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Attorney General, Clyburn agree on “Cornhusker Kickback” (Audio)

January 21, 2010 By

SC Attorney General Henry McMaster

State Attorney General Henry McMaster is leading a team of 15 state attorneys general in a Constitutional review of a provision that has become known as the “Cornhusker Kickback.”  At issue is Nebraska getting special Medicaid payouts not given to other states.

The other states that are siding with McMaster are Washington, Texas, Michigan, American Samoa, Colorado, Alabama, Utah, Oklahoma, Florida, Idaho, South Dakota, Virginia, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania.

(McMaster on Nebraska provision challenge MP3  :52) McMaster on Nebraska provision challenge MP3 :52

Senator Graham has also asked those same attorneys general to look into Medicare Advantage provisions made in the health care bill for Florida’s Bill Nelson.

House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn

House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn has said that he would fight for South Carolina and other states to get the same treatment or the pro-Nebraska provision would not stay in. Clyburn has been involved in all sessions of House-Senate health care bill negotiations.

(Clyburn’s view against Nebraska provision in Senate bill MP3 1:21)

Clyburn’s view against Nebraska provision in Senate bill MP3 1:21

Filed Under: Uncategorized

SC House encourages support of Haiti

January 21, 2010 By

The South Carolina House approved a resolution encouraging lawmakers and the people of the Palmetto State to offer their financial support to the people of Haiti, following the devastating earthquake.

The resolution is sponsored by Democrat Bakari Sellers and Republican Tim Scott. Sellers, a Bamberg County Representative, says the measure simply asks for prayers and financial support to be sent to the people of Haiti.

Sellers says relief organizations like the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders need help. He said that the suffering in Haiti should be important to South Carolinians.  “This is an issue where we can look beyond race and religion,” said Sellers.  “I’m in a state which is deeply Christian.  Give yourselves, give of your time, give your dollars.” 

Meanwhile, the =U.S.= House approved a bill that would allow individuals who contribute donations to the Haiti victims to claim those donations on their 2009 tax returns. Congressman Jim Clyburn helped offer the bill. If the bill were not proposed, those who provided assistance in the Haitian relief efforts would have to wait until next year to claim those donations. Contributions must be made before February 28th to go on 2009 returns.

Filed Under: Accidents & Disasters, Legislature, News

McMaster: It won’t be much longer in Sanford case (Audio)

January 21, 2010 By

Gov. Mark Sanford extended more apologies in last night’s State of the State address, but he still faces ethics charges that stemmed from his use of state travel and his disappearance from the state to see his mistress.

Attorney General Henry McMaster, by law, must review the evidence that the State Ethics Commission submitted to him. McMaster, as a possible prosecutor in this investigation, cannot comment on the case itself  but he says it won’t be much longer before he can. McMaster is busy these days with a variety of state and national issues, yet he says he is giving the Sanford case plenty of time and thorough review:

(McMaster on Sanford case status in AG’s office,  MP3 1:14)

McMaster on status on Sanford case in AG office MP3 1:14

McMaster is also running for governor, so his handling of this case has been closely watched.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Courting support for I-73 corridor

January 21, 2010 By

Officially named the “Interchange of Hope,” Senator Lindsey Graham calls it a “game changer.”  The name dropping is for the proposed I-73 corridor, which would provide direct interstate highway access to the tourist areas of the the Grand Strand including Myrtle Beach.

Graham, fellow South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint and Congressmen Henry Brown, JIm Clyburn, and John Spratt recently met with elected state leaders and members of the North Eastern Strategic Alliance (NESA) representing a nine county area in northeast South Carolina. The local leaders and legislators were working to drum up support from the state’s congressional delegation for the state’s application for a stimulus funding for the construction of the I-73 corridor in South Carolina that would connect with I-95. [Read more...]

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

Democrats respond to governor’s State of the State

January 21, 2010 By

After Governor Mark Sanford’s State-of-the-State Address Wednesday night, the South Carolina Democratic Party responded. Democratic Leader of the South Carolina House of Representatives Harry Ott says South Carolina cannot trust those who broke the state to fix it. “I trust you, the great people of this great state to make your own decisions about who to trust. Ladies and Gentleman, it is time to put our House in order. We have a hard task ahead of us in 2010. Democrats and Republicans alike are talking about budget cuts,” says Ott.

Ott says these decisions are tough, but necessary. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Legislature, News, Politics & Government
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