Senator Massey gives a video update about the budget, the Department of Administration Bill, and the constitutional amendment that South Carolinians will have the opportunity to vote on in the fall.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FOR THE WEEK 5/7/12 – 5/11/12
May 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FOR THE WEEK 5/7/12 – 5/11/12
Here are the highlights from last week at the Statehouse -
CANDIDATES FOR 2012 ELECTIONS – Two weeks ago, the Supreme Court ruled that more than 100 candidates for various offices statewide were disqualified because they failed to file a Statement of Economic Interests as required by law. The Senate spent most of Tuesday and Wednesday working to come up with a solution that would allow these disqualified candidates to run in the June 12 primaries. Although it might seem like a simple problem to fix, the truth is we were caught between our State Constitution, federal law, and a very small timeframe. There was also a real fear that whatever we passed would have made the problem even worse.
In the end, nothing happened. A vote to suspend the Senate’s rules and consider a potential solution failed when it did not receive the necessary 2/3 vote. As one of the 4-5 senators who could personally benefit from the vote (my opponent was disqualified), I chose to recuse myself and did not vote. However, as I said in last week’s update, I continue to believe that candidates who made a good faith attempt to comply with the law should be allowed to run for office.
STATE BUDGET – The Senate Finance Committee finished its work on the state budget last week and passed it out to the full Senate. I expect the full Senate will begin debate this week.
The Board of Economic Advisers added an additional $292 million in projected revenue to the budget. That’s good news because the additional revenue is evidence that our state economy continues to improve. The bad news – from my perspective, at least – is that the General Assembly will very likely spend all the money. Here’s anarticle about the “new” money. Expect some interesting fights on the budget this week!
SC RETIREMENT SYSTEM – There has been a good bit of media attention over the last several months about proposed changes to the state retirement system. The House of Representatives passed a significant overhaul of the system in March. A Senate committee passed a different version of the bill a couple weeks ago. The Senate will probably take up this bill after finishing with the budget. You can read anarticle about the proposed Senate version here.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES
U.S. Fibers Expansion – Last week U.S. Fibers announced plans to invest $5.5 million into an expansion of its Trenton plant. The expansion is expected to create 48 new jobs! This announcement follows U.S. Fibers $10.1 million expansion in 2010 that generated 85 new jobs in Edgefield County. To read more about the expansion, gohere.
MICHELIN EXPANSION – Michelin recently announced plans to invest $750 million to build a new plant in Anderson and expand its existing plant in Lexington. The investment is expected to create 500 new jobs, more than half of which will be at the Lexington plant. You can read a couple articles about the new investment here and here.
BRIDGESTONE HIRING – The Bridgestone plant in Graniteville announced a significant expansion last Fall. They are now hiring for the new positions. For information on how to apply, go here.
Brasfield & Gorrie, the contractor for the new Bridgestone plant, is accepting applications for:
- Carpenter-must have own hand tools. Industrial Construction and concrete experience preferred. 5yrs experience preferred
- Laborer-Industrial construction and concrete experience preferred. Must be able to lift up to 70lbs and work in all types of weather. 2 yrs experience preferred.
Applications will be taken at the job site trailer at 436 Old Vaucluse Road on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 11am-3pm and Thursdays from 4pm-6pm. Preemployment drug screen required as are Safety Toe Boots
MTU EXPANSION – Tognum America announced recently that it will expand its Graniteville MTU plant. Here’s a press release from the department of Commerce.
If you know of a business that is hiring, please let me know. I’d love to include that information in the next newsletter so we can get the word out.
LAST WEEK’S MEETINGS
On Monday morning, I spoke to two government classes at Lexington High School. The students pay close attention to issues facing South Carolina, and they asked some great questions. I really enjoyed the visit!
On Monday night, I attended Lexington Town Council’s monthly meeting. Council invited me to attend the unveiling of their Vision Plan for Lexington. It’s difficult to improve without a vision of where you want to go and how you plan to get there. I applaud Lexington’s Town Council for this significant step!
On Tuesday morning, I attending Lexington Chamber of Commerce’s First Tuesday breakfast. There were probably 100 people at the breakfast, and we learned about the United Way’s significant influence in the Midlands.
On Tuesday morning, I visited Gilbert Primary School, Gilbert Elementary School, Gilbert Middle School, and Gilbert High School for Teacher Appreciation Week. I enjoyed meeting new people and was glad to have the opportunity to say “thank you” to many of our teachers.
On Tuesday night, I attended the Lexington County Soil and Water Conservation District’s annual banquet. The District’s Commissioners awarded several scholarships and prizes to local high school students.
On Wednesday morning, I attended the grand opening and ribbon cutting for First Citizens Bank in Edgefield. There was a great turnout! I’m glad they’re here!
On Wednesday afternoon, I attended a lunch recognizing South Carolina’s firefighters. Several fire departments from our Senate district were represented. I had a good time catching up with some of our local heroes. Thanks to all our firefighters and emergency rescue personnel!
