Gov. Mark Sanford‘s getting his neck stretched over the tree stump as legislators will be meeting next week in what’s called an ad-hoc committee to consider impeachment. Local Rep. Jim Harrison will be chairing it, according to Rep. Alan Clemmons and the Associated Press.

After a couple months of it looking like impeachment momentum had hit a wall, having this committee meet and discuss removing one of the least effective governors of this state seems to point to the gears spinning again toward removing Sanford. According to the AP, “The meeting is to take up the issue at the heart of an impeachment resolution that four Republicans filed this week. It says Sanford left no one in charge of the state, a dereliction of duty, while he ‘directed members of his staff in a manner that caused them to deceive and mislead the public officials’ about where he was. His staff told reporters he was hiking the Appalachian Trail.”

Per Clemmons, the committee includes Harrison, Reps. Greg Delleney, Walt McLeod, James Smith, David Weeks, Garry Smith and Jenny Horne.

As the House and Senate reconvened for the second day of the extended session on Wednesday, everything calmed down until the Boeing announcement came down.

johnroconnor: Spotted: House reading clerk Bubba Cromer wearing an alien mask at the desk.

ZacherMediaPR: John O’Connor, reporting the real news… RT @johnroconnor: Spotted: House reading clerk Bubba Cromer wearing an alien mask at the desk.

johnroconnor: @ZacherMediaPR well if the House isn’t going to make any news, someone has to

yvonnewenger: Statehouse is in a holding pattern … Boeing news could come at any time.

NathanBallentin: patience is a virtue

johnroconnor: Speaker Harrell, Sens. McConnell and Leatherman and Nexsen Pruett attys meeting in McConnell’s office now

RepAlanClemmons: Private meeting in State House. Attending: Speaker Harrell, Sen McConnell, Sen Leatherman, Billy Wilkins, and unknown others. #sctweets

RepAlanClemmons: RT @JenniferDale: RT @WMBFmegmiller: Reports: Boeing calls emergency meeting for 787 employees in Everett

RepAlanClemmons: Two unknown gentlemen just left the private statehouse meeting and went to Gov Sanford’s office.

dphamilton: SC House now considering economic development incentive package for “major economic development.” Passes by a vote of 106-0.

sendavidthomas: BREAKING NEWS via WYFF 4: Boeing to locate plant in North Charleston. Bringing 12,000 jobs

senatortomdavis: Official BEA state revenue impact of Boeing incentive package: http://bit.ly/2uFQu7 Voting on final passage of bill in about ten minutes.

RepAlanClemmons: Swarm of ladybugs just landed on the Statehouse. Good luck sign? http://twitpic.com/nazmc

johnroconnor: Seattle, Wash., just sent us e-mail. Boeing is coming to North Charleston. #chsbrkg #sc #chsnews (via @CRBJ)

shanemassey: Boeing announces that it is coming to SC! Huge win for SC!

wesleydonehue: Standing ovation in senate. This is amazing.

shanemassey: Boeing to build 787s in N. Charleston. Expected 4,000 spin off jobs throughout state. Big day for SC.

RepBoydBrown: Boeing bringing thousands of jobs to SC. Harrell: “SC is back in business”

RepAlanClemmons: Rep Jeff Duncan sporting Boeing lapel pin to commorate today’s big announcement. #sctweets

vincentsheheen: Great news from Boeing today … Just a precursor of what we can achieve with a vision and hard work!

Grooms4SCGov: Senator Grooms helps lay groundwork to bring Boeing to Charleston – More SC Jobs: http://bit.ly/1FkACK #sctweets #tcot #scgop

AntonJGunn: Yesterday and today were my two proudest days as a House Member. Helped unemployed South Carolinians and created 3,800 direct jobs! Yay!

votetimscott: Boeing is coming to N Chas!!! I started working on this project as Chair of county council & now seeing it fly in more jobs to our community

SenJohnLand: Great Day for South Carolina.

RepBoydBrown: Governor, Commerce thank General Assembly for landing Boeing in South Carolina

RepAlanClemmons: Senators Leatherman & McConnell, the main negotiators, bask in afterglow of SC Boeing announcement. #sctweets http://twitpic.com/nb63a

SamPJohnson: elated that General Assembly exteneded Unemployment Benefits and played vital role in Boeing to SC! About time they did something! #sctweets

ZacherMediaPR: Seattle Times: “I bet 25 years ago in Detroit, they thought nobody in the South could figure out how to build cars.” http://bit.ly/3hHfar

VoteConnor: thrilled for what Boeing brings to our states economic future!

Then, by way of Rep. James Smith, comes this cell phone picture of the vote board in the House:

As the House and Senate reconvened for the extended session on Tuesday, the politico tweets started back up.

RepAlanClemmons: I’m in Columbia for start of special session. In addition to enabling unemployment comp benefit extension we may have surprises. #sctweets

RepBoydBrown: wrapping up some work, then heading to Columbia for special session

shanemassey: back in Columbia for special legislative session

LtGovAndreBauer: Special session @ noon, staff meeting, and then meeting with SC business leaders.

RepAlanClemmons: Sure works for me! RT @SCREALTORS: @RepAlanClemmons How about Point of Sale reform? That would be a nice surprise!

RepAlanClemmons: Absolutely! RT @Noodles4Nothing: @RepAlanClemmons Plz #help #unemployed workers in #America http://bit.ly/UNQeR

taftmatney: It’s a cold drive to Columbia. I can’t help wondering if we’ll feel a temperature change from any fireworks at the Statehouse today.

stevebenjaminsc: visiting with the General Assembly as they convene to address the issue of Unemployment Benefits

SpeakerHarrell: Headed over to State House to convene the SC House so we can make unemployment benefits fix

SpeakerHarrell: Again, our having to be in session today stresses the need for ESC Reform

johnroconnor: House minority leader Harry Ott asked colleagues to vote against changes to sine die and Eco devo legislation today

EBedingfield: Whips meeting over and I am now in the State House awaiting the drop of the gavel.

johnroconnor: Rep. Ott backs off previous statement, says House Dems will vote for any bill needed to bring jobs to S.C.

henrymcmaster: General Assembly’s emergency session underscores need for new era of cooperative leadership in Columbia http://bit.ly/2QKtY4 #sctweets

AntonJGunn: The House is now in session, “emergency session” that is. I’m ready to help our state. Let’s see who else is ready.

annephutto: Back on the House floor for our emergency session. Getting the unemployment compensation issue resolved — absolutely necessary for SC.

gregfoster_sc: House coming back from break now that unemployment bill set for special order…now the real work begins.

