February 11, 2008
The second regular session of the 117th S.C. General Assembly convened Jan. 8 and will end June 5. All 170 seats are up for re-election this year, which could mean that lawmakers will be more frugal and more anti-tax than usual. In his State of the State address on Jan. 16, Gov. Mark Sanford called for lawmakers to limit state spending, predicting the nation is heading into a recession.
The first couple of weeks have been spent in committee reviewing proposals. The slow start will last a few weeks as lawmakers get up to speed on pending bills.
Priorities for this session include curtailing immigration, capping state spending, and adding transparency to the budget by requiring that names be attached to requests for money (earmarks).
While the General Assembly will tackle dozens of issues, illegal immigration is a high priority. Legislation intended to curb illegal immigration was passed by the House and is now on the Senate floor. However, the bill, with 15 provisions, only addresses those doing business with the government and then only penalizes violators by withholding 5 percent of a contract.
A $17 million allocation for tourism promotion is up for review as a House subcommittee considers requests for the next fiscal year's budget. An additional $13 million, or $30 million, had been allocated for this year.
Legislators are considering a series of measures that would ban smoking in indoor, public places and increase the lowest cigarette tax in the nation. A bill raising cigarette taxes 45 cents a pack was sent back to a subcommittee for further study because there was no agreement on how the money should be used.
Lawmakers are also seeking to reform K-12 PACT testing - restructuring the tests while maintaining accountability. The goal is to develop more diagnostic tests to help individual students and to get results back more quickly.
The Senate Finance Committee has approved a bill that allows cities or counties to pledge part of the accommodations tax, up to $150,000, on tourism-related needs for bonds to pay for beach renourishment up to 15 years. The bill is still on the Senate floor.
The House has approved a bill that is aimed at lowering health care costs. The bill allows a group of at least 10 businesses to unite and negotiate cheaper insurance rates than an individual business.
In light of drought conditions, legislation is being considered that requires permits and limits the water large users could pull from streams and rivers. The measure has been changed to exempt power plants, agriculture, and sand mining operation.
The House Ways and Means Committee has approved a proposal that gives taxpayers credits for retrofitting their homes and businesses with fire sprinkler systems. The proposal gives up to $50,000 in tax credits to offset the cost of buying and installing fire sprinklers. The measure is headed to the House floor.
The state Budget and Control Board approved the last segment of land purchase, 30 acres of the Little Pee Dee River Heritage Preserve, for the southern portion of I-73. The Federal Highway Administration has just signed the Record of Decision, authorizing a 30-mile section between I-95 near Latta and S.C. 22 between Aynor and Conway. The Department of Transportation can now start negotiating to buy about 60 pieces of property that are in the path of the road and begin to plan the exact route between I-95 and Horry County. The northern portion of I-73, between I-95 and I-74 near Hamlet, N.C., is expected to have its final preferred route approved later this year.
On the Net
MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com
SCStateHouse.net
House.gov
Senate.gov
USA.gov
SCChamber.net
USChamber.com
I-73.com