On Wednesday night, I held a town hall meeting at Lexington High School. This was my 12th town hall meeting of the Spring.
On Thursday I visited Byrd Elementary School, Gloverville Elementary School, Jefferson Elementary School, Clearwater Elementary School, Merriwether Elementary School, Leavelle McCampbell Middle School, LBC Middle School, Merriwether Middle School, Midland Valley High School, and Fox Creek High School to say “thank you” to our teachers for Teacher Appreciate Week.
On Thursday night, I held a town hall meeting at Gilbert High School. We had a good crowd and a great discussion about the issues facing South Carolina.
On Friday I rounded out my Teacher Appreciation Week tour by stopping by W.E. Parker Elementary School, Johnston Elementary School, Douglas Elementary School, JET Middle School, Strom Thurmond High School, and Wardlaw Academy. Our teachers do a great job!
Constituent Interests
TOWN HALL MEETINGS – I have held 13 town hall meetings so far this Spring. I hope to have a couple more before the legislative session ends. I’ll keep you updated as we get them scheduled.
HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FILING IS OPEN – Persons who were at least 65 years of age, blind, or 100% disabled as of December 31, 2011, are entitled to a property tax exemption on the first $50,000 in appraised value on their residence. However, in order to get the tax exemption, the person must apply with the county auditor. Auditors are now accepting applications for the 2012 tax year. Contact your county auditor with questions.
SENATE DISTRICT 25 – Our Senate district has changed because of the 2010 census. The district now contains all of Edgefield County and parts of Aiken, Lexington, McCormick, and Saluda Counties. If you’d like to see the new district map, go here.
VOTING RECORD – If you’d like to see how I voted last week, go here. You can always check to see how I vote by going to my website, www.senatormassey.com, and clicking on the “Voting Record” tab.
SPEAKING WITH GROUPS – Several groups, clubs, and classes around our Senate district have invited me to attend their meetings and provide legislative updates. If you would like for me to come speak with your group, please let me know.
EMAIL UPDATES – If you know of people in or around District 25 who do not receive my updates but would like to get them, please email their names and email addresses to me. You can also forward this email to them and encourage them to sign up for the updates at www.senatormassey.com.
Sincerely,
Shane Massey
P.O. Box 551
Edgefield, SC 29824
Email – shaneforesenate@yahoo.com
Cell Phone – (803) 480-0419
P.S. Please visit www.senatormassey.com for more posts, news, and video updates. Also, please “friend” me on Facebook www.facebook.com/shanemassey.sc and follow me on Twitter (@shanemassey).
Legislative Update for the Week of 4/30/12 – 5/4/12
May 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Here are the highlights from last week at the Statehouse -
Candidates for 2012 Elections– The main topic of discussion in Columbia last week was the Supreme Court’s opinion that disqualified more than 100 candidates for various offices statewide because they failed to file a Statement of Economic Interests as required by law. Here is an article that details the situation. You can read the Supreme Court’s opinion here.
On Thursday Senator Kevin Bryant introduced a resolution that would allow the disqualified candidates to submit the necessary paperwork and be on the ballot for the upcoming elections. The Senate Judiciary Committee will have a specially called meeting on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. to consider the resolution. If the resolution passes, the primary election scheduled for June 12 will almost certainly have to be moved to later in the summer. Although I have some questions about the resolution and its impact, I believe we should allow the candidates to appear on the ballot if they made a good faith attempt to comply with the law. We should encourage more participation in the process rather than making it more difficult to run for office.
SC Retirement System– There has been a good bit of media attention over the last several months about proposed changes to the state retirement system. The House of Representatives passed a significant overhaul of the system in March. A Senate committee passed a different version of the bill last week. You can read an article about the proposed Senate version here. I expect the full Senate will begin debating the bill later this week.
Charter School Bill – The House and Senate agreed to language in a bill that would update the laws related to charter schools. Some of the highlights of H. 3241 are:
- colleges and universities could sponsor charter schools. Now, only local school districts or the statewide charter school district can sponsor charter schools.
- single-gender charter schools could be created.
- charter school students could compete for and participate in extracurricular activities at their resident public school if the charter school does not offer those activities.
The bill now goes to Governor Nikki Haley. You can read the bill here.
New Chancellor at USC-Aiken– Sandra Jordan, Provost at Georgia College; State University, was named USC-Aiken’s Chancellor last week. Ms. Jordan succeeds Dr. Tom Hallman who is retiring after 12 years as Chancellor. Dr. Hallman has done a tremendous job for USC-Aiken during his tenure, and I’m confident Ms. Jordan will provide great leadership for the university going forward. Here is an article about Ms. Jordan.
Economic Development and Job Opportunities
Michelin expansion – Michelin recently announced plans to invest $750 million to build a new plant in Anderson and expand its existing plant in Lexington. The investment is expected to create 500 new jobs, more than half of which will be at the Lexington plant. You can read a couple articles about the new investment here and here.
