June concluded another successful session for REALTORS® at the South Carolina State House. SC REALTORS® would like to thank several legislators for their leadership on the South Carolina REALTOR® Quality of Life agenda. From the Residential Improvements Districts legislation to the Business License Fee bill, our success was dependent on the hard work of these legislators and their dedication to homeownership.
Many Thanks To …
Senator Kevin Bryant (District 3, Anderson) – Senator Bryant serves on the Labor, Commerce and Industry (LCI) Subcommittee that considered H.4554, relating to business license fees for real estate professionals. He was instrumental in moving this bill to the full LCI Committee and ultimately to the Senate floor for consideration. Senator Bryant is also one of the Senate’s leading advocates for small business and homeownership. As such, he has been a true friend of the real estate industry. the full article

Raising Taxes is Not the Answer

Anderson, SC - Senator Kevin Bryant (R-Anderson), a well-documented fiscal-conservative, released the following response to South Carolina Department of Education Superintendent Jim Rex’s suggestion that some of the states education woes can be solved by possibly imposing a statewide property tax on business and industry.
“This plan to raise taxes is the exact opposite of what we need right now. When the economy is down, government needs to leave money in the small business cash registers, not seize more of it,” said Bryant.
“I’ve said from the beginning that we must continue to lower and flatten the tax burden. This proposal on the other hand, simply offers the same solution that Democrats always offer—‘Let’s take more of your money.’” Bryant added that a tax and spend solution to the problem comes as no surprise from South Carolina’s leading Democrat.
“As a rule I think property tax is the most unfair tax we have as a state and I for one think we should continue working to eliminate this unfair tax, not looking for new ways to increase this burden,” said Bryant. “I do not understand why during this critical economic slowdown the State Superintendent would be proposing a new tax on business and industry as a source of funding.”
“School funding equity is a top priority for me,” said Bryant. “We must move to a per-pupil formula. We must also eliminate the bureaucratic friction at both the state and local levels that results in less than fifty cents of every dollar from getting into the classroom. Those are the changes we need, not higher property taxes.”
Bryant also noted that the $90 million cut imposed by the State Budget and Control Board almost equals the $92 million in specific earmarks for local projects contained in the 2007-2008 state budget. “That money could be going to classrooms instead of museums and chitlin struts, but tax and spenders assume when they run out of money they’ll just get more from you. I will fight any legislation seeking to take more money from your pocket.”

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An eight-year-old dog has touched the hearts of Argentines by saving the life of an abandoned baby, placing him safely alongside her own new puppies.

The country’s media are calling him “the miracle baby”. 

He was born prematurely to a 14-year-old girl in a shanty town outside the capital, Buenos Aires.

She is said to have panicked and abandoned the boy in a field, surrounded by wooden boxes and rubbish.

Then along came La China, reports say, the dog which somehow picked up the baby and carried her 50m to place him alongside her own puppies.

The dog’s owner reported hearing the child crying and finding him covered with a rag.

The baby, weighing 4kg (8lb 13oz), had some slight injuries, but no bite marks.

Owner’s concern

The owner called the police and the child is now being looked after by the authorities, while a decision is taken about his future.

The frightened mother appeared shortly after her baby was found.

The Argentine media has descended on the shanty town, talking of “the Argentine Romulus and Remus”, the founders of Rome, abandoned as babies and rescued by a wolf, nearly 3,000 years ago.

La China, worried about her own puppies, is reported to be petrified by her new found fame, and her owner says he is worried that she is not eating.

take a look at the video

            The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) Commission has approved a change in the appearance of the signs that are used to identify South Carolina highway route numbers. The current black & white signs will gradually be replaced with blue & white signs that also display an outline of the state, the Palmetto Tree & Crescent state symbol. In addition, “South Carolina” will be spelled out on the sign.

           Members of the SCDOT Commission agreed that the change is an improvement in identifying state roads. The addition of the state outline, state symbol and the spelling out of the state’s name will clearly indicate to travelers that they are in South Carolina. The signs will gradually appear on state routes. Signs that identify highways that are U.S. primary routes and interstate highways will not change. 

          The use of the new state route signs will not incur any additional costs. The state signs will not be changed until the existing signs reach their normal lifespan, which is between seven and ten years. However, signs that are damaged or stolen will be replaced with the new version as soon as possible. In addition, the change from black ink to blue will not cause a price increase. The shade of blue being used for the new state signs is the same ink used for interstate highway shields, and is already in stock at the SCDOT sign shops.

