Tom Young for House

Weekly Legislative Update from Rep. Tom Young – Jan. 10, 2012 to Jan. 17, 2012

youngforhouse — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:20:39 +0000

The House of Representatives is back in session for the 2012. I hope that you find this update helpful and informative. Because there are multiple topics to cover this week, I divided this week’s update into sections to make the update easier for you to read:

First Week of 2012 House Session

S.C. House Convenes for 2012 Session: The S.C. House of Representatives convened last Tuesday at noon. This is the second half of a two year session, and it is also an election year this year. The House is expected to meet for 3 days each week between now and early June except for the week before and after Easter. If an issue is important to you, please let me know. Thank you again to the people of District 81 for the honor to serve our District.

Focus for 2012 Session: My focus this session will be to do the best job that I can in trying to make both our state and state government better by strengthening our economy; improving education; controlling spending; reforming our tax structure; strengthening the state retirement system; fixing our road and bridge infrastructure; improving our Port in Charleston; and restructuring state government.

State Inspector General: Last week, the House approved legislation creating the office of State Inspector General for the purpose of investigating and addressing allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, misconduct, violations of state or federal law, and wrongdoing in state agencies. The position is to be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate for a term of four years. I voted for the bill.

I-95 Corridor Authority: By a vote of 76-47, the House sustained the Governor’s veto of a bill which would create the I-95 Corridor Authority. Much of the information provided to me on this bill indicated that creating this new government entity would duplicate efforts at existing agencies. I received many calls and emails during the past few months asking me to sustain the veto. I voted to sustain the veto.

School District Consolidation: As you may know from my town meetings, I have a separate bill which will consolidate school districts by requiring 2,500 children at a minimum for a district to be able to receive state funds unless the district is county wide and is below 2,500 students. While that bill has not gotten out of committee this year, the House last week approved a separate joint resolution creating a school district consolidation study committee. Members shall serve without compensation and shall not receive mileage or per diem. The resolution now heads to the Senate.

Republican Presidential Primary This Saturday

Polling Locations for January 21 Republican Presidential Primary: This Saturday, January 21 from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, the Republican Presidential Primary will be held in South Carolina. To see where your precinct will vote on that date, go here.

Absentee Voting for Republican Presidential Primary: To vote absentee for the presidential primary, you can go to the Voter Registration Office in person at 916 Vaucluse Road from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and then this Friday, January 20 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. To request a ballot to be mailed to you, call 642-2030 or 642-2028. If you have questions, call 642-2030.

Other Topics of Interest

H-Canyon Article: The Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced several planned or potential new missions for H-Canyon at the Savannah River Site rather than shutting it down. To see an article on this, go here.

Economic Impact of University of South Carolina (USC): According to a recent study from USC, the total impact of USC’s eight campuses exceeds $4.1 billion in goods and services from alumni wages and business activity. Some of the highlights include the following:
USC supports 52,872 jobs; one in every 37 jobs in our state is directly or indirectly tied to our USC system.

USC and our graduates contribute about $75 million annually to the state’s tax coffers above and beyond appropriations received by the university.

South Carolina residents with bachelor’s degrees are earning about $15,000 more a year in salaries than residents without degrees. As the number of college graduates increases, the wages of all workers rises.

To see the full report, go here.

SCDOT Weekly Update: The Department of Transportation started a weekly update in August to inform the public about what is going on at the agency as to its financial situation and other matters. To see the latest, go here.

Speaking to Groups Around the District: Several local groups have invited me to attend one of their meetings to provide a legislative update. If you have a group that would like for me to come to a meeting, please let me know.

Help for Displaced SRS Workers: If you or someone you know lost a job at SRS, there is a One-Stop Transition Center open in downtown Aiken at Park Avenue and Laurens Street to assist workers displaced at SRS with finding new work. The Center is open from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. For more information, visit www.lswia.org.

Report Waste, Fraud and Abuse in State Government: To report waste, fraud and abuse in state government, you can call: 1-855-SC-FRAUD.

Facebook: I have a Facebook page for Representative Tom Young. Please “like” the page to receive updates during the week from me on Facebook.

Tom Young’s Website: My website can be reached at www.reptomyoung.com. There are links to a variety of constituent services; the status of sponsored bills; and roll call votes. Please add my web site as a bookmark on your computer.

State House Tours: Tours are available for the S.C. State House by calling (803) 734-2430. If you set a tour between January and June and it is on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, please let me know so I can do my best to see you.

Email Updates: If you know of people in or around District 81 who do not receive my updates but they would like to get them, please email their names and email addresses to me.