Bridgestone hiring – The Bridgestone plant in Graniteville announced a significant expansion last Fall. They are now hiring for the new positions. For information on how to apply, go here.
Brasfield & Gorrie, the contractor for the new Bridgestone plant, is accepting applications for:
Carpenter-must have own hand tools. Industrial Construction and concrete experience preferred. 5yrs experience preferred.
Laborer-Industrial construction and concrete experience preferred. Must be able to lift up to 70lbs and work in all types of weather. 2 yrs experience preferred.
Applications will be taken at the job site trailer at 436 Old Vaucluse Road on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 11am-3pm and Thursdays from 4pm-6pm. Preemployment drug screen required as are Safety Toe Boots
MTU expansion – Tognum America announced recently that it will expand its Graniteville MTU plant. Here’s a press release from the department of Commerce.
If you know of a business that is hiring, please let me know. I’d love to include that information in the next newsletter so we can get the word out.
Last Week’s Meetings
On Monday morning, Rep. Anne Parks and I met with the McCormick County Council. We have these joint legislative delegation/county council meetings about 4 times per year so we can hear from Council about local concerns and provide an update from Columbia.
On Monday night, I attended a specially called Edgefield County Council meeting to address water (or lack thereof) and noise concerns on the Northside of the county. A large crowd turned out to voice their concerns.
On Wednesday morning, I chaired a Labor, Commerce & Industry subcommittee that examined right to work/union legislation and various agency regulations. I will be chairing another subcommittee meeting Wednesday of this week.
On Wednesday night, I held a town hall meeting at the McCormick County Council chambers. We had a good crowd and an interesting discussion about statewide issues. Thanks to everyone who came out!
On Thursday, I flew to Albuquerque, New Mexico to attend the National High School Mock Trial Championship. Blair and I have served as attorney coaches for the Strom Thurmond High School mock trial team for several years. When the team won the state championship this March, I promised to go with them to the national tournament. The students from STHS were great ambassadors for South Carolina!
Constituent Interests
Town Hall Meetings – I have held 11 town hall meetings so far this Spring, and I have more scheduled. Please come out if you get a chance. These meetings are great opportunities for you to let me know how you feel about the issues and for me to keep you updated about what’s going on in Columbia. Here are the upcoming meetings:
Wednesday, 5/9/12
Lexington High School
Cafeteria
2463 Augusta Highway
Lexington, SC
6:00-7:30
Thursday, 5/10/12
Gilbert High School
Theater
840 Main Street
Gilbert, SC
6:00-7:30
I’m trying to schedule more meetings. I’ll keep you updated as we get them set.
Homestead exemption filing is open – Persons who were at least 65 years of age, blind, or 100% disabled as of December 31, 2011, are entitled to a property tax exemption on the first $50,000 in appraised value on their residence. However, in order to get the tax exemption, the person must apply with the county auditor. Auditors are now accepting applications for the 2012 tax year. Contact your county auditor with questions.
Senate District 25 – Our Senate district has changed because of the 2010 census. The district now contains all of Edgefield County and parts of Aiken, Lexington, McCormick, and Saluda Counties. If you’d like to see the new district map, go here.
Voting Record – If you’d like to see how I voted last week, go here. You can always check to see how I vote by going to my website, www.senatormassey.com, and clicking on the “Voting Record” tab.
Speaking with Groups – Several groups, clubs, and classes around our Senate district have invited me to attend their meetings and provide legislative updates. If you would like for me to come speak with your group, please let me know.
Email updates – If you know of people in or around District 25 who do not receive my updates but would like to get them, please email their names and email addresses to me. You can also forward this email to them and encourage them to sign up for the updates at www.senatormassey.com.
Sincerely,
Shane Massey
Bill gives charter school students access to public school extracurriculars
May 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The S.C. General Assembly has approved an extensive charter school measure – now awaiting only Gov. Nikki Haley’s signature – that in part will allow charter school students to participate in extracurricular activities at a traditional public school nearest their attendance zone.
Aiken County has three charter schools – only one of them a high school, the Aiken Performing Arts Academy. The new regulations also will include virtual education students who participate in the state’s virtual charter school program, said J.W. Ragley, spokesman for the S.C. Department of Education.
The most recent numbers within the past year indicated 233 students were enrolled in the virtual program, which would include younger children as well as high school students.
This legislation does not address the same extracurricular opportunities for home-schooled children. However, a separate bill addressing those students has passed the S.C. Senate and is awaiting a House vote.
Ragley said S.C. Superintendent of Education Dr. Mick Zais supports the home-school bill as well as the public charter school legislation.
Bill Burkhalter, the attorney for the Aiken County School District, said the charter school measure will take much study to determine the full impact of the provision changes.
“The imposition of extracurricular opportunities for charter school students will be a huge management issue for the school districts, some of which is extremely difficult.” said Burkhalter. “It should be a privilege for these students to participate in extracurricular activities, not an entitlement.”
