Morgan had some kind of dress up day at school, so she went as a punk rocker.

Sanford proposes tax changes

Goal of broad-based plan is to spur job growth

Gov. Mark Sanford proposed a plan Tuesday that he thinks will make South Carolina more competitive by wiping out corporate income taxes and cutting taxes on individual earnings in exchange for raising the state’s cigarette tax, trimming business incentive packages and eliminating sales tax holidays, including those for back-to-school supplies and guns.

 

Gov. Sanford’s tax plan would include cutting corporate income taxes and raising the state’s cigarette tax.

The Republican governor wants the Legislature to cut income taxes for top earners and eliminate the 5 percent corporate income tax. Both changes would require legislative approval.

Sanford outlined his proposal at a stop in Greer, a day before the Board of Economic Advisors is expected to announce details of a worsening state economy that will force agencies to make another round of budget cuts.

“We believe staying competitive amid today’s challenges means two things,” Sanford said in a statement.

“One, a lowered and flattened income tax would represent a significant step towards making our state more attractive, and improving our competitive position when it comes to growing our economy. Two, we’ve got to get away from this piecemeal approach to jobs incentives.”

Josh Barro, staff economist with the Tax Foundation, gave Sanford’s proposal high marks.

Based on an analysis by the Washington, D.C-based nonpartisan research group, South Carolina would jump to No. 6, up from No. 25, in a ranking of state business climates if the governor’s proposals become law.

That ranking would put South Carolina ahead of all the Southeastern states, he said.

“It sounds like a combination of really great reforms,” Barro said.

For individuals, Sanford’s plan would use a 30-cent cigarette-tax increase per pack and a new $3-per-ton tipping fee at landfills to offset a 50 percent cut in the state’s top income tax bracket.

To balance the cut, the state also would have to repeal its sales tax holidays on back-to-school supplies in August, guns sold during the 48 hours after Thanksgiving and energy-efficient appliances, which is set to be offered for the first time in October.

Income taxes for workers who earn roughly $13,000 or more a year would be cut from 7 percent to a flat 3.65 percent.

2008.12.03 - I was impressed by an answer I got from a third grader today as we spent the morning visiting two elementary schools in my district. I spoke to three groups of students. I asked one group if they would like it if we passed a law requiring the government to provide every kid with all the toys they wanted. They enthusiastically cheered that idea. I then informed them that the government could provide this service, but taxes would need to be raised in order to pay for the toys. I could see the enthusiasm dwindle very quickly. One young man raised his hand to comment. I called on him and he hit the nail on the head. He told me he wouldn’t like that idea because his parents wouldn’t have any more money. How ‘bout that!

They understand the basis of just about every debate we have in Columbia. We must weigh the particular service and ask ourselves the fundamental question: “Is the item on the table a worthy need that the taxpayer should fund, or is this not the role of government?”

We visited two elementary schools in my district. My wife, Ann, and my administrative assistant, Ms. Parker, joined me. It was a great opportunity to chat with the kids and their teachers. I sensed the struggle teachers have with all the mandates, rules and regulation they have to cooperate with. I wish we could eliminate these burdens and allow teachers to use their own gifts and techniques. As I’ve always said, Columbia has got to get out of the business of micromanaging the classroom. This is an essential element that must accompany the school choice proposals that we’ve discussed.

Our first stop was New Prospect Elementary School to speak to a few third grade classes. We went over the three branches of government, bill procedures, and what the job of state senator is.

Our next stop was at Whitehall Elementary School. There I spoke to the first graders and third graders. It was a Whitehall student that “got it”.

Normally, I see many 3rd grade classes in Columbia during the session. Since budget constraints may eliminate some of these trips to Columbia, we’re planning on contacting all of our schools to see if they’d like me to visit.

A large group of residents of SC Senate district 3 and the surrounding counties gathered at “Just More BBQ” in Pendleton for a “Thank You” barbecue hosted by Senator Kevin Bryant on Tuesday evening, December 2. The crowd of around 230 attendees was comprised of family, friends, supporters, staffers, and elected officials.

Senator Bryant expressed gratefulness to all his supporters for their help with a challenging re-election campaign. Among those recognized, special thanks were given to the out-of-district volunteers who also worked to send Sen. Bryant back to Columbia for all of South Carolina.

“I felt like George Bailey on “It’s A Wonderful Life,” Sen. Bryant remarked, “when during the last ten days of our campaign so many people jumped in to help us for the sake of conservative principles.”

Several elected officials were present, including Senate Majority Whip Danny Verdin, who asked the blessing over the food. Also present was Susan Aiken from the office of Jim DeMint and the Anderson GOP. While recognizing Mrs. Aiken, Sen Bryant said “Our campaign officially ends tonight. Tomorrow, we start Jim DeMint’s.”