Road Issues: If you see a road problem, 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. Generally, most paved roads in the County are maintained by SCDOT and are identified on the road sign poles by a small black and white sign listing the road number, such as S-2-1669. Most unpaved roads in the County are maintained by the County.

Thank you for the opportunity and the honor 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.

Sincerely,
Tom Young

Reps. give overview of legislative session

youngforhouse — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:17:13 +0000

The S.C. General Assembly is going to have to find a way to provide reform measures for the state’s retirement system, said S.C. Rep. Tom Young, R-Aiken.

He and S.C. Rep. Bill Taylor, R-Aiken, discussed the 2012 legislative session, which starts today, at an Aiken Rotary Club meeting on Monday.

A study by Clemson University several years ago projected that the unfunded mandate for the retirement system would be $6.2 billion by 2010. Actually, it’s now closer to $17 billion, Young said, and such shortfalls are occurring in 46 states. In the fairly recent past, there were 3.36 state employees working for every retiree. Now the number is 1.71 employees.

“People are living longer, and the system wasn’t designed for that,” Young said. “That’s one of the reasons so much is unfunded.”

Using the telephone greeting imposed on state employees by Gov. Nikki Haley, Taylor said, “It is a great day in South Carolina.” He noted that the economic forecast is not nearly as pessimistic as it was a year ago. Revenue could increase in 2012 by $950 million to $1.3 billion, he said.

“If the U.S. economy rebounds somewhat, South Carolina is in a position to take advantage of that,” Taylor said. “Bridgestone (expansion) was one of the biggest buzzes in 2011, and manufacturing is coming back in large amounts.”

During the last session, the House approved an ambitious conservative agenda. Many didn’t make it through the Senate, but those that did were important, said Taylor. They include government transparency, point-of-sale changes to bring more fairness to property taxes and voter ID measures.

South Carolina has provided $1.3 billion toward the prospective Yucca Mountain site for radioactive waste disposal, including spent fuel at the Savannah River Site. However, that project has been shelved, at least for now. The state’s legislative delegation has asked President Barack Obama and Secretary of Energy Steven Chu about returning those funds to ratepayers, Young said.

“If you have paid utility bills for many years, a portion of that money has gone to develop the Yucca Mountain site,” he said. “We think the federal government should return that money if it’s not going to be used as originally intended.”

People know that Democrats oppose Yucca Mountain, “but the Republican candidates have not responded to this question, either,” Taylor said.

Courtesy of the Aiken Standard

Weekly Legislative Update from Rep. Tom Young – Jan. 4, 2012 to Jan. 9, 2012

youngforhouse — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:16:46 +0000

The House of Representatives returns to session tomorrow. I hope that you find this update helpful and informative:

House of Representatives Convenes Tomorrow: The S.C. House meets tomorrow at 12:00 pm in Columbia to start the 2012 legislative session.

Public Input Meeting with State Department of Education: Tomorrow night at 6:00 pm (Tuesday, January 10), representatives from the State Department of Education will be at Millbrook Elementary conducting a meeting to receive input on the State’s request for flexibility from certain requirements of the Federal Government’s “No Child Left Behind Act.” The State’s draft waiver request can be found here. I will not be able to attend because of commitments on the first day of legislative session in Columbia tomorrow.

Master Public Safety Officer Scott Richardson: Last week, I posted information about how to help the family of Officer Richardson. Please remember his wife, 3 young sons, parents, brother, and extended family and friends in your prayers. To assist his wife and children, you may contribute to the following fund for their benefit:

Edward Scott
Richardson Children’s Fund
Savannah River Banking Co.
407 Silver Bluff Rd.
SW Aiken, SC 29803

Polling Locations for January 21 Republican Presidential Primary: On Saturday, January 21 from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, the Republican Presidential Primary will be held in South Carolina. To see where your precinct will vote on that date, go here.

Absentee Voting for Republican Presidential Primary: To vote absentee for the presidential primary, you can go to the Voter Registration Office in person at 916 Vaucluse Road from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and then on Friday, January 20 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. To request a ballot to be mailed to you, call 642-2030 or 642-2028. If you have questions, call 642-2030.

Graniteville Train Disaster Memorial Ceremony: The Seventh Annual ceremony remembering the Graniteville Train Disaster was held this past Saturday afternoon at the Bethlehem Baptist Church. Because of a family commitment, I was unable to attend. I did send a letter which was shared with attendees. That letter can be seen here.

