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Legislative Update for the Week of 3/12/12 – 3/16/12

March 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Here are the highlights from last week in the Senate -

Glenn McConnell Sworn in as Lt. Governor – On Tuesday afternoon, Senator Glenn McConnell (Charleston), the Senate’s President Pro Tempore, was sworn in as Lt. Governor and, consequently, vacated his position in the Senate.  Here is a brief article discussing the transition.  Amid speculation that he might resign as Lt. Governor and seek his old Senate seat, McConnell announced on Thursday that he will not run for the Senate in 2012.  Here is an article on that announcement.

Sen. John Courson elected Senate President Pro Tempore – After Glenn McConnell was sworn in as Lt. Governor, the Senate elected a new President Pro Tempore.  The President Pro Tempore is the Senate’s leader and, constitutionally, is 3rd in line for succession to the Governor’s office.  The Senate chose Sen. John Courson (Columbia) to replace McConnell as the new President Pro Tempore.  Here is an article about Sen. Courson.

Charter School Bill– The Senate spent a good bit of time last week debating amendments to H. 3241, 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 Senate will continue debating the charter school bill this week.  To read the most current version of the bill, go here.

House Passes Budget – After 2½ days of debate, the House of Representatives unanimously passed the budget on Wednesday.  The Senate Finance committee will now consider the bill before sending it to the full Senate.  I expect the full Senate will take up the budget in late April.  I will provide more updates on the budget as the bill makes its way through the Senate.

Audit of Department of Employment and Workforce – The Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) is the state agency in charge of administering unemployment benefits and helping people find jobs.  A recent audit by the Legislative Audit Council uncovered some disturbing news:  DEW has done a poor job of policing fraudulent unemployment claims.  The audit comes on the heels of a report in January that revealed 18% ($86 million) of all unemployment claims in 2011 were improper.  To read the January report, click here.   Here is an article discussing the recent audit.  You can read the complete LAC audit here.
Bills of Interest
Privatization of school bus fleet – South Carolina is the only state to own and operate its public school transportation system.  There has been a lot of talk in the past several years about privatizing the school bus fleet.  Here is an article talking about a current proposal.
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.

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 Lexington High School. We had about 15 people in attendance.  Thanks to everyone who came out!

On Tuesday morning I met with Holly Pisarik, Governor Haley’s nominee to be Director of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.  Mrs. Pisarik is currently Chief Advice Counsel at LLR.  I will provide more information as the Senate considers Mrs. Pisarik for this position.

On Thursday night I held a town hall meeting at the Circle Fire Department in Saluda County.  This was my 4th town hall meeting this Spring.  See below for a list of upcoming town hall meetings.

On Friday morning I attended the West Metro Rotary (Lexington County) breakfast.  Congressman Joe Wilson was the speaker, and Attorney General Alan Wilson also attended.  I really enjoyed the meeting.

On Saturday I attended some of the St. Patrick’s Day events on the Square in Edgefield following the annual Shamrock Run.  The weather was beautiful, and there was a great crowd!

Constituent Interests

Town Hall Meetings – I’ve held 4 town hall meetings so far this year. These meetings are great opportunities for me to keep you updated about what is happening in the General Assembly and, more importantly, allow me to hear from you.  I hope you can make it to one of these meetings.  Here is a list of upcoming meetings –

3/26/12
Richland Ruritan Club Building
217 Richland Creek Rd.
Saluda, SC
6:30-8:00

3/27/12
Leavelle McCampbell Middle School
Cafeteria
82 Canal Street
Graniteville, SC
6:00-7:30

4/2/12
Edgefield County Council Chambers
225 Jeter Street
Edgefield, SC
6:00-7:30

4/9/12
Midland Valley High School
Auditorium
227 Mustang Drive
Graniteville, SC
6:00-7:30

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.

McCormick County Magistrate, Jake Trantham, to Retire – Summary Court Judge Jake Trantham has told me he plans to retire in the very near future.  Judge Trantham has done a great job for McCormick County, and I really appreciate his service.  If you’re interested in serving as a magistrate in McCormick, please check this week’s McCormick Messenger.  I’ll also have information on my website later this week.

President George W. Bush Coming to Graniteville – Former President George W. Bush will visit our district on April 18 when he comes to speak at the First Tee Junior Invitational at Sage Valley Golf Club in Graniteville.  Here is an article announcing the event.

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

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A historic week in the Senate

March 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment

This week marked a historic one in the state Senate, as Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell relinquished his position, and his Senate seat, to assume the office of Lieutenant Governor.