Bryant received a standing ovation from the crowd, all of whom were thrilled to be sending a staunch conservative back to Columbia. After he concluded his remarks, a bluegrass band entertained the crowd with toe-tapping favorites while everyone enjoyed their barbeque and the chance to catch up with friends from the campaign trail.

Thank you to Sen. Bryant for hosting this event, and for representing us as a voice of Conservatism for South Carolina

ANDERSON, SC — November 24, 2008 — Orian Rugs, a domestic manufacturer of woven rugs with North American headquarters on Highway 81 in Anderson, has logged more than 1,600,000 man hours of continuous safety in their manufacturing plant. On Monday, November 24, 2008, at 2:00 pm, the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR) will present Orian with their prestigious Annual Safety Award. The South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance will also be on hand to present the Made in South Carolina Excellence in Corporate Responsibility Award as a special recognition of Orian’s achievement. The Honorable Gresham Barrett from the United States House of Representatives, Terence Roberts, the Mayor of Anderson, and Lewis Gossett, the President of the South Carolina Manufacturer’s Alliance, and Bob Sellman from the South Carolina Department of LLR will all speak at the award ceremony.

To show their support for the international manufacturing facility, Anderson City Councilman Tom Dunaway, Shae Rozakos from the Anderson County Office of Economic Development, and Mike Panasko, Executive Director of Innovate Anderson will attend the event. Following the award ceremony, Orian plant managers will provide tours of the factory to highlight specific areas and changes that were made to ensure plant and employee safety.

Orian’s 1,600,000 man hours amounts to more than 1,000 days, or nearly three years, without a lost-time injury or accident plant wide. Orian’s Chief Operating Officer Wim De Pape says this is an accomplishment the entire company can be proud of. “With 300 employees onsite and most of the operation working on a 24-hour, 7-day a week basis, this is a major achievement and we want to thank every employee and every manager for working hard to make their environment safe,” De Pape said.

Orian is in the middle of a three-year, $18 million investment plan to grow and improve the company’s business. In 2008 alone, the company invested over $5 million in new equipment for the rug manufacturing plant. Orian executives say that the recent investments in the company could generate 50 new jobs over the next two to three years in the Anderson plant. Part of the $18 million investment includes money earmarked for a Goin’ Green sustainability initiative for the company. As a result of the Goin’ Green, Orian executives say the company is making big strides in its quest to reduce its carbon footprint, “We are a zero landfill plant. All plant-wide waste is 100% recycled,” says De Pape. “We are committed to doing our part to help reduce, reuse and recycle.”

ABOUT ORIAN RUGS: Orian Rugs is one of the oldest continuous domestic rug manufacturing companies in the country. It is a fully vertically-integrated manufacturing company. Orian is a division of McThree Industries, a world-wide manufacturer of woven rugs and carpets. Orian Rugs will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2009.

####

Palmetto Conservative, an active participant of this blog e-mailed this entry and asked if I’d start a new post with it.

                We earlier discovered that the Illinois sex education bill that our next president supported in 2003 was “absolutely not,” according to one of its sponsors, just about inappropriate touching. Indeed, Senator Martinez, when asked if the legislation was primarily about inappropriate touching said that, “I didn’t see it that way…. It’s just more information about a whole variety of things that have to go into a sex education class, the things that are outdated that you want to amend with things that are much more current.”  

                Senator Martinez echoed the explanation for the particular legislation that was offered at the time of its creation in February 2003. A press release touting it and two other “health-related” bills said that, “An unprecedented package of legislation aimed at preventing unintended pregnancies, reducing the need for abortion and reducing the spread of sexually transmitted infections will be unveiled….”

                The specific discussion in the press release concerning the sex education bill, said that, “Senate Bill 99, sponsored by state Sen. Carol Ronen (D-Chicago), states that if a public school teaches sex education, family life education, and comprehensive health education courses, all materials and instruction must be medically and factually accurate — currently not part of Illinois law.” You can view the entire press release here:

http://www.aegis.com/news/PR/2003/PR030246.html

                 This explanation says nothing about inappropriate touching or abuse or any other such issue. Moreover, it raises concerns inasmuch as turning over decisions about sex education to some government bureaucrat is about as good an idea as, well, turning anything over to a government bureaucrat. The current condition of America’s public school system provides ample evidence of that.

                The major issue here, of course, is that next president supported legislation to drive bureaucratic meddling in the subject of sex education down into the classrooms of the youngest children, including kindergarteners. That fact led the next president to use the “inappropriate touching” explanation as a means of assuring us that six-year olds would not be exposed to education about actual sex. Now that we know that explanation to be partial at best, let’s examine what the bill really intended for the youngest children in Illinois public schools.