SCHouseGOP: Bill to extend unemployment benefits set for special order. House set to come back into session in 5.. 4.. 3.. 2..

johnroconnor: Text of Rep. Greg Delleney‘s Sanford impeachment resolution: http://bit.ly/14RhWX

SCHouseGOP: House Majority Leader Bingham is explaining the unemployment insurance amendment on the floor: http://bit.ly/3tzMmn

AntonJGunn: Amendment to help unemployed workers in South Carolina was adopted 113-0!

SCHouseGOP: The South Carolina House approves the extension of federal unemployment benefits, 113-0.

NathanBallentin: focus so far has been on unemployment and economic developlment. Rep. Greg Delleney to introduce impeachment resolution momentarily

johnroconnor: Rep. Delleney arguing impeachment resolution can be introduced at any time

dphamilton: Historic moment: Rep. Greg Dellaney files impeachment resolution of Gov. Sanford. http://twitpic.com/n5zjg

SCHouseGOP: Glad to see so many members of the press at the back of the chamber while the House debates extending federal unemployment benefits.

annephutto: Unemployment bill was unanimously given second reading. Now we’re onto Delleney’s resolution.

johnroconnor: Rep. McLeod, a Dem, argues resolution violates sine die rules. “Good name of the SC House is at stake.”

alexstroman: Are Democrats really prepared to support not bringing up this Resolution? @johnroconnor

johnroconnor: Rep. Cobb-Hunter (D) argues against allowing impeachment resolution. “it is clear what the rules say…the time for that will come.”

JKuenzie: Gilda: Avoid “kangaroo court” on impeachment issue. Harrell: Rules prohibit introduction of impeachment measure.

RichlandCoDems: hoping that the General Assembly can address the Unemployment Benefits to help the unemployed here in Richland Co. and the state #sctweets

EBedingfield: Speaker rules Rep. Delleney’s impeachment resolution out of order.

mattheusmei: wow Gilda saves the luv Gov from impeachment today

dphamilton: @mattheusmei there was/is no vote…ruled out of order during this special session. He will have to file it later.

mattheusmei: @dphamilton so you’re undecided on how you will vote?

SCHouseGOP: House will return to session at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

PhilBaileySC: http://twitpic.com/n62gn – Sen. Hutto has added the Argentine flag to his Senate desk collection.

SamPJohnson: surprised that the House could actually take care of business today. If this happened earlier this year we wouldn’t be here now #sctweets

HughKLeatherman: We just passed historic legislation for economic development in our state. We will continue to create jobs during these very tough times.

Initially, it seemed like all the phones were taken away from House Republicans who were meeting for their annual get-together in Myrtle Beach. There were no tweets, no news stories, no nothing. The place looked like it was on lock down. That ended Saturday.

One of the first signals came from Rep. Alan Clemmons, who started tweeting without abandon.

Then came the stories. According to reports from the meeting, GOP legislators in the House are ready for Gov. Mark Sanford to go hike the Appalachian Trail, but an agreement on impeachment wasn’t made. Regardless, not one representative defended the Governor, which bodes ill for him.

As it stands right now, Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell is advocating for caution, waiting for the results of the investigation by the State Ethics Commission.

“Members of the caucus are disappointed in him, angry with him and in some ways disgusted by the whole thing and they want to deal with it and they want to deal with it as quickly as possible,” Harrell said to the Associated Press.

However, legislators are chomping at the bit to throw Sanford out.

From The State:

Rep. Greg Delleney: “We determine what serious misconduct is. We’re not dependent on courts. We’re not dependent on the Ethics Commission.”

Rep. Mike Pitts: “It’s almost unanimous for resignation. At this point, I don’t see a rational man who’s thinking clearly and is capable of leading this state.”

Rep. Bill Sandifer: “I would predict these attacks [by Sanford] will become more volatile and more vile as time moves along. I cannot trust this person to stay in office.”

Delleney was even more demonstrative in an AP story, saying “He has disgraced the office of governor of South Carolina. He has disgraced and brought shame on the state.” The representative is also drafting impeachment measures, saying that the Governor’s travel to meet his girl on the side was “premeditated dereliction of duty.”

According to Politico, House Republicans are writing an ultimatum to Sanford.

GOP state Rep. Michael Thompson told POLITICO that several state lawmakers are circulating and signing a letter that will be delivered to Sanford early next week demanding that he step down and threatening to move to impeach him if he does not.

“If he hasn’t resigned at this point I don’t think that he is,” Thompson said. “Whether or not when all the cards are on the table the legislature actually starts the proceedings is anyone’s guess.”

In other news, The State called Sanford “Gov. McAngry,” which, after its totally toothless coverage of state politics over the years, restores some amount of cool to the paper.

Wednesday’s protest in Columbia brought out the A-game in some of this state’s bloggers and legislators. Let’s just say, it got a little heated out there.

AntonJGunn: reading how my FB friends are tearing @JoeyMillwood a new one. Ah how I love political debate.

JoeyMillwood: @antonjgunn Your socialist posse isn’t tearing me a new one. They’re all drinking spiked Hussein koolaid.

JoeyMillwood: If you’re tired of the socialism that B. Hussein Obama represents, I hope you’re going to a tea party sometime this week somewhere in SC.

JoeyMillwood: And while we’re at it, let’s voice opposition to his desire to kill unborn babies, his support of homosexuality and his entire platform.

JoeyMillwood: Including his desire to touch every part of our lives with a massive, overreaching, big spending, big taxing government.

AntonJGunn: I don’t understand why people are so excited about tea bagging today? Why would anyone want to do that?

paigecoop: @JoeyMillwood Shouldn’t you be out trying to save the unborn and converting the gays instead of spreading the hate?

JoeyMillwood: The weather’s going to be great for Tea Parties this week. B. Hussein Obama better watch out.

JoeyMillwood: is stirring up all the Liberals on Twitter and Facebook today. Welcome to Tea Party week! “Somebody besides B. Hussein in ’12!”

