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Secretary Riley, Ambassador Wilkins lead SC “Smart Power” team

February 1, 2010 By

Two men who have led the state for their parties in the past, have now turned their attention to international affairs of state. Former Governor and U.S. Education Secretary Richard Riley and former Speaker of the S.C. House of Representatives and Ambassador to Canada David Wilkins are co-chairs of the South Carolina Advisory Council to the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. Their job, says Ambassador Wilkins, is to educate on all levels.

“When you get right down to it, and I saw this firsthand in Canada, it’s all about relationships, country-to-country, people-to-people. The more we can have developed relationships, the more we can influence people. We are a force for good in the world. We are leading the world and we really have a responsibility make every effort to reach out on a humanitarian level, economic level as well as a diplomatic level and a security level,” says Wilkins. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, News, Politics & Government

Cruises to have $37 million impact, study says

February 1, 2010 By

Celebrity MercuryThe South Carolina State Ports Authority paid for a recent study that highlights the effects the cruise business in Charleston will have on jobs, spending and tax revenue. Spokesman Byron Miller says researchers studied the economic impacts the 16 port-of-calls and 53 embarkations are expected to have.

“Dr. John Crotts and Dr. Frank Hefner who are local professors and researchers and renowned in the areas of tourism and economic studies were hired by the Ports Authority to do an analysis of our cruise business. They went out and they surveyed multiple vessels and about 300 passengers and crew members to determine their spending habits. They also surveyed the various cruise lines who do a lot of spending in the local economy,” says Miller. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business, Economy, News, Transportation

SC agencies review another 15 percent cut (Audio)

February 1, 2010 By
Even with state agency budgets being tight, there is another impeding round of budget cuts. Subcommittees of the House Ways and Means Committee are hearing from agencies on how they stand and what they might be able to cut.

Department of Public Safety Director Mark Keel says he and all agencies were told by House officials to prepare budget options to handle cuts to his agency of up to 15 percent. Keel will address lawmakers during a budget hearing Tuesday.  He says his agency has been cut 36 percent or $31 million over the past three years.

The Department of Public Safety includes the Highway Patrol.  Keel says so far, there haven’t been any major cuts to the workforce of state troopers. But he says the staff hasn’t grown any, either.

(Keel on DPS budget  PM3  2:04)

Keel on DPS budget

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

Economic Development Competitiveness Act proposed in SC House

February 1, 2010 By

House Speaker Bobby Harrell created an economic development group to examine how South Carolina can increase its competitiveness. The fruit of their labor became a bill entitled the Economic Development Competitiveness Act. Harrell introduced the legislation before the House last week.

Comprised entirely of private sector industry leaders, the economic development group worked closely with business leaders, industry experts, the Department of Commerce and other entities.  Recommendations included in the bill include the elimination of the corporate income tax and various improvements to incentive tools.

Former Director of the Department of Revenue Burnie Maybank is now with Nexsen Pruet law firm. He serves in a six-member group who developed the legislation.  Maybank says the bill would restore the straight economic criteria for incentives provided for every county.

(Maybank on economic criteria  MP3  :28)
Maybank on economic criteria [Read more...]

Filed Under: Economy, Legislature, News

Graham:Cut off funding for civilian terrorist trials

February 1, 2010 By

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham says he’ll introduce bipartisan legislation this week that will throw a monkey wrench in plans to try terrorists in civilian court.

Graham wants to cut off funding for the trials of the September 11th conspirators in federal, civilian court, saying that a trial by military commission is the only way to go.

The Obama Administration is discussing moving the trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammad and four 9/11 conspirators from New York City. Anonymous sources said Friday that the Department of Justice is drawing up plans for possible alternate locations to try the suspects, in case Congress or local officials prevent the trial from being held in Manhattan.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has now reversed his position and is calling for the trial to be moved, saying it will cost the city hundreds of millions of dollars to provide security for a court case expected to last at least a year.

Graham says moving the trial out of New York City addresses only half the problem. He says if the alleged terrorist conspirators are tried in civilian court, not military, they will be given the same legal rights as American citizens. The Upstate senator says, “The decision to prosecute enemy combatants like Khalid Sheikh Mohammad who were captured on foreign battlefields in civilian court is without precedent in our nation’s history. It should not stand.”

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