A bill to give South Carolinians the chance to vote on a state constitutional amendment to ban card check cleared its last hurdle on Wednesday, as the House and Senate both approved H. 3305 with more than a two-thirds majority. Card check is a process that allows easier organizing by unions, and is a departure from the norm of a secret ballot. The amendment is meant to head off the Employee Free Choice Act, a union-backed bill making its way through Congress. Still, if a majority of agreed, under the EFCA a secret ballot vote was still A-OK.

“I don’t necessarily take any pride in the fact that we let Boeing in because we trampled on the rights of workers to organize,” said Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter in the Free Times. “I’m glad Boeing is here, but I quite frankly would like South Carolina workers to have the opportunity to negotiate contracts that will pay them a livable wage and with health benefits similar to what the Boeing workers [in Washington] got.”

Republican leadership in the General Assembly dispute such allegations, saying that making sure card check doesn’t make it to the Palmetto State protects our state’s workers. Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler said, “Boeing’s decision to expand its facility near Charleston serves as a reminder why we must protect our tough right-to-work laws. We are sending a strong message to the world: We want your business, and we’re committed to getting it.” Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell added, “I don’t know of anything more basic to the essence of our nation than the right to a secret ballot election.”

The bill was one of the priorities of conservatives in the General Assembly this year, after it was put on the on-deck circle in the first half of the 2009-2010 session. Following the vote, Sen. Larry Martin took to the Internet to explain what went down.

We’ll never forget it. About five years ago, we went to cover an event that featured a woman running for agriculture commissioner of Texas. She began talking about feral hogs, something we found inherently comical. It’s most likely because after living in cities and suburbs our whole life, the idea of a “wild hog” that didn’t reference a running back lining up at quarterback for the Arkansas football team was funny.

For farmers, it’s not that funny. In Texas, it’s open season on feral hogs 24/7/365. And for good reason, according to our executive editor in the Lone Star State. They’re aggressive, destroy crops, and are the very definition of pests. Very tasty pests, once shot and barbecued. Sure, you could lose a couple acres, but once you get those bastards, it’s time for a slow-cook and a party.

Turns out, South Carolina has a problem with them too. A story out of the Beaufort Gazette says that South Carolina is sixth in the nation for population of the swine.

Carrying disease, eating “pretty much anything” and uprooting lawns, crops and golf courses, the pigs are a serious concern for wildlife officials in the 36 states with established populations, said Joseph Corn of the Southern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study at the University of Georgia.

“Feral swine have a very high reproductive rate and are very hardy animals. That’s why we’re seeing all of these new populations,” Corn said. “Controlling an animal like that is very difficult.”

Hunting wild hogs, which can grow as large as 500 pounds, is legal on private property year-round, Dozier said.

What we were told is that these days, what happens is domesticated pigs escape and get out into the wild. Within a short period, they grow bristly hair and tusks, becoming a serious problem. For a lot of people, it could be time for an honest-to-God sausage party.

There’s an effort to stop people from actively adding to the population. Sen. Larry Martin prefiled a bill, which is in the Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee, to make it a crime to commit actions that could increase the feral hog population.

S. 932: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 50-16-25 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE RELEASE OF PIGS FOR HUNTING PURPOSES, TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS, BUY, SELL, OFFER FOR SALE, TRANSFER, RELEASE, OR TRANSPORT FOR THE PURPOSE OF RELEASE A MEMBER OF THE SUIDAE FAMILY FOR HUNTING OR TO SUPPLEMENT A FREE ROAMING POPULATION, TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL TO REMOVE A LIVE HOG FROM A TRAP OR FROM THE WOODS, FIELDS, OR MARSHES OF THIS STATE, AND TO CLARIFY THAT THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO ACCEPTED FARMING PRACTICES RELATED TO MEMBERS OF THE SUIDAE FAMILY.

This year, it looks clearer than in most sessions that tort reform is going to get through the General Assembly. The House Republicans have made it a top priority of their’s, and in general the GOP leadership is behind the legislation. The wild card in this deal is the S.C. Association for Justice (still referred on disclosure reports as the S.C. Trial Lawyers Association). Several years ago, we heard a Democratic fundraiser complain that the trial lawyers were spreading money to both parties, while he was used to having the local TLA be an exclusively Democratic supporter. We’ll see what happens.