Feedback Requested — Planning for the 2012 Legislative Session: The 2012 legislative session convenes this week on January 10. I am seeking input from constituents on the critical issues facing our state and area including tax reform; spending reform; K-12 education; the costs of higher education; health care; economic development; job growth; and the unfunded liabilities in our state’s retirement systems. Your input is welcome on any issue important to you. Please email me back or contact me by phone or in person at your convenience.

Aiken County Public Library: Check out the digital branch library available through the Aiken County Public Library website (www.abbe-lib.org). This service, powered by Over Drive, is free to Aiken Library patrons with a valid library card and password. You can browse the collection for audio books, eBooks and videos. You can also download the titles to PC, Mac, iPod, Sony Reader, Kindle and many other mobile devices to enjoy immediately. Some audio titles can even be burned to CD to listen to on-the-go. At the end of the lending period, the titles automatically expire. NOTE: To get started, patrons need to download free Over Drive Media Console® and Adobe Digital Editions® software, which are available on the digital branch library’s website. For more information, call the Library at 642-2020.

Speaking to Groups Around the District: Several local groups have invited me to attend one of their meetings to provide a legislative update. If you have a group that would like for me to come to a meeting, please let me know.

Report Waste, Fraud and Abuse in State Government: To report waste, fraud and abuse in state government, you can call: 1-855-SC-FRAUD.

Facebook: I have a Facebook page for Representative Tom Young. Please “like” the page to receive updates during the week from me on Facebook.

Email Updates: If you know of people in or around District 81 who do not receive my updates but they would like to get them, please email their names and email addresses to me.

Sincerely,
Tom Young

Weekly Legislative Update from Rep. Tom Young – Dec. 20, 2011 to Jan. 3, 2012

youngforhouse — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:59:08 +0000

The House of Representatives returns to session next Tuesday on January 10, 2012. I hope that you find this update helpful and informative:

Happy New Year: Happy New Year to you and your family! During the Holidays, I hope that you took a few moments to remember the true meaning for why we celebrate Christmas. I also hope that you were able to spend time with family and friends and reflect on how blessed that we are to live in the United States. My wife Heather and I hope and pray that the New Year brings you much joy, health, and happiness. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you in the South Carolina House of Representatives.

Master Public Safety Officer Scott Richardson: Tragedy struck our community before Christmas on December 21 with the shooting death of Aiken Public Safety Officer Scotty Richardson. Please remember his wife, 3 young sons, parents, brother, and extended family and friends in your prayers. To assist his wife and children, you may contribute to the following fund for their benefit:

Edward Scott
Richardson Children’s Fund
Savannah River Banking Co.
407 Silver Bluff Rd., SW
Aiken, SC 29803

Comptroller General’s 2011 Annual Financial Report: On December 23, State Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom released the 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the State. The report can be accessed by clicking here. I will post the condensed version in a future update when it is available.

New State Flag for Schools in District: If you know of a school in District 81 which needs a new South Carolina state flag, please let me know.

Feedback Requested — Planning for the 2012 Legislative Session: The 2012 legislative session will convene next week on January 10. I am seeking input from constituents on the critical issues facing our state and area including tax reform; spending reform; K-12 education; the costs of higher education; health care; economic development; job growth; and the unfunded liabilities in our state’s retirement systems. Your input is welcome on any issue important to you. Please email me back or contact me by phone or in person at your convenience.

Report Waste, Fraud and Abuse in State Government: To report waste, fraud and abuse in state government, you can call: 1-855-SC-FRAUD.

Facebook: I have a Facebook page for Representative Tom Young. Please “like” the page to receive updates during the week from me on Facebook.

Email Updates: If you know of people in or around District 81 who do not receive my updates but they would like to get them, please email their names and email addresses to me.

Sincerely,
Tom Young

Weekly Legislative Update from Rep. Tom Young – December 13 to December 19, 2011

youngforhouse — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 20:57:45 +0000

The House of Representatives returns to session in three weeks on January 10, 2012. This update will be my last for 2011. I hope that you find this update helpful and informative:

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family! During this month of December, we have all been busy with the sights and sounds of the season. Nevertheless, I hope that you will take a few moments over the next few days to remember the true meaning for why we celebrate Christmas. Spend time with family and friends and reflect on how blessed that we are to live in the United States. Remember our troops who are abroad and who will not be able to be home with their families for the Holidays. My wife Heather and I hope and pray that the Holiday Season and the New Year bring you much joy, health, and happiness. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you in the South Carolina House of Representatives.

