STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

THE SENATE

For Immediate Release

August 6, 2008

Bryant Continues Fight for Greater Transparency

Wants Property Valuation Notices to be Mailed Prior to End of Fiscal Year

Columbia, SC  – Senator Kevin Bryant (R-Anderson) continues to fight for greater transparency in state and local government. Senator Bryant wants county tax officials to send out new property value notices at least 60 days before the end of a county’s fiscal year, so taxpayers can have a better understanding of how much money is being collected due to an increase in property values.

“I am working on legislation that would require counties to send reassessment notices to taxpaying homeowners 60 days prior to the end of the county’s fiscal year,” says Senator Bryant. “Many taxpayers in Anderson County are still in the dark about the reassessed value of their property and the potential impact on their personal finances.”

Senator Bryant wants taxpayers to have a greater understanding of how their hard-earned tax dollars are being spent.  “It is all about information. The more people understand about how government is using their money, the more likely they are to hold elected officials accountable for fiscal responsibility.”

South Carolina law (Section 12-43-217) requires counties to “appraise and equalize” property once every five years and send notice to the property owner if the value or classification increase is more than $1,000.  Although the notice is required, there is no specific time frame of when notice of the increase should be provided. The legislation being drafted by Senator Bryant would put a specific time frame in place. The reassessment valuation notice differs from the annual tax notice that is sent out annually.

Senator Bryant is joined in his desire to see legislation requiring a time schedule for reassessment notices by fellow Senators Larry Grooms (R- Berkeley), Greg Ryberg (R-Aiken), and Danny Verdin (R-Laurens).

Senator Bryant expects to pre-file the legislation in December ahead of the 2009 legislative session.

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Congressman Gresham Barrett remains in DC to demand Democrats come back to find solutions for our energy crisis. Here’s an interview with Mike Green.

Making Change Happen is more than a slogan. Making change happen defines the core of the South Carolina Senate Republican Caucus. Over the last four years, the Senate Republican Caucus has been making change happen through tax relief, improved education opportunities, and by tackling some of the state’s most pressing issues. Here are just a few of the highlights from the beginning of this term which started in January of 2005.

Tax Relief

Since 2005, the South Carolina Republican Caucus has voted to return more than $1 billion annually to taxpayers.

2005 – Small Business Income Tax Relief returns $129 million annually

2006 – Property Tax Relief/swap for .01 sales tax returns $480 million annually

2007 – Grocery Tax Relief returns $335 million annually

2007 – Elimination of bottom income tax bracket returns $86 Million annually

Education is one of the South Carolina Senate Republican Caucus’ top priorities. Over the last four years the Caucus has worked to improve educational opportunities and standards for students.

2005 – High school course work customized to match students individual career interests.

2006 – Started a pilot program for full-day 4-year-old Kindergarten.

2006 – $11.3 million in new money went to help unsatisfactory and below average schools and districts.

2007 – Caucus fought to give all high school age students access to new virtual learning internet-based classrooms.

2008 – Maintained teacher salaries at $300 above Southeast average to attract more qualified teachers.

2008 – Eliminated Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test – State Department of Education currently developing new test to be given during for the first time during the 2008-2009 school year.

The Senate Republican Caucus realizes the economic future of our state rests in the hands of today’s children. Providing an education that meets the demands of the 21st century will remain at the forefront of our mission.

Social Issues

As South Carolinians we place great importance on conservative, family-values. The South Carolina Senate Republican Caucus also supports the preservation of these values.

2005 – Voted to put to a referendum the elimination of the state mandate of mini bottles in bars and restaurants

2006 – Unborn Victims of Violence Act redefined  “person” for criminal statutes to include a fetus.

2006 – Expanded the definition of “safe havens” to included law enforcement agencies, synagogues, and churches as places a newborn can be taken when parents are unable/unwilling to provide adequate care.

2006 – The Youth Access to Tobacco Prevention Act made it illegal for minors to possess, purchase or be given tobacco products.

2006 – Jessica’s Law increased minimum sentencing for first-degree sexual conduct to 25 years and allows for capital punishment to be sought for a second offense against children under age 11.

2008 – Ultrasound bill requires physicians to perform ultrasound on women seeking an abortion after 14 weeks. Women must be notified of their right to see ultrasound images at anytime.
2008 – Public Invocation procedures were outlined, giving local governments appropriate guidelines to open meetings with the time-honored tradition of prayer.

The Senate Republican Caucus is dedicated to maintaining a strong conservative agenda that represents the majority of those living in and choosing to move to the Palmetto State.

Economic Development

South Carolina continues to look for smart legislative improvements that will bring business and industry to the state. The Senate Republican Caucus is working to create an environment that encourages growth and stays competitive.