People often assume that the Lieutenant Governor’s office is one with authority second only to the governor, but nothing could be further from the truth. The Lieutenant Governor’s primary job is one of presiding over the Senate, while the President Pro Tempore post has far greater influence in setting and moving the Senate agenda and making appointments to various boards and other panels.

Because of this, Lieutenant Governor McConnell has been widely praised for giving up a far more powerful roll in order to become Lieutenant Governor, as prescribed by the state Constitution. While many people speculated on a hypothetical game of “musical chairs” that McConnell could have used to retain his former role, he instead simply decided to follow what was clearly laid out in the Constitution. For that, we join with many others across South Carolina in thanking him.

As well, the Senate held an election for a new Senate President Pro Tempore, choosing Senator John Courson of Columbia to fill that role. Senator Courson is a longtime Republican, being one of Ronald Reagan’s first prominent supporters in South Carolina. Please join us in also welcoming Senator Courson to the position of Senate President Pro Tempore.

In addition to the changes in leadership, the Senate began debate on the Charter Schools bill.

Charter schools are public schools that give educators the flexibility to create schools that best fit the needs of the local community. Unfortunately, local districts in an effort to avoid competing for funding, have often stymied charter schools’ efforts to get going. The Senate has a bill to streamline many aspects of charter school creation and the admissions process. We believe it will stimulate the growth of charter schools in South Carolina and remove administrative roadblocks for those already operating.

The Senate also tried to expedite consideration of a bill by Senator Lee Bright that would disallow unemployment benefits for people fired with cause or for misconduct. Too often, companies are forced to pay benefits for employees that were fired for good reason, something that costs taxpayers and consumers. Democrats blocked the consideration of this bill temporarily, but it isn’t dead and we hope to take it up later this session.

Thank you for allowing us to serve you in the state Senate. The Republican Caucus remains committed to looking after your tax dollars and promoting the conservative values of South Carolinians.

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Lt. Gov. Ken Ard Resigns, ObamaCare

March 12, 2012 By 1 Comment

Last week was a wild one for the Senate.  Here are the highlights -

LT. GOVERNOR KEN ARD RESIGNS – On Friday morning, Ken Ard resigned as Lt. Governor after being indicted on campaign violations.  Senator Glenn McConnell (Charleston), the Senate’s President Pro Tempore, will be sworn in as next Lt. Governor on Tuesday.  I expect next week will be interesting, as well, as the Senate must elect a new President Pro Tempore.  I will give another update in next week’s email.  Here is an article from the Associated Press detailing the events leading up to the resignation. Here is another article, from The State.

LEROY SMITH, DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY – On Tuesday, the Senate voted unanimously to confirm Governor Haley’s nominee to be the new Director of the Department of Public Safety, Major Leroy Smith.  Director Smith was a 22-year veteran of the Florida Highway Patrol before being appointed by Governor Haley in November.  To read an article about Director Smith’s background and career, go here.

MARK KEEL, CHIEF OF SLED – In a previous email update, I mentioned that Governor Haley nominated Chief Mark Keel for a full 6-year term as Chief of SLED.  On Tuesday afternoon, the Senate voted unanimously to confirm that appointment.

OPT OUT OF OBAMACARE’S REQUIREMENT FOR ABORTION COVERAGE – One of the central provisions of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (better known as “Obamacare”) is the creation of health insurance exchanges in each state.  That law provided that health insurance offered through those exchanges must provide coverage for abortions, but it allowed states to opt out of that provision.  Although South Carolina has refused to implement a health care exchange on our own, the federal government will likely create one and force it upon us.  On Thursday, the Senate passed S. 102.  If passed by the House, S.102 will prevent insurance offered through an exchange from providing abortion coverage except in the case of rape, incest, or life of the mother.  That provision is consistent with existing law in South Carolina and most other states.  I voted to opt out.

HOUSE TO BEGIN BUDGET DEBATE – The House of Representatives is scheduled to begin debate on the 2012-2013 budget this week.  I expect the House will pass the budget later in the week.  I will give an update in next week’s email.
BILLS OF INTEREST

SCHOOL CHOICE – On Tuesday the House Ways & Means Committee passed a bill that would provide tax credits to parents of students who attend private school, homeschool, or public school in another district.  A similar bill was introduced in the Senate last week.  The bill must be approved by the full House and Senate before it becomes law.  Similar bills have failed in both bodies in previous years.  To read an article about the House bill, go here.