“Meaning of Christmas” Message from Former President Reagan: Thirty years ago this week, former President Reagan addressed the nation on television and delivered his “meaning of Christmas” message. Regardless of your political leanings, I encourage you to take a moment to watch this message and to reflect on that message both this week and next. To see the video, go here.

State Chamber of Commerce Competitiveness Agenda Released: The S.C. Chamber of Commerce released its annual “Competitiveness Agenda” last week for the upcoming 2012 legislative session. The agenda can be seen here.

State Retirement Plan: Last week, the House Ways and Means panel looking at the state retirement plan recommended certain changes necessary to keep the State Retirement System solvent. Those changes can be seen here. A Senate Finance panel is also looking at the state retirement plan and will recommend its own changes soon. This list is not exclusive and I expect that there will be additions and/or modifications to this after the legislation is drafted. This issue will be at the forefront of the 2012 session when the General Assembly returns to session on January 10. Your feedback is welcome.

Tom Brokaw — USC Commencement Speaker: Tom Brokaw, author of The Greatest Generation, spoke at USC Columbia’s graduation last week. If you would like to see his comments, go here.

Feedback Requested — Planning for the 2012 Legislative Session: The 2012 legislative session will convene in three weeks on January 10. I am seeking input from constituents on the critical issues facing our state and area including tax reform; spending reform; K-12 education; the costs of higher education; health care; economic development; job growth; and the unfunded liabilities in our state’s retirement systems. Your input is welcome on any issue important to you. Please email me back or contact me by phone or in person at your convenience.

Report Waste, Fraud and Abuse in State Government: To report waste, fraud and abuse in state government, you can call: 1-855-SC-FRAUD.

Facebook: I have a Facebook page for Representative Tom Young. Please “like” the page to receive updates during the week from me on Facebook.

State House Tours: Tours are available for the S.C. State House by calling (803) 734-2430.

Email Updates: If you know of people in or around District 81 who do not receive my updates but they would like to get them, please email their names and email addresses to me.

Sincerely,
Tom Young
649-0000 (o)
215-3631 (cell)

P.S. Please visit www.reptomyoung.com for more posts, news, video updates, and, if you have Twitter, please click here to start following me!

Weekly Legislative Update from Rep. Tom Young – Nov. 30 to Dec. 5, 2011

youngforhouse — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:31:09 +0000

November 30 to December 5, 2011

The House of Representatives returns to session in six weeks on January 10, 2012. I hope that you find this update helpful and informative:

Congressional Super Committee: Recently, we all learned that the Congressional Super Committee charged with addressing the national debt problem reached an impasse. As a result, automatic across the board cuts of $1.2 Trillion are set to take effect one year later than hoped in January 2013. Meanwhile, the national debt continues to grow and is the greatest threat to the future of the United States. For over a quarter of a century, the Federal Government has spent more than it takes in. Eventually, the chickens will come home to roost. To read about this problem and solutions, please read the Preamble to the National Debt Commission Report seen here. The debt problem described in this report underscores why it is so important for South Carolina to keep a balanced budget; build up the state’s cash reserves; address the unfunded liabilities in the state pension system; and do everything that we can to keep the state’s bond rating as high as possible.

Avondale Water System Update: As to the water system updates in Graniteville and portions of Vaucluse and Warrenville, Phase 2 bids are completed and work is expected to start on January 3. Phase 2 is water line work in the New Town and Vaucluse areas. If you have questions, please call Calvin Smith at Valley Public Service Authority at 593-2053.

Combat Identity Theft: Forty-seven (47) states including South Carolina allow citizens of that state to freeze their credit to prevent identity theft. A credit freeze simply means that new credit accounts will not be approved and your credit file cannot be accessed by anyone without your approval. Therefore, even if thieves have all of your personal identifying information, they still will not be allowed to get credit in your name. However, freezing your credit account may slow down the process of obtaining credit legitimately. To learn more about South Carolina’s credit freeze law which started in 2008, go here.

Protect Your Child from Identity Theft: There is a growing trend of identity thieves stealing the identities of children – even infants. In particular, the Social Security numbers of children are considered very valuable by identity thieves as parents are unlikely to check the credit reports of their children. Parents can take steps to protect their child’s identity. To see one of the best summaries that I have found for what a parent can do, go here.

