Showing posts with label legislation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label legislation. Show all posts
A credit to the state
The Connector 2000 Association made its case to the Greenville County Legislative Delegation Monday night about restructuring the Southern Connector's bonds.
While the legislators didn't take any action, a case to allow the board, the Department of Transportation and bond holders, appeared to have made some headway. The state Senate needs to pass an amendment that will allow for this to happen, if not the status quo will be maintained.
Richard Few, the Association's chairman, made some great points about why the bonds needs to be restructured including it essentially will allow the state to get paid for maintenance work, it will pay back the bonds that the business community rallied behind more than a decade ago and this is a public road that has help facilitate more than $400 million worth of new roads in the Upstate.
"This will be a credit to the state," Few said.
As part of the push, the entire Connector 2000 board attended the meeting to show the legislators the severity of the situation. Basically, the 16-mile toll road has never met the traffic projections submitted when the highway was passed by the state in the 1990s. The Association had nothing to do with that traffic study, but has been the group tasked with finding a solution.
It has been a busy week as the Greenville News also opined on the situation.
The restructuring will not add any taxes to the state nor will taxpayers have to pay anything. This is simply to give more time for the bonds to be repaid, which in the end helps the state.
While the legislators didn't take any action, a case to allow the board, the Department of Transportation and bond holders, appeared to have made some headway. The state Senate needs to pass an amendment that will allow for this to happen, if not the status quo will be maintained.
Richard Few, the Association's chairman, made some great points about why the bonds needs to be restructured including it essentially will allow the state to get paid for maintenance work, it will pay back the bonds that the business community rallied behind more than a decade ago and this is a public road that has help facilitate more than $400 million worth of new roads in the Upstate.
"This will be a credit to the state," Few said.
As part of the push, the entire Connector 2000 board attended the meeting to show the legislators the severity of the situation. Basically, the 16-mile toll road has never met the traffic projections submitted when the highway was passed by the state in the 1990s. The Association had nothing to do with that traffic study, but has been the group tasked with finding a solution.
It has been a busy week as the Greenville News also opined on the situation.
The restructuring will not add any taxes to the state nor will taxpayers have to pay anything. This is simply to give more time for the bonds to be repaid, which in the end helps the state.
The Maersk Deal... a Shift in the SC Governor's Race?
As you probably know, we like to harp on how substantial a role public relations plays when it comes to politics, campaigns and the political climate. Positive public relations and perceptions equate to gold, particularly in a state like South Carolina where the partisan divide remains profoundly distinct and scars from political scandal still bleed profusely.
As we begin digging tooth and nail into the heat of the 2010 election, South Carolina candidates no doubt long ago began seeking the constituent rapport, image-boosting press coverage and essential political endorsements that are so synonymous with crafting a solid public image. It's no secret that to get elected, you have to be liked... by a lot of people.
Senator Larry Grooms, a Republican candidate for Governor, has until recently been trailing behind in the Republican primary, particularly in regards to fundraising. Two of his opponents, Henry McMaster and Gresham Barrett, already hold notably prominent positions in the state Attorney General's Office and in U.S. Congress, respectively.
But Grooms might already see the tide shifting considerably in his favor thanks to his role in a recent deal with Denmark-based Maersk.
Back in 2008, Maersk, a shipping line located in Charleston, announced its intentions to pull its business from the state because of failing efforts to renegotiate a deal with port labor unions. Grooms got involved in the Maersk deal, hosting meetings not only in his offices but also in his home down in Charleston. Grooms co-authored a port restructuring bill, the passage of which played a pivotal role in convincing Maersk that remaining in Charleston would be financially sound. On October 22, 2009, Maersk announced it would not leave but rather enter into a revised contract with the State Ports Authority through 2014.
If Grooms can capitalize on this recent profile boost and his role in aiding South Carolina's economy, he can truly lionize his place in the Republican primary for Governor. He needs to have viral links to articles spotlighting his involvement making the internet rounds; he needs supporters writing letters to the editor on his behalf; he needs laud and congratulations circulating all over Twitter and other social media. Grooms truly needs to get the word out about his involvement in the deal, especially to his constituents. And while some people eat up South Carolina politics each and every day, the majority don't... and as a result probably don't even know about Grooms' involvement. PR opportunities offer a limited window of maximization opportunity, and now is his time.
SCHotline Blog's Michael S. Smith II wrote an in-depth piece on the subject that is a must read; view the article here.