                One may view the entire bill here:

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=3&GA=93&DocTypeId=SB&DocNum=99&GAID=3&LegID=734&SpecSess=&Session

The first thing to note is that the legislation used as its foundation the existing Illinois law on sex education. The existing law is not primarily about “inappropriate touching” nor is any comprehensive sex education statute in any state. It is not supposed to be. Yet, the existing Illinois statute on general sex education served as the template for the bill in question.

Moreover, the major amendment to the existing law on general sex education is the simple strike and insert of “K” for “6.” This common legislative technique simply means that everything in the statute that previously applied to those in sixth grade and up now applies to all children in all grades. Such a blanket application of existing practice hardly reflects the sort of precise focus on “inappropriate touching” that many continue to trumpet.

For instance, the Section 27-9.1 (a) of the bill (the first section) says that, “Each  class  or  course  in comprehensive sex education offered in any of grades K through 12 shall include instruction on the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, including the prevention, transmission and spread of HIV.” Nothing here about inappropriate touching.

Then, Section 27-9.1 (b) of the bill says that, “All public elementary, junior high, and senior high school classes that teach sex education and discuss sexual activity or behavior shall emphasize that abstinence is an effective method of preventing unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and HIV when transmitted sexually.” Nothing here either about inappropriate touching.

(As an explanatory note, I’m reprinting here the text as it would have appeared in the amended the law. If you look at the bill through the above link, you’ll see the physical strikes and inserts. I’ve omitted the strikes from this text for sake of clarity.)

The discussion of inappropriate touching does appear near the bottom of page 3. It says that, “Course material and instruction shall discuss and provide for the development of positive communication skills to maintain healthy relationships and avoid unwanted sexual activity. Course   material and instruction shall emphasize that the pupil has the power to control personal behavior.  Pupils shall be encouraged to base their actions on reasoning, self-discipline, sense of responsibility, self-control, and ethical considerations, such as respect for oneself and others.” And it goes on.

Fair enough, it’s in there.

But, the main focus of the bill reappears on the next page. It says in the next section, entitled “Family Life,” that, “whenever such courses of instruction [on contraception and abortion] are provided in any of grades K through 12, then such courses also shall include age appropriate instruction on the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, including the prevention, transmission and spread of AIDS.” This is really what the bill is about. It’s about sex education. And, remember that this was already the law for grades 6-12. This bill merely struck “6” and inserted “K.” So, we’re now going to have “instruction on the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, including the prevention, transmission and spread of AIDS” for kindergarteners and first graders and on up.

Again, to be fair, the section entitled “Family Life” contains in subsection (6) the following: “Course material and instruction shall advise pupils that it is unlawful for males or females of any age to engage in sexual conduct or have sexual relations with a minor as specified in Article 12 of the Criminal Code of 1961.” And, subsections 7 through 12 continue in the same vein.

But look at subsection 2 of “Family Life.” It says that, “All course material and instruction in classes that teach sex education and discuss sexual activity or behavior shall be age and developmentally appropriate.” Subsections 3, 4 and 5 detail instruction on “sexually transmitted infections,” “health benefits of all forms of contraception, including the success and failure rates for the prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV,” and “Pupils shall be provided with statistics based on the latest medical information citing the failure and success rates of all contraceptive methods in preventing unintended pregnancy and HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.”

The overwhelming evidence, in the form of the text of the legislation, indicates that while the bill’s proponents contemplated the inclusion of instruction on “inappropriate touching” for all school children, it was in no way either the sole or primary focus of this legislation.

When the Obama for President Campaign responded to the McCain Campaign ad on this issue, it offered two explanations. First, it said in a statement that, “Obama doesn’t want to hand out condoms to five year olds. He doesn’t want cucumber demonstrations as part of show and tell.” Then, according to MSNBC, the Obama Campaign “issued a document showing that the Oregon Department of Education has guidelines for sex education for children in grades K-3 (which includes understanding the difference between a good touch and a bad touch), and that the Sexuality Information And Education Council of the United States has curriculum for those in kindergarten.”

So, now we have an example of our next president’s goals for sex education curricula for kindergarteners. What’s in it?

The Sexuality Information And Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) publishes a lengthy (112 pages) booklet on the guidelines for sex education in K-12 schools. You can see it here:

http://www.siecus.org/_data/global/images/guidelines.pdf

It creates four different levels for four different age groups. For instance, Level One guidelines targets ages 5 through 8. It then lists overarching concepts under which topics for discussion are listed and then under which sub-concepts target specific lessons. The subtopics are then given detail by Level in what are called Developmental Messages (educational standards are always this complicated). These are the standards to be taught for a given age group.

So, Concept One is “Human Development” and Topic One is, “Reproductive and Sexual Anatomy and Physiology,” and the first sub-concept is “The human body has the capability to reproduce as well as to give and receive sexual pleasure.” The Level One developmental message includes the names and locations of body parts, how those parts define gender and this: “Both boys and girls have body parts that feel good when touched.” Now, all of this can be related by good teachers in an age-appropriate fashion, but there’s nothing here about inappropriate behavior.