High Visibility Road Sign Update in Aiken: Last April and May, I received numerous complaints about the large yellow signs put up by the SC DOT in Aiken in the downtown historic district. Many of those complaints came from elected city officials; downtown business owners; downtown residents; and others in Aiken. During several discussions with SC DOT, DOT officials told me that (1) they had not talked with the City before putting the signs up in downtown Aiken and (2) the signs are possibly more than is needed for downtown and designed to be effective in less urban areas than downtown Aiken. DOT requested a list of the locations about which I received complaints. I sent that list of 9 locations to the DOT with a request that the current signs at those locations be removed. DOT then met several times with City officials to address the many concerns and questions with the signs erected in several places in downtown. As a result of those meetings, DOT removed signs from 8 different locations in downtown. Those locations can be seen here. My understanding is that the DOT and the City have reached a resolution which both respects Aiken’s downtown and meets the DOT’s goals in implementing the sign project. Additionally, DOT has committed to contacting the City for input before spending money on similar projects in the future.

Aiken County School District: Last Tuesday, the School District presented a presentation entitled “Budget 101” regarding the District’s budget. A copy can be seen by going here.

Feedback Requested — Planning for the 2012 Legislative Session: The 2012 legislative session will convene in six weeks on January 10. I am seeking input from constituents on the critical issues facing our state and area including tax reform; spending reform; K-12 education; the costs of higher education; health care; economic development; job growth; and the unfunded liabilities in our state’s retirement systems. Your input is welcome on any issue important to you. Please email me back or contact me by phone or in person at your convenience.

Report Waste, Fraud and Abuse in State Government: To report waste, fraud and abuse in state government, you can call: 1-855-SC-FRAUD.

Roll Call Voting: There is a new link available to keep up with all the roll call votes in the S.C. House. That link can be accessed at either my website at www.reptomyoung.com or at the www.scstatehouse.gov website.

Facebook: I have a Facebook page for Representative Tom Young. Please “like” the page to receive updates during the week from me on Facebook.

State House Tours: Tours are available for the S.C. State House by calling (803) 734-2430.

Email Updates: If you know of people in or around District 81 who do not receive my updates but they would like to get them, please email their names and email addresses to me.

Sincerely,
Tom Young

Weekly Legislative Update from Rep. Tom Young – Nov. 22 to Nov. 29, 2011

youngforhouse — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:31:52 +0000

November 22 to November 29, 2011

The House of Representatives returns to session in six weeks on January 10, 2012. I hope that you find this update helpful and informative:

Yucca Mountain Update: Many people in District 81 have been following the Yucca Mountain issue closely. In July, the federal appeals court in the District of Columbia ruled that the suit brought by Aiken County, the State of South Carolina, and other states to challenge the federal government’s decision to shut down Yucca Mountain is premature. The Court ruled that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (“NRC”) has to act before the suit brought by the County, the State, and other states can move forward. However, the Court also said that the County and the states can revive their lawsuit if the NRC fails to act soon, noting that a three-year deadline for either approving or rejecting the application is “at hand,” since the application was formally registered at the NRC in September 2008. “We will not permit an agency to insulate itself from judicial review by refusing to act,” the Court said. Because both the June and September deadlines for Yucca Mountain’s license passed without any action by the NRC, Aiken County and the states filed a new petition seeking a “writ of mandamus.” In other words, the states and others want the district court to order the NRC to make a decision about Yucca Mountain’s license. On November 4, 2011, the federal court set the schedule for this action which seeks to force the NRC to reopen its review of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste site. The deadline for final legal briefs in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia is set for February 13, 2012.

Latest Unemployment Numbers: The state’s unemployment rate has gone down and Aiken County is 5^th lowest in the State with an unemployment rate of 8.5%. To see the latest details across the state, please click here.

Who Prepares this Email Update?: Many people have asked me who prepares this update. The answer is that I do each week and I do not have a staff which does this for me. I find that it is a very good way to update folks in and around the district and to obtain feedback on important topics affecting our district and our state. If you have a friend who does not receive this but would like to, please send me the name and email information.

Republican Presidential Primary: South Carolina held its first Republican Presidential primary in March 1980. Since that time, the winner of the S.C. Republican Presidential primary has eventually won the Republican nomination for President. Recently, State Senator John Courson computed the vote details for the six presidential primaries since 1980 which can be seen here. South Carolina’s next Republican Presidential primary will be on Saturday, January 21, 2012.

Feedback Requested — Planning for the 2012 Legislative Session: The 2012 legislative session will convene in six weeks on January 10. I am seeking input from constituents on the critical issues facing our state and area including tax reform; spending reform; K-12 education; the costs of higher education; health care; economic development; job growth; and the unfunded liabilities in our state’s retirement systems. Your input is welcome on any issue important to you. Please email me back or contact me by phone or in person at your convenience.

