February 10, 2012

You are here: Home / 2009 / October / Archives for 6th

Sanford on ethics report: Lay it out there, once complete

October 6, 2009 By

The Supreme Court says it will hear arguments in Governor Sanford’s case against the state Ethics Commission on Oct. 19.

In an interview with the South Carolina Radio Network Tuesday, Sanford talked about the idea of the Ethics Commission report possibly being released before it is completed.

The Governor said he wants it released, but only after the investigation is complete.  “What we’ve been for consistently is a full review, not a partial review.  It has been our long-standing belief that when that full-review is out there, that it will show that we’ve been great stewards of the taxpayer and tried to watch out for the taxpayer’s assets.  As Paul Harvey says, there is a ‘rest of the story’ here.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Legislature, News, Politics & Government

Silent Witness ceremony is a solemn reminder

October 6, 2009 By

The solemn bag pipe of Jesse Johnson with the Citadel Regimental Pipe Band closed the annual Silent Witness Ceremony held at the Statehouse Tuesday, remember all those who died in South Carolina as a result of domestic violence.

Attorney General Henry McMaster called the names of twenty-six women and six men in South Carolina who lost their lives, just during the previous year. Life-sized silhouettes representing each victim were carried to Statehouse steps by Victims’ family members, friends, or volunteers. A 33rd silhouette represented the potential unknown victim.

McMaster stated that domestic violence affects families from all economic backgrounds, and he reminded everyone that victims of domestic violence and those who commit it need help.  “As we assemble today, I realized that we’ll assemble again next year and read another list of lost loved ones, right here.  And I realize that those lost loved ones are alive today, but they’ll be gone tomorrow.  It’s a staggering thought.  But it’s also a reminder, that although it’s too late for those in the book today,   it is not too late for those tomorrow.”  [Read more...]

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, News

Energy tax credits explained

October 6, 2009 By

Homeowners who are looking into getting an energy efficient makeover before the winter months can benefit by knowing the advantages and qualifications of the federal energy efficiency tax credits available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 first established the energy efficiency tax credits that were effective in 2006 and 2007. The following year, former President Bush signed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (also known as the “Bailout Bill”) to put many of the tax credits back in place for 2009, and increased the credit to 30%, up to $1,500. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Economy, Environment & Conservation, News, Politics & Government

SC Supreme Court sets date for ethics arguments

October 6, 2009 By

The South Carolina Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments in Gov. Sanford’s case against Ethics Commission for October 19 at 2:30 p.m.

The South Carolina House is now a party to a Supreme Court lawsuit initiated by the governor. Monday, House Speaker Bobby Harrell asked the court to allow them to intervene in the case.

House Speaker Harrell says he is frustrated with the governor’s position,”It’s important that this be an open process. The governor said that it should be, just a few weeks ago. Now apparently he’s changed his mind and is attempting to close the process. The request I made of the Supreme Court is that they not allow him to close the process.”

Harrell is referencing the governor’s choice to waive confidentiality in the Ethics Commission probe into his travel spending and disappearance for six days in the summer. He was in Argentina visiting his mistress.

Lawmakers say that the Commission’s investigation would be the basis to impeach —or not impeach the governor.

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

New scoring system for S.C. schools

October 6, 2009 By

The state Education Oversight Committee (EOC) has approved a scoring system that would lead to more of the state’s schools meeting federal educational goals. The EOC voted Monday to align passing scores on the state’s new standardized tests with what the state considered passing on the 10-year-old PACT test. The committee has said that means more schools will make “adequate yearly progress” under No Child Left Behind. The law that ended PACT followed years of complaints that results came in after the school year ended and provided no analysis on topics in which students excelled or struggled. The computer-based Palmetto Assessment of State Standards, or PASS test, is designed to give teachers more timely and detailed information about students’ abilities.

Filed Under: Education, News
« Older Posts