Topic Three, “Reproduction,” is particularly interesting. It talks about twins and adoption and even Caesarian Section (I’m not sure how to age-appropriately relate this) but there’s nothing in here about inappropriate touching. Topic Four is “Body Image”, Topic Five is “Sexual Orientation” (that’s a whole other discussion), topic Six is Gender Identity (again, other discussion), and on through Concept One. Nowhere in Concept One, “Human Development,” is there a standard for inappropriate touching.

There’s nothing in Concept Two, “Relationships,” about inappropriate touching. Concept Three, “Personal Skills,” says nothing about inappropriate touching (although I do see a couple of places where a teacher could work that in if they wanted to). Concept Four, “Sexual Behavior,” says nothing about inappropriate touching but it does discuss, as Topic Two, “Masturbation,” yes, even for 5-year olds.

Concept Five, “Sexual Health,” contains a Level One Developmental Message on “Abortion,” and one on “STDs.” It does, finally, engage in Topic Seven “Sexual Abuse, Assault, Violence, and Harassment,” and the components of the Level One discussion seem perfectly appropriate if related by a teacher who knows what they are doing.

But, consider two things. First, how many of you out there want your six or seven year-old child’s teacher talking about this in the first place, and how many of you think they would do a good job of it. Second, and more important, is a lesson about inappropriate touching, which you can very adequately relay at home, worth all of the other stuff contained in “comprehensive sex education” as laid out by SIECUS, the next president’s curriculum of choice? I think not.

The final Concept, “Society and Culture,” contains nothing about inappropriate touching at Level One.

The SIECUS guidelines do, in one place, offers a legitimate set of standards for teachers to discuss inappropriate touching. But, this is not the focus or even a prominent component of its comprehensive sexual education guidelines. Indeed, the “Goals of Sexuality Education” contained in the guidelines state that, “The primary goal of sexuality education is to promote adult sexual health.” That, for SIECUS, includes instruction on everything from homosexuality to abortion to masturbation to transgenderism, and those subjects all have Level One (ages 5-8) developmental messages.

The simple fact remains that the legislation supported by our next president was very little about inappropriate touching and very much about comprehensive (meaning full-bore discussions of any and all topics) sex education, even for six-year olds. Our next president, true to form, either did not know what he was voting for or does not want us to know. More evidence of a disturbing trend.

LHA Members:

As you may be aware, Southern Nuclear has proposed to double the size of the Vogtle plant south of Augusta by installing two additional reactors. LHA has

been in contact with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for several months determining project details and timelines.

We have developed a position paper regarding this project which you are encouraged to read through this link:  Vogtle Plant Expansion.

In summary, LHA is not opposed to construction of a nuclear facility assuming the capacity is required. We do feel that there are a number of issues that must be resolved before any permit is issued. There is currently no complete assessment available for current and future water demands on the Savannah River Basin. It is also clear that the current drought management approach does not work, and certainly could not support additional water demands. And Southern Nuclear has failed to address impacts over the entire basin in their permit request.

Until it can be demonstrated that this facility can be constructed without adverse effects on the SRB, and specifically to lake levels in drought conditions, we do not support issuance of any operating permits. We expect there will be a number of public hearings held by NRC and the Georgia EPD as part of the permitting process. We will represent LHA members with our position at such hearings. We will also try to notify members of upcoming hearing dates so you may participate as well.

As always, we welcome your feedback.

Joe Brenner

President, LHA

It won’t be as lonely for Senate reformers next year

Sunday, November 23, 2008

                         
A handful of state senators known for their consistent support of the governor’s reform agenda won’t feel quite so lonely when they return to the Statehouse. Indeed, the Nov. 4 election may well have doubled the ranks of the group that wryly calls itself the “William Wallace Caucus.”

The name, according to Charleston-Berkeley Sen. Chip Campsen, was derived from the Scottish hero “who got eviscerated while standing for principle.” No question the senators for government restructuring keep running into a concrete wall. But there is now some hope that new blood could result in a new dynamic for the reformers, not just in terms of numbers but personalities.

The new numbers alone are not all that impressive. Sen. Campsen estimates the caucus will increase to 12 members since six of the nine newcomers generally are known as reform supporters. Certainly two of the best known are Beaufort attorney Tom Davis, who was Gov. Mark Sanford’s chief of staff, and Summerville attorney Mike Rose, who previously served in the Senate.

Rose made the governor’s reform agenda one of his prime campaign planks and the governor campaigned on his behalf in his general election contest. The governor was just as anxious during the GOP primary to see his most dedicated Senate foe, Lexington’s Jake Knotts, defeated. Knotts’ survival had led to the speculation that he would become even more determined to thwart the governor at every possible turn. But Knotts may well have met his match in Rose, also known for his bulldog tenaciousness.

