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Archive of South Carolina on Friday May 09, 2008
Neutral govs to remain on sidelines
 In the homestretch of an unprecedented presidential primary season, spinning with competing sound-bites and endless rhetoric, voters still heading to the polls in four states can’t look to their governors for any pre-election advice. These governors plan to wait until after their states vote to make their own endorsements.
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Rex pushes measure to revamp education accountability
State schools Superintendent Jim Rex is putting the heat on lawmakers to pass a bill to overhaul the state's accountability system. Read More
Vote on testing bill, Rex says
State schools chief Jim Rex challenged the S.C. Senate on Thursday to vote on legislation that would replace the current standardized testing system with one educators tell him would be more useful. Read More
Senators question "mission creep" at Highway Patrol
Senators questioned today whether the state Highway Patrol has exceeded its mission by creating drug-interdiction squads, a SWAT team and allowing troopers to accompany college coaches as security during games. Read More
Payday lending bill is on hold
Credit counselors and others testified for an hour Thursday before a House subcommittee about problems created by payday lending, but a bill to restrict the two-week, high-interest loans will have to wait for a vote. About two weeks. Read More
Senators prepare to hear from Keel
Confirmation hearings for Gov. Mark Sanford's nominee to lead the embattled Department of Public Safety likely will be held the week of May 19, the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman said Thursday. Read More
Senators prepare hard questions for Public Safety nominee
The governor's nominee to lead the Department of Public Safety will face questioning from senators later this month about how he plans to restore public trust in the agency. Read More
Fair says he will side with the House on immigration
Greenville Sen. Mike Fair told the Senate today that he plans to side with the House on immigration reform. Read More
SC House member who sought combat tour returning
The South Carolina legislator who sought a combat role in Afghanistan is returning to his state House desk next week. Read More
New task force aims to reduce scams on state's elderly
Advocates for the elderly hope a task force announced Thursday will stop scams that rob the state's seniors of their hard-earned savings. Read More
SC House approves budget, bill heads to conference committee
The House approved a final version of the state's $7 billion budget Thursday that falls short of meeting a basic state function: getting children to schoolhouses. Read More
Attorneys general reach Facebook agreement
In an attempt to make the Internet safer for children, all but one of the nation's state attorneys general have turned their attention to another popular social networking site. Read More
House plan will run out of gas
Maintenance at S.C. State University will have to wait, and school buses will run out of fuel by spring, under a tighter House budget passed Thursday. Read More
State House hopeful wins union support
State House District 111 hopeful Clay Middleton won the backing from several labor unions Wednesday. Read More
Appeals court rules against peanut farmers
RICHMOND, Va. -- Peanut farmers in seven states whose crops were devastated by the 2002 drought are entitled to only a little more than half the $30 million in insurance payments ordered by a lower court, a federal appeals panel ruled Thursday. Read More
Help on the way for senior scam victims
Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer is undertaking a new initiative that seeks to help seniors steer clear of scams and stand by them when they are victims. Read More
Facebook reaches agreement on sex predators
Facebook, the world's second-largest social-networking Web site, has reached an agreement with state law enforcement authorities across the country aimed at protecting children from sexual predators. Read More
Hearing planned for safety chief nominee
Senators won't be trying to solve problems within the state Department of Public Safety when they meet May 19 to confirm a new director. Read More
Facebook safeguards will protect young users
HARTFORD, Conn. - Facebook, the world's second-largest social networking Web site, will add more than 40 safeguards to protect young users from sexual predators and cyberbullies, attorneys general from several states said Thursday. Read More
Facebook agrees to shield kids from adult content
Social networking giant Facebook has agreed to better protect children on its Web site, including providing automatic warning messages when a child is in danger of giving personal information to an unknown adult. Read More
WORTH NOTING: Illinois treasurer shows his knowledge of charges
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) endures a bruising charge from Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias (D). A new Utah law stirs Salt Lake City bartenders to create a new drink. And Louisiana prison guards get outside help to prevent escapes. In case you missed those stories this week, Worth Noting fills you in. Read More
Silver Alert helps rescue lost seniors
(Updated 9:30 a.m EST, May 8, 2008) When an elderly person with dementia is lost, eight states can trigger an alert to let the community know. Proposals in Congress would expand the successful missing persons program to all 50 states. Read More
At-risk gubernatorial seats increase
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Will states fix 2012 primary process?
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Oh say, is that banner made in the U.S.A.?
Lawmakers in 10 states have taken steps to require that American flags bought with state funds be manufactured in this country. While not all the legislation has passed, one state’s new law even bans the sale of foreign-made American flags in that state. Read More
WORTH NOTING: Voters' guide promotes phone sex
An Oregon voters’ guide lists a very wrong number. California’s governor insults rural legislators. And Pennsylvania considers selling wine in vending machines. In case you missed those stories this week, “Worth Noting” fills you in. Read More
Parents turn to states for autism help
(UPDATED 4 p.m. EDT, Thursday May 1) One of the toughest problems facing autism patients, their families and policymakers is paying for treatment. Families are increasingly relying on states to help them cope with the financial, medical and educational needs. Read More
Fairness of death-penalty panels questioned
Death-penalty supporters are raising questions about the fairness of state commissions charged with studying how capital punishment is carried out in Maryland and Tennessee, claiming the panels will issue reports that ignore their views. Read More
Legislators prod Congress on Medicaid, Real ID
As some states tumble into what they fear is a recession, state lawmakers from across the country are pushing Congress for relief from impending federal rules that would force states to pick up more Medicaid costs and spend billions to make drivers’ licenses more secure. Read More
With justices' OK, voter ID moves ahead
A decision Monday (April 28) by the U.S. Supreme Court to let Indiana demand photo identification from voters paves the way for other states to do the same during November’s presidential election, experts say. Read More
23 states face budget gaps in '09
Like a college student fishing for stray quarters in the sofa cushions, states are tightening their belts, dipping into their rainy day funds and hoping revenues will pick up. But the faltering economy already has punched a $26 billion hole in 23 state budgets for 2009 – and it could get worse, according to a new report issued today (April 25). Read More
Will Democrats grow legislative edge in '08?
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'Purple' states turn a little more 'blue'
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Governors pitch ambitious programs
Billion-dollar deficits in California, New York and Arizona haven’t stopped governors there and elsewhere from proposing big-ticket items for 2008. Stateline.org looks at proposals from governors’ 2008 "state of the state" speeches and provides an exclusive summary of all the addresses so far.
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Summary of the State of the State Address
Gov. Mark Sanford (R) repeated his goals for the state during his Jan. 16 speech before the Republican-controlled Legislature: restructuring the government, installing tougher drunk-driving laws and increasing tax cuts. Read More
WORTH NOTING: Illinois gov runs up travel tab
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s commuting costs start to add up. South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds settles a dispute with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over a cranky game warden. Read More |
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