Specifically, a charter school student can avail himself of sports or other activities at a traditional school only if his charter program doesn’t provide that opportunity. That could include band, chorus, clubs and even the Honor Society, Ragley said.
“I think it’s a great step in the right direction,” said S.C. Sen. Shane Massey, R-Edgefield. “It is allowing more students to participate in these activities, giving parents and students more choices about educational benefits.”
All parents of charter schools and the virtual school district pay taxes to support the public schools that are not educating their children, Ragley said.
The legislation does provide that a charter student would have to make a sports team like any other student. He would be subject to the same disciplinary requirements of the traditional school.
Burkhalter did express relief that the new legislation did not revise the procedure in which traditional schools can become charter schools. Currently, a traditional school can be converted with two-third votes of the faculty and two-thirds of parents who take part in a voting process. Earlier proposals in the past two years had called for a simple majority.
Two charter schools – Lloyd-Kennedy and Midland Valley Prep – opened in Aiken County in 2002, both approved annually by the Aiken County Board of Education. LKCS director Keisha Lloyd-Kennedy later established the performing arts academy, housed at the same facility.
Lloyd-Kennedy said some of her high school boys and a few girls have expressed interest in the opportunity to play high school sports. She would be happy to work with the district on this and appreciates the good working relationship for many years.
“I can understand the management concerns from a coach’s perspective,” Lloyd-Kennedy said. “But we would let our students know that if they play on a high school team, they would have to abide by their regulations.”
Throughout the past decade, Aiken School District officials in the Division of Special Programs have worked with all three schools in the area of special education. The State Department had stipulated that requirement, and soon it will become the charter school law.
Burkhalter made clear that his concerns are not with the existing charter schools, but with the concept.
“We’re held responsible after the fact for any charter school’s deficits or omissions,” Burkhalter said. “But we have no control of the staff and can’t hire or fire anyone. The public has no comprehension of these expenses and costs related to students who are not in the district, but in the charter schools.”
For Keisha Lloyd-Kennedy, it’s in her best interests to comply with all the rules. If she does not, the Aiken School Board could choose to revoke her charter. The Division of Special Services and its director, Dr. Sal Minolfo, have been very helpful, Lloyd-Kennedy said, in providing guidance on federal regulations that impact her special education students.
“I know my obligations are to provide my students a fair and reasonable education,” Lloyd Kennedy said. “I have the same obligation to the school district. I don’t want them to have issues with the state and then come back on us.”
A lot of school districts around the state, Minolfo said, have tenuous relationships with their charter schools over the requirements the law places on distrust. That can be difficult for school districts
That being said, “We have had an amicable relationship with our charter schools,” Minolfo said. “We provide some funding and in-kind services that are not monetary. We want their programming to be successful. Our attitude is to work with them as closely as possible and make sure they’re doing things right.”
Ragley does not see the revamped charter legislation as a serious issue for the state’s school districts. Districts that have thousands of students can accommodate a few more, he said.
“It’s about equity and access,” said Ragley said. “These students should have the opportunity to participate.”
Senior writer Rob Novit is the Aiken Standard’s education reporter and has been with the newspaper since September 2001. He is a native of Walterboro and majored in journalism at the University of Georgia.
Source: Aiken Standard
Voters, meet your (new) representatives
April 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Gilbert Mayor Randy Clamp is warning neighbors to be ready for some unfamiliar names on the ballot at the June 12 Republican primary ballot.
The change is an unwelcome surprise for his community of nearly 600 residents in central Lexington County, he said, who for the past decade has been represented by well-known Republican Sen. Jake Knotts.
“We’re dealing with strangers,” Clamp said. “It’s a big shake-up.”
His town is one of many municipalities and neighborhoods in the Midlands who are living in a changed political landscape, as a new set of boundaries for congressional and legislative districts come into use for the next decade.
Gilbert sits in the middle of a triangular area between U.S. 378 and I-20, previously represented by Knotts, who lives near West Columbia.
But it’s the area where Knotts challenger Katrina Shealy had the greatest support in her first race against the veteran legislator in 2008.
So the area that includes Gilbert was moved elsewhere — at Knotts’ request.
The area now is in the eastern edge of a largely rural district stretching across Edgefield, McCormick, Aiken and Saluda counties.
And it is represented by Sen. Shane Massey, who lives 45 miles west in Edgefield.
He is running for re-election against another Republican equally unknown in Gilbert.
Getting familiar with central Lexington County is “almost like starting over and running that first campaign again,” said Massey, a lawyer first elected to the Senate in 2007.
He made headlines last year for railing against three state agencies that quietly racked up deficits without the General Assembly’s knowledge.
Massey now is in the middle of a fight to form a new Department of Administration — a move supporters say would save millions annually.
“Spending has always been a top issue for me and it will continue to be,” Massey said. “I’ve tried my best to change the way we do things and trying to move away from the status quo.”
