February 10, 2012

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Graham: Accused terrorist “dying to plead guilty and become a martyr”

February 15, 2010 By

As Washington D.C. continues to thaw out from its record snowfall, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham was in Greenville  Monday to turn up the heat on his call against the Obama Administration’s plan to hold civilian trials for Khalid Sheikh Mohammad and 9/11 co-conspirators in civilian court. Graham continues to trumpet for trials by military commission. Graham says Mohammad and the 9/11 co-conspirators are war criminals and should be tried as such.

Graham says a civilian trial would give Mohammad a dangerous platform:

It’s not about the outcome of Khalid Sheikh Mohammad’s case. He is dying to plead guilty and become a martyr. I will do everything within my power to deny him the ability to go to New York City within two miles of the attack on the World Trade Center and have the biggest microphone in the world to spread his hate. -A trial that can take years and cost a half-a-billion dollars or more. [Read more...]

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

DeMint talks Tea Parties, Palin criticism

February 15, 2010 By

Senator Jim DeMint has risen as a popular target for what some would call, “the liberal left” and he’s speaking out as a supporter of the Tea Party movement. The movement grew out of anti-tax protests and arose in response to the increase in the national debt resulting from the stimulus package. DeMint says the Tea Party is helping unite and remake the Republican Party.

“If I didn’t get a lot of support when I came home to South Carolina I would start wondering if I were right or not. Everywhere I go in South Carolina people thank me for fighting. I think the Tea Party movement is the best thing that has happened to our country in a long time. Our country should be run by the people and not politicians. I’ve been in those crowds and they’re the cross-section of America,” says DeMint. [Read more...]

Filed Under: News, Politics & Government, Taxes

Obama’s 2009 approval rating in SC: 56.1%

February 15, 2010 By

A Gallup poll tracking President Obama’s approval ratings last year places the Palmetto State near the middle, not a typical spot for the state’s political leanings.  South Carolina gave the President a 56.1% approval, which is middle of the pack among states. The percentage of South Carolina’s voters who lean toward the Democratic side is 43 percent. North Carolina’s Obama rating was less than a point less than South Carolina’s, even though the percentage of Democratic voters there is 4 percent higher, around 47 percent. Georgia’s rating was similar at 55.6 percent. [Read more...]

Filed Under: News, Politics & Government

Florence-Darlington Tech receives $4.3 million grant

February 15, 2010 By

U.S. Rep. John Spratt  joined Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis in announcing $4.3 million in federal job-creation money for Florence-Darlington Technical College (FDTC) and partners Northeastern Technical College, Progress Energy Carolina, Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology, Marlboro County Adult and Community Center, and Pee Dee Workforce Investment Board.

Spratt said the funds, coming from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will provide job training in the electricity sector for some 3,800 students. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, News, Politics & Government

Homeland Security grants help local fire departments

February 15, 2010 By

Reported by SCRN’s Matt Long

South Carolina Senator Lindsay Graham last week announced $2.3 million in grants for South Carolina fire departments.

Twenty fire stations located in smaller towns across the state will benefit from this round of federal grants. The Assistance to Firefighters program provides one year grants to fire departments in jurisdictions of 50-thousand people or less. Those that fall below the 50-thousand person mark are only required to provide a 10 percent cost-share with the federal funds.

The program also funds larger stations, but requires a much larger cost-share.

Among those stations benefitting from the grants were Bluffton, Fountain Inn, Greenwood, North Charleston, and Walterboro. The largest grant went to the Dutchman’s Creek Station in Winnsboro to help pay for a new vehicle.

The grants are made by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Filed Under: News, Politics & Government