TEXTING WHILE DRIVING – On Wednesday the House of Representatives passed legislation to prohibit texting while driving a motor vehicle.  The House has passed similar bills in past years, but those bills have snagged in the Senate.  To read an article discussing the House vote, go here. You can read a copy of the bill here.

CHANGES TO SC RETIREMENT SYSTEM – On Tuesday the House Ways & Means Committee passed a bill that would make changes to the State Retirement System.  Among the proposed changes, the bill would require newly hired state employees to work 30 years (up from 28) before collecting retirement benefits, increase employee contributions to their retirement plan from 6.5% of their salary to 7.5%, and set the employer (taxpayer) contribution at 10.6% of the employee’s salary.  The bill now goes to the full House for debate.  Before becoming law, these changes would also have to be approved by the Senate and Governor Haley.  To read a summary of the proposed changes, go here.

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.

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 the Merriwether Community Coalition meeting at Merriwether Middle School.  There were probably 75 people at the meeting to hear about plans for growth in the Merriwether area. To read a recap of the meeting, go here.

On Tuesday night I held a town hall meeting at Gilbert High School.  We had a great meeting, but, unfortunately, several people were unable to get into the building because one set of doors was locked. I will try to set another meeting in the Gilbert area this Spring.  Please see the list of upcoming town hall meetings below.

On Wednesday morning I visited with the Lexington Dawnbusters breakfast club.  I had a good time talking with the breakfast crowd at Lizard’s Thicket in West Columbia about statewide and local Lexington issues.

On Wednesday night I attended a meeting of the Persimmon Hill Investment Club in Saluda.  I really enjoyed the meeting, and I appreciate the invitation.

By far, my best meeting of the week was on Thursday morning when I visited my daughter’s 2K class for “Donuts with Dad.”  In the midst of all the minute details we all get caught up in, it’s nice to be reminded of the important things in life.  Last Thursday morning was a great reminder for me.
Constituent Interests

STROM THURMOND HIGH SCHOOL MOCK TRIAL TEAM – STATE CHAMPIONS – In late February teams from 40 high schools across South Carolina competed in mock trial regional competitions in Charleston, Conway, Greenville, and Lexington.  The top 12 teams advanced to the state competition, held this past Friday and Saturday in Columbia.  Two schools from our district – Lexington High School and Strom Thurmond High School – competed among the top 12 in Columbia.  After all was said and done, Strom Thurmond won the 2012 state championship!  STHS will represent South Carolina at the national mock trial championship in Albuquerque, New Mexico May 3-6, 2012.

PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH COMING TO GRANITEVILLE – Former President George W. Bush will visit our district on April 18 when he comes to speak at the First Tee Junior Invitational at Sage Valley Golf Club in Graniteville.  Here is an article announcing the event.

Red Oak Grove Bridge (Edgefield County) – As everyone who lives in the Westside of Edgefield County knows, the bridge on Red Oak Grove Road has been closed for about 1½ years.  SCDOT plans to reopen the bridge in late April or early May.  I will give you more information as I receive it.

Town Hall Meetings – I held a town hall meeting at Gilbert High School last Tuesday night, and I’ll be holding meetings at Lexington High School and the Circle Fire Department (Saluda County) this week.  These meetings are great opportunities for me to keep you updated about what is happening in the General Assembly and, more importantly, allow me to hear from you.  I hope you can make it to one of these meetings.  Here is a list of meetings scheduled so far –
3/12/12
Lexington High School
Cafeteria
2463 Augusta Highway
Lexington, SC
6:00-7:30

3/15/12
Circle Fire Department
3321 Columbia Highway (U.S. 378)
Leesville, SC
6:00-7:30

3/26/12
Richland Ruritan Club Building
217 Richland Creek Rd.
Saluda, SC
6:30-8:00

3/27/12
Leavelle McCampbell Middle School
Cafeteria
82 Canal Street
Graniteville, SC
6:00-7:30

4/2/12
Edgefield County Council Chambers
225 Jeter Street
Edgefield, SC
6:00-7:30

4/9/12
Midland Valley High School
Auditorium
227 Mustang Drive
Graniteville, SC
6:00-7:30

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.

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

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FOR THE WEEK OF 2/27/12 – 3/2/12

March 5, 2012 By 1 Comment

Last week was pretty slow in the Senate.  Here are the highlights -

CATHERINE TEMPLETON, NOMINEE FOR COMMISSIONER OF DHEC – After breaking a filibuster, the Senate voted 38-3 to confirm Catherine Templeton as the new Commissioner of DHEC.  I voted to confirm.  Here is an article from The State about the vote.