Yesterday, Secretary of Commerce Joe Taylor sent letters to Rep. Jim Harrison and Sen. Larry Martin urging them to push through tort reform. Unlike some of the other legislative battles, we feel this one will be fought with dollars, influence and high-priced dinners, behind the scenes.Then you’ll see the cleaned-up version go on display in committees and in the chambers.

We’ve often said that what the leadership wants, the leadership gets. But, it’s not always so. This is a struggle that will not be settled early.

Taylor’s letter to Harrison:

It seemed like a sure thing last week when the voter ID/early voting bill, H. 3418, passed on second reading. In most occasions, that’s the green light to seeing legislation move on. Not this time. Senate Democrats protested, with gubernatorial candidate and Sen. Vince Sheheen said in The State, “We need to change it.”

This seems insane. After a very contentious debate, and what seemed like a reasonable compromise under the circumstances, we’re back at the beginning, on third reading, no less. Sen. Larry Martin said of the situation, “I hope the harmony and good will of last week and move this across the hall.” Maybe so, but it didn’t extend to the very chamber the harmony and good will came from.

Wednesday, the third reading of the bill, which was interrupted on Tuesday, will look suspiciously like a second reading rodeo. We still think the bill will pass, but only the insiders know what will be going down in the Senate.

Thursday’s brokered end to the battle over the Voter ID/early voting bill in the Senate showed a brief glimpse of a change in the atmosphere of the General Assembly this year. If one thing has been at the forefront, it’s been Republican red meat bills and Democratic obstruction. There ends up being a lot of talking from the left side of either chamber, and when a enough legislators finally have enough of the mess, debate is adjourned with the hope of fixing the problem later.

The same thing was going on in the Senate, which had just come out of filibustering over the state sovereignty resolution. Then came H. 3418, the bill chief sponsored by Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell that passed the lower chamber last year. The Democrats, who get cheeky in their role in opposition, showed up with 1,001 amendments to the bill. Take that into account — you have to have so much commitment to fucking with the majority party that you have staff go through and write hundreds of amendments.

Fortunately, Sens. Chip Campsen and Gerald Malloy came together and worked out the kinks to get the bill passed. It’s what legislation is about, and that’s compromise to reach an equitable solution. Republicans get voter ID, Democrats get more on early voting.

In a statement, Senate Minority Leader John Land said, “This is a good compromise that protects the voter’s access to the polls and the integrity of our elections. Democrats’ priority from the beginning of this debate was to ensure that all registered voters would have uninterrupted access to the polls. I believe this plan keeps the polls open to all citizens and goes a long way to making voting more efficient in our state.”

In The State, Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell had a similar opinion. “It’s something everybody can look at,” He said. “It is a bipartisan effort.”

Before the bill made it through, Sen. Larry Martin said to the AP, “The integrity of the voting process is one of the most important rights of citizenship that we have, and when that in any way is jeopardized, it stands to suffer.”

TUESDAY
HOUSE
Introductions

• H. 4351, by Rep. Kenneth Hodges, to make it the policy of the state to promote microbusinesses — companies with five or fewer employees.
• H. 4352, by Hodges, to establish a study committee to promote and provide funds for the creation and growth of small businesses.

SENATE
Introductions

• S. 1058, by Sen. Larry Martin, to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot to abolish the office of lieutenant governor, and to make the necessary changes involving the incapacity or removal of the governor, and the order of succession.
• H. 4253, by Rep. Tim Scott, a concurrent resolution to urge the Department of Commerce to start a business recruitment initiative that emphasized South Carolina’s right-to-work status.
• H. 4299, by Rep. Dan Cooper, to allow spending flexibility among public schools in a number of areas.

Enrolled for ratification

• H. 3488, by Rep. James Smith, to develop a committee to address veterans’ issues.

Amended and adopted

• S. 424, by Sen. Lee Bright, relating to the rights of South Carolinians under the Ninth and 10th Amendments.

WEDNESDAY
HOUSE
Introductions

• H. 4373, by Rep. Dwight Loftis, to set up a state Department of Energy and provide for a director to be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, and eliminating the State Energy Office.
• H. 4385, by Rep. Michael Thompson, to reform the board of trustees for the University of South Carolina.
• H. 4386, by Thompson, to set term limits for public university boards of trustees.