FakeMarkSanford: CANNOT WAIT to teabag @JimDeMint at lunch today. Makes me tingly just thinking about it! #teaparty

LachlanMcIntosh: It’s a great day to love America and make fun of T-baggers.

PhilBaileySC: Countdown to teabagging festival. Look for the angry mob with hand made signs calling Obama a socialist and a Muslim.

dphamilton: RT @ragley: Methinks Palmetto State “progressives” hate tea parties because they couldn’t moblize the same passion for POTUS liberal policies

paigecoop: OMG @ragley are you serious? It’s frickin SC where everyone takes pride in being last or the worst.

paigecoop: @ragley If all the conservatives would have organized like the Obama campaign maybe they would’t be having these bogus tea parties.

Snead101: @ragley Actually we held our “rallies” in November and February. Those were the important days, maybe the GOP didn’t get the memo. #sctweets

paigecoop: Thinking the conservatives are having a hard time staying on message. Is it a tax rally? Is it a bailout rally? Is it an anti-deficit rally?

paigecoop: All you have to do in SC to organize, is use the words black president, socialism, gays and guns. The troops will come running.

JoeyMillwood: Liberals are running scared. We need to keep these Tea Parties going from now until ’12 when conservatives will take back Wash D.C.!

LachlanMcIntosh: @ragley we LOVE the tea parties. No need spending big $$ trying to convince people the GOP has lost all credibility if yall do it for free!

Snead101: RT: @tbogg: Today conservatives are doing for teabagging what Ken Starr did for blowjobs.

LachlanMcIntosh: @ragley Its pretty to clear to most Americans which party cares about middle class taxpayers. That’s why they vote Democratic.

JoeyMillwood: @jasontspencer It’s not extremist. As for him watching out, I’m talking about the grassroots groundswell for conservatism. ’12 here we come.

boydbrown: @joeymillwood running scared? Democrats are laughing at you, not with you.

Snead101: @ragley Try to stay on message. This isn’t about Obama, it’s about fair tax and gov’t spending. Right?

BlatantReality: Bigger crowd assembled at the SC Statehouse for the Tea Party than when Obama, Hillary, and Edwards came on MLK day in 2008.

JoeyMillwood: @boydbrown Sure champ.

RobGodfrey: At Statehouse #teaparty Huge crowd. @jimdemint firing up crowd. Governor making way to podium. #sctweets

LachlanMcIntosh: Lots of old white people out tea-bagging. I bet today’s viewership for ‘The Price is Right’ was down 75%

joshua144: Rep. Steve King of Iowa is on stage at Columbia #teaparty

alanclemmons: Just left a huge crowd at teh Columbia Tea Party at the State House. Lots’ of angry taxpayers!

twitkb: Several thousand at columbia’s tea party. Gadsden flags everywhere.

alexstroman: you can hear the cheers from the rally here at USC in front of russell house! @johnroconnor #teaparty

boydbrown: Statehouse grounds looks like a bowl of grits. GOP really has embraced diversity

rpagesc: Had a great time at the Tea Party in Columbia, SC – Governor Sanford and Senator Jim DeMint spoke. #tcot

AntonJGunn: is at the statehouse looking at all the homemade “Hate Obama signs”.

boydbrown: Richard Eckstrom to speak… wait… that’s the wrong teabagging event

dphamilton: @boydbrown & @antonjgunn thanks for perverting the tea party…our country’s earliest form of protest.

rexrice: Great turnout at the Tea Party on the state house steps! Now to the fair tax rally! Taxpayers voices are being heard!

Snead101: The good news is thousands of pasty, South Carolina conservatives got some much-needed Vitamin D today. Get a job, hippies! #sctweets

tdkelly: I didn’t even teabag and I saw two confederate flag t-shirts and a fat white woman holding a handmade “not your slave” sign

tdkelly: Oppressed middle class white people stand up to refuse tax breaks from Obama!

Snead101: @dphamilton You think the Boston Tea Party is our country’s earliest form of protest? Your ignorance is appalling.

RobGodfrey: 3,000 gather at Statehouse #teaparty to hear @jimdemint & others http://is.gd/sxRM #sctweets #tcot #sctcot

tdkelly: @dphamilton you GOPhers pervert the country enough without @boydbrown and @antongunn

johnroconnor: Columbia #teaparty: FTR, no problems at Columbia event. One guy yelled and swiftly got a “USA! USA!” rebuttal from the crowd.

boydbrown: @dphamilton when the Boston colonists had their Tea Party, it was actually against a tax on tea.

tdkelly: Seriously though, are all the teabaggers who just got a tax cut in the stimulus going to send it back to DC?

tdkelly: @dphamilton have you returned your stimulus tax cut yet or are you in that over $250K bracket?

tdkelly: A real protest would be if the teabaggers sent a check to the IRS for the tax cut they got under the stimulus bill #teaparty

tdkelly: @dphamilton remains remarkably silent on whether his #teabag protest includes returning any tax break he may have gotten from stimulus

dphamilton: @tdkelly I haven’t received a stimulus check…I’m one of those that helps pay for it.

dphamilton: @tdkelly sorry I didn’t respond quick enough for you…was meeting with a client so I can pay more taxes.

dphamilton: @boydbrown maybe Anderson Cooper could explain it to you…

boydbrown: apparently these partiers dont pay income taxes, given the fact none of them are working (unless April 15th is a work holiday)

tylermjones: @dphamilton True or False: Obama’s tax rates are lower than that of Ronald Reagan’s in the 1980′s. Please, for the world to hear…

JoeyMillwood: @boydbrown No. That’s B. Hussein Obama’s cabinet that doesn’t pay taxes.

tylermjones: @boydbrown They’re probably all on unemployment AND opposing the stimulus. Probably not the brightest tools in the shed…

dphamilton: @tylermjones I don’t think we’ve seen his true tax rates yet…I’m more concerned about the spending of money we’re printing & borrowing.

tylermjones: @dphamilton Ohhh, so you’re just ASSUMING he will raise taxes? Thats always wise..And where was your outrage under Bush’s radical spending?

boydbrown: @joeymillwood only 3rd grade, bigot mentalities care that our President’s given middle name is Hussein. Grow up Peter Pan, Count Chocula

JoeyMillwood: @boydbrown All right Chester Cheetah, no more cracks on the Patriots that are out are out at the Tea Parties today.