DHEC PERMIT FOR GEORGIA TO DREDGE SAVANNAH RIVER – Last Fall, Georgia asked DHEC for a permit to dredge the Savannah River in order to deepen the Port of Savannah.  DHEC staff denied the permit, but DHEC’s board overruled that decision after Gov. Haley asked the board to review the permit application.  That decision led to a firestorm of criticism because the Port of Savannah competes directly with the Charleston Port, and the South Carolina Port Authority has been working to expand the Charleston Port and build a new port in Jasper County.  Earlier this session, the General Assembly unanimously passed a resolution disavowing the actions taken by DHEC’s board.  Governor Haley vetoed that resolution.  Following a great deal of discussion, the General Assembly voted to override the governor’s veto.  I voted to override.  Here is an article discussing the vote.

S.C. IS #1 EXPORTER OF VEHICLES AND TIRES – According to a report from the U.S. Department of Commerce, South Carolina exported more vehicles and tires in 2011 than any state in the country!  The Bridgestone tire manufacturing plant in our district played a huge role in South Carolina earning 30% of the country’s tire market.  Here is an articleabout the report, which also underscores the significance of the South Carolina’s port.

BILLS OF INTEREST

COMMON CORE EDUCATION STANDARDS – The Senate Education Committee met last Wednesday and discussed S.604, a bill that would prohibit the State Department of Education from implementing Common Core.  As I’ve mentioned in previous emails, in 2010 the State Board of Education adopted this program that would establish a national set of standards to prepare K-12 students for college and careers.  Proponents argue Common Core creates higher educational standards that will better prepare our students for college and careers in the 21st century.  Opponents express concern that Common Core would actually lower our standards and place much of our K-12 curriculum in the hands of a national organization rather than having those decisions made in South Carolina.  After about 20 minutes of discussion, the committee was faced with allowing the Department to implement Common Core statewide or continue the discussion of Common Core at our next meeting.  I voted with the majority of the committee members to continue the discussion.  I appreciate the valuable input many of you have provided.

HIGH SCHOOL DROP-OUT PREVENTION – The Senate Education Committee also considered H.3164, a bill by Rep. Tom Young (Aiken) that would require high school students to stay in school in order to keep their driver’s licenses.  The bill is designed to be one step in tackling South Carolina’s drop-out rate.  The Committee voted unanimously to send the bill to the full Senate 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.

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 joined other members of the Aiken County Legislative Delegation for breakfast at the Aiken County Career & Technology Center.  Students from North Augusta High School’s culinary class did a great job preparing the breakfast.  The Career & Technology Center, located off Highway 1 across from Aiken Technical College, serves approximately 500 students from 5 high schools in Aiken County.  Over 95% of Career & Technology Center students graduate on time after learning significant job skills in specific career choices!  I was very impressed with the students and the curriculum.  Check out their website for more information.

On Tuesday night I attended an annual dinner for the South Carolina Soil and Water Conservation Districts.  I had a great time meeting with commissioners from Aiken, Edgefield, Lexington, and Saluda counties.  These conservation districts, established in each county and dedicated to the preservation of South Carolina’s natural resources, do a tremendous job of educating young and old about the importance of taking care of our land and resources.

On Thursday night I held a town hall meeting at Pleasant Hill Elementary School in Lexington.  We had a nice crowd, and I really appreciate everyone who came out.  Please see the list of upcoming town hall meetings below.

On Saturday night I attended the “Sportsman’s Spectacular” at Sweetwater Baptist Church in North Augusta.  Over 1,100 people attended this service to honor sportsmen and celebrate the natural resources and wildlife God has entrusted to us.  It was a great night; I was really honored to participate.

Constituent Interests

Red Oak Grove Bridge (Edgefield County) – As everyone who lives in the Westside of Edgefield County knows, the bridge on Red Oak Grove Road has been closed for about 1½ years.  SCDOT plans to reopen the bridge in late April or early May.  I will give you more information as I receive it.