Tim Brett and Jim Morton: Make a cigarette tax increase happen
In case you don't receive the Greenville News, we are publishing below a Brett Op-Ed piece that ran on Friday, August 28, regarding the cigarette tax issue in South Carolina. Read the article at the Greenville News web site here.
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Make a cigarette tax increase happen
For the past nine years, legislation to increase the state cigarette tax has come before the South Carolina General Assembly that would financially boost Medicaid by providing health-care coverage for many of our state's poorest residents and also pay for smoking prevention programs. And for the past nine years, that legislation has failed to become law.
Make a cigarette tax increase happen
For the past nine years, legislation to increase the state cigarette tax has come before the South Carolina General Assembly that would financially boost Medicaid by providing health-care coverage for many of our state's poorest residents and also pay for smoking prevention programs. And for the past nine years, that legislation has failed to become law.
It would seem reasonable to assume that a bill which would be so valuable to our state's health should be a legislative no-brainer. Not only would disadvantaged South Carolinians get health-care coverage, but smokers would hopefully be encouraged to give up the habit, and others would be dissuaded from ever starting. But year after year, a number of bumps in the road continue to prevent our state's neediest citizens from getting the Medicaid assistance many of them literally cannot live without.
In 2008 it appeared South Carolina would join the legion of other states, as well as the District of Columbia, that have increased cigarette taxes. The House and Senate passed legislation to increase the then 7-cent tax to a reasonable 50-cent tax, which would still be the lowest rate of taxation on cigarettes in the nation, only to have the bill vetoed by Gov. Mark Sanford, who held tight to his no-new-taxes stance.
During this year's legislative session, cigarette tax bills once again came to the floor of both chambers and once again were not passed, this time due to a battle over different versions. The House version would have offered maximum tax credits of $3,000 to people making up to $21,000 annually.
The Senate version of the legislation argued that the House plan would only create unnecessary bureaucratic and overhead costs by distributing the money on an individual basis. The Senate's alternative lobbied instead for the tax money to go straight into expansion of Medicaid programs, which would additionally have procured the state $3 in matching federal funds for every Medicaid dollar spent. At the close of the 2009 South Carolina legislative session, the battle over the expenditure of the proceeds was still undecided, shutting the door once again on a new state cigarette tax.
According to a recent Families USA research study, 670 people a week lose their health-care coverage in South Carolina. Yet we still have the lowest cigarette tax of any state in the nation and rank last among states in funding smoking prevention programs.
Our House and Senate seem to have reached a general consensus that it's time to raise the cigarette tax, because the issue continues to come up year after year. Now it's just a matter of untangling the web of disagreement between members of the General Assembly and the governor so we can get the job done in 2010.
Call or write your legislator and let them know your thoughts on the cigarette tax bill. To find your legislator, visit http://www.scstatehouse.gov/ and click “Find Your Legislator” in the left-hand column.
In 2008 it appeared South Carolina would join the legion of other states, as well as the District of Columbia, that have increased cigarette taxes. The House and Senate passed legislation to increase the then 7-cent tax to a reasonable 50-cent tax, which would still be the lowest rate of taxation on cigarettes in the nation, only to have the bill vetoed by Gov. Mark Sanford, who held tight to his no-new-taxes stance.
During this year's legislative session, cigarette tax bills once again came to the floor of both chambers and once again were not passed, this time due to a battle over different versions. The House version would have offered maximum tax credits of $3,000 to people making up to $21,000 annually.
The Senate version of the legislation argued that the House plan would only create unnecessary bureaucratic and overhead costs by distributing the money on an individual basis. The Senate's alternative lobbied instead for the tax money to go straight into expansion of Medicaid programs, which would additionally have procured the state $3 in matching federal funds for every Medicaid dollar spent. At the close of the 2009 South Carolina legislative session, the battle over the expenditure of the proceeds was still undecided, shutting the door once again on a new state cigarette tax.
According to a recent Families USA research study, 670 people a week lose their health-care coverage in South Carolina. Yet we still have the lowest cigarette tax of any state in the nation and rank last among states in funding smoking prevention programs.
Our House and Senate seem to have reached a general consensus that it's time to raise the cigarette tax, because the issue continues to come up year after year. Now it's just a matter of untangling the web of disagreement between members of the General Assembly and the governor so we can get the job done in 2010.