We had a great reception Tuesday (2008.08.26) night with special Guest Gov. Mark Sanford at Rusty & Jennifer Garrett’s home. Even in questionable weather, approximately 120 supporters came to our gathering! Also, there were many new faces in attendance. It’s always encouraging to earn the support of new folks by word of mouth. Support for our positive message of reform and limited government is as strong as ever. Since the beginning I’ve never asked people to support Kevin, I ask that you stand with me and the issues and values that we support.  After a welcome by Rusty, we returned thanks for the food. I made a few remarks then Mark spoke for a few minutes. Below are some video clips of the evening.

Kevin’s introduction:

Mark’s comments:

meet and greet:

Last week I was honored to assist Midway School in welcoming their students back to school. Principle, Mr. Gary Bruhjell (pictured) invited about 20 community leaders. I was very impressed at their organization, especially being the first day of student’s return.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You may have seen a lot of attention to folks demanding roll call votes in the legislature, especially, when money is being spent. Well, here’s my 2 cents worth. There are several ways we can make the General Assembly more accountable to our constituents:
                        
1-Make all votes Roll Call votes. This is probably not necessary since there are so many resolutions and bills with no controversy. I’m not necessarily opposed to this requirement,  but it may be overkill.
                      
2-Make all votes involving expenditures roll call votes. This would be the best rule change. I will certainly support this effort. Any time a penny of your money is spent, there needs to be record of how every member voted.
                 
3-Change the Rule for Roll Call Requests. Require only on request for a roll call vote. Currently, roll call votes require 5 members to request a roll call. When the president of Senate (usually Andre’ Bauer) calls for the question, any member may ask for a roll call vote. If 4 other members raise their hand, then the roll call vote is taken. If a member sees a need for a roll call vote it is easy to convince 4 other members to support the request. I’ve seen members that would vote differently than the requester yet still support the request. Changing this rule would probably be easy.
               
4-The Senate Journal. Any member can have the clerk, record their vote with any comment on official record of the South Carolina Senate. As a matter of fact, I have done this myself more than most members of the Senate. Whether we are successful at changing any rule, I will continue to do this. The constituents of Anderson County deserve to know how their representative is voting.

The Augusta Chronicle recently opined on our backwards ways in South Carolina:

…In fact, one study has said South Carolina government has created the fourth-weakest executive branch in the nation.

The result is a plodding, ineffective, wasteful state government-by-committee that is holding the state back economically and otherwise.

Yet, for all the power South Carolina legislators have, they accept very little of the responsibility.

The state Budget and Control Board voted last week, for instance, to cut the state budget 3 percent across the board — no matter how important one agency is over another, or how strapped for cash.

Gov. Mark Sanford and others, us included, believe big budget cuts ought to be targeted, so they make sense. These one-size-fits-all cuts are like taking a meat cleaver into microsurgery.

Such decisions should have been made by the legislature, in special session if necessary. Across-the-board cuts are taking the easy way out and doing the most damage.

Sanford noted that, while education and correction officials will be hard-hit, a program bringing German politicians to South Carolina for a visit will remain untouched…

…That’s apparently how they like it.

Well, not all of them: State Sen. Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, says he will get four of his colleagues to join him in calling for roll-call votes on every bill that spends public money until the rules require it. Good for him! full story

This week I was a guest on the Rick Driver show on WAIM 1230am. A caller mentioned a regulation concerning the digging of wells. He said DHEC has a regulation that states no one may dig a well if the location is within 2000 feet from a water line. I had also heard there was such a regulation, but wanted to verify it. Well, after all this is not true. We checked with DHEC officials in Columbia and here in Anderson. They both told us the same thing. You DO need a permit to dig a well, but there is no such regulation related to the proximity of a water line.

Anyhow, you may remember a good song by the Oak Ridge Boys “Dig a Little Deeper in the Well”. Considering this awful drought, we’ve gotta dig deep…real deep.

On Thursday, August 21, 2008, Governor Mark Sanford will be conducting a statewide media tour “calling for the legislature to come back to Columbia and make the tough choices about what programs to cut and which agencies not to cut, rather than taking the easy way out by cutting across the board.”
               
Technically, the General Assembly is essentially still in session as designated in the Sine Die (S.1429) resolution adopted on June 25.
               
The Governor may not call the General Assembly back into session until after Oct. 31, 2008, because of the Sine Die resolution. It states that the General Assembly will adjourn October 31.
             
