His mother is a cosmetologist!

Current law requires any employee of a salon that washes a customers hair must be a licences cosmetologist. I got an e-mail from Representative Ted Vick‘s mom the other day:
Dear Senator:

My name is Jan S. Vick. My son is Rep. Ted Vick. I would like to ask  you to please pass Bill H 3803, concerning “unlicensed persons  being able to shampoo hair under the supervision of a licensed  cosmetologist”.

I have been a hairdresser for the past 24 years. Many of those years, I  have hired a “technician” to assist me in this manner. Unfortunately, the person  had to be a licensed cosmetologist, just to shampoo hair. It has been very hard  to find someone to fill this position.

This would be a great opportunity…to encourage others to go into this field of work.

Thousands of jobs can be created in SC, if this legislation  passes, and this poor “tired” hairdresser, would certainly appreciate  the help!

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

God bless,
Jan S. Vick

 H. 3803 eliminates this requirement. I can’t believe the SC House passed legislation that actually removes a regulation. As it goes, even a blind hog can find an acorn every once in a while!

Senate Judiciary Approves State Spending Limit Legislation
And Creation of a Budget Stabilization Fund

Columbia, SC – The Senate Judiciary Committee today gave unanimously approved legislation establishing a new formula limiting state spending.  Senate President Pro Tempore, Senator Glenn McConnell (R-Charleston), introduced the historic legislation as a way to curb state spending and stabilize the budget in years of economic downturns.
                 

“The Budget Stabilization Fund will take the State off the financial roller coaster that affects the budget on an annual basis and prevent run-a-way spending,” says Senator McConnell. “This spreads the money out so that our growth and the handling of finances represents the 10 year average of annual growth increases. I’d also like to point out that there is nothing in the legislation that would prevent the General Assembly from spending less money.”
                  
The Constitutional Amendment (S.718) establishes a formula limiting annual spending to the amount of money received during the prior fiscal year increased by the average revenue growth rates from the previous ten years. Any money available above and beyond the spending limit would be placed into a Budget Stabilization Fund, which could not exceed fifteen percent of the prior year’s actual revenue collections.
                  

The implementing legislation (S.1220) outlines the conditions under which the General Assembly could withdraw funds from the Budget Stabilization Fund. In order for money to be taken out of the Budget Stabilization Fund, except for revenue stabilization and declared emergencies, the General Assembly would need to give approval by a two-thirds majority vote of the House and Senate members present and voting, but not less than three-fifths of the total membership of both the House and the Senate.
                   

“This is perhaps the most important piece of legislation, in regards to the budget, that I have seen in the 24 years that I have been here,” says Dr. William Gillespie, chief economist for the state’s Board of Economic Advisors.
               

The legislation passed today is a result of more than 12 months of work by a special bi-partisan Spending Caps Study Committee, which has worked closely with Dr. Gillespie to create a spending limit that will create real financial accountability for state government. The two bills will now head to the full Senate for consideration. The constitutional amendment could be on the ballot in November if the House gives the bill priority status and moves it through the legislative process.

Medical Affairs sub-committee passed an amendment I introduced to S. 1156 that allows for a pharmacist to supervise up to 4 technicians with the stipulation that 1 of the techs be certified. In SC we have 2 types of pharmacy technicians: registered and certified. Registered technicians do not have training requirements, yet certified technicians to have educational standards. Also, certified techs also have certain tasks in a pharmacy they may perform, so we’ve got a pretty good standard here. I may get some resistance from the pharmacy board. They feel like my ratio is too lenient.  Y’all know my feelings on government regulations: they never work and are useless in most cases. Here are some reasons for my logic:
1-The public is better protected by market incentives. There are two factors that will force safety to be a priority. The health of their patients, and the devastating effects a mistake.
2-I have more faith in SC’s druggists that I do the General Assembly. The corner druggist is much more capable in determining how many techs he/she wants to staff than the Legislature.
3-Registered Pharmacy techs are in short supply. If we don’t enact this legislation, pharmacies will be limited in how many techs to hire, therefore, they will be understaffed, therefore, over burdened, therefore, open to more mistakes. My ratio actually protects the public more than a more stringent ratio.
4-Registered technicians are in high demand. Since the registered technician has more education and responsibilities, they have a greater chance of being hired even though the pay is usually better. My preference would be to staff more registered techs for this reason, but there are not enough available at this time.

A good friend of mine, Barb Barnham, asked me to post this request:
          
This email is from the disaster staff at our Anderson Red Cross office, where I am a volunteer.  Getting a donated van would enhance our ability to respond to events in the region tremendously.  If you can take the time to add a comment on this link, it might help us to get this donated van.  THANKS!  Barb Barham                 
Hi everyone!
                
The Red Cross has applied for a grant from Hamburger Helper (My Hometown Helper project) for a shelter trailer for Anderson County.  The project request is posted on the grant website and we have the option to ask volunteers, community partners, etc to go to the website using the link below and make comments of support.
                 
I’m not sure how big a part the comments play in the decision making process…we’ve never applied for a Hamburger Helper grant before.  But I’m asking you to please take just a few minutes of your time, go to the link below, and post a comment of support.  This would be a fantastic addition to our response capabilities here in Anderson and I’d really appreciate the few minutes of your time it would take to do this.
                     
Thanks so much and please feel free to pass this on to others that may lend us their support as well!

My Hometown Helper- Hometown Project
                                
Melise Chastain
Emergency Services Specialist
American Red Cross
Upstate SC Chapter
Anderson Service Center
115 Whitehall Rd.
Anderson, SC   29625
864-225-8666

“I believe Jesus was a great moral teacher, but I can’t accept His claim to be God.” Have you ever heard a statement like that…or perhaps said something similar yourself?
                
Listen as C.S. Lewis probes the greatest decision of life.
              
 A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher.  He would either be a lunatic – on the level of a man who says he is a poached egg – or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice.  Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: Or else He is a madman…or something worse.  You can shut Him up for a fool; you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God.  But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher.  He has not left that open to us.
                
                          
Liar: Jesus knew he wasn’t God, but said so
Lord: Jesus Christ is everything he says he is
Lunatic: Jesus thought he was God, and pretended to be so
              
Who is the living Son of God to you?