Still, while the membership in the informal caucus may have doubled, 12 senators hardly constitute a majority in the 46-member body. But the increase in the number of unabashed reformers may provide a real boost in confidence to those who have been struggling against such odds.

And while the “William Wallace Caucus” is composed of hard-core reform advocates from the GOP majority, there are others on both sides of the political aisle who have been willing to buy portions of the reform agenda. President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell, for example, says he supports restructuring the powerful Budget and Control Board to give the next administration more control over the executive branch. At the same time, McConnell doesn’t agree with shortening the length of legislative sessions, a reform proposal now being advocated by Democratic Sen. Darrell Jackson.

The governor is expected to renew his advocacy of those proposals and more, including a referendum that would reduce the number of constitutional officers, a reform in which this state also is lagging. While South Carolina still has a treasurer and comptroller general elected statewide, Florida, for example, now has a single chief financial officer.

It should be emphasized that the current governor will not benefit from any of the reform efforts. The Budget and Control restructuring that would result in a Department of Administration wouldn’t take place, for example, until he has left office. Constitutional changes such as appointing rather than electing the adjutant general couldn’t be on the ballot until 2010 and couldn’t take effect for another four years. Still, there are those who will resist any change that will give this governor something to smile about.

But few are smiling in the Legislature these days due to the dramatic budget cuts that have resulted from the downturn in the economy. The bad economic times may, in fact, be the needed impetus to reform.

The legislative Lost Trust Scandal was the catalyst for the adoption of the Cabinet system, though less than what was advocated by the late Gov. Carrroll Campbell. Further, Campsen notes that both the Department of Motor Vehicle reforms and the Transportation Department restructuring under Sanford followed crises in those agencies.

It will be up to the reformers to make the case for the cost-saving aspects of restructuring if they are to get the public’s attention on what some consider inside government baseball. That could even include the creation of an inspector general, an investigative tool that advocates say would pay for itself in agency savings. According to Campsen, the post would provide needed “constructive self-examination of the executive branch.”

A low-key member of the “William Wallace Caucus,” Campsen is a believer in the honey rather than vinegar approach. But he also acknowledges that there are times when it is necessary to “pull the sword and draw some blood.”

The state Senate should be well worth watching next year.

Barbara S. Williams, editor emeritus of The Post and Courier, may be reached at bwilliams@postandcourier.com.

Bryant/Duncan: Republicans must return to conservative roots

By KEVIN BRYANT and JEFF DUNCAN - Guest Columnists

Two years ago, following the first Republican bloodletting, our colleague Sen. Danny Verdin wrote that the election “turned not on the voters’ embrace of ideas offered by Democrats but the voters’ rejection of Republicans who abandoned them.” Today, following further losses in Congress and the loss of the White House, Sen. Verdin’s diagnosis stands out in bold. Republicans can blame no one but themselves for their exile.
                             

Two years ago federal spending had increased 69 percent since 1994, and 49 percent since 2001 alone. It never stopped growing, and now the Heritage Foundation reports that it is 57 percent higher than 2001.
                              

Republicans hoped two years ago that Randy Cunningham, Jack Abramoff and Mark Foley would be exceptions that prove the rule. However, corruption continues unabated. Alaska Republican Sen. Ted Stevens is a convicted felon, and of course there’s Idaho Republican Sen. Larry Craig.
                  
The primary reason Republicans fell like a stone this year is that they have the sense of a box of rocks. A good friend of ours likes to say there’s no education in the second kick of the mule. The only hope therefore is that the second kick just received will rid of us of the folks who don’t seem to get the fact that the American public is tired of broken promises, hypocrisy and outright lies.
                     

What the public does want is conservative leadership. Sen. Verdin pointed out two years ago that “The evidence clearly proves that conservative issues and candidates win.” Voters affirmed that fact again this year as they approved conservative measures and candidates from coast to coast.
                 
Arizona approved a marriage amendment by 12 percentage points and increases in penalties on illegal hiring by 18 points. Arkansas passed a ban on adoptions by same-sex couples by 13 points. California voted for Obama by a 24 point margin, but it also preserved traditional marriage by 4 points. Florida went for Obama by 3 points and also preserved traditional marriage by 24.
                  

San Francisco, the pit of despair for most conservatives, actually rejected the legalization of prostitution, a ban of Junior ROTC from high school campuses and the renaming of the sewer treatment plant for President Bush. Talk about hope for change.
                        

Conservative candidates also won in Obama states. Obama carried Indiana, but so did the conservative governor, Mitch Daniels, by 18 points.

The 2008 election indicates that when voters in most places are given a chance to vote for conservatives or conservative positions, they do.

