Kevin Bryant

I thought you may find it interesting to see what kinds of venues the taxpayer will be paying for and the classroom will miss:
April 27 2DAC, Capital City Club, Columbia
May 27 2DAC, Capital City Club, Columbia
June 11 SCSBA New Board Orientation, Clarion Hotel, Columbia
July 13 – 15 NSBA Southern Region Conference, Grove Park Inn, Asheville, NC
August 13 – 14 School Law Conference, Marriott, Charleston

Part of the unemployment problem is that our human nature is to take advantage of the ability to get paid to not work. Our office has experienced a number of complaints from employers that can’t find employees to hire. I had a concrete company owner tell me they often hear: “this is hard work, I’d rather stay home and draw my check”. Another example is one constituent called asking our assistance in keeping his unemployment benefits. He said he was offered a job that required a Commercial Drivers Licence, but he couldn’t afford the course. Our office discovered CDL course assistance and called him back. He then declared “I don’t want a job, I want my check!”

I’m very sympathetic to those out of work desperately seeking it, but I’m disappointed that we have a significant segment of our society leeching the system.

Reminds me of a book called “Conscience of a Conservative” by Barry Goldwater (1960):

Indeed, this is one of the great evils of Welfarism – that it transforms the individual from a dignified, industrious, self-reliant spiritual being into a dependent without his knowing it.” and  “I do not undertake to promote welfare, for I propose to extend freedom.”

and recently, Jim DeMint in Myrtle Beach (12.06.10):

“We can’t just keep paying people to stay at home…We’ve got to create economic activity to allow businesses to grow so they can hire people.

On the Senate Calendar now sits s. 478. This bill came out of an LCI (Labor, Commerce, & Industry) subcommittee I chaired this year. After 8+ meetings & 23+ scenarios we’ll probably take it up for debate on Tuesday, 04.19.11.

This piece of legislation does several things:
-new SC businesses will begin their first year in Class 12 (as opposed to 13), then their experience will dictate their class.
-voluntary early contributions will not be considered for lower rate classes
-delinquent and new employers are not to be considered to adjust rates
-delinquent employes will pay 20’s rate
-removes the weekly call in for temporary agencies
-removes ability to receive benefits when fired for gross mis-conduct
-allows benefits to be paid if loss as result of natural disaster
-allows DEW to intercept federal taxes for delinquent payments
-increases the ability of DEW to track down delinquent payments from 5 years to 8

I expect several amendments to come forth making adjustments to the current unemployment tax structures. I initially supported scenario 15, but it was later discovered that 15 increases out debt 60 million and will indirectly increase rates for classes 1-12. 15 also leaves the trust fund empty in 2016. History shows us that we see a dip in the economy approximately every 7 years.

Classes 1-12 are employers that have collectively paid a surplus of $350 million. Classes 13-20 collectively have a deficit of over $1 billion. I will offer an amendment that spreads 30% relief across the board to all rate classes of employers and I understand there’s an additional amendment that gets us more relief.

As we consider these, I am committed to 3 things on the rate structures 1-no more borrowing, 2-no cost shifting, & 3-no carve outs.