February 10, 2012

You are here: Home / 2009 / December / Archives for 21st

Airline regulations called “passenger bill of rights”

December 21, 2009 By

After a weekend winter storm, airport delays are easing on the East Coast, while stranded travelers are finally on their way to their destinations.

The U.S. Transportation Department wants to assure travelers that delays will not keep them stuck on stranded airplanes for more than three hours.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood calls these regulations a “passenger bill of rights.” In 120 days, domestic flights will be able only to keep passengers on board for three hours before they must be allowed to leave the plane. The regulation provides exceptions only for safety or security or if air traffic control warns the pilot against it. [Read more...]

Filed Under: News, Politics & Government, Transportation

Graham rails at party line divided health care vote

December 21, 2009 By

After much contentious debate and filibustering over the weekend, U.S. Senate Democrats cleared their 60-vote margin to cut off the health care debate in the wee hours of Monday Morning. The vote was held shortly after 1 A.M. The 60-40 tally was divided strictly across party lines, which means both South Carolina Senators Lindsey Graham and Jim Demint voted against shutting down the debate. During the filibustering by Republicans over the weekend, Graham left no doubt what he thinks of the health care reform measure.

“We”re not going to put the whole nation at risk and taken and broken system and make it worst just to get a vote just to get a vote.” After a long dramatic pause for emphasis Graham added, “No way in hell.”

Prior to Monday’s post midnight hour vote, Graham appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union with John KIng” Sunday morning. Graham refers to Senior White House Advisor David Axelrod and the use of backroom tactics. “I like David, he ran a brilliant campaign but they’re doing a lousy job of running the country in my view. Referring to the Obama presidential campaign’s slogan of “Change you can believe in” Graham says “after this health care bill debacle (the Obama campaign theme} it has become an empty slogan.” “it has really been replaced by seedy Chicago politics when you think about. Backroom deals that amount to bribes. CNN host King interrupts, “bribes, that’s a strong word.” Graham retorts, well absolutely it’s a strong word. it was meant to be strong.”

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

Air Wing takes over ‘landlord’ duties at CAFB

December 21, 2009 By

A new military unit will serve as a ‘landlord’ for the Charleston Air Force Base. Starting in January, the Pentagon’s new “joint basing” program, the 628th Air Wing, will serve as an acting landlord for more than 50 military commands across the nation, including the Charleston Air Force Base. Some of these landlord duties include building and ground services, supply and civil engineering and public works. With this, the new air wing is expected to help prevent military job losses.

The effort will save the Pentagon millions of dollars over the next two decades through consolidations, reports the Post and Courier. In the new realignment process Air Force Colonel Martha Meeker will become Charleston’s first joint base commander.

Filed Under: Military, News

Rainey: SC now losing $374 million without food tax

December 21, 2009 By

Board of Economic Advisers Chairman John Rainey, in looking over his less-than-shiny economic forecasts for the state, says South Carolina is missing out on some revenue that it could have in these dire times.

As a special panel continues to review the state’s tax structure, Rainey says now is the time to reconsider some exemptions. For one, the grocery tax exemption.

“As bad as things are it’s interesting that there have been increases in several components of consumer spending,” says Rainey.  “And I’ve harped on this more than people probably want to hear.  But one of those components was food.  But that does South Carolina absolutely no good because we took the tax off of groceries and that is costing this state $374 million in revenues.  When you see nationally that states are collecting more from food tax because people are spending more, you can forget South Carolina because we aren’t–because we put that additional exemption on our books.”  [Read more...]

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

Charleston corrections officers try new gear, tactics

December 21, 2009 By

Reported by Matt Long, SCRN

Charleston corrections officers will have a new way of dealing with unruly prisoners. In a demonstration Friday at the Charleston County Detention Center, a private contractor showed off ten guards newly trained as the Special Operations Group or S-O-G for short. These officers are equipped with helmets, a Kevlar vest, and a shotgun that can shoot a variety of different rubber bullets that have varying levels of pain.

The goal of the S.O.G. is to change how officers deal with uncooperative inmates. In the past,a team of five officers would barge into the cell behind a shield and take the inmate down which U.S. Corrections said often resulted in injuries. Officers from the new team are now trained to diffuse the situation without entering the cell.

The officer first tries talking to the inmate. If that fails, they turn on a blinding light and laser pointer. If the inmate continues struggling the guard can fire an assortment of rubber rounds that inflict pain on the pirsoner until they stop.

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, News
« Older Posts