The majority of voters chose not, of course, to vote for John McCain. Sen. McCain would have earned more votes if he had presented more voters with a conservative choice.
                     

We wish Sen. McCain had explained that the difference between a tax credit and “spreading the wealth” is that the former is when you keep your own money and the latter is when government takes your money and gives it to someone else.
                     

We wish Senator McCain had not said that, “you don’t raise taxes in a bad economy” and instead said: “We have enough revenue in Washington. We don’t need to raise taxes at all.”
                     

We really, really wish Sen. McCain had said in answer to Jim Lehrer’s question on whether he would support the bailout that not only would he not support it but also that he would lie down in the Senate floor before politicians stuck taxpayers with a $700 billion bill for a problem that politicians created in the first place. We really wish he had said that instead of, “oh of course I’ll vote for it.”
                

He did not, however, and therefore conservatives were left wondering whether Sen. McCain really believed in the same things they do. The majority of the Republican Party currently suffers from the same disease as Democrats before them and, for that matter, the same disease as Wall Street bankers. They simply believe that government is a good thing and more government must, by definition, be an even better thing.
                

Meanwhile, a recent survey indicates that while only 9 percent of voters believe that the Republican Party is too conservative, more than 60 percent believe it has either “lost its way” or become “incompetent.”
                 

The voters get it. If Republicans ever want to regain the mandate of the voters, they need to take the hint: Do what you promise you’ll do, not what Democrats do.
           
Republicans do not need to search their souls. They need simply to revisit their principles. And this time, they need to stick to them.
                    

Mr. Bryant represents Anderson County in the S.C. Senate. Mr. Duncan represents Laurens and Newberry counties in the S.C. House.

a regular poster has suggested I create a new post to continue the discussion on Obama, Palin, etc. from the “Don’t Blame Me I voted for Sarah” post. It was getting long. I appreciate all of the comments and debate.

Ya’ll enjoy!

Standing by is not an option.

By: Jose F. Garcia

Few things are more important to the future of society in general and to a community than the education of its youth. It is the fuel that powers the engine that sustains us in our efforts to grow, to prosper and to help our members fulfill their potential. A well educated youth has the opportunity to achieve great things which ultimately delivers value to our community in many ways. Moreover, we all benefit from the results of good education and we all suffer when education is lacking.

It can be argued that at the end of the day, more than any other sector in our society, business is the most affected by education. Business is the ultimate consumer of the product developed by the educational institutions, and it either enjoys or suffers from the qualities of the product or the lack thereof. Regardless of the type of business, a company has to compete to grow and remain in business and as a consequence  jobs are created and standards of living can be sustained and improved.

To a business, any business, no resource is more important than its people. Not the equipment, not the plant, nor its marketing strategies, but its people. More than capital, or equipment, people are the greatest resource and can represent the greatest strategic advantage available for a business to compete.

With alarming consistency we have witnessed the decline of our educational system in South Carolina in general and Anderson County specifically. I have seen it through the failure of a young man who was rejected by the US Navy for failing the aptitude test. I have seen it through a manufacturing concern that dedicates eighty hours of remedial reading and arithmetic before an Anderson County high school graduate can start working at the company. And lastly, I have seen it in my own business where applicants refuse to follow through with the interview because the job requires Saturday work.

Whether we agree with the problem being insufficient funding, or too much of it. Whether we support vouchers, home schooling, charter schools or only public education as it is currently offered, we as business people can not afford to sit idly by and pretend that our educational deficiencies will not have a dilatory impact on our businesses and in our community.

The questions is, what to do?

We could move beyond involved and instead commit to the success of our youth. For those who may not be aware the difference between involved and committed is seeing in the difference between ham and eggs. In the case of ham and eggs the chicken was involved but the pig was committed.

We could start by developing a statement of expectations to be delivered to our schools. Some of these expectations are:

1-    We expect High School graduates to be well mannered and courteous. In many instances they are the first point of contact between a customer and the business. A business much like an individual does not have a second opportunity to make a good first impression.

     2-We expect High School graduates to be endowed with a

         competitive spirit. All businesses compete against other

         businesses for customers, contracts and opportunities. A

         business’ primary resource is its people and will only be as

         good as they are.

      3 –We expect High School graduates to have effective

          communication skills. They must be able to express 

          themselves effectively and correctly.

      4- We expect High School graduates to be endowed with

          ethics, a sense of responsibility and a commitment to 

          excellence.

       5-We expect High School graduates to be reliable. To keep

          their word and to honor their commitments. To be 

         dependable, to show up for work ready to do their personal

         best each and every day.

I am a great admirer of Tom Friedman, and his book, “The world is Flat”. In this book, Friedman defines the ways in which the world has flattened as a result of the global economy. While this is not a challenge to his thesis, the fact is that we need to be more concerned about competing against Alabama than against Albania.