Those themes are similar to ones sounded by Knotts, although the pair often differ on details.
Knotts also is known for careful attention to requests for help with problems.
“We’ve known him forever,” said Raymond Boozer, a former leader of the 54-year-old county Peach Festival held each 4th of July.
Signs promoting Knotts and Shealy festoon the Gilbert area even though no one there can vote for either.
“Many of us just assumed we were still in that district,” Boozer said.
New ball game
The discovery of the change affecting Gilbert is one of several rippling across the Midlands as June’s primary ballot approaches.
Besides changes in several State Senate districts, the borders of the area’s pair of U.S. House districts are somewhat different.
The 6th District represented by U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn has expanded into new parts of Richland County while the area in the 2nd District represented by U.S. Joe Wilson has shrunk.
Rebecca Munnerlyn, former president of the Rosewood Community Council, said she was not aware that the neighborhood on the south edge of Columbia now has a new congressman.
It is now in Clyburn’s district instead of Wilson’s.
“I was aware of the whole redistricting process going on, but I didn’t know the change affected Rosewood,” Munnerlyn said.
She doubts the switch will cause problems.
“I guess we just need to make sure the awareness is out there and Rosewood neighbors know about the change and get out and vote,” Munnerlyn said.
Clyburn, a Columbia Democrat and U.S. House leader, is running unopposed. Wilson, R-Springdale, has primary opposition but no Democrat awaiting in the fall ballot.
Changes affecting Midlands districts for the S.C. House are minor compared to the S.C. Senate.
Major population growth and shifts in the past decade – including significant growth in Charlotte suburbs and along the coast – meant several more counties and precincts than usual are split.
In addition, remapping is always political, as incumbents seek to design districts favorable to themselves.
Challenges by some Democrats to remapping changes settled on by the Republican-controlled Legislature failed, and the changes won the approval of U.S. Justice officials.
A blessing?
Lexington Mayor Randy Halfacre can sympathize with his counterparts in Gilbert, 12 miles west of his town.
His four-mile drive from home to his job at the Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce takes him through three State Senate districts dividing the community of 18,000 residents.
Town Hall is just inside the district that Massey represents while county offices across the street are in the one where Knotts is the incumbent.
Massey is visiting the town to start building relationships as he awaits the ballot showdown with primary election challenger John Pettigrew from the Aiken area.
The fragmentation of Lexington may confuse and anger some residents but it’s beneficial for the community overall, Halfacre said.
“Politics is a numbers game where the more people on your side, the better,” he said. “Having three on your side is better than one.”
Source: The State
Legislative Update for the Week of 4/16/12 – 4/20/12
April 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Here are the highlights from last week at the Statehouse -
SC’s unemployment rate drops – Recent numbers indicate South Carolina’s unemployment rate has fallen below 9% for the first time since 2008. Even better, according to this article, South Carolina’s economy is now the 2nd strongest in the Southeast.
Our expanding manufacturing base is a big reason for the encouraging news.
State budget update – The Board of Economic Advisers met last week and reviewed tax collections for this year. For the fiscal year (June – July), tax revenues are $208 million (5%) more than collections at this time last year. The increased revenue is evidence of a slow but steady economic rebound.
The Senate will take up the state budget in early May. I expect a big fight on the Senate floor as to whether we should spend all the “new” money.
Interstate Healthcare Compact – The Senate passed legislation that would allow South Carolina to have more say over healthcare decisions. If approved by Congress, this bill would allow member states to work together for a better and more efficient healthcare system in those states. You can read an article about the bill here.
Governor/Lt. Governor on same ticket? – The Senate began debate last week on a proposed constitutional amendment that would require the Governor and Lt. Governor to run together on a ticket. Similar to the process whereby we select a President and Vice President, candidates for Governor would select running mates and campaign as a team. Here’s a copy of the bill.
I’m interested in your input: should the Governor and Lt. Governor run together, or should we continue to elect them separately?
Public School Choice and Open Enrollment – The Senate began debate last week on a bill that would require public schools to implement school choice options within the public school system and allow for students to attend any public school they choose, regardless of their zoned district. You can read the bill here. Also, here’s a short article with more information on the bill.
Texting while driving – Last week I served on a subcommittee that considered a ban on texting while driving. Although the House has passed a ban several times, the bill has been stuck in the Senate for more than a year. In an effort to get the bill moving, our subcommittee narrowed the scope so as to prohibit minors from texting while driving and prohibit all drivers from texting or talking on a cell phone while driving through school zones or work zones. The bill now goes to the full Senate Judiciary Committee. Here’s a story and video on the subcommittee meeting.
Bills of Interest
SC Retirement System – There has been a good bit of media attention over the last several months about proposed changes to the state retirement system. The House of Representatives passed a significant overhaul of the system last month. A Senate subcommittee has been working on the bill for several weeks. Here is an article discussing potential changes. Here’s a different article that analyzes the TERI system.
