We had the chance to head out to the House/Senate softball game yesterday (or as they were better known, the Amenders and the Filibusters) and — yeah — it was a good time. Props to BlueCross BlueShield for sponsoring the shindig and the Columbia Blowfish organization for running it, since they did a good job on the food and drinks. Just ask Sen. Larry Grooms, who pregamed by noshing on some loaded-up kielbasas (or maybe they were jumbo hot dogs — it was hard to tell). This was the 17th year that elected officials and staffers took the field to have some fun, build some camaraderie and generally get out from under the dome. As is the case, though, these guys and gals wanted to win, so it’s not a stretch to say that the lineups were staff-heavy.

Thankfully, the sky was overcast and the wind was blowing, so it didn’t get too hot out there. The bases were moved in for the, erm, less athletic of the participants, but the field looked good and even some of the participants were still in their usual finery. Consider the case of Sen. Phil Leventis, who just put his shirt on over what he was already wearing, going to bat in a bow-tie. There were a few surprising incidents beyond that. One was Rep. Bakari Sellers, despite being young and in shape, not always performing as well as you’d expect. Maybe having a tall frame like that isn’t conducive to the ballfield? Also on the House side, Rep. Nathan Ballentine acquitted himself relatively well, still being a young-ish man. One major surprise was the performance of Sen. Chip Campsen. He came to play. The Senator hit well and ran the bases quickly. If there was one criticism, it’s that he doesn’t have much of an arm (maybe you shouldn’t have put him in left, eh Coach?).

The shocker of all shockers, though, was the outcome. Since 2003, the Senate owned the title. This was some real NFC/AFC, AL/NL dominance shit going on. But every streak has to come to an end. The House pulled the upset, coming from 3-0 down to win 7-5 and bring the trophy back to the lower chamber. If there’s not some serious smack-taking going on today at the State House, guys and gals, y’all aren’t doing your job.

The House Judiciary Committee meeting on Wednesday to address the impeachment or censure of Gov. Mark Sanford was classic House. There were impassioned speeches, some ill-chosen remarks and after all that noise, little actually was accomplished.

It started out with debate over the impeachment resolution, which was passed unfavorably out of subcommittee last week. It didn’t go so well in full committee, falling to an 18-6 vote. Reps. Greg Delleney, Keith Kelly, Vida Miller, Todd Rutherford, Bakari Sellers and Seth Whipper went for it. Rutherford got rather animated in his evaluation of the subcommittee’s work, saying at one point, “We really are the idiots people make us out to be.” He also chimed in with, “We care more about striped bass than we do about this.” Some of his comments rankled Rep. Jim Harrison, who asked, and received, an apology.

The committee moved on to the censure resolution, which passed unanimously. Censure comes down in the gray middle between a genuine punishment and having to have something on the books that shows members of the General Assembly do not approve of what Sanford has been up to. Rep. James Smith said in an AP story, “A vote for censure is not an endorsement for the governor’s conduct. It’s quite the contrary.”

Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell, reflecting on the censure bill moving to the full House, said in a statement, “The Committee’s ruling to honor the recommendation from the subcommittee was the right decision. Our state’s Constitution sets a very high standard for removal from office. While this process revealed the Governor’s actions to be irresponsible, misguided and hypocritical, the evidence available did not reach the Constitutional level to remove the Governor from office.

“The censure resolution — a legislative decree condemning the Governor’s actions — will now move to the House floor. I expect the full House to quickly address this censure and move on to more pressing issues facing our state.

“While the Governor’s irresponsible actions did not meet the Constitutional definition for removal, they clearly warrant an official censure by the House of Representatives. In fact, the embarrassment and continued distraction caused by these actions should have warranted the Governor’s resignation from office — an action that I and an overwhelming majority of lawmakers urged the Governor to take in the best interest of our state months ago.”

Sanford isn’t totally off the hook. His suspected ethics violations are still subject to investigation and sanctions from the State Ethics Commission. However, getting a few fines levied on him isn’t likely to provide too much pain to the Governor, who has already seen his biggest punishment — the death of his political career — happen months ago.

Hey, kids! Did you remember that Dec. 1 was another one of those prefiling days for the House? Well, it can be excused if you forgot, considering the thrilling back-and-forth between Gov. Mark Sanford‘s high-priced attorneys and the ad-hoc House impeachment committee that morning. Actually, speaking of impeachment….

Rep. Jim Harrison, chairman of the committee, filed a resolution taking the lesser path, censuring the man with a love of Latin women with a penchant for Austrian economic theory. Like the impeachment resolution submitted by Rep. Greg Delleney, it uses some military terminology.

H. 4219: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO CENSURE MARK C. SANFORD, JR., GOVERNOR OF SOUTH CAROLINA, FOR DERELICTION IN HIS DUTIES OF OFFICE AS GOVERNOR AND FOR OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT THAT HAS BROUGHT DISHONOR TO HIMSELF, THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, AND TO ITS CITIZENS.