Town Hall Meetings – I have held over 50 town hall meetings across our Senate district since I was first elected.  These meetings are great opportunities for me to keep you updated about what is happening in the General Assembly and, more importantly, allow me to hear from you.  I hope you can make it to one of these meetings.  Here is a list of meetings scheduled so far –
3/6/12
Gilbert High School
Theatre
840 Main Street
Gilbert, SC
6:00-7:30

3/12/12
Lexington High School
Cafeteria
2463 Augusta Highway
Lexington, SC
6:00-7:30

3/15/12
Circle Fire Department
3321 Columbia Highway (U.S. 378)
Leesville, SC
6:00-7:30

3/27/12
Leavelle McCampbell Middle School
Cafeteria
82 Canal Street
Graniteville, SC
6:00-7:30

4/9/12
Midland Valley High School
Auditorium
227 Mustang Drive
Graniteville, SC
6:00-7:30

4/10/12
Jefferson Elementary School
Cafeteria
170 Flint Drive
Bath, SC
6:00-7:30

I am working on scheduling several more town hall meetings in Edgefield, McCormick, and Saluda counties.  I will announce the meetings as they are scheduled.

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,

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Legislative Update for the Week of 2/20/12 – 2/24/12

February 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Here are the highlights from last week at the Statehouse -

BUDGET – The state budget is generally the most significant legislation that the General Assembly deals with each year.  It is made up of 3 parts: General Fund (income, sales, and corporate tax collections), Federal (primarily education, Medicaid, and transportation funds), and “Other” (fee and fine collections).

Last week the House Ways & Means Committee passed a budget for the full House of Representatives to consider.  This first draft of the budget would provide pay raises for most state employees and teachers, hire additional law enforcement officers, and contribute to the deepening of the Charleston port.  Follow these links for analysis from the Associated Press   and The State.

The budget still has a long ways to go.  It must pass the full House, the Senate Finance Committee, and the full Senate before going to Governor Haley for approval.  It probably will not be finalized until late May.

INCREASE IN TOURISM – I mentioned last week that the economic trends show a rebounding economy in South Carolina.  A big reason for that rebound is an increase in tourism, which accounts for a large portion of South Carolina’s economy.  A recent report indicates that tourism increased in 2011 and is expected increase in 2012.  Here is an article from The Sun News (Myrtle Beach) about this significant news.

CATHERINE TEMPLETON, NOMINEE FOR COMMISSIONER OF DHEC – The full Senate began to take up the nomination of Catherine Templeton to be the new Commissioner of DHEC.  Senator Phil Leventis (Sumter) is filibustering Ms. Templeton’s nomination.  Here are a couple articles about Ms. Templeton and the filibuster, here and here.

This nomination has garnered a lot of attention because of the significance of DHEC.  I have met Ms. Templeton several times, and I am extremely impressed with her.  I expect the Senate will vote on Ms. Templeton’s nomination this coming week.  I intend to vote to confirm her nomination.

MARK KEEL, NOMINEE FOR REAPPOINTMENT AS CHIEF OF SLED – Last year, following former Chief Reggie Lloyd’s retirement, Governor Haley selected Mark Keel to serve as Interim Chief of SLED.  The Governor has now nominated Chief Keel for appointment for a full 6-year term.

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved Chief Keel’s nomination last week, and I expect the full Senate will consider the nomination this week.  I voted for Chief Keel in committee, and I plan to vote to confirm him when his nomination comes before the full Senate.  You can read an article about Chief Keel’s appointment here.

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION – I’ve talked a lot about this bill in past weeks, so I won’t rehash the details again.  However, The Herald (Rock Hill) had a good editorial about the bill this past week, so I thought I’d share it.

BILLS OF INTEREST

COMMON CORE EDUCATION STANDARDS – After mentioning this bill in last week’s update, I received a good bit of feedback about it.  Since Common Core could have a significant impact on our K-12 education curriculum, please continue to let me know what you think.  As a bit of further explanation, in 2010 the State Board of Education adopted new education standards, commonly referred to as “Common Core.”  Common Core’s purpose is to establish a national set of standards to prepare K-12 students for college and careers.  S.604 would prohibit the State Department of Education from implementing Common Core.  Here is a recent article about the legislation.  Since I expect this bill may come up for a vote at some point, I would appreciate your input.

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.

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

This past week at the statehouse, I met with a 3rd grade class from North Augusta Elementary School and the Future Farmers of America from Saluda High School and Strom Thurmond High School.  I really enjoyed each one of the groups.  If these students are representative of all our students, South Carolina’s future is bright!

Constituent Interests

Red Oak Grove Bridge (Edgefield County) – As everyone who lives in the Westside of Edgefield County knows, the bridge on Red Oak Grove Road has been closed for about 1½ years.  I talked with SCDOT this week, and the plan is for the bridge to reopen in late April or early May.  I will give you more information as I receive it.