Objection to recall

• H. 3952, by Rep. Chris Hart, to place a six-month moratorium on foreclosures and accrual of interest on certain mortgages. Hart asked to recall the bill from the Judiciary Committee, but Rep. Jim Harrison objected.

Sent to the Senate

• H. 3543, by Rep. Joan Brady, implementing a dating violence policy to help local school districts to develop their own policies and to create reporting requirements.

Debate adjourned

• H. 3280, by Rep. Tom Young, to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot to allow the voters to decide as to whether they would support removing the superintendent of education from the number of constitutional officers on the ballot. The bill is scheduled to be taken up again on Jan. 26.

Reported out of committee favorably

• H. 4318, by T. Young, a concurrent resolution to show the objection of the General Assembly to the Federal government’s abandoning of Yucca Mountain as the default storage location for nuclear waste.

SENATE
Introductions

• H. 4303, by Rep. Kenny Bingham, immediate reforms to the Employment Security Commission, including parameters for disqualifying some applicants and upgrading technology.

Reported out of committee favorably

• S. 1034, by Sen. Hugh Leatherman, to extend until Nov. 15, 2010 the deadline by which the Taxation Realignment Commission should submit its report and recommendations.

Motion for special order

• H. 3418, by Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell, to require voters show a picture ID when voting. Martin moved to have the bill placed as special order, which failed 26-17.

• S. 391, by Sen. Greg Ryberg, to reform the Employment Security Commission. Sen. Nikki Setzler moved to place the bill as special order, which failed 18-23.

THURSDAY
HOUSE
Introductions

• S. 424, by Bright, relating to the rights of South Carolinians under the Ninth and 10th Amendments.
• H. 4410, by Rep. Alan Clemmons, to establish term limits for members of the House and Senate.

Recalled and sent back to committee

• H. 4385, by Thompson, to reform the board of trustees for the University of South Carolina. It was recalled from Judiciary and sent to Education and Public Works.
• H. 4351 and H. 4352, by Hodges, to make it the policy of the state to promote microbusinesses — companies with five or fewer employees; and to establish a study committee to promote and provide funds for the creation and growth of small businesses. Both bills were recalled from Ways and Means and sent to Labor, Commerce and Industry.

Adopted and sent to the Senate

• H. 4318, by T. Young, a concurrent resolution to show the objection of the General Assembly to the Federal government’s abandoning of Yucca Mountain as the default storage location for nuclear waste.

Reported out of committee favorably

• S. 424, by Bright, relating to the rights of South Carolinians under the Ninth and 10th Amendments.

SENATE
Introductions

• S. 1093, by Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, to rescind the current resolution setting a date and time for judicial elections.
• S. 1085 and S. 1086, by Leatherman, to increase from three to five percent the amount of revenue deposited into the General Reserve Fund, and other reforms pertaining to the move; a constitutional amendment doing the same.
• H. 3543, by Brady, implementing a dating violence policy to help local school districts to develop their own policies and to create reporting requirements.
• H. 4318, by T. Young, a concurrent resolution to show the objection of the General Assembly to the Federal government’s abandoning of Yucca Mountain as the default storage location for nuclear waste.

Carried over

• S. 1034, by Leatherman, to extend until Nov. 15, 2010 the deadline by which the Taxation Realignment Commission should submit its report and recommendations. Ryberg made the motion to carry over.
• S. 517, by Sen. Tom Davis, to prevent any part of state government from administratively raising a fee or penalty without said increase first being approved by the General Assembly. The provision would expire on Jan. 15, 2011. The bill was amended, and carried over per a motion by Leatherman.

QUOTES
Regarding letting House Minority Leader Harry Ott talk first on “This Week in the House.”
Bingham: Let him go ahead first, I don’t mind having the last word.

===

On the vote inviting the national commander of the American Legion.
Harrell: The resolution is inviting the national commander of the American Legion to speak to the body. We’re in a roll call vote on it. In other words, it’s a vote of whether or not you’re going to attend.
Ott: And we’re going to hold you to it if you vote yes.
(Laughter)

===

During the debate on the state sovereignty bill.
Sen. Phil Leventis: I’ve probably fired more bullets than you have. Why? Because I used to shoot them at 100 a second. Not for many seconds, but that’s how fast the gun shoots on the plane that I flew for about 20 years. And even though I did it maybe once a week, you know. So, we’ll leave that statement unchallenged that I fired more shells than y’all have, and then the next time we get up, you can assure me why I’m wrong about that.