JoeyMillwood: @boydbrown And stop with the 3rd grade dirty remarks.

boydbrown: @joeymillwood DEAL

tdkelly: @dphamilton no prob just want to know if you and the teabaggers are willing send your stimulus tax cut back in protest if you’re under @250K

boydbrown: @joeymillwood what dirty remarks?

tdkelly: Will oppressed middle class white people put their money where their teabag is and return the tax cuts they got because of the stimulus?

scpolitico: Three Thousand South Carolinians Rally at Statehouse Tea Party Today: http://tinyurl.com/cypsro

dphamilton: @tdkelly sure, no problem, btw, its Tea Party not teabagging…why do ya’ll insist on calling it teabagging?

dphamilton: @tylermjones no, just assuming Obama will do what he said he would…raise taxes on the “rich” and spend more.

JoeyMillwood: @boydbrown then you deal. Just like B. Hussein Obama will have to deal with these tea parties and the patriots attending.

JoeyMillwood: @boydbrown You’re making fun of normal everyday Americans and South Carolinians. Im making fun of a public socialist figure.

RobGodfrey: Great to visit with and talk to Gov. Mike Huckabee.

tdkelly: @dphamilton I call it teabagging because “wingnutting” is insulting to hardware

JoeyMillwood: @boydbrown tea bag remarks.

AntonJGunn: Laughing hysterically at the tweets between @boydbrown @JoeyMillwood @dphamilton @tdkelly. Today was a fun day. Can’t wait for tomorrow.

JoeyMillwood: It’s funny how these Dems all say they’re for public ed and poor people when they went to private schools and r sending their kids there.

JoeyMillwood: They all talk about schools they never experience.

tdkelly: @asheinin doesn’t the idea of VIPs at a teabagging sort of give the lie to the whole “this is a spontaneous outpouring of frustration” bit?

JoeyMillwood: There are Dems in the Houe that are public school teachers an send their kids to private school.

JoeyMillwood: well maybe not all. I can think of at least two on Twitter though.

tdkelly: Teabag: The last time this many white South Carolinians protested was when Mandingo was released

tdkelly: @JoeyMillwood which private school taught you to spell? I’ll want to avoid that one.

JoeyMillwood: @tdkelly I’m very considered about what a left wing socialist blogger thinks about me. And for your info I went to public school.

tdkelly: @JoeyMillwood you’re very “considered?” Are you illiterate or drunk? If it’s the latter, this left wing blogger will give you a pass.

JoeyMillwood: @tdkelly Excuse me…I’m concerned about what a left wing social blogger thinks about me.

JoeyMillwood: @tdkelly It’s called typing on a blackberry too fast.

tdkelly: @JoeyMillwood Moe’s called. They want their Bag of Donuts back.

JoeyMillwood: @tdkelly Why don’t you go back to writing your communist-loving, baby killer, homosexual loving blogs?

PhilBaileySC: @JoeyMillwood You haven’t been very tight-lipped about all the teabagging going on. You’ve been wide open to it all day.

innovator82: @JoeyMillwood Thanks for your strong conservatism today. Can’t believe blogger on @IndigoJournal mocking your Tweet re: pro-life dinner.

JoeyMillwood: @philbaileysc Oh, another left wing socialist. Except you’re on the gov’t payroll. You get paid w/ tax $ to be a socialist.

PhilBaileySC: @JoeyMillwood Wrong. I ain’t paid by tax-dollars. FOIA it. I’ll pay for the stamp.

tdkelly: @joeymillwood is a fine example of a GOPher public servant, huh?

JoeyMillwood: @philbaileysc excuse me. You’re a socialist paid for by the socialist caucus.

JoeyMillwood: Keep coming with it lefties! I’ve heard it all.

PhilBaileySC: @JoeyMillwood That’s cool. Will you be telling all the Tea Party protesters that you voted to spend all that stimulus $ in the House budget?

JoeyMillwood: For those following my tweets today, this conservative lawmaker doesn’t run! We’re in a war for America and we all need to rise up!

tdkelly: @JoeyMillwood Down with the homos! http://tinyurl.com/dluubc

TUESDAY
HOUSE
Reported out of committee favorably

• H. 3509, by Rep. Mike Pitts, to affirm the rights of all states, including South Carolina, under the 9th and 10th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

Sent back to the Senate

• S. 428, by Sen. Larry Martin, memorializing Congress to make permanent the E-Verify program.

Ordered to third reading

• H. 3342, by Rep. Greg Delleney, the born alive bill.

SENATE
Introduced

• S. 460, by Sen. Gerald Malloy, a resolution congratulating Jordan Lyles of Hartsville on being selected in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Houston Astros.
• S. 470, by Sen. Ronnie Cromer, to specify fees for recreational saltwater fishing licenses.
• H. 3352, by Rep. Dan Cooper, the school district spending flexibility bill.

Quotes
Unidentified legislator: (whispering) Going to Mardi Gras?

===

Debate on H. 3187
Minority Leader Harry Ott: Mr. Bales, now you telling me that if I go and cut somebody’s grass, and that person wants to sell his property, I can take out a mechanic’s lien on a hundred-acre farm just because I haven’t paid to get my lawn cut?
Rep. Jimmy Bales: It’s for contractual landscaping…
Ott: It’s for what?
Bales: Contractual landscaping services over $15,000. I don’t think you’d get that much to mow the yard. (laughter from the chamber)
Ott: I probably wouldn’t qualify for $15,000 to cut the grass. Thank you, Mr. Bales.

===

Rep. Grady Brown: I’ve been doing this every Tuesday, Mr. Speaker, but we remind you we’re still trying to promote beach music on Tuesday nights at Rust in the Vista. If you have time, if you want to hear some good music, drop by. Right behind the Motor Supply restaurant. Thank you.
Unidentified legislator: I don’t think so.

WEDNESDAY
HOUSE
Introduction

• H. 3614, by Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell, to restructure state government by removing the adjutant general, commissioner of agriculture, secretary of state and superintendent of education from the constitutionally-mandated list of elected officials and that those offices should be appointed by the governor with the advise and consent of the General Assembly.
• H. 3613, by Rep. Bruce Bannister, a concurrent resolution urging the promotion of curling as the official winter Olympic sport of South Carolina, and to appoint a representative of the state to investigate the designation of curing as the official winter Olympic sport of South Carolina. Adopted and sent to the Senate.