Town Hall Meetings – I have started scheduling a new round of town hall meetings.  Here is a list of meetings scheduled so far –

3/1/12
Pleasant Hill Elementary School
Cafeteria
664 Rawl Road
Lexington, SC
6:00-7:30

3/6/12
Gilbert High School
Theatre
840 Main Street
Gilbert, SC
6:00-7:30

3/12/12
Lexington High School
Cafeteria
2463 Augusta Highway
Lexington, SC
6:00-7:30

3/15/12
Circle Fire Department
3321 Columbia Highway (U.S. 378)
Leesville, SC
6:00-7:30

3/27/12
Leavelle McCampbell Middle School
Cafeteria
82 Canal Street
Graniteville, SC
6:00-7:30

4/9/12
Midland Valley High School
Auditorium
227 Mustang Drive
Graniteville, SC
6:00-7:30

4/10/12
Jefferson Elementary School
Cafeteria
170 Flint Drive
Bath, SC
6:00-7:30

I am working on scheduling several more town hall meetings in Edgefield, McCormick, and Saluda counties.  I will announce the meetings as they are scheduled.

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

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Legislative Update for the Week of 2/13/12 – 2/17/12

February 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Here are the highlights from last week at the statehouse - 

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION – Following weeks of debate, the Senate passed H.3066 on Thursday.  This bill would accomplish the most significant restructuring of South Carolina state government in decades and, consequently, took a long time to work out.  As passed by the Senate, the bill is roughly 130 pages long.  To put that in perspective, most legislation passed by the General Assembly probably consists of fewer than 5 pages.

Here’s a quick summary:

  • Abolishes the Budget & Control Board, a 5-member agency that has controlled many of the executive functions of state government for the last 60 years.
  • Creates a new Department of Administration, to be run by a director appointed by the Governor, and transfers most of the Budget & Control Board’s executive functions to this new cabinet agency.
  • Ensures the independence of the Board of Economic Advisers, an agency responsible for analyzing economic data and projecting revenue trends that are the basis for our state budget.
  • Prohibits state agencies from running budget deficits unless the General Assembly, through a recorded vote, authorizes additional funding.
  • Establishes a 9-member trustee board to govern state employee benefits (health insurance and retirement).
  • Requires the legislature to conduct regular oversight of all executive agencies.  For too long, the General Assembly has abdicated its oversight role and, consequently, has done very little to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of state government.

The bill now returns to the House of Representatives for consideration of the Senate’s changes.  I’ll keep you updated on how things proceed.  To read the bill, as passed by the Senate, go here.  You can read analysis from The State, The Post and Courier, and the Associated Press.

ECONOMIC TRENDS – The Board of Economic Advisers met last week and determined that January’s tax collections were $10.3 million (1.7%) over the previous year’s collections.  For the fiscal year (July-June), revenues are $177.4 (4.7%) million over last year’s collections.  These numbers show a slow, but steady, economic recovery in South Carolina.

NEW SENATE DISTRICT – In my first update of the year, I told you that our Senate district had changed because of the 2010 census.  Late last year, the U.S. Department of Justice signed off on the new Senate districts.  However, several private individuals filed suit, challenging the new district boundaries.  Last week, a U.S. District Court dismissed that lawsuit.  As a result, the new Senate districts are now in effect.  Our 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. 

BILLS OF INTEREST

COMMON CORE EDUCATION STANDARDS – In 2010 the State Board of Education adopted new education standards, commonly referred to as “Common Core.”  Common Core’s purpose is to establish a national set of standards to prepare K-12 students for college and careers.  S.604 would prohibit the State Department of Education from implementing Common Core.  Here is an AP article about the legislation.  Since I expect this bill may come up for a vote at some point, I would appreciate your input.

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/)

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 the Edgefield Lions Club meeting and presented the club with a United States flag that flew over the Statehouse.  The Lions Club is a service organization that does great work for the community, especially in assisting those in need of eye care.

Thanks to all our service clubs for making our communities better!

Constituent Interests

CONGRESSMAN JEFF DUNCAN TO BE IN EDGEFIELD AND SALUDA – Congressman Jeff Duncan will hold “Listening Sessions” in Edgefield and Saluda on Wednesday, February 22.  Jeff will be at the Old Edgefield Grill (202 Penn Street, Edgefield) 12:00–1:00 and Mig’s (216 N. Wise Rd., Saluda) 4:30-5:30.  Please take advantage of this opportunity to talk with our Congressman!