The United States remains the beacon that attracts investments at a rate far greater than many other countries combined. California’s $1.8 Trillion dollars economy is twice the size of India’s. New York and Texas represent the ninth and tenth largest economies in the world. We remain the greatest economic power in the world. But for how long?

We need to promote a competitive spirit which should cause our students to win by committing to their personal best in everything they do. Promote their personal best in reading and in writing. Promote their personal best in communications and conduct. Promote their personal best as ladies and gentlemen, to the end that by their conduct and performance they can offer the very best of values, principles and qualities. These are the kinds of attributes that our schools need to promote and we as business people need to help them by demanding no less than their personal best from our teachers and administrators.

It is painful to witness the absence of love of country and pride on our children, who know little if anything about the workings of our system of government. Know nothing about the framing of our constitution and why it is the envy of the world. Are ignorant about the sacrifices made for all of us by our forefathers whose vision led us to achieve the greatest standard of living in the world. One could argue that our country is not really all of those things that we claim it to be, but it can not be argued that more people are trying to get into our country than to get out. Why is it that so few if any of our students know anything about the preamble to our constitution, or about the three branches of government and how they check and balance.

Are we not aware that graduation is called commencement exercises because it marks the point where we go forward to learn. High school and college only offers the baseline of knowledge, it is up to the individual who hungers for more to seek fulfillment through more knowledge. In his book “The Ascent of Man”, Joseph Bronowsky wrote that “civilizations owes its advancements to every person’s commitment to their skill or their profession.” It is that commitment that is lacking in our students, and I submit that it begins with developing the love for learning by people who must have a love for teaching.

There seems to be a disconnect between education and business. It is reflected when businesses grieve over the fact that employees can not read. Further, this disconnect is evident when a business grieves that employees can not add or subtract when a computer based cash registers fail. Somehow, business needs to articulate its concerns to education, but education must be willing to listen and to respond. Wouldn’t our kids benefit from if we witnessed more cooperation between businesses an our education institutions?
                                                         

South Carolina’s governor says more debt isn’t the answer.

I find myself in a lonely position. While many states and local governments are lining up for a bailout from Congress, I went to Washington recently to oppose such bailouts. I may be the only governor to do so.

But I suspect I’m not entirely alone, as there are a lot of taxpayers who aren’t pleased with Christmas coming early for politicians. And I hope these taxpayers make their voices heard before Democrats load up the next bailout train for states with budget deficits.

Several questions led me to oppose bailing out the states. They are worth asking, even if you supported bailing out Wall Street.

Who bails out the “bail-outor”?

Washington is short on cash these days and will borrow every dime of the $150 billion to $300 billion for the “stimulus” bill now being worked on. Federal appetites may know no bounds. But the federal government’s ability to borrow is not limitless. Already, our nation’s unfunded liabilities total $52 trillion — about $450,000 per household. There’s something very strange about issuing debt to solve a problem caused by too much debt.

Do you now have to be a financial “bad boy” to win?

Community bankers tell me that they are now at a competitive disadvantage for being careful about who to lend to, because others that were less disciplined will get a federal bailout. This is also true for states. Those that have been fiscally responsible will pay for or lose out to the big spenders. California increased spending 95% over the past 10 years (federal spending went up 71% over the same period). To bail out California now seems unfair to fiscally prudent states.

Was the economist Herb Stein wrong when he said that if something cannot go on forever, it won’t?

Medicaid grew 9.5% annually over the past 10 years. That’s unsustainable. But if Congress opens the checkbook now, there will be no reform.

In 2008 bailouts became the first resort. Over the past year the federal government has committed itself to $2.3 trillion (including the tax rebate “stimulus” checks of last February) to “improve” the economy. I don’t see how another $150 billion now will make a difference in a global slowdown. We’ve already unloaded truckloads of sugar in a vain attempt to sweeten a lake. Tossing in a Twinkie will not make the difference.

However, there is something Congress can do: free states from federal mandates. South Carolina will spend about $425 million next year meeting federal unfunded mandates. The increase in the minimum wage alone will cost the state $2.6 million and meeting Homeland Security’s REAL ID requirements will cost $8.9 million.

Based on what I saw in Washington, the bailout train is being loaded up. Taxpayers will have to speak up now to change its freight, tab or departure.

Mr. Sanford, a Republican, is the governor of South Carolina.

    

      The GOP sure took a beating last week, and most surveys reflect that Obama won the votes of people who either support truly liberal policies or simply were tired of the party in charge. The latter, coupled with an over one percent decline in Republican voter turnout, tells me that the problem lies with Republicanism. That, however, is very different from Conservatism.