I expect the Senate will take up this legislation very soon. Stay tuned.
Open Carry of Firearms – I’ve received a lot of comments over the past week about a recently introduced bill that would allow individuals to carry weapons without a permit. Currently, South Carolinians can carry concealed weapons with a permit. This bill would eliminate the need for a permit and it would remove the requirement for individuals to keep their weapons concealed. You can also read the bill here. I appreciate your input!
Economic Development and Job Opportunities
SC soon to be tire capital of US – In the last several months, Continental Tire announced that it will build a new manufacturing plant in Sumter while Bridgestone and Michelin announced significant expansions of their existing facilities. As a result, South Carolina has received a great deal of national attention for our tire manufacturers. Here are a couple recent articles from The State and the Associated Press, talking about South Carolina’s manufacturing resurgence.
Michelin expansion – Michelin recently announced plans to invest $750 million to build a new plant in Anderson and expand its existing plant in Lexington. The investment is expected to create 500 new jobs, more than half of which will be at the Lexington plant. You can read a couple articles about the new investment here and here.
Bridgestone hiring – The Bridgestone plant in Graniteville announced a significant expansion last Fall. They are now hiring for the new positions. For information on how to apply, go here. Additionally, Bridgestone is now hiring machine technicians. To read an article about this specific job, go here.
MTU expansion – Tognum America announced recently that it will expand its Graniteville MTU plant. Here’s a press release from the department of Commerce.
If you know of a business that is hiring, please let me know. I’d love to include that information in the next newsletter so we can get the word out.
Last Week’s Meetings
On Monday night, I attended a joint meeting held by the Edgefield County Republican Party and the Edgefield County Republican Women. State GOP Chairman Chad Connelly was the guest speaker. It was a great meeting with a good turnout.
On Tuesday morning, I stopped by the PowerUP Lunch, sponsored by the Lexington Chamber of Commerce and several Lexington area churches. I wish I could have stayed for the whole lunch, but I had to get back to the statehouse for a vote!
On Tuesday night, I attended a membership meeting for the Aiken Electric Cooperative. Aiken Electric is a great community partner for Aiken and Edgefield Counties!
On Wednesday morning, I had breakfast with the Lexington Dawnbusters breakfast club. This is a great group of Lexington conservatives. I really enjoyed the conversation!
On Thursday night, I attended Lexington One’s Teacher of the Year Celebration. It was a great program, and I was extremely impressed with the Teacher of the Year candidates. We have some very creative and talented teachers, and we need to do a much better job of marketing them.
On Friday afternoon, I participated in the Aiken Board of Realtors candidate forum lunch. Congressman Joe Wilson was the keynote speaker, and candidates for several offices answered questions. I appreciate the Realtors for hosting the event!
On Friday afternoon, I attended a ribbon cutting for the newly renovated Dorn Grist Mill in McCormick. The McCormick County Historical Society has done a great job rehabilitating the old mill. I encourage you to stop by and take a tour!
On Saturday, I attended the unveiling of an historical marker for Leavelle McCampbell School in Graniteville. 2012 is the school’s 90th anniversary. There was a big turnout for this great day in Graniteville.
Constituent Interests
Redistricting article – Sunday’s edition of The State included an article on the newly redistricted House and Senate lines. The article focused on our Senate district. Go here to read the article.
STHS mock trial team – A few weeks ago I mentioned that Strom Thurmond High School’s mock trial won the state championship. The team is scheduled to participate in the national tournament in Albuquerque, New Mexico on May 4 and 5. This past week, WRDW-TV did a story on the team. You can read the article and see the video here.
Homestead exemption filing is open – Persons who were at least 65 years of age, blind, or 100% disabled as of December 31, 2011, are entitled to a property tax exemption on the first $50,000 in appraised value on their residence. However, in order to get the tax exemption, the person must apply with the county auditor. Auditors are now accepting applications for the 2012 tax year. Contact your county auditor with questions.
Town Hall Meetings – I have held 10 town hall meetings this Spring, and I’m trying to schedule a few more. I’ll keep you updated as we get them set.
New Senate District – Our Senate district has changed because of the 2010 census. The district now contains all of Edgefield County and parts of Aiken, Lexington, McCormick, and Saluda Counties. If you’d like to see the new district map, go here.
Voting Record – If you’d like to see how I voted last week, go here. You can always check to see how I vote by going to my website, www.senatormassey.com, and clicking on the “Voting Record” tab.
Speaking with Groups – Several groups, clubs, and classes around our Senate district have invited me to attend their meetings and provide legislative updates. If you would like for me to come speak with your group, please let me know.
Email updates – If you know of people in or around District 25 who do not receive my updates but would like to get them, please email their names and email addresses to me. You can also forward this email to them and encourage them to sign up for the updates at www.senatormassey.com.
Sincerely,
Shane Massey
Senator Shane Massey – Crossover Approaches
April 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Senator Shane Massey explains how crossover is about to create a very busy time for the S.C. Senate.