Thoroughbred Country– South Carolina Regional Tourism Organization: To learn more about holiday events in the tourism four county region of Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, and Barnwell, visit www.tbredcountry.org or see their recent holiday update.

SCDOT Weekly Update: The Department of Transportation started a weekly update about four months ago to inform the public about what is going on at the agency as to its financial situation and other matters. To see the latest, go here.

Report Waste, Fraud and Abuse in State Government: To report waste, fraud and abuse in state government, you can call: 1-855-SC-FRAUD.

Roll Call Voting: There is a new link available to keep up with all the roll call votes in the S.C. House. That link can be accessed at either my website at www.reptomyoung.com or at the www.scstatehouse.gov website.

Facebook: I have a Facebook page for Representative Tom Young. Please “like” the page to receive updates during the week from me on Facebook.

State House Tours: Tours are available for the S.C. State House by calling (803) 734-2430.

Email Updates: If you know of people in or around District 81 who do not receive my updates but they would like to get them, please email their names and email addresses to me.

Sincerely,
Tom Young

Thanksgiving and Small Business Saturday — Weekly Legislative Update from Rep. Tom Young

wesleydonehue — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 04:19:35 +0000

November 16 to November 21, 2011

The House of Representatives is out of session for 2011 and returns to session on January 10, 2012. I hope that you find this update helpful and informative:

Happy Thanksgiving!: Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! We have so much for which to be thankful. I hope that you and your family enjoy the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Thanksgiving Events in Greater Aiken: Annual Thanksgiving events in Greater Aiken include the following:

Thursday, November 24
One Table
Time: 11am – 2pm
Place: The Alley in Aiken

This Thanksgiving Dinner is open to the entire community. For more information, please visit www.onetable.org.

Thursday, November 24
Blessing of the Hounds
Time: 11am

This annual event opens the hunt season in Hitchcock Woods. Park by the Aiken County Historical Museum and enter the woods from South Boundary for a 20 minute walk to Memorial Gate. Children are welcome, but please, no pets. Call 803.643.DRAG for more information.

Small Business Saturday – November 26: This coming Saturday is “Small Business Saturday” which is a nationwide initiative to encourage shopping at local, independently owned businesses on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year. To learn more about this, you can go to www.smallbusinesssaturday.com or see this flyer prepared by the Aiken Downtown Development Association. Either way, consider supporting our local small businesses when you shop this Holiday season and during the coming year.

Citadel Investigation Status Letter: While the situation at Penn State has been all over the news for the past 2 weeks, another situation has arisen closer to home here at The Citadel in Charleston. Many people in District 81 are either graduates of The Citadel and/or strong supporters of the school. I received a letter from The Citadel regarding the investigation and the school’s cooperation with the South Carolina’s Attorney General’s office. That letter can be seen here.

Feedback Requested — Planning for the 2012 Legislative Session: The 2012 legislative session will convene on January 10. I am seeking input from constituents on the critical issues facing our state and area including tax reform; spending reform; K-12 education; the costs of higher education; health care; economic development; job growth; and the unfunded liabilities in our state’s retirement systems. Your input is welcome on any issue important to you. Please email me back or contact me by phone or in person at your convenience.

Frequency of Legislative Updates: Over the remaining month and a half of this year, my legislative updates may not come every week.

Report Waste, Fraud and Abuse in State Government: To report waste, fraud and abuse in state government, you can call: 1-855-SC-FRAUD.

Facebook: I have a Facebook page for Representative Tom Young. Please “like” the page to receive updates during the week from me on Facebook.

State House Tours: Tours are available for the S.C. State House by calling (803) 734-2430.

Email Updates: If you know of people in or around District 81 who do not receive my updates but they would like to get them, please email their names and email addresses to me.

Sincerely,
Tom Young
649-0000 (o)
215-3631 (cell)

P.S. Please visit www.reptomyoung.com for more posts, news, video updates, and, if you have Twitter, please click here to start following me!

Weekly Legislative Update from Rep. Tom Young – November 8 to Nov. 15, 2011

wesleydonehue — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 04:18:41 +0000

November 8 to Nov. 15, 2011

The House of Representatives is out of session for 2011 and returns to session on January 10, 2012. Nevertheless, a lot is happening around District 81 and in Columbia. I hope that you find this update helpful and informative:

Another “Top States for Business” Article: Yesterday, the National Conference of State Legislatures released a report summarizing the various recent articles which have listed the best states for business. South Carolina is listed in the top states in several of the publications. Notably, the article states that several factors play a role in a state’s business climate including operation costs, workforce skills, taxes and regulation, cost of living, and quality of life. The article can be seen here.

