. Each gain or loss of 500,000 residents is worth about $1.5 Billion in federal aid to a state. Additionally, the Census data will be used to reapportion the seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Right now, South Carolina is projected to gain one seat giving our state 7 members of the U.S. House instead of the current 6. Other states expected to gain seats are Georgia, Florida, Texas, Nevada, Utah, Oregon, and Washington.
Federal Government Settlement with Norfolk Southern: In the past four columns, I wrote about the Federal Government’s proposed settlement with Norfolk Southern as to the Government’s lawsuit for environmental contamination after the 2005 chlorine spill in Graniteville. The proposed terms of the settlement include $4 Million being paid by Norfolk Southern to the Government’s Oil Spill and Hazardous Waste funds. Also, the local communities affected by the spill will receive 3,000 fish released into Langley Pond and some trees to be planted along Horse Creek. I am very disappointed in the proposed terms and what is being offered to the local communities affected by the spill. Last week during the 30 day period to object to the proposed settlement, I filed an objection as an elected official representing much the affected area. A public hearing is expected in Aiken at the Federal Courthouse when the Federal Court considers whether to approve the settlement. We do not know the date of that hearing yet but will make sure it is in the local papers when we do know. The proposed Settlement may be examined on the following Department of Justice Web site: http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/Consent-Decrees.html.
Celebrate Aiken!: I attended the Jim Harrison “Scenes of Aiken” Exhibition on March 31 at the Aiken Center for the Arts on Laurens Street. The exhibit will be displayed through May 8. If you have not seen it, I encourage you to do so. Mr. Harrison’s art includes over 20 new originals of local scenes here in greater Aiken.
Small Business Development Center at USC Aiken: Recently, I visited the Small Business Development Center at USCA. This facility has a lot to offer both to existing small businesses and to those looking to start a business. If you are interested in these types of services, please check out the Center’s website at http://www.usca.edu/sbdc/.
SCE&G Rate Hike Request: Several Aiken County residents have contacted me and others on the legislative delegation about SCE&G’s proposed rate hike request. The State Public Service Commission (PSC) will have to approve the request. Currently, the PSC has public hearings scheduled in Columbia (May 24), Summerville (April 26), and Charleston (April 27). The Aiken County Legislative Delegation requested a public hearing to be held by the PSC here in Aiken County. As of now, we expect this hearing to be on May 6 in the early evening at a location to be determined.
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 two and a half months, I have received many different reports of problems and I have relayed those to the appropriate agencies.
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 issues. Your feedback is meaningful and appreciated.