2005 – Tort reform created a better legal climate for our state’s businesses: eliminated “jury shopping”, created penalties to discourage frivolous lawsuits, and reduced the statute of repose from 13 years to 8 years.

2006 – Dept. of Commerce received an additional $16 million from the General Fund, including $7million for a “Closing Fund” to be used in the recruitment of business and industry.
2007 – A record year in business development with over $4 billion in capital investment from business and industry creating over 15,600 additional jobs. Continuing a positive growth trend since 2005.

2007 – Brought about substantial reform to the Workers’ Compensation system, which has already shown results with lower than expected annual increases in premium costs for SC businesses.

2008 – Provided tax credits to companies that locate corporate headquarters in SC. Approved tax credits for revitalization of abandoned textile plants to encourage new development.

The Senate Republican Caucus will continue to seek out new opportunities to improve the environment for economic development with real solutions to tough challenges.

Healthcare

Improved access to quality, affordable healthcare is a major factor in the continued successful development of our state and the people who live here. The South Carolina Republican Caucus is committed to making healthcare affordable for the vast number of residents who are currently uninsured.

2005 – Voted to place a full-time nurse in every elementary school in the state.

2006 – Funded Breast Cancer Treatment and Screening Program with $1 million.

2007 – Established the Office of Healthcare Workforce Research to address the critical need for additional nurses in South Carolina.

2008 – Developed and passed legislations establishing the Small Business Healthcare Cooperative, giving small business more power to negotiate affordable health insurance premiums; thereby allowing more businesses to offer health insurance to their employees.

The Senate Republican Caucus will continue to lead efforts to improve access to quality, affordable healthcare in South Carolina and work with organizations that are proposing bold new approaches to the healthcare coverage to our citizens.

Other Important Statewide Issues

In addition to the traditional functions of state government, important issues surface in every session that must be addressed. Although, the issues may appear to be single hot-button issues how they are dealt with can have a lasting impact on our state. The Senate Republican Caucus has tackled several important issues since 2005.

2005 – Medical Malpractice Tort Reform, which was led by the Senate Republican Caucus, limited judgments against physicians in an effort to address the rising cost of healthcare. Members of the Senate Republican Caucus led the effort by introducing the bill that eventually became the prevailing law of the state.

2006 – Property Tax Reform removed the school-operating portion of the property tax on owner occupied homes. The Senate Republican Caucus also fought to reduce the state sales tax on groceries from 5% to 3% and later eliminated all state sales tax on groceries.

2007 – The Department of Transportation came under heavy scrutiny for the misuse of funds and poor management practices. The Senate Republican Caucus took on the job of reforming the structure and practices of DOT resulting in the agency having more focus and accountability. 

2008 – Illegal immigration costs the state an estimated $186 million annually. The Senate Republican Caucus led the fight to stem the tide of a silent invasion. Today, South Carolina enjoys one of the strongest illegal immigration reform bills in the nation.

As you can see since 2005 the Senate Republican Caucus has been making change happen. We ask for your support as we work to maintain a majority in the South Carolina Senate. There are nineteen Republican candidates facing Democrat challengers for the South Carolina Senate: six incumbents and thirteen newcomers. In a season when “change” has become the buzzword, you can count on the South Carolina Senate Republican Caucus to continue its efforts of Making Change Happen. 

Chad Prosser is director of the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism and wrote this column (Anderson Independent Mail) in response to a recent editorial. The Palmetto Scoop is making a ruckus over the incident.

There’s been a lot of discussion recently over whether South Carolina should actively sponsor advertising or promotions directed specifically at the gay travel market. Sparked by a third-party promotion conducted by a tour operator in London, those who would take sides on the issue have sounded off about whether this is a good or bad thing.

As the state’s official tourism marketing arm, it’s the job of the professionals at the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism (SCPRT) to make sure that all visitors and prospective visitors to our state understand that they are welcome here. We also want our visitors to know that we appreciate their leaving behind some of their hard-earned cash to benefit South Carolina’s economy. It saddens me both personally and professionally that any group would perceive otherwise.

It’s important to understand that Amro Worldwide’s “That’s so gay” promotional posters are not state tourism ads. They do not contain South Carolina’s tourism logo, Web site address or photography. We did not place the ads. And we did not pull the ads, because they were not ours to pull. We have no objection to Amro Worldwide conducting this campaign with its own resources. But SCPRT management does object to the state’s money or brand being used in the promotion. Why? Because, as is clearly stated in the proposal prepared by the tour operator’s publicist, “this campaign will ‘reclaim’ the term ‘so gay’ – as a term that is rendered strongly positive for lesbian and gay people. It also allows gay and lesbian people to feel that the term is being neutered as a negative putdown…”

SCPRT does not feel that it is necessary to use sensational content, such as a negative putdown directed at a particular group, in order to market our state to tourists. Furthermore, Amro’s poster about South Carolina contained stock photography and product claims (e.g., “gay beaches”) that are not accurately representative of South Carolina’s tourism product.