===

During the discussion of the suit against the Judicial Merit Selection Commission.
Sen. Robert Ford: You know our colleagues in Charleston, our constituents. I mean, they’re always ready to fight.
McConnell: Now, Charleston can create crises around here.

The Senate, like its national counterpart, is known for being tradition-bound and extending a fairly large amount of courtesy to its members. But every deliberative body has rules, and those rules were tested on Thursday when it appeared several members were engaging in a stalling tactic. It involved several bills that were set up to deal with sales tax exemptions, as a number of senators were seeking to get the bills placed on the calendar without reference.

The festivities started off with Sen. Gerald Malloy. That bill, S. 1080, addressed sales tax exemptions on publications. Malloy went to the podium to explain the legislation during its first reading. His time speaking started getting rather lengthy, so Sen. Larry Martin submitted a point of order, after the calendar motion failed, that Malloy should no longer have the floor. The point of order failed, and Malloy continued talking and taking questions. Patience appeared to be running out and Martin asked another point of order that Malloy had expended his time as allotted during the introductions period.

Martin:

Mr. President, we’ve been here 30 minutes on this one introduction, at least 30 minutes, and I just felt like that it was time we move on to further introductions.

Malloy:

I appreciate the way the senator from Pickens feels, but I rose from my chair, I asked to be heard. For the first several minutes, no one listened. No one listened – well, some people listened. Let me say that. The bill is on the desk, I asked to be heard on the bill, I gave some background, answered a lot of questions. And so, what we’re talking about is the sales tax exemptions and the responsibility of the Senate.

Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell:

I don’t mean to interrupt you, but he’s raised a point of order. You just need to address to the Chair your remark on the question. Let me see if I can bring some clarity to the Senate. Under our rules – this is not an advisory opinion – but under our rules, it’s very clear that we have an introductions of bills and resolutions, provided for on the calendar. Under our rules, we have here at the desk, no discretion over what we can do. According to the rules that you have passed, we must refer the bill to the committee of jurisdiction. Therefore, under those rules, none of you are given a direct right to get up and debate a bill on first reading. However, under our rules, each of you can make a point, an expression of personal interest or other remarks. They must not exceed five minutes. The Senate has always been a body of tradition, of allowing members to get up – primary sponsors, and explain. A member has a question. But, I would remind the Senate of the rules that we all put in, which, technically, take you into the five-minutes. However, the Senate has been tolerant of other members being able to get some information. And, that is the rule. And I will approach the point of orders based on that rule.

Martin:

Let me state this, Mr. President, if I may, from my desk, if there’s no objection to it. I am certainly not going to object, and I withdraw the point of order that’s been raised on the senator from Darlington. I think at this point in time, he’s spoken for 20 minutes or so – I didn’t keep close count, but it was 20, 25 minutes – and Mr. President, I wouldn’t have ever raised it had there been just one bill, had there been the understanding that this was it. The understanding that I’ve got, a clear understanding, Mr. President, that there is an effort underway to abuse the process. And I would just encourage the members to understand there is a clear rule on this. And, that we follow that rule and not abuse – there are other ways we can slow down the calendar. I understand what is underway. But this isn’t provided in the rule. It doesn’t allow unlimited discussion, as you so clearly stated.

Martin added that his points of order were no slight to Malloy, nor to disrespect his enthusiasm for the legislation. That didn’t mean that it was the last time this dance occurred. Sen. John Matthews stepped up to explain S. 1084, dealing with sales taxes on all manner of things related to trains and their parts. The bill was put up for going on the calendar without reference, that failed, and Martin raised the point of order for speaking over the allotted time again.

That managed to stop the moves, as S. 1090, S. 1091 and S. 1092, all similar bills, were published and sent to their appropriate committees.

This is why this feature needs to be done after each day the General Assembly is in session. Like a college football team playing its first game of the year, we were a little rusty out of the gate — and absent-mindedly short of AAA batteries for the voice recorder. Regardless, a lot happened in the first week of this year’s session, and here’s a few of the highlights.

