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Senator Sheheen says state lawmakers can take control of the stimulus fight

April 8, 2009 By

A gubernatorial candidate says he has the answer that a lot of Democrats and Republicans have been looking for. Democrat Vincent Sheheen, a state senator from Camden, says that he is creating a proposal that will force Governor Mark Sanford’s hand, to apply for $350 million in federal stimulus funds.  Sheheen made the announcement at the statehouse, surrounded by public school teachers.  He says an addition planned for the state budget would work toward the same end, but he says his proposal would accomplish the goal sooner. And Sheheen says while there is a constitutional question with a provision added to the federal stimulus act, to allow state lawmakers to override governors on the issue, a state law would be different.

“The issue that arose before was whether we could use the federal bypass, glued to the federal legislation, and there was a constitutional question about that.   This is a different approach.   This approach says we ought to pass a state law, not rely on the federal government to pass a law.  We’ll just pass a state law, which we can do.”

Governor Mark Sanford’s spokesman says lawmakers should try to work with the governor.

Sheheen will introduce the legislation next week. The Senate and House have this week off due to a furlough.

Listen to news story

Filed Under: Economy, Legislature, News

Federal COBRA plan has new twist

April 8, 2009 By

The federal stimulus plan passed by Congress in February includes a subsidy to help Americans laid off from their jobs afford health insurance. Workers terminated since September have the chance to re-join their former employers’ group insurance plans for 35 percent of the premium cost for a period of 9 months. Prior to the stimulus bill subsidy, workers had to pay 100 percent of the employee and employer share, plus a 2 percent fee to continue coverage under the federal COBRA program. With the new subsidy placed in the stimulus bill, many companies are moving frantically to comply with the April 18th deadline for notifying workers they can participate. Employers must also sign former employees back up for the plan under detailed rules and front the government’s 65 percent subsidy. South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce CEO Frank Knapp says the new subsidy will have little effect on small businesses in the state because 85 percent of the small businesses in South Carolina have 19 or less employees. Knapp says for businesses with two to 19 employees that do not come under the federal COBRA law many states, including South Carolina, offer “mini COBRA” programs.

“If you’re in a business that has between two and 19 employees and that group has a group health plan, if you leave the group and you want to stay on the health plan, you can stay on that plan as long as you pay a hundred percent of the premiums for up to six months.”  39 states offer “mini COBRA” programs.

Knapp says the new law will no doubt cause some headaches for businesses that fall under the federal COBRA program. “There’s a requirement I understand for the business to front some money for the employee and get reimbursed by the state and the employee. So yes, it’s going to impose a burden to businesses that fall under the COBRA regulations and that’s 20 or more employees.”

Filed Under: Business, Economy, News

New coastal company makes fuel from cooking oil

April 8, 2009 By

A new industry in Horry County this summer will begin making good use of gallons oil commonly used on the Grand Strand…and it’s not suntan oil.

Coastal Biodeisel Group will collect used cooking oil to produce biodeisel fuel.  Company spokeperson Tasha Biering (BEER-ing) says they chose Conway to be their headquarters and home of a $4.5 million plant.

“We definitely saw a huge resource  and up until now a wasted commodity,” says Biering. “ Often, up until the last  three years ago, these restaurants were simply dumping or getting rid of their used cooking oil, there was no need for it. Now that the technology has been engineered to take this used oil and turn it into biodiesel, it’s definitely going to bring renewable fuel to Horry County and the state of South Carolina and help us become a little greener in the process.”

Coastal Biodiesel Group is now talking with restaurants in the Myrtle Beach area, says Biering, ” and we will be collecting their used cooking oil and then bringing it back to our Conway facility to refine it and come up with an ASPM grade biodiesel fuel that will then be sold in retail stores as well as on the wholesale level throughout the state.”

This fuel can be used in any diesel engine. She explains, “It is diesel fuel, but it is a biodiesel, so it’s not made out of the petroleum-based oil that we see now on the market, that our diesel and gasoline comes from. It’s actually being made from a renewable seed stock, which for us is used cooking oil.”

Coastal Biodiesel Group, Inc., is scheduled to be producing fuel by this June. Biofuel production is a part of what they do to help restaurants recycle used products from their kitchens.

Filed Under: Agriculture, Environment & Conservation, News

Mother fights for mandatory sentences for day-care workers who injure children

April 8, 2009 By

A bill requiring day-care workers who seriously injure children to serve a mandatory minimum sentence of two years will be heard next Wednesday morning at the Gressette Building. The bill, known as ‘Kendra’s Act’, was named after the daughter of Patrick and Michelle Gaddie who was slapped so hard it cause bleeding in her brain. The day-care worker plead guilty to the crime but received no jail time from Circuit Judge Kenneth Goode. The bill has been sitting on Orangeburg Senator Brad Hutto’s desk since early February and will finally be heard by the senate subcommittee next week. Michelle Gaddie says the presence of defense attorneys on the subcommittee does have her a bit concerned.   “My concern is that a lot of those folks on the subcommittee and the full committees are defense attorneys,” said Gaddie.

“They typically don’t like mandatory minimums for crimes like that. So if there is any type of prolonged debate or anything of that nature, it could be in danger or not passing by May 1.”

Michelle Gaddie says the subcommittee and full committee will have to pass the bill by May 1 for it to have a chance to pass this year. Her husband Patrick Gaddie says he is hopeful that the subcommittee can put their personal politics aside and do what is right to protect the children of South Carolina saying, “they’re bringing the politics into it when a bill like this doesn’t need politics.

“There is right and there is wrong. People getting released and put on probation for hurting kids and, literally, killing kids is wrong. That’s why we’re trying to get the mandatory minimum sentence.”

The meeting is at the Gressette Building on the State House grounds and begins at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 15. It is open to the public and Michelle Gaddie is encouraging anyone who supports to come show that support.

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, News, Politics & Government

Spoleto USA offering deals to help keep up with hard times

April 8, 2009 By

As Spoleto USA gears up for another year of art, culture and entertainment, the famous festival is trying to keep up with tough economic times. This year, Spoleto is offering deals and discounts that will possibly attract more locals and internationals.

In the midst of historic theaters and church buildings, the city of Charleston is the center of culture not only for South Carolina, but in part, for the United States. As the world-known Italian Spoleto Festival, that began in 1977 in Italy, prepares for another year of art and entertainment, its American home, Charleston, prepares to escape the hard economic times.

“We are hoping that, you know, we will appeal to a local audience. Spoleto can fit, you know, any budget. There are price points that are already in place and have been in place for a number of years that allow for someone to actually get value for their performance, as many performances start at $10 and $15,” says Paula Edwards, Spoleto Marketing Director.

Edwards says as they face another tough year, they are offering deals to attract more locals, and an international audience.

“We have partnered with a number of different hotels in the area on what we’re calling a Spoleto spree package, and this package includes a discounted rate savings opportunity on a hotel room and then we have a 15% discount on select Spoleto performances,” says Edwards.

Despite these discounts, Edwards says they are not reducing the quality of any performance.

“The quality, obviously, is still high with what we do. We have a full, robust schedule, 126 performances in 17 days,” says Edwards.

And with this robust schedule, Edwards encourages all to come.

“We want to make sure those people who are thinking, you know, about staying close this summer, instead of taking a big vacation, they think about international experience here in Charleston with Spoleto. It’s an international trip without a passport to some extent,” says Edwards.

The only paid-performer reductions they have had this year is in the orchestra, which has 25 members less this year than last. The festival runs from May 22 to June 7.

Filed Under: Economy, News, Recreation & Entertainment
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