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

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Senator Shane Massey’s Legislative Update – February 13

February 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Legislative Update For The Week of 2/6/12- 2/10/12

Last week was a busy one.  Here are the highlights -

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION – The Senate continued to debate a bill that would abolish the Budget and Control Board and create a new Department of Administration.  I sponsored an amendment with Senators Vincent Sheheen (D-Kershaw) and Tom Davis (R-Beaufort) to move more of the executive functions of government into the executive branch.  That amendment passed last Tuesday, but the Senate undid much of that amendment on Wednesday by creating a new board to handle state procurement contracts.  I hope the Senate will finish the discussion this week.

CATHERINE TEMPLETON, NOMINEE FOR COMMISSIONER OF DHEC – Several weeks ago, Earl Hunter, DHEC’s Commissioner since 2001, announced his retirement.  Following a lengthy search, DHEC’s governing board recommended Catherine Templeton to be the new Commissioner.  Ms. Templeton, currently Director of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, was approved by the Senate Medical Affairs Committee this past week.  Her nomination now goes to the full Senate for confirmation.  To read more about Ms. Templeton’s nomination and the committee hearing, go here.

STATE OF THE JUDICIARY ADDRESS – Last Wednesday, Chief Justice Jean Toal delivered her annual State of the Judiciary Address.  In the speech, the Chief Justice pointed out some staggering statistics:  SC has fewer trial judges, per capita, than any state in the country, and court filings in SC are much higher than in any other state.  Consequently, the Chief Justice has asked the General Assembly to create 3 new circuit court judge positions and 6 new family court judge positions.  You can watch a video of the speech and view the Chief Justice’s power point presentation here.  Here is an article from The State about the speech.

PUB POLITICS – On Wednesday, I was a guest on Pub Politics, a popular web-based political talk show.  We discussed the Department of Administration legislation, Catherine Templeton’s nomination to head DHEC, and other issues before the General Assembly.  You can watch the entertaining video here.

BILLS OF INTEREST

DUI – In 2008 the General Assembly overhauled South Carolina’s DUI laws in an attempt to crack down on repeat offenders.  That new law ensures repeat offenders serve mandatory jail time and requires them to install a breathalyzer device in their vehicle to prevent them from driving while intoxicated.  A new bill, S.746 would require a person to install that breathalyzer device in his vehicle after a first conviction. Here is a brief article discussing the bill.

HIGH SCHOOL DROP-OUT PREVENTION – Keeping high school students in school is one of South Carolina’s biggest challenges.  Multiple studies indicate people who graduate high school will earn more over the course of their lives, are less likely to require public assistance, and are more successful overall than people who drop out of high school. H.3164 would require high school students to stay in school in order to keep their driver’s licenses.  Here is an article about the bill.

HOME-BASED FOODS LEGISLATION – Did you know that it is illegal to sell a cake that you bake in your home?  Last year I heard from several folks in our Senate district who asked me to sponsor legislation to allow for the sale of home-based foods.  After talking with DHEC and researching laws in other states, I introduced S.1035 to do just that.  The bill is now out of committee and on the full Senate for consideration.  You can read a couple articles about the bill here and here. You can also view a local TV news story here. You can read the bill here.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES

NEW JOB TRAINING PROGRAM – Gov. Nikki Haley has proposed a new program to help train South Carolina’s citizens for specific jobs that are available in the Palmetto State.  This program resulted from the frustrating discovery that, although our state’s employment rate is unacceptably high, we have a large number of job vacancies across the state that have not been filled because people do not have the training to perform those jobs.  You can read 2 articles about the program 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.

SAM’S CLUB TO BREAK GROUND IN GRANITEVILLE SOON – Sam’s Club announced plans last Fall to build a new store in Graniteville.  Construction should begin in late Spring/early Summer with the expectation that 150-175 new sales associate jobs will follow.  Click here for more information.

NEW COMPANY LOOKING AT AIKEN – Information released last week indicates a renewable energy manufacturing company is looking to build a new facility in Aiken County.  Here’s an update.  I’ll give you more information when I hear it.

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 Edgefield County First Steps’ 10th anniversary celebration.  First Steps is a state-run program designed to ensure that children are ready to start school when they reach school age.  As all parents know, children learn a tremendous amount in their early years.  Unfortunately, not all children have home environments that prepare them to start school.  That’s vitally important because studies have shown that students who do not read on grade level by 3rd grade are much less likely to finish high school.

