Job creation is a key issue in the Democratic Primary race for the District 116 seat that straddles the Lowcountry and The Coastal Empire.
Aiken County voters nix school construction plan (AUDIO)
May 26, 2010 By
(Reported by Tony Baughman, affiliate WKSX)
AUDIO: Tony Baughman reports (:35)
Voters in Aiken County said “no” to a multi-million dollar school bond plan that would have constructed a number of new public schools in the rapidly growing area. By a margin of more than two-to-one, Aiken County voters defeated the Board of Education’s $236 million school bond referendum to construct new schools, to replace aging facilities and remodel a number of other facilities. Aiken area banker Barry Adams chaired the “Say Yes to Kids Grassroots Committee” that supported the referendum. He says he believed that the time was right to upgrade the schools.
I’m not sure that voters were not sending a message to Washington that taxes are just too high, that they were sending a message to Columbia perhaps. I’m not sure about why the vote was as strong as it was against the bond referendum.
Some supporters of the referendum say that if more voters had visited the schools, they would have seen that the construction and remodeling is sorely needed.
Clean Energy Roadshow comes to Charleston
May 26, 2010 By
A “Clean Energy Roadshow” made its way to Charleston Tuesday to highlight some of the city’s retrofit industry and green job potentials. National, state and local leaders gathered in Charleston this week for the “Clean Energy Roadshow.” The city is expected to receive up to $500,000 from the U.S. Department of Energy’s “Retrofit Ramp-Up” grant to the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance.
Charleston Mayor Joe Riley says “Since 2001, we have saved over $18 million in energy costs at our municipal buildings and we are excited about the opportunity we have, through this award, to help all Charlestonians take control of their energy use and save money.” The roadshow is designed to find ways for public-private investments in the clean energy economy and, at the same time, create quality green jobs.
Retrofitting energy efficient homes may save families an average of $440 to $600 a year on their bills, and local officials hope the measures will create tens of thousands of jobs.
District 103: A battle of familiar foes (AUDIO)
May 26, 2010 By
The Democratic primary race in House District 103 features an incumbent and a challenger who are used to running against each other.
Cobb-Hunter: Medigap would help when Medicare is not enough (AUDIO)
May 26, 2010 By
Democratic Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter of Orangeburg is pushing for passage of the Medigap bill. Republican Senator Harvey Peeler submitted legislation in the Senate that would do the same. The bill passed the Finance Committee but was objected to on the Senate floor.
Cobb-Hunter says Medigap would provide supplemental insurance to approximately 4500 dialysis patients statewide, and many others with other medical conditions, supplying coverage not provided by Medicare.
Currently patients have the option of purchasing similar coverage from private insurance companies for approximately $800-$1000 per month. The Medigap coverage would be less than half of that, for better coverage, at $300-$500 per month.
Cobb-Hunter says low-income residents can’t afford the private insurance.