TUESDAY
HOUSE
Statement from Rep. Ted Pitts

• Today, on the first day of the 2010 legislative year, it disappoints me that I cannot be there at the opening of what will be my last year as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives. If plans do not change, the next time I step on the floor of the House, it will be as a former member. Serving the County and State I love so much in the S.C. House has been one of the greatest honors of my life and the memories and friendships will be cherished. The House truly is a great institution, bigger than any one person and an embodiment of what our Founding Fathers intended, with South Carolinians deciding collectively through a representative democracy, what is best for South Carolina. During 2010, I have been called to serve our State and Country in a different place and on a different front. Like many after the attacks of 9/11, I found myself wanting to do my part to protect and defend the greatness of this Country. It is now my turn to go do my part in the ‘War on Terror’ as a Captain in the South Carolina National Guard, like Luke 12:48 says “To those much is given, much is expected.”

Special presentation

• Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell and the Charleston delegation presented former Rep. Wallace Scarborough with a showing of their thanks for his service in the General Assembly.

Reported out of committee favorably

• H. 4219, sponsored by Rep. Jim Harrison, a censure resolution of Gov. Mark Sanford. It was ordered to be taken up on Wednesday.

SENATE
Introduced

• S. 1040, by Sen. Mike Rose, to allow games of Texas hold ‘em, or any other poker game, to be played at Federal military installations in the state, as permitted by the base commander.

Received from the House

• H. 4022, by Ted Pitts, to provide that firearms, ammunition and accessories manufactured and kept in South Carolina are exempt from Federal firearms laws.

Debate interrupted

• S. 424, by Sen. Lee Bright, relating to the rights of South Carolinians under the Ninth and 10th Amendments. A strike-and-replace amendment to the bill was offered, to address actions by Congress relating to health care and bailouts. The action surprised Democrats, who began a filibuster.

WEDNESDAY
HOUSE
Motion

• Rep. Tom Young requested that the House adjourn in memory of former state Treasurer Grady Patterson.

Introduced

• H. 4298, by Rep. Joan Brady, related to reform of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.
• H. 4299, by Rep. Dan Cooper, to allow spending flexibility among public schools in a number of areas.
• H. 4303, by Rep. Kenny Bingham, immediate reforms to the Employment Security Commission, including parameters for disqualifying some applicants and upgrading technology.
• H. 4327, By Rep. Mike Sottile, to provide an exception to Sunday beer and wines laws, so as to allow an establishment already allowed to sell beer and wine to purchase a permit that would allow them to sell on Sunday.

Reported out of committee favorably

• H. 4253, sponsored by Rep. Tim Scott, a concurrent resolution to urge the Department of Commerce to start a business recruitment initiative that emphasized South Carolina’s right-to-work status.

Ordered to third reading

• H. 3279, by T. Young, to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot to allow the voters to decide as to whether they would support removing the secretary of state from the number of constitutional officers on the ballot. It passed, 77-41.

Passed

• H. 4219, by Harrison, to censure the Governor. The concurrent resolution passed with a margin of 102-11. Most no votes were by Democrats who wanted to see a sterner resolution.

Debate adjourned

• Debate was adjourned for two bills relating to the budget until Feb. 2. One was the actual budget bill (H. 3561), and the other was a bill to amend the tax code (H. 3854, by Cooper).
• H. 3543, by Brady, implementing a dating violence policy to help local school districts to develop their own policies and to create reporting requirements. Rep. Walt McLeod wanted to see how much such a measure would cost, and requested the bill be taken back up on Jan. 20.
• H. 3280, by T. Young, to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot to allow the voters to decide as to whether they would support removing the superintendent of education from the number of constitutional officers on the ballot.
• H. 3608, by Rep. David Mack, to establish early voting centers, a way for a voter to register and vote early, and other matters related to the issue.

SENATE
Introduced

• S. 1042, by Sen. Jake Knotts, to allow teachers to administer corporal punishment on school grounds without being subject to civil or criminal penalties, and extending that protection to administrators and the district.

Reported out of committee favorably

• H. 3488, by Rep. James Smith, to develop a committee to address veterans’ issues.

Recalled, sent to committee

• H. 4219, by Harrison, to censure the Governor. Knotts suggested that the bill should go through the normal committee process, and the resolution was sent to the Judiciary Committee.