Senate Passes Born Alive Bill
April 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The Senate passed a new bill today aimed at protecting innocent life in South Carolina.
The “born alive” bill would grant full legal protections to any newly born baby as soon as it is outside the mother’s body. In particular, it is aimed at protecting babies that are born alive after a failed abortion attempt.
“The first and most important right is the right to life,” said Senator Chip Campsen, the lead sponsor of the bill. “We have heard too many stories from around the nation about botched abortions and the aftermath. This bill will make sure innocent life is protected in our state.”
“This has been a long fight, for simple legislation that should have been common sense,” said Senator Lee Bright. “Once a baby is outside the mother’s body, this bill will make absolutely sure they enjoy the full legal protection of anyone else.”
“Protecting these vulnerable infants is a huge step in the right direction,” said Senator Shane Massey. “As conservatives, we believe innocent life must be defended.”
Legislative Update for the week of 4/9/12 – 4/13/12
April 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Here are the highlights from last week at the Statehouse -
Job training for food stamps recipients – In recent updates, I have talked about South Carolina’s focus on – and national recognition for – training unemployed individuals so they will have the skills necessary to compete in the workforce. This past week, two state agencies announced plans to require unemployed individuals on food stamps to participate in job-training programs in order to keep the benefits. A similar program is already in place for individuals collecting welfare benefits. To read more about the program, go here.
Port lawsuit – There’s been a good bit of attention over the last several months about DHEC’s board issuing a permit to Georgia to dredge the Savannah River in order to deepen the port in Savannah. Savannah’s port competes directly with Charleston’s port, and our port is a huge economic driver for the state. Several groups joined together earlier this year and filed a lawsuit to rescind the permit. Last week, the South Carolina Supreme Court agreed to hear the case. You can read an article about the lawsuit here.
Restructuring in limbo? – On Tuesday, Speaker Bobby Harrell and Treasurer Curtis Loftis released a statement about the Senate’s amendments to the Department of Administration/Government Restructuring legislation. Specifically, the Speaker and the Treasurer expressed concern about South Carolina’s AAA credit rating. As someone who has been very involved in the restructuring movement, I’m interested to see the proposals to be offered by the Speaker and the Treasurer. I, too, want to maintain the credit rating, but I fear this is a well-planned attempt to resurrect the Budget & Control Board and preserve the status quo. 15 states have a AAA credit rating; 14 of them do not have a Budget & Control Board. Surely we can ensure “fiscal integrity” without undoing the progress made in the Senate. You can read the statement issued by the Speaker and the Treasurer here.
Angel Investors – On Thursday, a Senate subcommittee approved legislation to encourage “Angel Investors” to invest in South Carolina. The bill would provide a tax credit for individuals who provide start-up funds for new businesses. With recent reports of South Carolina attracting interest for life sciences, alternative energy, and other high tech businesses, this legislation could encourage more movement in that area. The bill still has a long ways to go before becoming law. To read a short article on the bill, go here.
Bills of Interest
Open Carry of Firearms – I’ve had a lot of comments and questions over the past week about a recently introduced bill that would allow individuals to carry weapons without a permit. Currently, South Carolinians can carry concealed weapons with a permit. This bill would eliminate the need for a permit and it would remove the requirement for individuals to keep their weapons concealed. I’m interested in your input. Here’s an article about the bill. You can also read the bill here.
Economic Development and Job Opportunities
New nuclear reactors – SCE&G is building two new nuclear reactors at its V.C. Summer plant in Jenkinsville (Fairfield County). The new reactors are among the first reactors approved for construction in the United States since the 1970s. South Carolina already gets over half its power from nuclear energy; these new reactors will go a long way toward supplying our future energy needs. Even better – it’s renewable and we don’t have to import it from foreign countries. Here is an article about the new reactors.
Michelin expansion – Last Tuesday, Michelin announced plans to invest $750 million to build a new plant in Anderson and expand an existing plant in Lexington. The investment is expected to create 500 new jobs, more than half of which will be at the Lexington plant. You can read a couple articles about the new investment here and here.
Bridgestone hiring – The Bridgestone plant in Graniteville announced a significant expansion last Fall. They are now hiring for the new positions. For information on how to apply, go here http://www.readysc.org/bato/ Additionally, Bridgestone is now hiring machine technicians. To read an article about this specific job, go here.
MTU expansion – Tognum America announced recently that it will expand its Graniteville MTU plant. Here’s a press release from the department of Commerce. http://sccommerce.com/news/press-releases/tognum-america-inc-expanding-aiken-county You can also read an article from The Aiken Standard, discussing the expansion.
If you know of a business that is hiring, please let me know. I’d love to include that information in the next newsletter so we can get the word out.
Last Week’s Meetings
On Monday night, I held a town hall meeting at Midland Valley High School. We had a good discussion about statewide issues and economic development.
On Tuesday morning, I attended a Lexington Chamber of Commerce breakfast and learned about new programs and updates at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport. The airport is a huge economic engine for the Midlands.