Until October 31^st, the  General Assembly can be called into session upon agreement of the Senate President Pro Tempore and the Speaker of the House.
                        
The Governor may call the legislature back into session under certain circumstances as defined in Article 4, Section 19 of the Constitution
            
SECTION 19. Extra sessions; Governor may adjourn General Assembly.
               
The Governor may on extraordinary occasions convene the General Assembly in extra session. Should either house remain without a quorum for five days, or in case of disagreement between the two houses during any session with respect to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn them to such times as he shall think proper, not beyond the time of the annual session then next ensuing.

Sen. John McCain dropped by the drug store today to offer his support of Bryant for Senate. Actually, Sen. McCain was shipped via Fed Ex folded up in a package. It does look kinda real though doesn’t it?

Bryant: taxpayers should receive assessment notices sooner

By Nathan DiBagno

Scattered, smothered, covered and hitched (gwinnettdailypost.com)
DACULA - As the famous twang of Hank Williams Jr. blasted from an SUV stereo Friday afternoon, about 30 folks socialized, sipped soda and puffed on cigarettes.

No, this wasn’t a Fourth of July backyard barbecue. It was the run-up to a wedding.

In a Waffle House parking lot.

The lucky couple, George “Bubba” Mathis and Pamela Christian - both 23 and employees at the Dacula diner located at the Ga. Highway 316/U.S. Highway 29 interchange - wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I don’t know, it’s something different,” Mathis said while fixing his tie prior to the ceremony.

For years, the couple tried to marry on their Independence Day anniversary. But the bride was always scheduled to work. Instead of waiting any longer - she got the day off at the last minute; Mathis had to report for the morning shift - the couple of nine years decided to seal the deal at work…for the full article

My friend, Andy Brack over at the South Carolina Statehouse Report has a cartoon of yours truly.

By Nathan DiBagno Published: Wednesday, August 6, 2008 2:34 PM CDT Editor

news@powdersvillepost.com

ANDERSON COUNTY - Since stepping into office in 2004, S.C. Sen. Kevin Bryant, R-Anderson, has pushed for government reform and the need to put the brakes on government control.

“Since the beginning, we’ve been pushing for reform, pushing for getting away from the good ole’ boy system,” says Bryant, a pharmacist and president of Bryant Pharmacy and supply.

And while the taxpayers’ paychecks haven’t increase much in the past few years, government has grown about 40 percent, he said.

Some of legislators’ efforts to cut taxes have been successful recently. “We’ve eliminated the lowest bracket of income taxes, we eliminated the sales tax on groceries. And that’s simply puts more money in the pockets of our consumers, which in turn grows our economy. Had we returned more to the taxpayer than we did, than certainly some of our economic problems wouldn’t be as great.”

Some reform efforts have also been successful, he said.

“We’ve did meet some of those goals, reforming the Department of Transportation, which will make is more efficient,” he said.

Family values

“I was excited to see marriage defined in our Constitution,” Bryant said, referring to an amendment that passed in 2006 that specifically defined marriage as being between a man and a woman.

Also, Bryant was one of the main proponents of a bill that requires abortion clinics to offer an ultrasound to women who are considering having an abortion.

“This simply makes that very difficult choice of a person in a very difficult situation more informed,” he said.

Government accountability

Bryant has called for more government accountability, and was one of the proponents in the “Truth in Spending Bill,” which would require that state agencies, counties, municipalities and school districts post online all expenditures of at least $100.

“The Freedom of Information process we have now is backwards. The taxpayer has to jump through hoops now to get information they paid for to begin with. The burden should be on the government to provide that information,” he said. “I believe that the accountability alone will save millions of dollars.”

Education

Bryant said he was pleased that legislature eventually passed a bill to get rid of the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test, which was often criticized for merely testing students without actually assessing their needs.

Bryant said he - as well as other legislators - initially opposed the first bill that proposed scrapping the PACT because it had a “vague description of a new test.”

In the end, legislature passed a bill that scrapped PACT without a test to replace it.

“I was disappointed that (State Superintendent of Education) Jim Rex was pushing this bill to go through, to eliminate PACT and start a new test,” he said. “I was getting hundreds of e-mails, and I would respond and tell them the whole story. They were only getting half the story.”

But education still needs more changes, he said.

“We need to deregulate education, combined with more choices,” he said.

Although he doesn’t want to spend more on education, he wants to simplify the funding process and get more money to the teachers and classrooms, he said.