THURSDAY
HOUSE
Introduction

• H. 3629, by Rep. David Umphlett, legalizing raffles run by charitable organizations.

Second reading

• H. 3067, by Rep. Alan Clemmons, eliminating fusion voting. Amended and ordered to third reading.
• H. 3042, by Rep. Jimmy Merrill, legalizing mixed martial arts combat. Ordered to third reading.

Third reading

• H. 3245, by Rep. Delleney, mandating a 24-hour waiting period before a woman can obtain an abortion. Sent to the Senate
• H. 3342, by Rep. Delleney, the born alive bill. Sent to the Senate.

SENATE
Reported out of committee favorably

• S. 110, by Sen. Malloy, allowing the sale of lottery tickets on primary and general election days.

Third reading

• S. 12, by Sen. Hugh Leatherman, the Tax Realignment Commission bill. Sent to the House.

Quotes
Harrell: While I have got your attention for just a moment, the Minority Leader and the Majority Leader have agreed to order pizzas, so there will be pizza in the back in the back for lunch, so we won’t be breaking for lunch. When it gets here in an hour or so, go enjoy or order something else.

===

Rep. Ken Kennedy: Do you think that the election of Barack Obama as president of the United States frightened these people to death in South Carolina?
Rep. Bakari Sellers: Well, I don’t know, but I did hear Thad Viers is going to try to sponsor a bill to secede from the Union.
Kennedy: Oh my God!

===

Ott: Mr. Smith, does this apply to bridges that are currently under construction, and have already been chosen for a name, kind of like the Bob Harrell Bridge in Charleston? Last I checked, he wasn’t dead yet.
Rep. James Smith: It’s all about, if the bridge is not done, and not grandfathered in…
(Talking over each other)
Smith: I wonder if Rep. Nanney took that out…
Ott: I don’t know if she got preclearance on that or not.
Smith: That’s a good question, though. If this bill becomes law before that is built, I’d say our good friend, and colleague and Speaker’s dad would be out of a bridge, at least for some time.

===

Ott: Mixed martial arts — is that what we’ve been going through the past eight hours?
Rep. Bill Sandifer: I think you’re right.

===

Merrill: Mr. Sandifer, did you realize that everybody was kung-fu fighting?
Sandifer: I think that’s what Mr. Ott was referring to a moment ago.
Merrill: And, did you realize those cats were fast as lightning?
Sandifer: Now, I doubt Mr. Ott is.
Merrill: And sir, you probably didn’t know, it was a little bit frightening.

===

Rep. Walt McLeod: Good evening ladies, I regret to inform you that I am very tired of my own voice.
…
If anybody goes up I-26 at exit 85, just tip your hat — that’s where I live. If you ever have a flat tire along there, call me and we’ll come rescue you. We might even bring the fire truck.
…
So, I want you to drive carefully going home tonight. Be advised, don’t have a drink of beer, wine or booze on the way. Because, the South Carolina Highway Patrol has got (unintelligible). Whenever a legislator takes a drink of booze on a Thursday, it activates itself, and if you (unintelligible) before you do!
Harrell: Mr. McLeod, you must keep your remarks pertinent to the bill, please. (laughter from the chamber)
McLeod: Thank you very much. This bill, about which we speak…I’ve forgotten! (laughter from the chamber)
Harrell: Mr. Ott, for what purpose do you rise? Mr. McLeod, Mr. Ott would like to help you with a question, probably phrased something like, “Did you know this bill was bill number such and such.” Mr. Ott is recognized for a question.
Ott: Mr. McLeod, do you know what mixed martial arts is? Do you know what it does?
McLeod: I’ve been studying that for some time, and I don’t have any conclusions as of yet.
Ott: Well, Mr. McLeod, do you know what boxing is?
McLeod: I was a professional boxer in my earlier life.
Ott: My goodness, I didn’t know. What was your record?
McLeod: You want to fight?
Ott: No sir! (extended laughter from the chamber)

Some days are routine, and some are not. The lower chamber of the S.C. General Assembly lived up to its “Mad House” reputation on Thursday, but the controversial voter ID bill passed on second reading, after about six hours of debate.

“The heart of democracy is the right to vote,” the bill’s chief sponsor, Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell, said in a statement. “If we do not protect that voting right from fraud and abuse, we are not protecting the ideals of democracy.”

House Democrats gave the bill a thorough working over, with Reps. Chris Hart, Bakari Sellers, Ken Kennedy, Anton Gunn, Gilda Cobb-Hunter, Robert Williams, Harry Ott, Leon Stavrinakis and others either taking the podium, engaging in passionate Q&As, or both.

“It’s basically a poll tax, and takes us back to the 1800s,” Kennedy said. “Two things: it would be dead on arrival in the Senate. … We now have a Democratic president and Congress, who aren’t going to allow voter disenfranchisement in this state, and I just think were whistling ‘Dixie’ and wasting our time when we could be doing something else.”

Rep. James Smith, until recently considered a possible candidate for governor, was also vocal in his opposition to the bill.

“This last election was a real celebration for our country, and for our state. Really, regardless necessarily of the outcome, everybody that I talked to, Republicans and Democrats, felt good about the participation,” Smith said. “It’s hard to look at that celebration in 2008, and see all the stories that were written about, and find anywhere in any of those stories a story about fraud. This celebration, this outpouring turnout, was not real. It was all fraud. There were a bunch of people that conspired together and they lied about it and hid who they were and they didn’t have IDs, so they tricked the system, and it really wasn’t what we read about. It was all a big fraud.

“If that were the case, then we might want to introduce a bill like this. But, that wasn’t the case. It was real. And, the turnout was significant. And, the response by us as leaders of this state should be a response that encourages it. It helps to continue to make the opportunity and the privilege and the right, rather, the right to exercise one’s vote more accessible, not less accessible.”

But, House Republicans stepped up, like Reps. Alan Clemmons and Garry Smith.

“Ladies and gentlemen of the House, what is the purpose of this bill,” Smith asked. “The purpose of this bill is very simple. The purpose of this bill is to enhance the integrity of the voting process. That’s it. Very simple. Very simple. Let me quote to you from the U.S. Court of Appeals decision on Jan. 14, 2009, when they were considering the issue of Georgia’s voter ID ballot. At that time, what they said was that ‘the burden of presenting a government-issued, voter ID, at the polls, is trumped by the need to safeguard the integrity of elections.’