State Retirement System: Last week, the S.C. State Senate Special Retirement Subcommittee posted on the state government website a link to a good article summarizing pension reform at the state level across the nation since January 2010. During the past twenty-two months, 40 states have enacted some type of reform of their state government retirement systems. To see the article, go here.

Heart Gallery – Foster Care Children: In South Carolina, there are hundreds of children in foster care who are in need of adoption. Heart Gallery is a program of the Children’s Foster Care Review Board in conjunction with the Office of the Governor and the S.C. Department of Social Services. The goal is to enhance the adoption recruitment opportunities for waiting children. Interested adults seeking to adopt a child can learn more by going to www.scheartgallery.org or contacting Millie Qualls in Columbia at (803) 734-2595 or mqualls@oepp.sc.gov.

Technical Colleges and Local Company MTU: With a current enrollment exceeded 242,000 students, South Carolina’s technical colleges are critical in preparing our state’s workforce for maintaining existing industry and attracting new companies to our state. In the current technical college quarterly, there is an excellent article about local company MTU Detroit Diesel and another on Boeing. To see the publication, go here.

Veterans Day: Last Friday, November 11, on Veterans Day, I attended the service at the Aiken County Veterans’ Park which was held by our local James L. Hammons Marine Corps Detachment. I hope that you were able to attend one of the many programs honoring our veterans and thanking both them and their families for their service and sacrifice.

SRS Citizens Advisory Board: Yesterday, I visited with the SRS Citizens Advisory Board to discuss issues surrounding Yucca Mountain, H-Canyon, and the disposal of used nuclear fuel. These are significant issues to those of us in Aiken County, and I appreciate the feedback and ideas which the Board provided on these important issues.

Congratulations to Dogwood Stable and Cot Campbell!: Aiken’s own Dogwood Stable headed by Aiken resident Cot Campbell recently received the Keeneland Gold Tray. This award is given to a stable only after the stable has won at least 8 stakes victories at historic Keeneland race track in Lexington, Kentucky. Dogwood Stable is only the 17th owner to receive this award. This recognition adds to Aiken’s rich horse community heritage and we should all be proud of this accomplishment. To see the full story, go here.

Feedback Requested — Planning for the 2012 Legislative Session: The 2012 legislative session will convene on the second Tuesday in January. I am seeking input from constituents on the critical issues facing our state and area including tax reform; spending reform; K-12 education; the costs of higher education; health care; economic development; job growth; and the underfunded liabilities in our state’s retirement systems. Your input is welcome on any issue important to you. Please email me back or contact me by phone or in person at your convenience.

Frequency of Legislative Updates: Over the remaining month and a half of this year, my legislative updates may not come every week.

SCDOT Weekly Update: The Department of Transportation started a weekly update about three and a half months ago to inform the public about what is going on at the agency as to its financial situation and other matters. To see the latest, go here.

One Table Thanksgiving in Aiken: On Thanksgiving Day, many churches and non-profit organizations within greater Aiken are sponsoring a community-wide Thanksgiving celebration called One Table in The Alley in downtown Aiken. Food will be served at noon. To learn more, go here: www.onetable.org.

Speaking to Groups Around the District: Several local groups have invited me to attend one of their meetings to provide an end of session report. If you have a group that would like for me to come to a meeting during the next couple of months, please let me know.

Report Waste, Fraud and Abuse in State Government: To report waste, fraud and abuse in state government, you can call: 1-855-SC-FRAUD.

Facebook: I have a Facebook page for Representative Tom Young. Please “like” the page to receive updates during the week from me on Facebook.

State House Tours: Tours are available for the S.C. State House by calling (803) 734-2430.

Email Updates: If you know of people in or around District 81 who do not receive my updates but they would like to get them, please email their names and email addresses to me.

Sincerely,
Tom Young
649-0000 (o)
215-3631 (cell)

P.S. Please visit www.reptomyoung.com for more posts, news, video updates, and, if you have Twitter, please click here to start following me!

Veterans Day and State’s Bond Rating — Weekly Legislative Update from Rep. Tom Young – Oct. 25 to Nov. 7, 2011

wesleydonehue — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:54:07 +0000

October 25 to November 7, 2011

Veterans Day: This Friday, November 11, is Veterans Day. Please join me in thanking our veterans for their service and sacrifices which allow us to enjoy the freedoms and security with which we are blessed in the United States.