Passed on second reading

• S. 1027, by Sen. Yancey McGill, to prohibit hunters from using dogs on private property without permission.

Debate interrupted

• S. 424, by Bright, relating to the rights of South Carolinians under the Ninth and 10th Amendments. A strike-and-replace amendment to the bill was offered, to address actions by Congress relating to health care and bailouts. Democrats continued their filibuster.

THURSDAY
HOUSE
Special presentation

• Harrell and the Charleston delegation presented Mack with his Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Picture Award for “going above and beyond” his service to the community.

Introduced

• H. 4336, by Cooper, to extend the deadline for a report and recommendations from the Taxation Realignment Commission from March 15 to Nov. 15.
• H. 4348, by Rep. Anton Gunn, to require minutes of full committees and subcommittees of the House be recorded by voice recorder, archived, available online and to require that votes on all actions be taken by roll call vote.

Ordered to third reading

• H. 4299, by Cooper, to allow spending flexibility among public schools in a number of areas.

Ordered to third reading, as amended

• H. 4303, by Bingham, immediate reforms to the Employment Security Commission, including parameters for disqualifying some applicants and upgrading technology. It passed, 112-1.

Rejected

• H. 3279, by T. Young, to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot to allow the voters to decide as to whether they would support removing the secretary of state from the number of constitutional officers on the ballot. It failed by lacking a two-thirds majority, 72-38.

Adopted and sent to Senate

• H. 4253, sponsored by Scott, a concurrent resolution to urge the Department of Commerce to start a business recruitment initiative that emphasized South Carolina’s right-to-work status.

Debate adjourned

• H. 3280, by T. Young, to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot to allow the voters to decide as to whether they would support removing the superintendent of education from the number of constitutional officers on the ballot.

SENATE
Introduced

• S. 1053, by Sen. Glenn McConnell, to mandate that no fee, penalty or tax can be raised in the general appropriations bill, and only by separate legislation, and to provide exemptions.

Passed on second reading as amended

• S. 517, by Sen. Tom Davis, to prevent any part of state government from administratively raising a fee or penalty without said increase first being approved by the General Assembly. The provision would expire at the end of the session.

Ordered to third reading

• H. 3488, by J.E. Smith, to develop a committee to address veterans’ issues.

Passed on third reading, sent to House

• S. 1027, by McGill, to prohibit hunters from using dogs on private property without permission, as amended by committee.

Debate interrupted

• S. 424, by Bright, relating to the rights of South Carolinians under the Ninth and 10th Amendments. A strike-and-replace amendment to the bill was offered, to address actions by Congress relating to health care and bailouts. Democrats continued their filibuster.

QUOTES
Statement by Sens. McConnell, Billy O’Dell, Larry Martin, Thomas Alexander, and Hugh Leatherman in regard to the vote to adjourn on Thursday.
Today, the opponents of the Sovereignty Resolution, S. 424, who had been engaging in extended debate to block passage offered to conclude the debate on Tuesday if the Senate would adjourn. Those of us who wanted to pass the Resolution did not have the cloture votes to conclude the debate today and vote up or down. Therefore, the offer by the opponents was reasonable and made good common sense. There was no need to sit here today in a filibuster and then be back in a filibuster on Tuesday when we could conclude the matter on Tuesday. To vote against adjournment meant no deal and no end to the debate. A vote by supporters of the Resolution with the opponents today to adjourn assures an end to the filibuster.

This was explained to the other supporters of the Resolution who chose instead to oppose adjournment. That vote, in our opinion, was supposed to apparently make them appear more determined than some of us to pass the Resolution; but, in actuality, their votes, if they prevailed, would have left the Resolution to die in extended debate.

= = =

On H. 4219, the resolution to censure
Harrison: Ladies and gentlemen, we have lived this nightmare for the past seven months.

= = =

As Harrell and the Charleston delegation stood at the podium on Thursday
Rep. Harry Cato: Mr. Speaker, if I knew how to turn you on, I would.
Laughter
Cato: Mr. Speaker, if I knew how to turn your microphone on, I would.

= = =

While speaking in opposition to the superintendent of education constitutional amendment.
McLeod: The Speaker wants to adjourn debate, and whatever the Speaker wants, I want.