On another note, the annual tax-free holiday on firearms in South Carolina brings a lot of yuks from the peanut gallery, and for good reason. A gun is not a necessity. Food is a necessity — how about eliminating sales tax on groceries, permanently? Eh, no, it’s important to make sure that sportsmen and those of other ideas (home security, building a militia in Oconee County) can buy a weapon of several hundred dollars and not pay sales tax. Really — if you have the cash to spring for a gun, you can chip in a few more bucks on sales tax without having to wait for a special time after Thanksgiving. However, Reps. Mike Pitts and Brian White want to make sure you can still get that tax-free gun.

H. 4220: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 12-36-2120, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO SALES TAX EXEMPTIONS, SO AS TO REENACT THE “SECOND AMENDMENT RECOGNITION ACT” EXEMPTING FIREARMS SOLD ON THE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING OF EVERY YEAR.

A lot of states and municipalities have laws against scalping. As in, it’s illegal to buy a ticket to an event — usually sports or a concert — and resell it. Some have relaxed that to say you can sell your ticket, but it has to be at face value. And if you’ve walked around Williams-Brice Stadium on game day, you know that nobody is enforcing scalping laws. Rep. Bakari Sellers is attempting to throw out the law altogether.

H. 4223: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY REPEALING SECTIONS 16-17-710 AND 39-5-36 BOTH RELATING TO THE PROHIBITION AND PRICE RESTRICTIONS ON THE RESALE OF TICKETS TO EVENTS.

Finally, a bill that is likely to go nowhere. Sure, there are tons of bills that get referred to committee every year and never see the light of day, but if you have legislation that’s likely to play well among the base of the minority party (in this case, Democrats), forget about it. Rep. John King is putting in a hate crimes bill. South Carolina is a national leader in hate crimes, according to a recent study (what a surprise), but considering the conservative opinion is that every crime is a hate crime, this bill is DOA.

H. 4224: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 18 TO CHAPTER 3, TITLE 16 SO AS TO PROVIDE ENHANCED PENALTIES FOR A PERSON CONVICTED OF A CRIME CONTAINED IN THIS CHAPTER WITH THE INTENT TO ASSAULT, INTIMIDATE, OR THREATEN A PERSON BECAUSE OF HIS RACE, RELIGION, OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION.

Here we give you the best of the rest, the bills that were noteworthy, but didn’t have other bills that were interesting enough to pair up with. There’s a little bit of everything in here.

Including snakes. And alligators. And God-knows-what-all that Rep. Herb Kirsh is introducing a bill regarding. It’s pretty much developing a full realm of regulation involving reptiles that’ll kill you as soon as hiss, growl, rattle, or just sneak up and bite your ass off.

H. 4218: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 17 TO TITLE 50 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE REGULATION OF VENOMOUS REPTILES, CONSTRICTING SNAKES, AND CROCODILIANS, INCLUDING SPECIFICATIONS FOR HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION ENCLOSURES, WRITTEN BITE, SAFETY, AND ESCAPE PROTOCOLS; LAW ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES; REQUIREMENTS TO DETERMINE IF A REPTILE IS REGULATED UNDER THIS CHAPTER AND FOR MAKING FINAL DISPOSITIONS OF THESE REPTILES; ACTIVITIES NOT SUBJECT TO REGULATION UNDER THIS CHAPTER; CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS; AND TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN CONDUCT CONSTITUTES RECKLESS DISREGARD FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHERS AND SUBJECTS VIOLATORS TO PUNITIVE DAMAGES IN CIVIL ACTIONS.

It always seemed as though the lieutenant governor’s office didn’t need term limits. Anyone who stays in that office past two terms either has a screw loose, or must be taking some sweet kick-back deals. That’s not stopping Rep. Tim Scott, though, who wants to limit the occupant to two consecutive terms.

H. 4182: A JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE IV OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT OF STATE GOVERNMENT, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING WITH THE PERSON ELECTED LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IN THE GENERAL ELECTION OF 2014, NO PERSON MAY BE ELECTED LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FOR MORE THAN TWO SUCCESSIVE TERMS.

And, we’re back again at common-law marriage. Why we’re still having to deal with this in the 21st century doesn’t seem to make sense, but Rep. Grady Brown is ready to go.

H. 4201: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 20-1-110 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT COMMON LAW MARRIAGE IN THIS STATE MAY NOT BE RECOGNIZED AFTER DECEMBER 31, 2010, AND TO PROVIDE AN EXCEPTION FOR A COMMON LAW MARRIAGE EXISTING AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2010; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 20-1-360 RELATING TO THE VALIDITY OF A MARRIAGE CONTRACTED WITHOUT THE ISSUANCE OF A LICENSE.

Remember the reforms passed by the General Assembly during the extended session regarding the Employment Security Commission? Ah, well, it still needs enabling legislation. Its chief sponsor is House Majority Leader Kenny Bingham, accompanied by Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell and Reps. Harry Cato, Dan Cooper, Jeff Duncan, Jim Harrison, Leon Howard, Phil Owens, Brian White, Annette Young, Harry Ott and Gilda Cobb-Hunter.

H. 4203: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, TO ENACT THE “EMPLOYMENT SECURITY FUNDING AND REFORM ACT”.

Rounding it out is Rep. Bakari Sellers, who put in legislation that does a bit of restructuring in how the state administers education. Let’s see — it starts out by requiring that the high school graduation rate be tallied by race or ethnicity, and released by September of each year, then to eliminate the Education Oversight Committee, by taking out the EOC and moving its responsibilities into the state Department of Education. Anybody that loves strike-throughs will be exited by the text of this bill.

