Thursday 02.14.08 was dominated with a committee report from S. 398 bill that deals with pay day lenders. We’ve agreed to work all day Tuesday 02.19.08 (happy b-day to me) instead of having Judiciary & Finance Committee meetings. Here’s some highlights of the committee amendment on the bill:
-one loan per customer at a time (industry-wide)
-one-day cooling off period
-monitored by a real-time statewide database
-establishes an extended payment plan option
        -no additional cost to the customer
        -equal installments up to 60 days (4 pay periods)
        -prohibits additional loans while in the plan
-requires a state board annual report to the General Assembly
-sets the loan amount to 25% of the customer’s income during the term of the loan or $500 whichever is less

extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice…moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue. Barry Goldwater 1964

Governor Sanford ordered last summer that all agencies under his cabinet to post each and every financial expenditure on the internet. I agree with Gov. Sanford that South Carolinians are entitled to full and complete information regarding how their hard-earned tax dollars are spent by government. Shining the light on state government spending will lead to more accountability to the taxpayers of South Carolina.

To my disappointment, we have a Freedom of Information (FOI) system that is not free, but is in bondage.  If you want information, you must submit written requests and in most cases spend more of your money to obtain records you paid for in the first place. The FOI system is backwards, and I intend to reverse the process.I will file legislation to require that all other state agencies, commissions, school boards and municipalities put their spending records online. Checking account registers, petty cash expenditures and credit card transactions will be posted on the internet for anyone to review. Please join me in demanding that government actually report to those it serves and who actually pay for it—the taxpayer.

Simply put, it’s your money and it’s your information. While you work hard to earn it, you should not be required to work hard to see how it’s spent.There is an interesting debate on this concept on the Anderson Independent’s Cocklebur blog

Although not as stringent as I would have liked, the Senate did pass an immigration reform bill with merit. Here is a press release from the SC Senate Republican Caucus: Senate Restores Strength to Illegal Immigration Reform Act Urges House to Concur with Stronger BillColumbia, SC – Senator Jim Ritchie, (R-13) Majority Whip, took the Senate floor today reassuring the people of South Carolina that strength and effectiveness are at the heart of the Senate’s Illegal Immigration Reform Act.“This breakthrough legislation requires public and private employers to verify new workers to address this growing crisis,” says Ritchie.

The Senate “rejects the House’s ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy, restored stronger penalties, and will require that all businesses verify the legal immigration status of new hires,” says Senator Ritchie. “We have been working on true illegal immigration reform for over a year and today’s action builds effective, comprehensive reforms with real strength.”

The Senate bill requires public and private employee verification, prevents illegal aliens from receiving public benefits, expands penalties for identity theft and fraud, and allows state law enforcementto enact a memorandum of understanding with the federal officials which provides them the authority to enforce federal immigration and customs laws. The Senate also maintained provisions allowing civil lawsuits tobe filed against employers who fire South Carolinians for the purpose of hiring illegal aliens.

“Illegal immigration is one of the top concerns across the state and the Senate Republican Caucus has produced a solid bill that answers the call from the people of South Carolina that something be done,” says Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler (R-Cherokee). “What the Senate has done today creates a much stronger bill than we have seen to this point,” says Senate President Pro Tempore, Glenn McConnell (R-Charleston). “The Senate has taken the lead on this issuefor over a year and we continued to strengthen the bill with the actions taken today.”

“Our citizens have rightly demanded legislation that will effectively deter illegal aliens from coming to South Carolina,” says SenatorRitchie. “The Senate has answered the call of the people with this landmark reform.”
The Illegal Immigration Reform Act now returns to the House where they must “concur” or “nonconcur” with the amendments. Should the House “concur,” the bill will be ratified and sent to the Governor. Should the House “nonconcur,” the bill will go to conference committee where three Senators and three House members will work toward a final resolution.

Charleston County Republican Party 843-571-6330 chairman@charlestongop.org

Senate Waters Down Immigration Bill
Charleston, SC, February 12, 2008
The South Carolina Senate today introduced an amendment that would water down employee verification in the Immigration Bill, S392. The original bill required all South Carolina employers doing business in the state to be able to verify the legality of their workers through the use of a South Carolina Drivers license, either issued or meeting eligibility requirements to obtain a South Carolina license, or valid immigration documentation. The change incorporating the Immigration and Control Act of 1986, introduced by pressure from the Chamber of Commerce and the Farm Bureau, would permit employers with the option to complete the Federal From I-9. The I-9 form allows for any drivers license from any state and requires a Social Security number that is not verifiable.  This change would not strengthen the bill but significantly weaken it and equates to little or no verification at all.