When Howard Rich decided to kick in his dollars for the 2010 primary cycle, his choices were of a better nature than last time, considering that in a lot of races, the candidates who accepted money had a better-than-average chance of winning. Even two guys who he gave money to try to beat last time — Bill Sandifer and Mike Sottile come to mind — are now considered OK. And speaking of stacking the deck, two gentlemen on this list were already virtually guaranteed to return to the House next year.
BILL SANDIFER
Republican, House District 2, won primary
Contributions: $18,025
Expenditures: $54,481.81
Cash on hand: $39,805.08
Significant contributions
188 Claremont LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
123 Lasalle Associates, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
470 W 116 LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
332 E. 11 LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Bradford Management of N.Y., $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Coolcal LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Free and Strong America PAC, $1,000
Former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney’s PAC
Significant expenditures
Homeyer Strategy Group (consulting), $12,363.90
Jason Puhlaski (consulting), $1,540.84, $1,913.12, $5,000
Rod Shealy (mail), $8,274
On The Mark (mail), $11,892.32
DON BOWEN
Republican, House District 8, no primary
Contributions: $24,174.10
(In-kind: $100)
Expenditures: $4,832.16
Cash on hand: $25,326.75
Significant contributions
470 W 166 LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Rich Lending Corporation, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
188 Claremont LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
123 Lasalle Associates, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Coolcal LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
S.C. Leadership PAC, $1,000
Rep. Dan Cooper’s PAC
Palmetto Leadership Council, $1,000
Organization of Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell
S.C. House Republican Caucus, $5,000
Legislative caucus
Palmetto Patriot Leadership Committee, $1,000
Organization of Rep. Alan Clemmons
Significant expenditures
None.
MIKE PITTS
Republican, House District 14, no primary
Contributions: $8,650
Expenditures, $2,608.93
Cash on hand: $48,409.91
Significant contributions
538-14 Realty LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Rich Lending Corporation, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
188 Claremont LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
332 E. 11 LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Silver & Silver Properties, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Significant expenditures
None.
RICK QUINN
Republican, House District 69, won primary
Contributions: $18,185
Expenditures: $16,200.10
Cash on hand: $12,680
Significant contributions
HuckPAC, $500
Former Ark. Gov. Mike Huckabee’s PAC
Palmetto Leadership Council, $1,000
Organization of Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell
S.C. House Republican Caucus, $5,000
Legislative committee
Leon Stavrinakis, $150
State representative
Hall & Bowers, $1,000
Law firm
S.C. Club for Growth PAC, $1,000
Political action committee
Stillrich LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
123 Lasalle Associates, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Rich Lending Corporation, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Coolcal LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Significant expenditures
Mail Marketing Strategies (mail), $1,269.59, $2,608.20×4
Richard Quinn & Associates (consulting), $3,600
JIM HARRISON
Republican, House District 75, won primary
Contributions: $16,799.65
Expenditures: $0
Cash on hand: $95,511.17
Significant contributions
188 Claremont LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
123 Lasalle Associates, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Coolcal LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
470 W 166 LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Significant expenditures
None.
ROLAND SMITH
Republican, House District 84, won primary
Contributions: $10,250
Expenditures: $6,798.15
Cash on hand: $63,766
Significant contributions
The SCEA Fund, $500
Public education group
470 W 166 LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
123 Lasalle Associates, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Rich Lending Corporation, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Coolcal LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Conservation Voters of S.C., $500
Environmental organization
Significant expenditures
Zacher Media Strategies (mail, ads), $1,912.42, $3,805.86
NELSON HARDWICK
Republican, House District 106, won primary
Contributions: $12,100
Expenditures: $34,643.09
Cash on hand: $15,389.23
Significant contributions
Bradford Management of N.Y., $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
470 W 166 LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Ripley’s Aquarium, $250
Attraction
Coolcal LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
123 Lasalle Associates, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
188 Claremont LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Significant expenditures
Lucky Dog Television (ads), $27,500
MIKE SOTTILE
Republican, House District 112, won primary
Contributions: $17,700
Expenditures: $39,542.37
Cash on hand: $8,091.18
Significant contributions
West 14 & 18 LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Free and Strong America PAC, $250
Former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney’s PAC
Coolcal LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Rich Lending Corporation, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Stillrich LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Bradford Management of N.Y., $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Silver & Silver Properties, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
123 Lasalle Associates, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
188 Claremont LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Significant expenditures
Donehue Direct (consulting), $14,740.03, $7,511.80, $3,534.81, $2,023.60, $181.35, $10,485.43
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.
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.
The House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee announced today two days for hearings to listen to testimony from small businesses on the “Small Business Red Tape Reduction” bill. The intention of the bill is to reduce barriers for small businesses in South Carolina so that the businesses, and the state’s economy, can be more successful.
“We want to give those individuals who are driving our state’s economy the first opportunity to have a voice in this debate,” Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell said in a statement. “With an unemployment rate approaching 10 percent, government should be looking for ways to help economic progress that will lead to job growth. Their hands-on knowledge of how over-burdensome, red tape regulations hinder growth and make their jobs more difficult will be invaluable in the drafting of this bill.”
During debate on several bills in the House this session, representatives have testified that there needs to be legislation brought to the floor that will encourage job creation. The red tape bill is one of those efforts this year.
“Participation from the business community will be a key factor in creating a successful red tape reduction bill,” LCI chairman Bill Sandifer said in a statement. “Without their guidance, it will just be a case of government blindly dictating to businesses what is best for them and could potentially do more harm than good. Our state’s business leaders will help us target and eliminate the red tape that is holding back their growth.”
The hearings will be on March 25 at 2:30 pm and March 26 at 9 a.m.
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.