H. 4197: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-1-505 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO RELEASE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE DATA BASED ON RACE OR ETHNICITY BY SEPTEMBER FIRST OF EACH YEAR; TO AMEND SECTIONS 59-1-450, 59-1-452, AS AMENDED, 59-1-453, 59-6-10, 59-16-70, 59-18-120, AS AMENDED, 59-18-310, AS AMENDED, 59-18-320, AS AMENDED, 59-18-350, AS AMENDED, 59-18-900, AS AMENDED, 50-18-920, AS AMENDED, 59-18-950, 59-18-1500, AS AMENDED, 59-18-1510, AS AMENDED, 59-18-1530, AS AMENDED, 59-18-1540, AS AMENDED, 59-18-1570, AS AMENDED, 59-18-1590, AS AMENDED, 59-18-1700, AS AMENDED, 59-18-1930, AS AMENDED, 59-21-440, 59-21-600, 59-21-1210, 59-24-65, 59-26-20, AS AMENDED, 59-28-150, 59-28-190, 59-28-200, AS AMENDED, 59-28-210, 59-29-170, 59-29-220, 59-40-70, AS AMENDED, 59-40-230, 59-50-20, AS AMENDED, 59-59-170, 59-63-65, 59-139-10, 59-139-40, 59-139-60, AND 59-150-325, ALL RELATING TO THE EDUCATION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, TO CHANGE CERTAIN REFERENCES FROM THE EDUCATION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, OR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION, AND TO DELETE CERTAIN REFERENCES TO THE EDUCATION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE; TO REPEAL SECTIONS 59-6-15, 59-6-16, 59-6-17, 59-6-20, 59-6-30, 59-6-100, AND 59-6-110 ALL RELATING TO THE BUSINESS EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP AND EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM MONITORING; TO REPEAL SECTION 59-21-1220 RELATING TO THE CAMPUS INCENTIVE PROGRAM; TO REPEAL SECTIONS 59-24-100 AND 59-24-110 BOTH RELATING TO THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL INCENTIVE PROGRAM; TO REPEAL SECTION 59-28-220 RELATING TO RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EMPLOYER TAX CREDIT INCENTIVES; TO REPEAL SECTION 59-139-50 RELATING TO A PLAN FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 59-141-10 RELATING TO NATIONAL EDUCATION GOALS.

On to the transportation bills that don’t involve mobile phones. It’s great, we’ve got it all here: speeding, drugs and government travel. But, be reminded — this isn’t pre-Operation Lost Trust anymore. You can’t get do a gator-tail of blow, get inside a car and go flying down the Interstate on a government-funded trip. And if you know who can, we do have an email address.

Rep. Todd Rutherford is looking to raise the levels of speed limits on South Carolina roadways. Most major roads are pegged at 65 or 70mph. But, oh my — go and get yourself an eight-cylinder, boys and girls.

H. 4185: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-1520, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO MAXIMUM SPEED LIMITS IMPOSED ALONG THE STATE’S HIGHWAYS, SO AS TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT THAT MAY BE POSTED ALONG INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS AND FREEWAYS.

Yeah. You’ve guessed it. New maximum speed limit? A full hair-on-fire 80mph. Get this bill on the, erm, fast-track. And, if you’re minding your speed, or even just out with friends, and get nailed with possession of a controlled substance, you may get some leeway. Rep. Bakari Sellers is looking to make it only an optional, and not mandatory penalty, for a license suspension.

H. 4188: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-745, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE SUSPENSION OF THE DRIVER’S LICENSE OF A PERSON CONVICTED OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE VIOLATION, AND THE ISSUANCE OF A SPECIAL RESTRICTED DRIVER’S LICENSES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE SUSPENSION OF A DRIVER’S LICENSE BY THE COURT UNDER THIS PROVISION IS OPTIONAL AND NO LONGER MANDATORY.

Then there’s state travel. It doesn’t specify whether it’s by plane or by car, but if it’s nonessential, Rep. John King is trying to make sure it can’t be paid for until the end of the legislative session. The idea is to get some standards nailed down.

H. 4176: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO IMPOSE A MORATORIUM ON REIMBURSEMENTS PAID IN CONNECTION WITH ALL NONESSENTIAL STATE EMPLOYEE TRAVEL AND ASSOCIATED MEALS AND LODGING THROUGH JUNE 30, 2010, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES OF THE STATE BUDGET AND CONTROL BOARD SHALL PUBLISH GUIDELINES DEFINING ESSENTIAL TRAVEL QUALIFYING FOR REIMBURSEMENT.

Have a mobile phone? Of course you do. You probably yak on it and text your pals and do whatever you need to do on it, all day, all the time. In the prefiled bills, there are plenty that deal with your ability to use your phone in the car, or at a prison.

We’ll start of with the transportation bills. The first one comes from Rep. Don Bowen, and is going to hit pretty hard on females aged 16-28.

H. 4189: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 56-5-3890 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL TO DRIVE A MOTOR VEHICLE WHILE TEXT MESSAGING, TEXTING, RECEIVING, OR READING TEXT MESSAGES OR PRINTED READING MATERIALS, AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY.