SCPRT does not blame the tour operator for this incident. It was reasonable for Amro Worldwide to think that it had the approval of SCPRT through our contract representative in London. In fact, our contractor in London has already paid Amro for the promotion. So why is Amro continuing to carp about our decision? Free publicity perhaps?

To his credit, the employee at SCPRT who initially approved participation in Amro’s promotion, has taken responsibility for his action and resigned in a letter to his supervisor dated July 11, 2008. And, SCPRT’s contractor in London has absorbed the $4,942.50 cost of the Amro promotion. Thus, no state dollars have gone to fund this promotion.

As Director of SCPRT, I take full responsibility for the organizational failure that allowed one employee to approve this third-party promotion without it undergoing the same scrutiny and review that all SCPRT ads undergo. We have made internal changes to ensure this doesn’t happen again.

For those skeptics who imply that the Amro promotion was a strategic decision made by SCPRT at the policy level, I invite them to review all of the documents, correspondence and e-mails made public this week by SCPRT. This paper trail clearly demonstrates that the employee in question acted on his own without the knowledge of even his direct supervisor.

While the facts are not nearly as sensational as all of the speculation, they do demonstrate what actually happened. I hope that the media that have reported otherwise will demonstrate the same level of character as those at SCPRT who have taken responsibility for their actions.

By APRIL BAILEY Staff writer Aiken Standard
Sen. Greg Ryberg, R-Aiken, is calling for transparency from the Lower Savannah Council of Governments.
The state senator released a statement Tuesday asking that the organization release all information that relates to its support of the incorporation effort for the three towns of Graniteville, Vaucluse and Warrenville.
                     

Ryberg said he filed two Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests on July 16, asking for “all documents, correspondence and other material including electronic material related to the Graniteville, Vaucluse and Warrenville incorporation effort.” The request also asked for “all records from the accounts engaged in the Graniteville, Vaucluse and Warrenville incorporation effort to include names of all donors and all recipients of any and all money involved in the effort,” according to the release.
              

The law allows 15 business days for FOIA requests to be fulfilled; thus far, Ryberg says he hasn’t received the information yet. “Since they are a public body, those records should be disclosed,” he said Tuesday. “I think those that will be affected by that decision deserve full disclosure.”
                  

Ryberg also says he has recently learned that LSCOG has been lending financial support to the incorporation by taking “donations from individuals, made as tax-exempt donations, and appeared to funnel them through its accounts to further support the effort,” he said. “I remain puzzled by the arrangement whereby a public body take private money for political purposes,” Ryberg said. “I am alarmed by the reluctance of LSCOG to turn over the record of those transactions.”
             

An official with LSCOG could not be reached Tuesday; however, members of the GVW Incorporation Study Committee say they have not received any donations from LSCOG to fund the incorporation effort. The group issued a response Tuesday, saying “when the LSCOG releases the records it has the authority to release, it will show that approximately $39,500 in donations have been received through June 2008, and during that time, approximately $33,500 have been spent on legal services, accounting services, bank and accounting charges, office supplies and public meeting expenses,” read the statement. “None of these funds held by the LSCOG have been spent on any political campaign and none will be for any political campaign, including influencing the outcome of the GVW election.”
                          

Charles Hilton, chairman of the GVW Incorporation Study Committee, said the LSCOG is providing only accounting services for the committee. “They haven’t given a dime to us,” he said. “We’re paying them to do an accounting service.”
                    

In the release, the group also writes that it “understands that the LSCOG is reviewing the requested records and seeking legal advice on what may and may not be released under the FOIA since some of the donors requested anonymity on their donations as expressly allowed by the provisions of the FOIA.” The release also included a statement from the study group, saying that the U.S. Department of Justice has granted the needed clearance to GVW officials to hold the referendum on Aug. 26.
                    

Ryberg said he has been contacted by several people wanting more information about the proposed incorporation, which is why he issued the request. Though the residents in the proposed GVW incorporation area are not his constituents, he says that as an elected public official, he feels it’s his job to answer those questions. “Again, we are seeking transparency,” Ryberg said. “Voters have asked, and I believe the voters deserve the right to know how public money is being spent to influence their futures. The vote on incorporation will forever transform the lives of thousands of citizens, and these voters just want full disclosure before they vote.”