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Brown: Bill strengthens veterans’ benefits

October 30, 2009 by

During the past week, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs approved two bills, including measures to improve and expand veterans’ benefits, and to improve job training opportunities for veterans. South Carolina’s Congressman Henry E. Brown and ranking Republican on the VA Subcommittee on Health, is an original co-sponsor of the Draft Benefits Bill.

This legislation would amend a law granting relief to those called to military service so that cell phone and other service contracts can be cancelled without penalties, provide enforcement of rights afforded under the Act, and allow parents of certain deceased veterans to be buried in national cemeteries, along with other provisions.

“The Draft Benefits Bill, created by grouping several essential pieces of veterans’ legislation together, will further ensure that our nation’s heroes and their families are adequately provided for while they are on active duty and once they return home,” said Brown. “This legislation brings us one step closer to showing these men and women how much their incredible bravery and sacrifice truly means to us.”

The Committee also approved H.R. 1168, as amended, the Veterans’ Retraining Act of 2009, authorizing monthly employment training assistance for veterans, as well as a housing allowance while the veteran is in the training program.

Filed Under: Military, News, Politics & Government

GITMO detainees may be relocated to Charleston

October 30, 2009 by

Congressman Gresham Barrett says he has learned that the Obama Administration plans to transfer up to 10 suspected terrorists from Guantanamo Bay to the Naval Brig in Charleston.

Barrett says that news is deeply disturbing and jeopardizes the safety and security of South Carolinians and other Americans. He’s calling on Governor Mark Sanford to try to stop the transfer.

Barrett wants Sanford to pursue legal action if necessary.

Low Country Congressman Henry Brown is an original co-sponsor of the Keep Terrorists Out of America Act. The Republican says that nine months after issuing his executive order to close GITMO, the President has yet to lay out a clear plan for the dangerous suspects. Brown says he is passionate about keeping the suspects out of the Charleston-area facility.

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

Greenwood burglary ring busted

October 30, 2009 by

Police in the Upstate broke up a burglary ring Wednesday night that is responsible for several home invasions over the past month.  More than 20 guns were taken from homeowners in Greenwood County, along with a table-full of necklaces, bracelets, cameras, computers and two flat-screen TVs. 

In a three-week period, at least 10 homes were burglarized.  Greenwood County Sheriff Tony Davis said it didn’t take long for them to notice a pattern.  “They hit one house and they used a tire tool to gain entry by prying open the door.  Then a day or so later they broke into another house and we saw the same tool marks.  At that point, every burglary that we got a call on, we began to notice that they entered the same way.”

Davis said that they were all daytime burglaries where weapons, computers, televisions and jewelry were taken.   The burglars attempted to break into four residents while someone was at home, but did not gain entry.

Some of the items have already been returned to their owners.  “We’ve recovered several thousand dollars worth of items and are in the process of identifying the owners and returning some of these weapons,” said Davis.

Davis felt that the break-ins were drug-related.   “In this situation, we feel that it was drug-related in the sense that they were stealing to support drug habits.”  Davis said that there were others readily available to sell the items.

Investigators said they were able to track down the burglars through surveillance videos as one man attempted to return a stolen toy.

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, News

SC forestry interests plan for largest, oldest industry

October 29, 2009 by

While South Carolina welcomed Boeing, one of the world’s leading high-tech manufacturers, the state was dealing with the future of its oldest and still the largest homegrown industry: forestry.

State Forester Gene Kodama

Gene Kodama the head of the South Carolina Forestry Commission spent all day with leaders from what he calls the wood supply chain, ranging from landowners, the building industry, bioenergy, government agencies and legislators. Kodama says it’s a long list of the folks who can make things happen for the state’s number one manufacturing industry. Two economic studies, done at both Clemson and USC, put forestry at almost $17 billion impact on the state, but that was before this recession hit.

“Forestry is the state’s number one manufacturing industry with regard to wages and jobs,” says Kodama, “One of the highest as far as salaries go, which pumps up your per capita income. I understand that our average wage in South Carolina is around $34,000. If you look at the average wage in the forest products industry, it’s around $46,000 give or take.”

And the amount of inventory is growing, in many ways, says State Forester Gene Kodama. It’s measured by his agency and the National Forest Service.”We know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we have more forest timber than we have had ever since it’s been measured back in 1936. We have more timber, we have more growth than we’ve ever had in this state–both pine and hardwood,” says Kodama. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Agriculture, Business, Economy, Environment & Conservation, News

US House unveils health care plan

October 29, 2009 by

Democratic Leadership in the US House on Thursday unveiled its health care plan–the Affordable Health Care for America Act(HR 3962). Sixth District Congressman and House Majority Whip James Clyburn is playing a significant role in working for passage of the bill and says he believes it will pass the House.

The plan includes a high-risk pool for those who don’t have health insurance.

Jim Clyburn

(Hear Clyburn here :17 sec)5clyburnplan1

Clyburn says he’s not sure how many changes the legislation will undergo in a House-Senate conference committee since there are big differences between the bodies concerning funding.

The plan features guaranteed coverage and insurance market reforms. Insurance companies will no longer be able to refuse to sell or renew policies due to an individual’s health status, including catostrophic illness.

The proposal also prohibits insurance companies from excluding coverage of treatments for pre-existing health conditions. The bill also protects consumers by prohibiting lifetime and annual limits on benefits, and limits the ability of insurance companies to charge higher rates due to health status, gender, or other factors. Under the proposal, premiums can vary based only on age, geography and family size. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business, Health & Medicine, News
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