Please, please, please — we hate text messaging when people are not traveling at more than 35mph, much less while behind wheel. The General Assembly shouldn’t have to pass a law to make you put the thing away. Joining Bowen in Rep. Bakari Sellers, who reminds you to not talk on your phone, either.

H. 4190: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 56-5-3890 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON TO USE A HANDHELD WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE WHILE DRIVING A MOTOR VEHICLE AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR VIOLATING THIS PROVISION; AND TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-720, RELATING TO THE SCHEDULE OF POINTS ASSIGNED TO VARIOUS TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT USING A HANDHELD WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE WHILE DRIVING IS A TWO POINT VIOLATION.

Don’t think that the law is the only thing you may have to worry about when you whip out your celly for the latest important call. You can now be held civilly liable, if a bill proposed by Rep. Garry Smith goes through.

H. 4206: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 15-1-305 SO AS TO ALLOW THE INTRODUCTION OF EVIDENCE IN A CIVIL ACTION OF THE USE OF A CELL PHONE OR OTHER ELECTRONIC HANDHELD COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE AT THE TIME OF A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT AND TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS.

In the past few months, there’s been quite a bit of hullabaloo about mobile phones in prison. Some law enforcement agencies are using jamming towers to make sure that inmates can’t use them, and the use of such towers has been debated in court. Rep. Herb Kirsh is putting in legislation to make it illegal for an inmate to have a phone, or to give a phone to a prisoner.

H. 4191: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 24-3-955 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON TO POSSESS A WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE ON THE PREMISES OF A DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FACILITY UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AND TO GIVE OR SELL A WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE OR ITS COMPONENTS TO AN INMATE OR TO A PERSON FOR DELIVERY TO AN INMATE, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THIS SECTION.

Monday’s budget debate included the longest House session of the year, so far. And, it was tweeted.

dphamilton: starting budget week in the SC House today…hang on to your wallets!

EBedingfield: Well, at least we are moving slowly thru this budget mess.

SCLegislator: The pigeons were more interesting than this.

SCHouseDems: Democrats budget agenda: job creation, public education, healthcare. We oppose GOP tax increase on local government under any circumstance.

AshleySHunter: listening to the House pass over every section of the budget. we will be here forever.

SCHouseDems: GOP leader Rep. Kenny Bingham introduces a new ‘fee’ collected by the Dept. of Insurance to increase revenue = Another tax increase by GOP.

AntonJGunn: In the middle of budget process and it feels like I’m in a Seder. They are “passing over” every section of the budget.

SCLegislator: @NathanBallentin The best part of this Twitting is not having to pay attention. (Can you see me waving at you?)

thadviers: at caucus luncheon sitting with the right wing conspiracy members Haley, ballentine, beningfield, Pitts and a few others.

RepJamesSmith: is working hard to make sure the State Appropriations Bill focuses on Jobs Education and Healthcare.

EBedingfield: Here we go again on the budget.

EBedingfield: Why would anyone want to take monies away from abstinence education in SC?

paigecoop: @EBedingfield Because it has been shown that abstinence programs aren’t effective

paigecoop: @EBedingfield. Prime example Sarah Palin’s little princess Bristol

tdkelly: @EBedingfield hmm, let me see. Maybe so that money could go to something that’s actually proven effective?

JoeyMillwood: Question whether or not to take stimulus money on the board in an amendment. Any input?

JoeyMillwood: Stimulus money will be used.

LinBennett: @JoeyMillwood My understanding 95% by-passes SC leg anyway and goes straight to munis and counties? Is that the case? #sctweets #tcot

JoeyMillwood: There were nine of us that voted against stimulus.

dphamilton: Vote for SC to accept “budget stabilization” federal stimulus money passes 108-8. Puts off for tomorrow what should be done today.

gcoats84: @JoeyMillwood wow, keep up the good work, please tell me it was a roll call vote

annephutto: back on the floor for the budget debate

JoeyMillwood: @gcoats Thanks man. It was a roll call.

JoeyMillwood: @dphamilton. I can’t count. Eight voted against taking stimulus dollars.

johnroconnor: S.C. Budget update: About 200 amendments have been drafted, not all on the desk. May not be as long a week as many thought.

EBedingfield: I was one of 8 who voted agianst the Obama debt.

johnroconnor: Just two amendments in K-12 education section of budget. This will be a short week.

KrisCrawford: The attempt to vote against the stimulus money before taking the stimulus money failed. Only 8 voted against taking the money.

KrisCrawford: going to be a long week it looks like. The AV component of ammendment presentatiions seems to be catching on.

tdkelly: @EBedingfield gosh I hope none of that tainted money gets spent in your district.

JoeyMillwood: @gcoats84 I also said thanks earlier for the support.

ccslick: Kudos to u 8 4 being responsible! @ebedingfield, @dphamilton, G.Smith, Nanney, @thadviers, Stewart, @nathanballentin, @joeymillwood

johnroconnor: The John De La Howe school does not get $600k for a new roof. 60-56 tabled.

johnroconnor: Rep. Harry Ott argues budget violates federal stimulus rules because it does not roll back EIA formula cuts from current budget.