After session on Tuesday, I drove to Bath for a town hall meeting at Jefferson Elementary School. We had a good conversation about redistricting, government restructuring, and the state budget. Thanks to those who came out!
Wednesday and Thursday were busy days at the statehouse. The Senate was in session, with several votes, on both days. And I got my exercise running between committee meetings.
On Thursday night, I had a town hall meeting at Merriwether Elementary School. We had a great crowd and a wide-ranging discussion about state and local issues. I really appreciate all the input.
On Friday afternoon, I had a couple meetings in McCormick. Then I drove over to Lexington High School for Mid Carolina Electric Cooperative’s annual meeting. There was a huge crowd – probably around 5,000 people – and I got to meet a lot of new folks. It was a busy, but fun, day.
Constituent Interests
Homestead exemption filing is open – Persons who were at least 65 years of age, blind, or 100% disabled as of December 31, 2011, are entitled to a property tax exemption on the first $50,000 in appraised value on their residence. However, in order to get the tax exemption, the person must apply with the county auditor. Auditors are now accepting applications for the 2012 tax year. Contact your county auditor with questions.
Town Hall Meetings – I have held 10 town hall meetings this Spring, and I’m trying to schedule a few more. I’ll keep you updated as they’re finalized.
New Senate District – Our Senate district has changed because of the 2010 census. The district now contains all of Edgefield County and parts of Aiken, Lexington, McCormick, and Saluda Counties. If you’d like to see the new district map, go here.
Voting Record – If you’d like to see how I voted last week, go here. You can always check to see how I vote by going to my website, www.senatormassey.com, and clicking on the “Voting Record” tab.
Speaking with Groups – Several groups, clubs, and classes around our Senate district have invited me to attend their meetings and provide legislative updates. If you would like for me to come speak with your group, please let me know.
Email updates – If you know of people in or around District 25 who do not receive my updates but would like to get them, please email their names and email addresses to me. You can also forward this email to them and encourage them to sign up for the updates at www.senatormassey.com.
Sincerely,
Shane Massey
Shane Massey Holds Legislative Town Halls in Aiken County
April 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment
GRANITEVILLE, SC — Senator Shane Massey spoke with residents at his recent town hall at the Midland Valley High School Auditorium on Monday evening. He covered topics such as unemployment benefits, jobs and economic development in the local area, the State of SC Budget and Retirement System.
This week a few more meetings are scheduled for those interested in asking State Senator Massey questions or learning more about what is going on in Columbia.
4/10/12
Jefferson Elementary School
Cafeteria
170 Flint Drive
Bath, SC
6:00-7:30
4/12/12
Merriwether Elementary School
565 Spring Haven Drive
North Augusta, SC
6:00-7:30
I am still working to schedule a couple town hall meetings in McCormick County. I hope to have those set soon. I will announce the meetings as they are scheduled.
Some updates from Shane Massey’s website: senatormassey.com
The Senate will not be in session this week (4/2/12-4/6/12). Here are the highlights from last week at the Statehouse -
Unemployment benefits for fired workers – Last year the Department of Employment and Workforce paid roughly $50 million in unemployment benefits to workers who had been fired for cause. After serving on a subcommittee investigating these unjustified payments, I helped write legislation that would prohibit unemployment benefits being paid to people who habitually refuse to show up to work, fail drug tests, commit criminal acts while working, or consistently disobey employers’ instructions. The Senate passed that bill this week.
Extended unemployment benefits coming to an end – South Carolina has historically allowed for 26 weeks of unemployment benefits when workers lose their job through no fault of their own. Because of extensions passed by Congress, many unemployed individuals have been able to collect benefits for up to 99 weeks (nearly 2 years). Last year, the General Assembly lowered South Carolina’s allowance to 20 weeks.
A subcommittee on which I serve heard this past week that recent changes in federal law mean that the federal extensions on unemployment will end this year. As a result, by the end of 2012, unemployment benefits will be capped at 20 weeks, as provided by state law.
SC leads the way in on-the-job training – A recent study shows South Carolina is a national leader in apprenticeship programs. These programs work in affiliation with our technical college system to help train workers for a new, technology-based economy.
House passes school choice – Last week the House of Representatives passed legislation that would allow tax credits for parents whose children attend private school, public school in another district, or homeschool. The bill will now go to a Senate committee for consideration.
Economic Development and Job Opportunities
Bridgestone hiring – The Bridgestone plant in Graniteville announced a significant expansion last Fall. They are now hiring for the new positions. For information on how to apply, go here http://www.readysc.org/bato/ Additionally, Bridgestone is now hiring machine technicians.
MTU expansion – Tognum America announced recently that it will expand its Graniteville MTU plant. (More jobs will be planned before end of 2012.)
If you know of a business that is hiring, please let me know. I’d love to include that information in the next newsletter so we can get the word out.
Source: Aiken Leader