Maybe it’s the fact that Gov. Mark Sanford is in his last full year in office, but legislators — ones with some power, no less — are coming up with good ideas, one after the other. The latest comes from Sen. Larry Martin, who is suggesting eliminating the lieutenant governor’s office altogether.

As he points out, there doesn’t seem to be a good reason for the state to spend money on what is a largely ceremonial position. All that would need to happen is to have the Office on Aging moved under the aegis of the governor, and have the Senate president pro tempore as second in line to the governor, in the event of death or incapacitation.

Some, who obviously haven’t looked at the situation closely, are calling it a power play by the Senate. Nothing could be further from the truth. There is no power to play for. Unfortunately, the fact that this proposal makes so much sense is that it could be DOA this year.

Guess what? Remember when members of the House put out a number of bills going after “distracted drivers” dealing with their Blackberrys, iPhones and whatsis? The Senate says, “Hello!” Or, maybe a more appropriate greeting would be, “Can you hear me ticketing you now?”

Again, please some committee chairman combine these bills. There are some minor differences, but it’s basically all the same — don’t drive and talk on your mobile phone or being text messaging your pals or you’ll be in violation of the law.

S. 954: (Sen. Luke Rankin) A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 5, TITLE 56 OF THE 1976 CODE, BY ADDING ARTICLE 49, TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR A DRIVER OVER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN TO USE A WIRELESS TELEPHONE OR WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE WITHOUT A HANDS-FREE DEVICE, TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR A DRIVER AGE EIGHTEEN OR YOUNGER TO USE A WIRELESS TELEPHONE OR WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE, TO PROVIDE THAT A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION MAY NOT BE THE SOLE OR PRIMARY BASIS FOR A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TO STOP A VEHICLE, TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS, TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE PENALTIES AND DEFINITIONS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR AN EDUCATION PROGRAM.

S. 970: (Sen. Kevin Bryant) A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 50 TO CHAPTER 5, TITLE 56, TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR DRIVERS TO SEND OR READ TEXT MESSAGES OR E-MAILS, TO PROVIDE THAT A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION MAY NOT BE THE SOLE OR PRIMARY BASIS FOR A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TO STOP A VEHICLE, TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS, TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE PENALTIES AND DEFINITIONS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR AN EDUCATION PROGRAM.

S. 991: (Sen. Mike Rose) A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 5, TITLE 56 OF THE 1976 CODE, BY ADDING SECTION 56-5-3895, TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON MAY NOT OPERATE A MOTOR VEHICLE WHILE TEXT MESSAGING WITH A CELL PHONE OR OTHER WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE, AND TO PROVIDE FOR PENALTIES AND EXCEPTIONS.

On the continuing hypocrisy watch of those opposing mandated health insurance, we’ve got another winner. Come on down, Sen. David Thomas. What about all those hippie yay-hoos and their scooters going hither and yon? Make those long-hairs get insurance!

S. 922: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 56-1-1715 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE OWNERS OF A MOPED TO OBTAIN LIABILITY INSURANCE AS IS REQUIRED OF MOTOR VEHICLES; AND TO AMEND SECTION 38-77-30, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS USED IN THE REGULATION OF AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE, SO AS TO DELETE THE EXCEPTION OF A MOPED FROM THE DEFINITION OF “MOTOR VEHICLES”.

And let’s not leave out the seniors tooling around Sun City in their golf carts, Sen. Larry Martin.

S. 930: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-115 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO GOLF CARTS, TO REQUIRE PERMITTED GOLF CARTS TO OPERATE ONLY WITHIN TWO MILES OF THE ADDRESS ON THE REGISTRATION AND TO REQUIRE PERMITS BE REPLACED EVERY FIVE YEARS OR AT TIME OF ADDRESS CHANGE.

You may not take your tricked-out golf cart to Bluffton, Bubba. We’re watching you.

ADDENDUM: You may have noticed that in the number of Senate prefiled bills posts, there was a paucity of Democrats called out. That’s because there were damn few bills prefiled by Senate Democrats. Why? Don’t know. Everybody and their mom was waiting for something wild from Sen. Robert Ford, but he didn’t have one bill in the hopper. Maybe the Dems are coordinated and have something up their sleeves, but, we, ah, hahahahaha. Coordinated Democrats? That’s a contradiction in terms.