SCHouseDems: GOP Rep Millwood Smith Ballentine Bedingfield Hamilton Viers Stewart Nanney vote against accepting Stimulus money. Bet theyll spend it tho!

ccslick: @SCHouseDems They voted against it on principle. I am very proud of their votes and for standing up for what they believe in and know to

johnroconnor: Rep. Dan Cooper says S.C. education spending exceeds federal stimulus spending requirements by .6 percentage points.

johnroconnor: John De La Howe school receives $270k for roof repairs.

AntonJGunn: is looking for earmarks in the state budget. Found some already.

JoeyMillwood: @antonjgunn The Obama camp knows nothing about earmarks, correct?

dphamilton: @AntonJGunn spill those earmarks, lets expose them.

johnroconnor: No amendments in Medicaid section of budget. Done with USC system, higher ed as well. Moving right along.

JoeyMillwood: House plowing through the budget.

adampiper: @JoeyMillwood I think y’all are using a ben tillman era mule powered plow for the budget instead of one of those john deere kinds.

dphamilton: amendments to the budget offered by Democrats today already total over $67 million and counting.

thadviers: i have 5 amds for budget. all are taxpayer friendly that cuts government.

johnroconnor: Rep. Hosey 0 for $42 million on Allendale/Barnwell budget requests. Just gave the “ain’t too proud to beg” speech. #sctweets

adampiper: Democrats trying to turn State Budget into a sluggish spending spree – some things are the same in SC and DC. #sctweets

yvonnewenger: Rep. Wendell Gilliard, D-Charleston, tries to get $250,000 in budget amendment for Charles Webb Center’s developmentally disabled children.

adampiper: @dphamilton – great question on the floor regarding all children matter – born and unborn. #sctweets

dphamilton: An article about one of the reasons I voted to not take the federal stimulus in SC: http://bit.ly/fXgbk

johnroconnor: House refuses to reduce funding for abstinence-based sex ed programs. #sctweets

dphamilton: word on the House floor is that we’ll be in tonight until 10:00 PM. Glad I brought some snacks.

AntonJGunn: @dphamilton Yes these amendments are changes to the budget bot NOT ONE of them is a “tax increase” or a “fee increase”. Don’t confuse people

johnroconnor: Transparency advocates are not requesting roll call votes on budget sections, though they wanted one for each of 90 sections. #sctweets

AshleySHunter: just found out budget is going till 10 pm. nooooo…. but on a bright note, abstinence works when you are abstinent.

JoeyMillwood: Dems keep putting up amendments that want to spend money, money, money!

JoeyMillwood: Rep. John King’s amendment the latest to fail.

AntonJGunn: @JoeyMillwood There you go again twisting the truth. It wasn’t Dems that voted to spend $350 million of the recovery package in W&Ms.

SCLegislator: @AntonJGunn Til 10:00??? Why didn’t anybody tell me that?

JoeyMillwood: @antonjgunn It was the Dems and I voted against the stimulus, my good man.

JoeyMillwood: Dems keep asking for more money and more money.

AntonJGunn: @JoeyMillwood Yeah I know you voted against the recovery but this entire proposed budget before amendments was a GOP bill. All $5.6B of it.

JoeyMillwood: @dphamilton @ebedingfield @thadviers @nathanballentin I don’t think @antongunn realizes that the majority of the Twitter caucus stood firm.

adampiper: #sctweets – Bill Sandifer exchange re: Mark Sanford might be today’s highlight: GOP St. Rep. has not talked w. GOP Gov in 18 mos.

ShannonErickson: Amndmt #170, now-rolling along! Special thanks to Rep. Joan Brady for the red/white/blue cookies-note says “let’s not fight over the crumbs”

JoeyMillwood: @antonjgunn We’ll never get there with Dems trying to spend all the taxpayer dollars.

AntonJGunn: @JoeyMillwood I know what you did, but I am watching to see if you’ll vote against the final budget w/ the recovery money in it. :-) Scared?

AshleySHunter: maybe the twitter reps can ask them to cut the air back. i know there is a lot of hot air down there, but its freezing in the gallery!!!

adampiper: Gary Simril asks #schouse to help @HenryMcMaster fight the water wars. #sctweets

adampiper: @JoeyMillwood @dphamilton @ebedingfield @thadviers @nathanballentin @antongun- Please help @HenryMcMaster w. the Water Wars #sctweets

SCLegislator: Some of my colleagues need to trim ear hair.

JoeyMillwood: Rep. Hosey just pulled down lots of amendments to applause.

adampiper: @NathanBallentin Thanks for helping give @HenryMcMaster a supersoaker to blast NC in the water war.

AntonJGunn: @adampiper You know I meant “can”! “Yes We Can” protect our water supply. I got your back on this!

thadviers: hanging with rutherford, Thompson and Lowe in the anti-lobby of the statehouse.

adampiper: @thadviers is that the anti-lobby or the ante-lobby

JoeyMillwood: Reps. Ott and Kennedy trying to put on a show on the house floor. The Dems end up talking to each other more than republicans.

adampiper: SC Reps and Kennedy should move their sideshow to the lobby and let the House take up real business #sctweets

adampiper: @ebedingfield – can you ask Mr. Ott if he has a fancy GPS unit – since he accused only the Rich Republicans of having one

EBedingfield: Part 1B’s of the SC Budget. The where and how!

johnroconnor: House finished with first section of budget. About 1/3 through, according to no. of amendments. #sctweets

annephutto: Rep. James Smith fighting for National Board Certified Teachers – go Rep. Smith

RepJamesSmith: is pleased the House took bi-partisan action and restored National Board Teacher Certification.

