February 10, 2012

You are here: Home / 2009 / December / Archives for 18th

Clyburn, DeMint opposites in Congress on health care

December 18, 2009 By

The Senate will meet this weekend to try to move forward a health care reform bill, which continues to pit South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn and Senator Jim DeMint against each other at opposite ends of the issue.

Demint says, “It’s out of control and we are gonna stay here until Christmas or New Years to do everything we can to stop more spending and to stop more take-over on health care. I’m glad to see Republicans united on this,” says DeMint.

Clyburn, the House Majority Whip says he is hopeful that the Senate will pass a bill before Christmas and that he hopes to participate in the House-Senate conference that will work to come up with a final version of health care reform for the nation’s citizens. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, News, Politics & Government

SC unemployment hits record high, ESC outlook dim

December 18, 2009 By

Unemployment in South Carolina is now at a record high—rising sharply in November to 12.percent from a revised October rate of 12.0 percent. Sam McClary, Labor Market Analyst for the South Carolina Employment Security Commission says that the spike comes largely from an increase in the labor force.

“We went through a few months where a lot of unemployed workers quit looking for work and it had the effect of bringing down the labor force. Now, they’re beginning to slip back in to the labor force and starting their job search again and this has the impact of pushing the rate up,” says McClary.

He says the rate will probably continue to rise in the next few months and the behaviors of industry and consumers are changing so that demand is just not there.

“We need something to stimulate consumer demand and consumer spending,” says the ESC statistician. “I just don’t know what that is going to be right now. People are not buying automobiles or big ticket items. Manufacturing continues to go offshore. We’re in a very different time than we were in the past.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business, Economy, News

More H1N1 vaccines on the way

December 18, 2009 By

All South Carolinians can receive the H1N1 vaccine beginning Monday. South Carolina DHEC officials say the H1N1 vaccines are offered to anyone ages 6 months and older. DHEC spokesman Jerry Gibson says “the supply of both the H1N1 shot and the nasal mist have become more plentiful in recent weeks, and we want to make it available to as many people as possible through both private healthcare providers and at DHEC clinics.”

DHEC is encouraging those people who have not received the vaccine to get it now because the heart of flu season has yet to come. Gibson says individuals should ask his or her healthcare provider to find out if the vaccine is available there.

Filed Under: Environment & Conservation, Health & Medicine, News

SC’s economic advisers say no change for now

December 18, 2009 By

One group that always has the attention of business and government officials during tough economic times are the economists.

The state’s economic advisers, the Board of Economic Advisers, met Thursday, but decided not to change the current revenue estimate. Current revenue projections for the state for the fiscal year are $5.619 billion.

B.E.A. Chairman John Rainey says there’s little change from last month.  Overall South Carolina’s revenue is up 5.8 percent over November of last year.  The Budget and Control Board recently issued a cut for state government to reflect the two-percent cut in revenue projected by the board during last month’s meeting.

“Clearly the national economy is improving,” says Rainey.  “But South Carolina is moving sideways, and still maybe a little down.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business, Economy, News, Politics & Government

Chinese Embassy Minister visits SC, Lt. Governor

December 18, 2009 By

The second most powerful person in the Chinese Embassy was in the Palmetto State Thursday and met with Lt. Governor Andre Bauer.

Embassy Minister Guangyuan Liu says he was sent to South Carolina by the Chinese Ambassador to the U.S.  “This is my first trip to South Carolina,” said Liu.  “What impresses me is that the people are very hospitable and friendly and the scenery is very beautiful.” 

Liu and Bauer discussed economic development and expanding Chinese business and investment in the state, as well as the importance of higher education.

China ranks in South Carolina’s top five export markets, with $790 million shipped there in 2008. Currently, South Carolina is the home of China’s first foreign manufacturing investment in the U.S.–Haier, located in Camden, which employees 225 people making refrigeration equipment and home appliances. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business, News, Politics & Government
« Older Posts