Here are the highlights from the seventh week of 2016 legislative session in the Senate –
UPDATE ON ROADS AND BRIDGES – The Senate continued discussion last week on different proposals to address our state’s challenges with roads and bridges. The discussion was limited by a filibuster regarding reform of SCDOT. That filibuster dominated much of the Senate’s work on the floor last week. I hope the Senate can move forward by taking up the reform proposals first. I will keep you updated.
You can see a list of active SCDOT projects in every county by going here.
2015-2016 FUNDS FOR COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEES – Every year the County Transportation Committees (CTC) receive a pot of money from gas tax collections for state and local road projects in that county. For this year budget year, those funds total $80,800,000.00. Additionally, the General Assembly sent an additional $216,329,114.00 to CTCs from General Fund surplus for resurfacing and maintenance projects on state roads. In our district, those funds were projected to break down as follows:
Aiken: $2,740,673.00 (normal) + $7,787,848.00 (additional) = $10,528,521.00
Edgefield: $829,500.00 (normal) + $2,509,418.00 (additional) = $3,338,918.00
Lexington: $4,078,696.00 (normal) + $8,523,367.00 (additional) = $12,602,063.00
McCormick: $582,300.00 (normal) + $1,773,899.00 (additional) = $2,356,199.00
Saluda: $805,700.00 (normal) + $2,444,519.00 (additional) = $3,250,219.00
The final numbers to each county may be a little different, but these estimates should be pretty close.
PAVINGS IN AIKEN COUNTY – The CTC has proposed to use its additional funds for this year to resurface roughly 47 miles on all or portions of the following roads:
Ascauga Lake Rd.
Langley Dam Rd./Sudlow Lake Rd.
Reynolds Pond Rd.
Wire Rd.
Carolina Springs Rd./Womrath Rd.
Dibble Rd.
Old Dibble Rd.
4th Street/Coleman Street
CCC Rd.
Old Sudlow Lake Rd.
Additionally, the CTC and/or SCDOT are planning resurfacing projects this year on all or portions of the following roads:
Old Aiken Rd.
Old Friar Rd.
US 1
SC 4
SC 39
Whiskey Road
Camp Rawls Rd.
Chalk Bed Rd.
Cooks Bridge Rd.
I-20 Eastbound MM 37 – MM 51 (approximate)
I-20 MM5 – Georgia State Line (approximate)
PAVINGS IN EDGEFIELD COUNTY – The CTC has proposed to use its normal and additional funds this year to resurface all or portions of the following roads:
N. Martintown Rd.
Georgia Rd.
Two Mile Dr.
Lloyd Rd.
Long Cane Rd.
Currytown Rd.
Walker Rd. (hopefully, depending on other costs)
I will try to get the proposed projects for Lexington, McCormick, and Saluda Counties for next week’s email.
Limitations on Eminent Domain – The Senate gave 2nd reading to S. 868, a bill that would prohibit private, for-profit companies that are not defined as a public utility from using eminent domain to take private property. This is an important issue to many people in Aiken, Edgefield, and McCormick Counties, but the restriction on eminent domain would apply statewide. I hope the Senate will give the bill a 3rd, and final, reading this week.
Last Week’s Meetings
On Monday night, I attended McCormick County Republican Party’s annual dinner. Congressman Jeff Duncan updated more than 100 in attendance on what’s happening in Washington.
Wednesday was FFA Day at the Statehouse. I was able to meet with FFA students from Gilbert High School, Saluda High School, and Strom Thurmond High School. I was very impressed with these students!
On Wednesday afternoon, I attended Chief Justice Costa Pleicones’s State of the Judiciary address. Pleicones became Chief Justice in January and will serve the remainder of 2016. The General Assembly is scheduled to elect a new Chief Justice in May.
On Thursday night, I held a town hall meeting in Edgefield. We had a lively discussion about roads and bridges and several local issues of interest.
On Saturday, I stopped by Circle Fire Department’s BBQ fundraiser in Leesville. Our volunteer firefighters are tremendous public servants. Thank you for your service!
Constituent Interests
TOWN HALL MEETINGS – Below is a list of town hall meetings I have scheduled for this Spring. I may add more as the session goes along. These town hall meetings give me a chance to keep you updated about what’s going on in Columbia and, more importantly, allow me to hear what’s on your mind. I hope you’ll come.
Midland Valley High School Auditorium
Monday, 2/29/2016
6:00 – 7:30
Gloverville Elementary School Cafeteria
Thursday, 3/3/2016
6:00 – 7:30
Lexington High School Cafeteria
Tuesday, 3/8/2016
6:30 – 8:00
Gilbert High School Theatre
Thursday, 3/10/2016
6:00 – 7:30
If you would like for me to schedule a town hall meeting in another location, please let me know.
VETERANS AFFAIRS OFFICERS – Each county has a Veterans Affairs Officer whose purpose is to assist veterans and their families with filing, presenting, and prosecuting all claims which they have for money compensation, hospitalization, training, and insurance benefits under federal law. If you have questions about veterans’ benefits or the services these officers provide, you can contact the officers at:
Aiken County
Dwight Bradham
1930 University Parkway
Suite 2300
Aiken, SC 29801
(803) 642-1545
dbradham@aikencountysc.gov
Facebook
Twitter
Edgefield County
Michael Washington
304 Gray Street
PO Box 236
Edgefield, SC 29824
(803) 637-4012
mwashington@edgefieldcounty.sc.gov
Lexington County
Ed Lundeen
605 West Main Street
Lexington, SC 29072
Phone: (803) 785-8400
Fax: (803) 785-0115
elundeen@lex-co.com
Website
McCormick County
Donald D. Moss
610 South Mine Street
P.O. Box 276
McCormick, SC 29835
(864) 852-2212
dmoss@mccormickcountysc.org
Saluda County
Bill Perkins
108 South Rudolph Street
Saluda, SC 29138
Phone: (864) 445-4500 Ext. 2268
Fax: (864) 445-2808
b.perkins@saludacounty.sc.gov
WANT TO SEE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN ACTION? – The Senate meets in statewide session on Tuesdays at 12:00, Wednesdays at 2:00, and Thursdays at 11:00. Committees and subcommittees meet Tuesday afternoons, Wednesday mornings, and Thursday mornings. You can watch live coverage of the Senate, House of Representatives, and committees here.
OUR SENATE DISTRICT – Senate district 25 consists of all of Edgefield County and parts of Aiken, Lexington, McCormick, and Saluda Counties. If you’d like to see the district map, go here.
VOTING RECORD – If you’d like to see how I’ve voted on issues, 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.