“One of the things that has been said a great deal today is that the purpose of this bill is to suppress voting. Folks, the numbers do not prove that. There is no factual evidence to that regard. And, in fact, the Supreme Court said there was a lack of evidence when they considered Indiana’s case, to show that had happened. But, there is evidence to the opposite.”

Smith went on to cite statistics showing that, in states like Indiana and Georgia where voter ID laws were in effect, voter turnout was high in ’08 and Democrats achieved bigger gains in turnout than Republicans.

Seeing the writing on the wall, but wanting to make a dramatic gesture, members of the Legislative Black Caucus gathered behind Rep. David Weeks during his final turn at the podium, then walked out of the chamber.

The bill mandates that a voter show a valid picture ID when voting, in order to deter the possibility of voter fraud. Passing by a vote of 65-14, the bill moves on to third reading and is expected to continue to the Senate.

TUESDAY
HOUSE
Introduction of bills

• H. 3540, by Rep. Garry Smith, the “South Carolina Truth in Spending Act,” mandating that each agency, department and institution of state government, and each local government entity must maintain a transaction register and post it online.
• H. 3541, by Rep. David Hiott, regulating bear hunting.
• H. 3543, by Rep. Joan Brady, requiring the state Department of Education develop a dating violence policy, providing for reporting and publication requirements.
• H. 3554, by Rep. Harold Mitchell, to provide that the General Assembly accepts the stimulus funds from the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009.

SENATE
Introduction of bills

• S. 428, by Sen. Larry Martin, memorializing Congress to make permanent the E-Verify program.

WEDNESDAY
HOUSE
Introduction of bills

• H. 3556, by Rep. Dwight Loftis, to rename the Western Carolina Sewer Authority to Renewable Water Resources.
• H. 3572, by Rep. David Umphlett, repealing shark catch limits.

Reported favorably out of committee

• H. 3305, by Rep. Eric Bedingfield, to ensure representation in union elections is done by secret ballot.
• H. 3042, by Rep. Jimmy Merrill, legalizing mixed martial arts combat.

Interrupted debate

• H. 3067, by Rep. Alan Clemmons. Rep. Bakari Sellers moved to adjourn debate until Feb. 24, which failed 24-47. Rep. David Weeks moved to recommit the bill to the Judiciary Committee, which failed 36-69. Debate was interrupted by the House recurring to the morning hour.

Quotes
During debate on the school district spending flexibility bill.
House Reading Clerk Bubba Cromer: Amendment No. 9 was passed over, which brings us to Amendment No. 10, Ott and Crawford.
Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell: OK, we’re on Amendment No. 10, offered by Mr. Ott and Mr. Crawford? [laughter from the chamber] Somebody better read this one. Mr. Ott is recognized.
Rep. Harry Ott: Mr. Speaker, don’t let this tarnish what little reputation I have left in this body. But, you know, you have to pick your friends carefully, and I want to thank Dr. Crawford for agreeing to work with me on this particular amendment.

===

Harrell: Mr. Ott is recognized for his second 10 minutes. Mr. Rice is recognized for a question.
Rep. Rex Rice: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want you to know Mr. Cato over here says he feels your pain, he’d be glad to take the chair.
Harrell: I’m probably going to bring him up here in a minute. [laughter from the chamber]

===

Debate on H. 3418
Harrell: …Mr. King objects to the bill. Mr. Rutherford?
Rep. Todd Rutherford: Wants to kill it! [laughter from the chamber]
Harrell: Mr. Rutherford wants to kill it. I assume you object to the bill.

SENATE
Introduction of bills

• S. 436, by Sen. Lee Bright, for police to seize real and personal property related to prostitution.
• S. 437, by Sen. Shane Massey, the Senate version of the House’s 24-hour waiting period for an abortion.
• S. 445, by Sen. Ray Cleary, establishing a flounder population study program and other regulations pertaining to flounder fishing in Murrell’s Inlet, Pawley’s Island and Litchfield.
• S. 450, by Sen. Bright, a bill which says life begins at conception and said zygote is covered by the rights of due process and equal protection.
• S. 305, by Sen. Ronnie Cromer, requiring that President Barack Obama rescind his order to close the detention camp at the naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. After extensive debate, the bill was sent back to general committee.

Quotes
On the State Ports Authority bill.
Sen. Glenn McConnell: I hope he would embrace what this bill is about. It’s about moving our state forward. He still has the power of appointment. He still has the power to remove. … I would submit to you, I would hope he would not stand over on the side of the road of progress. But instead, join us out there, and help us move this port forward, and don’t stop and wring your hands and say, “Well, I didn’t get my way and I didn’t get more power, so change isn’t coming.” Change is coming. I would hope he would be a part of that exciting change, that he would be a part of the discussions of are there different models that we need to look at, and not look at the old political battles of yesteryear, and say that somehow he’s been cut off from change. His opportunity is there with the rest of us, with the House of Representatives, together to try to take this economic engine and move it forward. And, that is where I see, senator from Berkeley, you have given us a great opportunity, a new beginning, a new start, as we take these tremendous assets. I’ll take any questions.
Sen. Hugh Leatherman: Senator yield for a question?
McConnell: Yes, sir.
Leatherman: Thank you, Senator. Senator, all the meetings we had with the railroad people, the Maersk people, did we one time see the Governor in any of those meetings?
McConnell: Not a one.
Leatherman: You would think he would be out front trying to convince Maersk to stay there, just like you and Sen. Grooms and others did. But, I didn’t see anything, I didn’t hear a word out of the Governor’s Office….
McConnell: Maybe he was out of state.
Leatherman: He’s been out of state a lot, I think, recently.

…

McConnell: I didn’t want this left, I didn’t want to say this, but he put it in the Charleston paper. Said we had cut off his opportunity. We’ve created a great opportunity, if he decides to take it.

…

Sen. Brad Hutto, on the Guantanamo Bay resolution: Let me tell you something about South Carolina. We don’t back down from responsibility. When our country calls, we’ve been there. And, if you don’t think that we’ve been fighting terrorism from the beginning, you need only look back to the fact we hung pirates, the first terrorists, in White Point Gardens. South Carolina doesn’t back down from terrorists. If they need to come to South Carolina, if I’ve got to load up a truck full of my buddies with shotguns from Orangeburg to guard ‘em, we will be there.

