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Environmentalists about Sen. Graham: “We need him”

May 12, 2010 By

Today, the unveiling of an energy and climate bill in Washington was bittersweet to environmental groups in South Carolina. State and national environmental groups wished that Senator Lindsey Graham was there today when Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) introduced their energy and climate proposal. Graham has backed away because of strategic political struggles with the White House and concern over the oil spill in the Gulf.

The National Wildlife Federation and a long list of environmental interests are still hopeful, according to the SC Wildlife Federation’s Steve Moore.

(Listen to interview with SCWF’s Steve Moore on unveiling of  the American Power Act MP3)Listen to interview with SCWF’s Steve Moore on unveiling of the American Power Act MP3

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Energy, Environment & Conservation, News, Politics & Government

SC GOP keeps prime presidential primary position

May 12, 2010 By

South Carolina’s Republicans have won initial approval to keep their First-in-the-South presidential primary. State GOP Chair Karen Floyd said a Republican National Committee panel recommended keeping early contests in South Carolina, Iowa, Nevada, and New Hampshire.

GOP Chair Karen Floyd

Floyd says there are strategic benefits to holding the presidential primary in the Palmetto State. South Carolina’s geographic area makes it possible for candidates to attend multiple forums and meet with as many voters as possible. Also Floyd points out that the relatively low cost of running a statewide campaign in the state allows candidates to save crucial resources for the General Election in November.

South Carolina has held the first presidential primary in the South since 1980. Ronald Reagan won that primary 30 years ago and he went on to win the Presidency. GOP leaders point out that since Reagan’s election, no one has won the GOP nomination for president without first winning in South Carolina.

Filed Under: News, Politics & Government

Southwest flying in, Charleston County says more to come

May 12, 2010 By

As Southwest Airlines gears up to fly into the Charleston and Greenville/Spartanburg airports, one Charleston County councilman says there will be more to come.

Tuesday, Southwest Airlines, a discount air carrier, announced it was bringing its business to the Charleston and Greenville areas. After the announcement, Charleston County Council Chair Teddie Pryor said that Southwest isn’t the only discount prospect. He says there’s more that are still “up in the air.”

Southwest was not the only reason that this rental car fee was added in. We had other things coming down the pipe. There is going to be more to come.

Pryor told WCIV in Charleston for this reason, they still have an incentive package on the table for consideration by council. The money would come from raising car rental fees. The incentives package vote is on hold, for now.

Filed Under: Business, News, Transportation

Gov. Sanford says he was in Florida with former Argentine mistress

May 12, 2010 By

The Associated Press’s Jim Davenport asked Gov. Mark Sanford the question to address what had become the white,  or let’s say, tanned elephant in the room.  In the midst of bill vetoes and economic development announcements, the public and the press wanted to know if the Florida sighting of Sanford and a dark-haired woman meant that he was back with his Argentine mistress.

In a press conference the day before, Gov’s spokesman said about Sanford trip to Florida – “it was on personal time” and it was private business.

Today, Sanford told reporters that he spent several days with his Argentine lover in Florida. The AP reports that Sanford stated that the trip to see if they could restart their relationship.

It was about this time last year that Sanford’s revelations of his affair with Maria Belen Chapur turned the national spotlight on the governor and later resulted in his censure and fines for his personal use of state funds and resources.

Those revelations also resulted in his divorce.

His ex-wife Jenny has written a tell-all book about their marriage and became a celebrity not “standing by her man” when he admitted that he was in love with Chapur, his “soulmate.”  Jenny Sanford is now campaigning for Sanford protegee Nikki Haley in her quest to be governor.

Filed Under: Human Interest, News, Politics & Government

SC House overrides cig tax veto (AUDIO)

May 12, 2010 By

The South Carolina House has overriden Governor Mark Sanford’s veto of a 50-cent increase in the state’s cigarette tax, which is currently the lowest in the nation at seven cents.  The vote came shortly before 1 p.m. Wednesday.

The vote was 90-29, quite sufficient to meet the two-thirds majority requirement necessary for a veto. The measure now goes to the Senate. If the Senate does the same, the tax increase will become law.  The Senate may consider it as early as Thursday afternoon. 

Supporters of the increase say it would mean $124 million for Medicaid programs, facing funding shortages in the recession.

York County Republican Gary Simrill continued his call to protect businesses in counties that border North Carolina and Georgia.  At one point this year the House passed Simrill’s legislation that kept the increase at 30 cents, which would have left the tax lower than those in neighboring states. Simrill says that protects South Carolina convenience stores near the state borders from losing business. Proponents of the tax assert that that argument doesn’t hold water, since cigarette tax increases in the neighboring states had no affect on cross-over business in South Carolina.

The tax increase will also generate $5 million for smoking cessation programs and $5 million for cancer research, as well as $1 million for agricultural marketing.

Charleston County Democrat Anne Hutto said that issue comes down to children who won’t start smoking because of the increase. She said her children sent her to the Statehouse with a primary mission of raising the cigarette tax.  Lexington County Republican Chip Huggins supported the override, saying that his grandfather was a tobacco farmer. 

(Hutto, Huggins on cig tax increase  MP3  2:20)
Hutto- Huggins on cig tax veto override

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, Legislature, News
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