AshleySHunter: according to bakari sellers- sanford has read one book- the earth is flat.

AntonJGunn: its 7:16pm and we are just starting to get to the meat of how your tax dollars will be spent.

JoeyMillwood: @antonjgunn Your computer time is wrong. It’s actually 8:18.

AntonJGunn: @JonJon66 @JoeyMillwood yes my state government computer is so old that it doesn’t keep up with the time changes.

JoeyMillwood: Still going on the budget. Debating education now. Rep. Ott is talking about redistribution of wealth within a school district.

dphamilton: finally a Democrat admits they are for redistribution, thank you Rep. Ott. “I’ll be blunt, this is about redistribution.” –Rep. Harry Ott

AntonJGunn: @JoeyMillwood “waving my finger at you” – there is no conversation about “redistribution of wealth”. He’s talking about backpacking funding.

AntonJGunn: Backpacking is a positon that is supported by the Ed Finance Study Committee and the SC Policy Council.

JoeyMillwood: @antonjgunn Rep. Ott said the he was talking about “redistribution.” What are you upset about? That’s all Obama talks about.

rpagesc: @dphamilton Are they spreading the wealth around? It scares me when you all are in session late in the evening.

AntonJGunn: @JoeyMillwood That’s not all that Obama talks about. Never heard him use the word. If you vote for the budget you support redistribution too

PhilBaileySC: @JoeyMillwood Will you be voting for final passage with all that stimulus money?

AntonJGunn: I need to bring a dictionary to the House floor. There is so much selective language usage in here.

JoeyMillwood: @antonjgunn No…He just passes the biggest spending bill in history.

PhilBaileySC: @JoeyMillwood Joey, please vote for it so I can pass your recorded vote onto the Club For Growth (aka your campaign funders)

dphamilton: @rpagesc don’t worry, we took extra vitamins today and we’re keeping a vigilant eye on things…they’re trying to increase weighting

WolfeReports: When Kennedy gets worked up, you just have to watch. Better than television.

dphamilton: @rpagesc they have an amendment to add on a weighting for poverty in EFA funding.

AntonJGunn: @JoeyMillwood No he didn’t. Congress did that. Reflect on your High School government class. Congress passes, Presidents sign on veto.

dphamilton: @WolfeReports it is if you have a mute button….don’t know if it comes across on TV/web but he is very loud in the Chamber.

johnroconnor: S.C. Budget debate is now on adding more funding for poorer school students.

AntonJGunn: @JoeyMillwood By the way, its still less than what the previous administration spent on wars in other countries.

JoeyMillwood: @antonjgunn Oh excuse me.Obama and the Democrats in Congress passed the biggest mistake in U.S. Gov’t history. You’re making it easy for me.

dphamilton: alright, @JoeyMillwood & @AntonJGunn, break it up fellas.

johnroconnor: Someone’s got Thursday basketball tix if we’re debating school funding formulas at 9 p.m. Monday of budget week.

AntonJGunn: @JoeyMillwood Nope. The biggest mistake was Iraq. That mistake has cost us lives and money.

SCHouseDems: @shannonerickson Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran- Rob Miller- is watching these budget votes…

paigecoop: @dphamilton Please don’t break it up, some of us at home are enjoying the @JoeyMillwood VS @AntonJGunn prize fight.

JoeyMillwood: @antonjgunn I guess if you don’t think the rest of the world deserves democracy and freedom from a terrible dictator, you may be right.

JoeyMillwood: @antonjgunn What would Jack Bauer Do?

WolfeReports: @JoeyMillwood That is a very simplistic argument. We coddle dictators all the time, when it serves national interests.

WolfeReports: One more hour left in debate? Should order pizza, mix a drink and celebrate.

PhilBaileySC: @ashmanini It’s cool. @JoeyMillwood is too busy “growing government” right now. He could be very “stimulated” so look out.

AshleySHunter: wants to go home!

ashmanini: @philbaileysc LoL. I am enjoing the lively debate on twitter

AntonJGunn: @JoeyMillwood No I think everyone deserves freedom and democracy. I don’t agree that’s what they have in Iraq.

JoeyMillwood: @antonjgunn That will definitely be true when Pres. Obama withdraws our troops.

AntonJGunn: @JoeyMillwood Oh yeah, Bauer would not invade Iraq. He would defend and protect Americans on U.S. soil.

dphamilton: @AntonJGunn & @JoeyMillwood — Just to clarify guys, Jack Bauer is a fictional character.

PhilBaileySC: SC House GOP members to Dem House member’s questions: “I can answer your questions with bullshit and the amendment will still pass.”

JoeyMillwood: @dphamilton Yes…But Bauer is the man. He’s what we should all strive to be. lol.