On Tuesday, I met with the Board of Directors for Beckman Mental Health Clinic.  For our district, Beckman serves Edgefield, McCormick, and Saluda Counties.  They do a great job providing treatment and job training for our friends and neighbors with mental illness.

On Wednesday, I attended a luncheon for the Midlands Chamber of Commerce.  From our district, Aiken, Edgefield, Lexington, and Saluda Counties are members of the Midlands Chamber.  It was a very informative meeting, focusing on economic development projects and opportunities in our area.

On Friday morning, I attended the Aiken County Retired Educators’ annual legislative breakfast.  We talked about proposed changes to the state retirement system and the state of education in South Carolina.  These retired teachers are a great source of information!

CONSTITUENT INTERESTS

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 ebsite, 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.

FEEDBACK FROM LAST WEEK’S UPDATE – Last week I asked for your thoughts about how South Carolina should use projected surplus revenue if those projections hold true, and I received a good bit of feedback.  I really appreciate your input!

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

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Pub Politics Episode 90 with Senator Shane Massey

February 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I joined Wesley Donehue, Phil Bailey, and Bryan Cox on Pub Politics this week. We had a good discussion about the Department of Administration, DHEC Director-nominee Catherine Templeton, and other state issues. Watch the video here:

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Fourth Week of Session

February 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Senator Massey speaks of the touching funeral service for Aiken police Master Cpl. Sandra Rogers and encourages showing appreciation for law enforcement. He also updates us on what is happening in the South Carolina Senate and what to expect in the next couple of weeks.

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Senator Shane Massey’s Legislative Update

February 7, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Legislative Update for the week of 1/30/12 – 2/3/12

I hope everyone had a good week. Last week was pretty slow legislation-wise (that’s not always a bad thing), but I was busy with several tasks. Here are the highlights -

INSPECTOR GENERAL – On Thursday, Governor Haley signed into law a bill that establishes an Inspector General. Many states have Inspectors General to investigate fraud, waste, and abuse in state government. The creation of an Inspector General is a huge win for open and honest government and a big step toward our goal of shaking up the status quo. I was a cosponsor of the bill, and I chaired the subcommittee that helped push the bill through the Senate. Here is an article from The State, discussing the legislation. You can read the new law here.
DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION – The Senate continued to debate a bill that would abolish the Budget and Control Board and create a new Department of Administration. Although I think we’re making progress, that progress is painfully slow. I hope to have good news to report next week.
HOME-BASED FOODS LEGISLATION – Did you know that it is illegal to sell a cake that you bake in your home? Last year I heard from several folks in our Senate district who asked me to sponsor legislation to allow for the sale of home-based foods. After talking with DHEC and researching laws in other states, I introduced S.1035 to do just that. The bill has passed a subcommittee and, this past week, the Senate’s Medical Affairs Committee. It now heads to the full Senate for consideration. You can read a couple articles about the bill here and here. You can also view a local TV news story here. You can read the bill here.
EDGEFIELD COUNTY INTERGOVERNMENTAL MEETING – Last Monday night I attended Edgefield County’s annual intergovernmental meeting. This meeting, hosted by County Council, brings together all sectors of government in Edgefield County (towns, county, school district, state legislative delegation, water and sewer, transportation, etc.) to keep everyone informed about what different areas of government are doing. It’s a great idea that I wish other counties would replicate. Edgefield County is doing great things! You can read Edgefielddaily.com’s write-up about the meeting here.
EDGEFIELD COUNTY CAREER FAIR – On Wednesday morning, I participated in a career fair for 8th grade students at Johnston-Edgefield-Trenton and Merriwether Middle Schools. I have done this for several years in Edgefield and Aiken Counties, and I have enjoyed it each time. I am always impressed by the curiosity, initiative, and common sense that our students show. If these 8th graders are an indication of South Carolina’s future, there are great things to come!
FUNERAL FOR MASTER CORPORAL SANDY ROGERS – I attended the memorial service for Aiken Public Safety Officer Sandy Rogers on Wednesday afternoon. Several thousand people attended the ceremony at USCA’s Convocation Center or lined the streets along the procession route. It was a tremendous show of support by the Aiken community to thank Sandy – and all law enforcement officers – for their dedicated service to keep us all safe and free. God bless you, Sandy.
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, and clicking on the “Voting Record” tab.
FEEDBACK FROM LAST WEEK’S UPDATE - Last week I asked for your thoughts about how South Carolina should use projected surplus revenue if those projections hold true, and I received a good bit of feedback. I really appreciate your input!
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

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