Town Meetings Concluded: On October 24, I finished the third of 3 town meetings which I held around the District during the month of October. I appreciate the feedback and ideas from those who attended the meetings. If you could not attend but would like for me to know about an issue important to you, please email me or call me at 215-3631.

State Senate Foreclosure Hearings: The State Senate Banking and Insurance Committee will hold 3 public hearings this week. The media notice stated that homeowners who have faced or are facing foreclosure due to a hardship resulting from the financial crisis will have an opportunity to be heard. Interested homeowners can share the problems and solutions they have experienced. The Committee is interested in possible solutions at the State level to help homeowners in financial distress with their home mortgage. The hearings this week are as follows:

Greenville, SC, November 7th, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Hughes Main Library, 25 Heritage Green Place, Greenville, SC 29601;
Columbia, SC, November 8th, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Capital Senior Center, 1650 Park Circle, Ballroom 2, Columbia, SC 29201; and
Charleston, SC, November 10th, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the International Longshoreman’s Hall, 1142 Morrison Drive, Charleston, SC 29403.

South Carolina’s Bond Ratings: Some constituents have asked me recently about our state’s bond rating. The current bond ratings for South Carolina are as follows:

Fitch – AAA, outlook stable
Moody’s – Aaa, outlook negative
S&P – AA+, outlook stable

Moody’s most recently revised South Carolina’s outlook to negative at the same time that it took similar action for the United States’ sovereign credit rating this past summer. In making this move, Moody’s noted that South Carolina along with Maryland, New Mexico, Tennessee, and Virginia have a higher than normal reliance on federal funds for state budget needs. Hence, the “negative” outlook was assigned since the federal government has credit concerns of its own. I also understand that the bond rating agencies have noted that the unfunded liabilities in a state’s retirement system can affect a state’s credit rating. A very good short article on the link between a state’s credit rating and its economic policies can be seen here.

Roads and Bridges: Since starting to serve in 2009, I have advocated that South Carolina needs a dedicated source of funding for road and bridge improvements. Improving South Carolina’s infrastructure will benefit our state for the long term and provide us with a competitive advantage over other states in our effort to keep existing businesses and to attract new and expanding businesses. A recent interesting article on this issue can be seen here. Discussion on this important issue must include consideration as to whether the State Department of Transportation’s current system of governance with a Board of Commissioners should remain in place.

Blue Ribbon Commission on Nation’s Nuclear Future: Last week, the Aiken County legislative delegation sent a letter to the Blue Ribbon Commission as part of the public comment period on the Commission’s current draft report. The delegation’s letter can be seen here. The Commission is charged with making recommendations to the current Presidential Administration on nuclear issues including the storage, processing, and disposal of civilian and defense spent nuclear fuel and nuclear waste.

Congressional Redistricting Plan Approved: The Department of Justice has given preliminary approval to the Congressional Redistricting Plan. Under the plan, Aiken County will be completely in the 2nd Congressional District currently represented by Congressman Joe Wilson.

Great News Regarding Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce: Congratulations to the Aiken Chamber for receiving a 5 star rating. Out of 10,000 chambers of commerce in the United States, only 85 received this rating.

SRS H-Canyon To Support Plutonium Disposition: The National Nuclear Security Administration recently approved the use of the H-Canyon Complex at the Savannah River Site to provide approximately 3.7 megatons of plutonium oxide feed for the mixed-oxide fuel fabrication facility. About 90 jobs will be retained as a result of the decision.

Frequency of Legislative Updates: Over the remaining 2 months of this year, my legislative updates may not come every week. Rather, I will strive to send them every other week.

SCDOT Weekly Update: The Department of Transportation started a weekly update about three months ago to inform the public about what is going on at the agency as to its financial situation and other matters. To see the latest, go here.

Report Waste, Fraud and Abuse in State Government: To report waste, fraud and abuse in state government, you can call: 1-855-SC-FRAUD.

Facebook: I have a Facebook page for Representative Tom Young. Please “like” the page to receive updates during the week from me on Facebook.

Tom Young’s Website: My updated website can be reached at www.reptomyoung.com. There are links to a variety of constituent services; the status of sponsored bills; and roll call votes. Please add my web site as a bookmark on your computer.

State House Tours: Tours are available for the S.C. State House by calling (803) 734-2430.

Email Updates: If you know of people in or around District 81 who do not receive my updates but they would like to, please email their names and email addresses to me.

Sincerely,
Tom Young
649-0000 (o)
215-3631 (cell)

P.S. Please visit www.reptomyoung.com for more posts, news, video updates, and, if you have Twitter, please click here to start following me!