THURSDAY
HOUSE
Reported favorably out of committee

• H. 3121, by Rep. James Smith, to make it unlawful in South Carolina to remove more than 10 turtles of a certain named species.

TUESDAY
Bills introduced

• H. 3446, introduced by Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell, to express the gratitude of the House to Debbie Parker Hankins on her retirement as the House journal clerk.
• H. 3470, introduced by Rep. B.R. Skelton, to increase the cigarette tax to 50 cents per pack, with money to go to a smoking cessation and prevention fund, a marketing fund for state crops, the Medicaid trust fund and a health care trust fund.
• H. 3471, introduced by Rep. Richard Chalk, to raise the cigarette tax to 45 cents per pack.
• H. 3478, introduced by Rep. Don Bowen, to institute a performance bonus for public school teachers, not to exceed five percent of the teacher’s salary.
• H. 3483, introduced by Rep. Brian White, to propose a constitutional amendment to protect hunting, trapping and fishing.
• S. 392, introduced by Sen. Tom Davis, restructuring the State Ports Authority with a director appointed by the governor.
• S. 398, introduced by Sen. Lee Bright, the Senate companion to the House “born alive” bill.

Other action
Both the fusion voting bill (H. 3067) and the abortion ultrasound bill (H. 3245) were placed on the contested calendar for the House.

S. 4, the “Teacher Protection Act,” which was chief sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, was passed by the Senate 40-0 on the third reading.

Scenes from the floor
Rep. Jimmy Merrill, asking questions on the rural telephony bill.
Merrill: Could these guys move out of the way? Whoever is handing out stuff, so that we could see? Hey, excuse me, get ou…I can’t even see. Thank you.
Rep. Michael Thompson: You have a way with words, Mr. Merrill.
Merrill: It’s all I got, man.
Thompson: I know the feeling.

Rep. Grady Brown on Rep. Carl Anderson‘s birthday.
Brown: Thank you Mr. Speaker, House members, ladies and gentlemen. If you would give me your attention please, just a moment. Today is a very special day for my deskmate. He wouldn’t tell me how many, but when you see Carl Anderson today, Rep. Carl Anderson, you would want to, especially…SHHHHHHHHHH. It always works. Even for adults, it works. I learned that, when I DJ. People want to hush. But, anyway, Carl Anderson has a birthday today. So, Carl, would you please stand? He is 39 years old today. Happy birthday, Carl.

And, tonight, when you leave the judges reception, we will be at Rust again, behind the Motor Supply, doing beach music for four hours. So, for those of you who would like to, we’d like to have you drop by. Thank you.

Harrell, on lunches.
Harrell: The Democratic Caucus has a cold sandwich lunch, according to your leader [laughter from the chamber], in Room 305 of the Blatt Building. The Republicans, during our regular lunchtime, have a hot lunch available in Room 105 of the Blatt Building.

WEDNESDAY
Bills introduced
S. 400, by Sen. Creighton Coleman, congratulating Tyler Thigpen, the first quarterback for Coastal Carolina, on his accomplishments with the Chanticleers and on becoming the starting quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Bills reported out of committee

• H. 3342, by Rep. Greg Delleney, the House “born alive” bill.
• H. 3418, by Harrell, the House voter ID bill.

Second reading

• H. 3463, chief sponsored by Rep. Garry Smith, which eliminates the provision that electronic traffic tickets have to be printed in different colors, depending on the offense.
• S. 1, McConnell’s bill on spending caps, carried over per the resolution of Sen. Larry Grooms.
• S. 12, Sen. Hugh Leatherman‘s Tax Realignment Commission bill, carried over per Leatherman, not to be considered before Feb. 19.

Judicial elections
The following people were elected to state courts.
Kaye Hearn, Court of Appeals, Seat Five
Thomas Cooper, Fifth Judicial Circuit, Seat Three
Roger Young, Ninth Judicial Circuit, Seat Three
Carmen Tevis Mullen, Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, Seat Two
Benjamin Culbertson, Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, Seat Two
Rupert Markley Davis Jr., Circuit Court At-Large, Seat Two
Clifton Newman, Circuit Court At-Large, Seat Three
Edward Miller, Circuit Court At-Large, Seat Four
J. Mark Hayes II, Circuit Court At-Large, Seat Five
Jesse Cordell Maddox Jr., Circuit Court At-Large, Seat Seven
Michelle Childs, Circuit Court At-Large, Seat Nine
James R. Barber III, Circuit Court At-Large, Seat Ten
Edgar Warren Dickson, First Judicial Circuit, Seat One
William Jeffrey Young, Circuit Court At-Large, Seat One
William Henry Seals Jr., Circuit Court At-Large, Seat Six
Edgar Henderson Long Jr., Family Court, Tenth Judicial Circuit, Seat One
Alex Kinlaw Jr., Family Court, Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, Seat Six
Deborah Brooks Durden, Administrative Law Court, Seat Four

Scenes from the floor
Former Sen. John Drummond made an appearance at the State House.

Rep. Ken Kennedy, referring to debate under cloture of the payday lending bill.
Kennedy: If they would just refer all of their time to me, I will do the speaking against it for them.
Harrell: As long as no one raises a point of order, and when you’re through with 10 minutes, as long as the Chair doesn’t just say, “Mr. Kennedy, you’re at the end of your time,” then that would be OK. But, I’m guessing one of those two things will happen, Mr. Kennedy. Ms. Young is assuring me that one of those two things will happen [laughter from the chamber].