JoeyMillwood: is tired and happy he didn’t forget his pillow at home.

JoeyMillwood: It looks like we may be winding down.

AntonJGunn: @JoeyMillwood The Millwood Motto: Special Pillows and Special Food makes me Happy.

JoeyMillwood: @antonjgunn hahahaha. For everyone following on sctweets, @antonjgunn and I are friends and agree on Lost and 24 and the greatness they are.

EBedingfield: Binding future GA’s in SC to spend money we won’t have. Is that a good thing? I think not!

dphamilton: @AntonJGunn Ha Ha, now that’s funny.

AntonJGunn: @dphamilton Jack Bauer is real. The House of Representatives is in fantasyland.

PhilBaileySC: Look at @JoeyMillwood spending all that government money. Bravo.

AntonJGunn: Its 10:10pm and we are just now approaching the end of section 1 of 90 sections of the State Budget.

johnroconnor: House wrapping up day’s work. More done on first budget day this year than my previous three sessions. About 40% of amendments.

JoeyMillwood: We have adjourned. Will pick back up at 930 a.m.

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.

Thursday, the House spent roughly six hours debating Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell’s bill on requiring S.C. voters to show a photo ID when they vote. The debate broke down along party lines, as debates tend to do in the post-Clinton/Gingrich era, and this was borne out in the tweets.