      The fact remains that the Republican Party has governed like anything but a group of conservatives for some time now. The out of control spending (Farm Bill, prescription drugs, etc.), the ethical disasters (Foley, Stevens, Craig, etc.) and the abdication of traditional conservative values such as free speech (campaign finance reform) and limited government ($700b federal bailout) left conservatives with no champion of their beliefs. They therefore voted for McCain, if they voted at all, for two reasons—one negative and one positive.

      Conservatives who voted for McCain fear the ramifications of an Obama presidency. That’s pretty self-explanatory, but it can be summed up in the single specter of an Obama-selected judiciary. Conservatives voted for McCain simply to stop the (now coming) assault on innocent life, individual rights and free speech.

      Conservatives who voted McCain also did so because of the lone bright spot on the ticket—Sarah Palin. Governor Palin likely added anywhere from five to seven points to McCain’s tally, and without her presence, local volunteerism would have continued to atrophy in September and October. She was the only catalyst on the long, slow march to defeat.

      Conservatives need now to regroup and refocus on their goals and how to achieve them. They must remember that we’ve seen this movie before, and its star was Jimmy Carter. We’ll emerge from this with the right kind of leadership—the leadership of a conservative. His name, in 1980, was Ronald Reagan. I don’t know who it will be in 2012, but I do know that we owe a debt of gratitude to the one Conservative champion we had in 2008—Sarah Palin.

      Sarah Palin was one of very few Republicans on the national stage during the last few weeks who stood up for innocent life forcefully and unashamedly. She was one of the few who stood up for traditional marriage (which, by the way, even Californians supported last week). She also, famously in opposition to her running mate, supported drilling everywhere, including ANWR, now—right now.

      Sarah Palin shone a beacon for Conservatives and offered them refuge on a ticket whose headliner often left us dazed and confused. Conservatives supported Sarah Palin, and if you were one of those, here’s your chance to let everyone know it. Display your support of Sarah Palin and identify yourself as a true conservative with this bumper sticker. Likewise, let everyone know from the beginning that you made the right decision last week and that you’re proud of it.

      Conservatism will be vindicated again, like it has been in the past. Don’t hide, don’t shirk. Stand up for your values and let everyone know it. We’ll be back, and we’re starting today.

MYRTLE BEACH, South Carolina (CNN) – South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint on Friday became one of the first high-profile Republicans to publicly criticize John McCain following his electoral defeat, blaming the Arizona senator for betraying conservative principles in his quest for the White House.

The conservative senator, speaking to a group of GOP officials gathered in Myrtle Beach at a conference on the future of the Republican Party, described how the party had strayed from its own “brand,” which, according to DeMint, should represent freedom, religious-based values and limited government.

“We have to be honest, and there’s a lot of blame to go around, but I have to mention George Bush, and I have to mention Ted Stevens, and I’m afraid I even have to mention John McCain,” he said.

DeMint offered a long list of complaints about McCain’s record in the Senate and on the campaign trail.

“McCain, who is proponent of campaign finance reform that weakened party organizations and basically put George Soros in the driver’s seat,” DeMint said. “His proposal for amnesty for illegals. His support of global warming, cap-and-trade programs that will put another burden on our economy. And of course, his embrace of the bailout right before the election was probably the nail in our coffin this last election. And he has been an opponent of drilling in ANWR, at a time when energy is so important. It really didn’t fit the label, but he was our package.”

Bush and Stevens, he said, had corrupted the party brand by expanding the size of government and engaging in wasteful government spending. Had Republicans not strayed from their core beliefs in recent years, DeMint argued, the election results might have been different.

“Americans do prefer a traditional conservative government,” he said. “They just did not believe Republicans were going to give it to them.”

DeMint said he would introduce a Senate resolution next week to boot Stevens out of the Republican caucus, and “force votes” on Senate seniority rules that have allowed certain members to hold onto power. However, DeMint twice confused Ted Stevens with Ted Kennedy, drawing chuckles from the audience of Republicans, who hold neither senator in particularly high regard.

“One of our principles is that power corrupts, and you need to disperse it,” DeMint said. “And if our own party allows ourselves to be destroyed by this idea, and are not willing to stand up, then we have to change everyone at the top.”

Like an awkwardly timed pre-thanksgiving “Christmas sale,” it starts earlier every year.

A small army of handsomely paid public officials and lobbyists begin their slow and steady drumbeat of political rhetoric.

Taking up the unassailable banner of “our children,” they argue for ever-greater spending on public schools. From newspaper opinion pages to the back halls of the Statehouse, they use public money and offices to lobby for even more of the taxpayers’ money.

And each year it has worked. Total spending by local school districts has grown more than 60 percent from 2000 to 2006. This school year over $11,480 in combined local, state and federal money was spent for each and every child in South Carolina’s public schools.

But next year will be different. It has to be.

The state is already over $100 million behind its revenue projections for just this quarter.