Rep. Chris Hart, on issues with legislative power and the payday lending bill.
Hart: None of ‘em made it out, in the six months that we were in session. We’re now in session, second week, February. This bill is on the floor. Look at the lead sponsors of the bill. That tells you why this bill is on the floor. We have 15 different bills in LCI committee right now, dealing with deferred presentment. Not one got a hearing.
::Inaudible due to overloading of the LPITS server.::
How come the bills from last year did not get out of subcommittee, but this one is on the floor? Can somebody please raise a hand and tell me why is this bill on the floor? [laughter from the chamber]
Unidentified legislator: Look behind you! [laughter from the chamber]

Rep. Bakari Sellers, on his amendment to the payday lending bill.
Sellers: Why am I only giving them a dime?
Acting Speaker Jim Harrison: Ms. Cobb-Hunter is recognized for a question.
Sellers: Mr. Speaker, may I answer her? Rep. Cobb-Hunter, in my heart, I would love to give them a dollar, or a dollar and fifty cent. I think financial literacy programs are programs that need to be taught throughout the state more often. I do realize that leaving this body $400,000 may be a coup. It’s something that we need to take over to the Senate, and see if we may be able to, one day, be able to offer more. But, at this time, $400,000 a year, if we can move for adoption….
Harrison: Mr. Sellers, you have a question from Mr. …. Mr. Gunn. Mr. Gunn has a question, Mr. Sellers.
Rep. Anton Gunn: Rep. Sellers, is this your attempt to drop a dime on the industry?
Sellers: I like that language. We’re going to, I guess.
Gunn: Is that a yes?
Sellers: Yes.
Gunn: OK. Thank you.

Following the Q&A between Cobb-Hunter and Rep. Eric Bedingfield on the EFCA resolution.
Harrell: Gentlemen….
Sellers: [joking] It’s a Black Caucus meeting! [laughter from the chamber]
Harrell: Mr. Rutherford [chuckles], and Mr. Gunn, and Rev. Neal, and Mr. Hart, Mr. Kennedy has complained that you have congregated over there. [chuckles] All right. Mr. Kennedy is recognized.

Tweeting the payday lending bill debate.
Rep. Thad Viers: there are 30 freaking amds on the desk….time for the cloture kitty to come out and play!!!
Rep. Nathan Ballentine: good thing Rep Chris Hart is already on 3M committee….speaking truth to power can be costly around here
Rep. Dan Hamilton: only 30 more amendments on the payday lending bill…great. Honey, I won’t be home for dinner
Rep. Joey Millwood: I wish I brought an overnight bag. This is seriously going to be late. I learned that lesson!
Hamilton: Its the Alan Clemmons amendment show today at the State House.
Millwood: We’re saving jobs and the free market in the House today!
Gunn: Got the Hell beat out of me on Pay Day Lending. Good guys lost one today.

THURSDAY
Bills introduced

• H. 3509, introduced by Rep. Michael Pitts, to affirm the rights of all states, and South Carolina, under the Ninth and Tenth Amendments.
• H. 3521, introduced by Sellers, to establish a committee to more fully investigate the Orangeburg Massacre and submit a report on its findings.
• H. 3523, introduced by Skelton, to institute a statewide smoking ban, excepting private clubs.
• H. 3526, introduced by Rep. Liston Barfield, to institute the “Right to Life Act”. The act would, “establish that the right to life for each born and preborn human being vests at fertilization, and that the rights of due process and equal protection, guaranteed by Article I, Section 3 of the constitution of this state, vest at fertilization for each born and preborn human person.”
• H. 3527, introduced by Barfield, the 2009 version of the infamous “fetus statue” monument.
• H. 3537, introduced by Millwood, requiring that the Legislative Audit Council conduct an annual audit, choosing randomly, on one-fifth of the state’s school districts. The bill grants the LAC power to contract out to an independent firm. The school district, in this cash-strapped time, is required to pay for the audit, whether it is by the state or an independent firm. The bill does not say where the districts are supposed to come up with this money.
• S. 424, introduced by Bright, to affirm South Carolina sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment. Wade Hampton approves.

The General Assembly resumes on Feb. 17.

For the first time in the decade that payday lending had been legal in South Carolina, a bill is on the fast track to be passed to re-regulate the industry. One of the reasons is the leadership of Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell. When it came down to it, the bill passed by an overwhelming majority — 93-16.

“Regulating the practice and enacting consumer safeguards is the right thing to do,” Harrell said in a statement. “These loans are meant to be short-term financial solutions for unforeseen expenses, capping the loan amount and creating a statewide database to ensure that someone can only have one loan at a time will help prevent individuals from falling into a bottomless cycle of debt.”

But, that doesn’t mean the bill was passed quickly or easily. On Wednesday, the House reconvened at 2 p.m., and the vote did not finish until about 6:46 p.m. Over four and a half hours of debate and gnashing of teeth, considering over 40 amendments to the bill.

Rep. Chris Hart started off consideration of the bill by trying to recommit the bill to committee, followed by continuing the bill to the next session and moving to adjourn the debate. Each motion was roundly defeated.

Then came the amendments. The first one, proposed by the committee, resolved a problem in wording of the bill. Amendments two through 41, though, mostly tried to derail the legislation.

Rep. Alan Clemmons, a typical reliable vote on pro-business legislation, had major issues with the payday lending industry and was the chief sponsor of amendments seven through 22. As the debate went later in the day, he withdrew some amendments, but, more often than not, took the podium to criticize the bill, and watched as amendment after amendment was tabled.

Clemmons methods drew ire from LCI chairman Bill Sandifer, who said that there were several methods to kill a bill, and that among them was a filibuster by amendments.

As the clock neared 6:30 p.m., Rep. Bakari Sellers introduced the final amendment to the bill. An earlier version, Amendment 37, mandated that a payday lending firm must donate 10 cents from every loan to the state Department of Consumer Affairs for financial literacy education. Sellers said the revenue should be around $400,000. Because of a typo, though, Amendment 37, which was agreed to on voice vote, was thrown out.

Sellers introduced a fixed amendment, but Rep. Gary Simrill stepped to the podium and condemned the amendment as a way of growing government by $400,000. He then asked for a roll call vote.

“In times we’re in, do we really need to see government spending grow,” Rep. Nathan Ballentine asked on his blog on Wednesday. “Obviously, we don’t even have enough revenues to cover what current programs we have now. Sure, the revenue for this spending wouldn’t come from tax dollars. But, here’s where we as elected officials have to look down the road instead of just at the next election cycle.

“What do you think would happen once our state got these programs up and running based off the revenue coming in and then the revenue started declining? That’s right. We’d see cuts to the program/employees and/or your tax dollars later being needed to fund a program put in place because of a simple voice vote on the 37th amendment on a bill late one February afternoon.”

Sure enough, the amendment lost with 44 votes for and 60 against. The full bill moves on to its third reading.