Energy

If states end up having the right to choose whether to drill offshore, and if gas prices continue to rise, more people will be in favor of drilling offshore, Bryant said.

Bryant said he would be in favor of offshore drilling if South Carolina is allowed to choose, especially if doing so meant that the United States would stop relying on oil from overseas.

Meanwhile, the state should continue to give out tax credits and incentives for energy efficient mobile homes and appliances.

“We’ve got some incentives to try to push the market in this hydrogen research. It’s a long way down the road, but it probably needs to be the direction we need to go towards,” he said. “It’s perfectly safe for the environment.”

Bryant said he would also support a study committee regarding having a refinery in South Carolina.

Health care

“The easiest message is raise taxes, dump money into health care. And we’ve never seen that solution work - for any problem,” he said. “The reality in the position I’m taking is: there needs to be more market-based incentives into the health care system.”

Bryant said a tort reform bill in recent years put a limit on frivolous lawsuits against medical practitioners.

Cutting back on frivolous lawsuits against doctors and making the medical field more desirable should help drive down health care costs in the state.

“We passed a bill .. that allows small businesses to pull together to make a larger group to purchase insurance to make it more affordable,” he said.

Bryant also said he’s a “strong believer” in health savings accounts - tax-free accounts that allow individuals to save for medical expenses.

“Health savings accounts I think would be utilized much more if we could do a better job explaining to the public how it works,” he said. “It’s administered by an insurance company. The money you put into a savings account is tax free, and it can only be spent on true medical expenses, but it puts the consumer back into the picture.”

Bryant said he believes that the upcoming race with Marshall Meadors will be an interesting one. Although their political views may differ, Bryant said he has a lot of respect for Meadors.

“I have many customers that are his patients,” he said. “I have a lot of respect for the way he practices medicine. … He spoils his customers, and he pays them a lot of attention.”

But regardless of who his opponent it, Bryant said he has the same message and beliefs.

“There’s nothing new out of Bryant for Senate than there was four years ago,” he said.

The Self Reporting Tax Return (Form L-2123) can be found on the SCDOR website.

DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

GUIDELINES FOR REPORTING OF BIODIESEL, SUBSTITUTE FUEL AND

RENEWABLE FUELS PRODUCED FOR PRIVATE USE OR SALE
Product Produced for Private/Personal Use

Producers/Users of biodiesel, substitute fuel and/or renewable fuels on which the motor fuel user fee, inspection and environmental fees have not been previously paid are required to obtain a Motor Fuel License. The license is required if the fuel is to be used in the propulsion of highway vehicles. This requirement to obtain the license and to report and pay the appropriate fees applies but is not limited to cooking oils and biodiesel. A Miscellaneous Motor Fuel License is required for which there is no license fee or bond requirement. The monthly return (Form L-2123) is required to report the gallons used and to calculate and remit the motor fuel user fee ($0.16), inspection fee ($0.0025) and environmental fee ($0.0050) Producers/Users of biodiesel, substitute fuel and/or renewable fuels should report the gallons used in highway vehicles on the Form L-2123, Line 2 under the “Blending Components” column of the report. The type of fuel used should be written on Line 1 above the gallons reported. The monthly report is due by the 22nd day of the month and is required to be filed even if there was no liability or gallons used for the month. Product Produced for Sale and Use Producers/Sellers of biodiesel, substitute fuel and/or renewable fuels are required to obtain a Motor Fuel Manufacturer License. This equirement to obtain the license and to report and pay the appropriate fees applies but is not limited to cooking oils and biodiesel. There is no license fee but there is a bonding or financial statement requirement. The monthly return (Form L-2195) is required to report the gallons manufactured and to calculate and remit the motor fuel user fee ($0.16), inspection fee ($0.0025) and environmental fee ($0.0050). The monthly report is due by the 22nd day of the month and is required to be filed even if there was no liability or gallons manufactured for the month. Please contact the Motor Fuel Section at (803) 896-1990 to request the license application or if you need additional information.

Overview of Modern Roundabouts

    Modern roundabouts are the prettiest and safest form of traffic control in the world. Roundabouts slow all vehicles, provide refuges for pedestrians, and are the only traffic control device in which trees can be planted, fountains can bubble or spray, statutes can sparkle into the next century. When constructed as part of new road construction they are cheaper to build than signalized intersections. If used instead of traffic signals they save us all money. Their maintenance cost is almost zero. They require no electricity, no regular tune-ups, no annual replacements of parts, suffer no blackouts and cannot be blown away.