dphamilton: SC House now debating Voter ID bill…Democrats opposed to having a photo ID in order to vote.
SCHouseDems: Democrats put up 19 amendments to Voter ID bill, going to be here a while. With no cases of voter fraud, GOP wants to suppress voters in sc.
Snead101: @SCHouseDems If Voter ID doesn’t work, maybe they could resurrect the poll tax
annephutto: Voter ID bill being argued. Bakari arguing fiscal impact to the Repubs
dphamilton: Dems using fiscal argument against voter id…I’m sure its a challenge for them to keep a straight face as they talk.
LachlanMcIntosh: SC GOP: proud to carry on the traditions of the old South, like preventing poor people from voting.
laurinmanning: @PhilBaileySC We’ve gotta stop all that voter fraud! (Nevermind that there’s no evidence of any.) Preemptive lawmaking! Great public policy.
AntonJGunn: Watching Chris Hart lay the wood once again on the WMD Bills. Weapons of Mass Distraction from SC’s jobless rate.
LachlanMcIntosh: SC GOP: Partying like its 1899
PhilBaileySC: Do the SC GOP craft their agendas during games of Dungeons and Dragons? Solving fantasy problems in a fantasy world.
boydbrown: after pushing the agenda they have this week, the GOP needs to suppress as many voters as possible… still not discussing jobs in SC
dphamilton: @boydbrown if ya’ll would quit filibustering we could get to other things. BTW, when was the last time govt created a self-sustaining job?
boydbrown: @dphamilton we’re talking incentives to lure industry to the State, something our neighbors do
dphamilton: SC House Dems love to talk about us wasting time on the House floor yet they are the ones monopolizing the House floor all day.
boydbrown: @dphamilton we have to speak up against this junk, or else y’all will continue to set our state back to 1890 standards
Snead101: @dphamilton You’d prefer elected officials simply lay down whenever they disagree with legislation?
mattheusmei: Clemmons is a whiner
AntonJGunn: I am so glad the Justice Department strike down this embarrassing bill we are debating.
dphamilton: @Snead101 no, but don’t claim that argument if you are the group purposefully using the time to filibuster
AntonJGunn: Since SC hasn’t played fair in its elections since 1964 the Justice Dept has to babysit our election laws. This VoterID bill won’t pass pre-
mattheusmei: Thanks @AntonJGunn for just proving that the folks on the other side of the aisle are out of touch with their constituents though not Rush.
boydbrown: making sure all the GOP members show us their ID before they vote on this bill
annephutto: won’t the Voter ID bill just waste state resources when the Justice Department steps in?
annephutto: the voters of James Island and Folly Beach know that voter fraud is not a problem in this state
boydbrown: Ken Kennedy: “We’re going to look at Missouri’s voter ID bill. Home of John Ashcroft… What a guy… What a guy… What a statesman.”
dphamilton: @boydbrown that’s the quote of the day so far.
Snead101: ! Rep. Kennedy tells us how he really feels #sctweets
JoeyMillwood: Now Dems are speaking against their own amendments to keep us here.
Snead101: Rep. Hart may be confusing some GOPhers. I can hear @Joeymillwood now “Hey, this guy gets it!” #sctweets
mattheusmei: Go Rutherford Go, Dems leave the Chamber balk! BALK BALK BALK
EBedingfield: This is now getting stupid. Rep. Todd Rutherford is not doing himself justice with this point!
mattheusmei: The Minority should abandon the Chamber, this is sad and a legislative farce.
mattheusmei: @Ebedingfield he’s making a valid point though, the point of debate is to make points and arguments to change minds not to speak to a wall.
Snead101: Rep Weeks doesn’t get it – South Carolina doesnt care how other states do it, we just want it dumb #sctweets
mattheusmei: @Snead101 which is why the minority party as a show of defiance should abandon the chamber. Collectively walk out as a sign of disdain.
Snead101: @mattheusmei would require that thing commonly referred to as “leadership”
mattheusmei: @Snead101 Rep. Kennedy or Rutherford should lead the charge out of the chamber, or better yet – Cobb-Hunter.
Snead101: Common Sense Amendment to Voter ID Bill – Chance for Success? Slim to none #sctweets
mattheusmei: a decent amendment to an otherwise wretched piece of legislation, and once again folks of white privelege vote it down. #sctweets
Snead101: Rep. Kennedy is stealing my idea, re: Poll Tax #sctweets
mattheusmei: Tod Rutherford speaks Truth to Power and it falls on deaf ears in SC – go figure. #sctweets
SCHouseDems: Is this 2009 or 1959? Voter suppression is not what the people of SC expect from their lawmakers. We should encourage voting, not deter.
AntonJGunn: I dare anyone to show me any proof of voter fraud that warrants this legislation.
notverybright: Sometimes, like today, I emerge from my self-imposed exile from SC politics and am reminded why I abandoned the good fight. Ugh. #sctweets
dphamilton: @twitterdoug really? you don’t think its a problem anyone could take a registration card w/ no picture on it and use it?
Snead101: Strong words by Rep. Williams, OIF veteran, falls on deaf ears in SC House
EBedingfield: We are a long way down the road on Voter ID requirements. Let’s get to the Stop sign.
Snead101: @EBedingfield I agree and look forward to you voting to stop this attempt to suppress votes
annephutto: I like this next amendment — why should it be okay to mislead people about the time and place of the election? Go Bakari, go!
EBedingfield: @Snead101 I would not dare suppress a voter. However, I would ask people to be truthful and open in identifing themselves.
Snead101: @EBedingfield Fair and noble, but that can be accomplished without adding an extra burden on voters
notverybright: @EBedingfield The SC Repub. playbook is so tired: Pretend to be about some other thing because real motivation would make decent people gag.
JoeyMillwood: @tedpitts speaking on Voter ID bill on House floor.
Snead101: Rep. Neal: “South Carolina’s leadership has not changed.” A “problem state for voting rights.” #sctweets
StewartMoore: black caucus is walking out soon.
ShannonErickson: Voter ID bill close to final vote.Debate all over the map. Bill calls for SC ID & protects voter identity- SC to provide ID free of charge.
annephutto: Voting rights are a serioius issue for all of us. Really, people need to stop snickering.
SCHouseDems: House democrats walk out on voter id bill in protest. Press conference in lobby.
Snead101: In short, we should be working to make it EASIER to vote, not HARDER #sctweets
mattheusmei: I think the Minority is going to abandon the Chamber. Good for them.
mattheusmei: GO DEMS GO!!! GOOD JOB!!! ABANDON THIS FARCE OF A LEGISLATURE!
mattheusmei: YAY FOR THE BLACK CAUCUS, STANDING UP FOR SOUTH CAROLINA’S CITIZENS!
dphamilton: apparently the Black Caucus staged a walkout on Voter ID bill…unfortunately choosing to play politics instead of making policy.
Snead101: @dphamilton After being shut out of the process, what choice was left?
mattheusmei: @dphamilton it’s the only thing they could do, you guys weren’t open to a real debate, you were going to have your way or no way.
dphamilton: @Snead101 Shut out? Shut out? Are you kidding me? We heard nothing but their arguments for 5 hours today & 3 hours in committe.
Snead101: @dphamilton “heard” Didn’t give it any consideration, just “heard” Turning a deaf ear doesn’t help create policy
dphamilton: @twitterdoug zero, my point exactly…its currently impossible to prove voter fraud.
dphamilton: @mattheusmei nah, they can state their point like they have for 5 hours today & vote. That is representative democracy.
dphamilton: @Snead101 kinda like whats going on in the US House right now?
mattheusmei: @dphamilton, but you didn’t debate, you let them speak while not listening, and then you just said “No” you didn’t explain yoruself.
dphamilton: @mattheusmei I made my points in committee…don’t want to drag this out any more, I’m not going to change any votes so I used my vote.
Snead101: @dphamilton touché – But the difference is in this case the minority is RIGHT ;)
ShannonErickson: Opponents say disabled & elderly won’t have ID, but the folks I know already have them b/c medical treatment & pharmacies require it.
mattheusmei: @dphamilton. yes you have your vote. but in this instance you are wrong.
dphamilton: @twitterdoug please don’t speak for me, it is not…take a look at Georgia & Indiana who have similar laws. GA Dem vote went up 6.7%
Snead101: I really don’t see the connection between cashing a check, picking up an Rx and exercising the fundamental practice of our Republic #sct …
ShannonErickson: My mom-Jane Smith-nursing home resident- had wallet (voter card) stolen/misplaced first week there. I wonder if it was used to vote?
douglasford: House votes 65 – 14 in favor of giving 2nd reading on Voter ID.
Snead101: South Carolina House approves 2nd Reading of Voter ID Requirement #sctweets
laurinmanning: @Ragley Thanks to GOP leadership for taking us back to poll tax days. Wasn’t a single reported instance of voter fraud in SC in ’08!
mattheusmei: the inscription above SCHouse Chamber should read: Abandon hope all ye who enter, save the white Republican majority

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.