Call or write your legislator and let them know your thoughts on the cigarette tax bill. To find your legislator, visit http://www.scstatehouse.gov/ and click “Find Your Legislator” in the left-hand column.
Reaching Out to Your Legislator (Part II)
Reaching Out to Your Legislator (Part II) – Powerful Tips for Writing to Your Legislator that Will Get YOUR Letter Noticed
When you’ve been moved by an issue enough that you decide to write to your legislator, make your effort worthwhile by going that extra mile to craft your words so that your letter is the one that makes them stop and pay attention. Legislators on both the state and federal level get mail and email every day from constituents like you, and while they represent your interests, it’s your job to churn out that dynamic letter that will make the legislator and/or his or her staff take notice. Here are some of Brett’s Best Tips do just that:
1. Who are you? Make sure you identify yourself off the bat. Why you are passionate about this issue? Include information about any key connections to the issue or any related organizations you are part of (but no bragging, please). This is also the appropriate time to let the legislator know that you are from his or her district. Legislators like to hear from their constituents, and are more likely to act on constituent opinion.
2. Be specific. If you are writing about a particular bill, reference that legislation not only by its bill number, if you have that handy, but its name and a brief description. Legislators see a whopping amount of legislation each year. You can take the bull by the horns and help them out by more clearly identifying your cause.
3. Simplicity reigns supreme. Always keep your letter to one page or less, be as brief as you possibly can while still providing the adequate information. If you have personal examples or details you wish to share, by all means do so, but don’t unnecessarily prolong your point.
4. Common courtesy always counts. Address them by their proper title (such “Senator” or “Representative” followed by name) and include their mailing address at the top of the communication regardless of whether you are sending a physical letter or an email. And please, please don’t threaten them or berate them, or tell them that you supported their opponent in the last election.
5. Get to the point. Specify the response you are looking for from them, be it a policy change, legislation, or a simple follow-up from them or their staff. (and then thank them!)
Remember that it’s usually a best practice to only write to the representatives or senators who represent your district. The fact that they are from your geographical area has much more pull when it comes to getting results. Almost all legislators can be contacted via email as well as regular postal mail, and you can oftentimes send them a message via the internet. To find out how to contact your Congressional senators and representatives, visit the Congressional Directory. To find your South Carolina legislators’ addresses or email information, visit the South Carolina statehouse website and click “Find Your Legislator” on the left-hand side.
When you’ve been moved by an issue enough that you decide to write to your legislator, make your effort worthwhile by going that extra mile to craft your words so that your letter is the one that makes them stop and pay attention. Legislators on both the state and federal level get mail and email every day from constituents like you, and while they represent your interests, it’s your job to churn out that dynamic letter that will make the legislator and/or his or her staff take notice. Here are some of Brett’s Best Tips do just that:
1. Who are you? Make sure you identify yourself off the bat. Why you are passionate about this issue? Include information about any key connections to the issue or any related organizations you are part of (but no bragging, please). This is also the appropriate time to let the legislator know that you are from his or her district. Legislators like to hear from their constituents, and are more likely to act on constituent opinion.
2. Be specific. If you are writing about a particular bill, reference that legislation not only by its bill number, if you have that handy, but its name and a brief description. Legislators see a whopping amount of legislation each year. You can take the bull by the horns and help them out by more clearly identifying your cause.
3. Simplicity reigns supreme. Always keep your letter to one page or less, be as brief as you possibly can while still providing the adequate information. If you have personal examples or details you wish to share, by all means do so, but don’t unnecessarily prolong your point.
4. Common courtesy always counts. Address them by their proper title (such “Senator” or “Representative” followed by name) and include their mailing address at the top of the communication regardless of whether you are sending a physical letter or an email. And please, please don’t threaten them or berate them, or tell them that you supported their opponent in the last election.
5. Get to the point. Specify the response you are looking for from them, be it a policy change, legislation, or a simple follow-up from them or their staff. (and then thank them!)
Remember that it’s usually a best practice to only write to the representatives or senators who represent your district. The fact that they are from your geographical area has much more pull when it comes to getting results. Almost all legislators can be contacted via email as well as regular postal mail, and you can oftentimes send them a message via the internet. To find out how to contact your Congressional senators and representatives, visit the Congressional Directory. To find your South Carolina legislators’ addresses or email information, visit the South Carolina statehouse website and click “Find Your Legislator” on the left-hand side.
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