Archive for the ‘News’ Category
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Conservation Voters of South Carolina honor current and former legislators at the Green Tie Luncheon.
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Rep. Smith responds to Governor’s announcment to reject Federal Recovery Dollars
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SC House Budget should seek to address SC priorities; Job Creation, Education and Healthcare
Today, South Carolina House Democrats gather to call for action to meet South Carolina’s needs: job creation, education and healthcare.
This budget represents a continuation of the failed policies of the past decade, budgeting for the next election campaign rather than for the next generation. This budget shows a lack of understanding by the republican ruling majority of the challenges that hard working South Carolina families face each day. Jobs - education - healthcare. South Carolinans need our state’s leaders to focus on these core priorities. And today, Democrats have come together, as we have done in the past, to urge this general assembly to make the right choices for South Carolina’s future.
Job Creation: Employing Innovation and Technology for South Carolina’s Future.
Investing in Alternative Energy Sources.
Democrats will be offering amendments to the house budget that will provide increased tax credits for solar power and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Democrats will also be proposing a low interest loan program by cities and counties to support residential installation of solar power. These measures will not only help our environment, but help speed South Carolina down the path of energy independence. This is not just an environmental issue anymore. It is an issue of national security and South Carolina should take such action that would position our state as a leader in energy diversity. These measures will help to grow this market to establish a green economy with green jobs in the area of sales and installation.Improving South Carolina’s Infrastructure.
Democrats will offer amendments to make it clear that South Carolina accepts the federal economic recovery support. South Carolina should make sure that the dollars received are leveraged to meet our state’s infrastructure needs and provide jobs.Appropriate Use of Economic Recovery Package
Democrats have fought to reduce the cuts to local government which would have translated into increased property taxes and loss of essential services.With unemployment expected to reach 14% by the end of this year, the economic recovery package is predicted to create 50,000 new jobs as long as it is spent properly.
Education: teaching for tomorrow, today.
Modernizing Public Schools for the 21st Century
All of South Carolina was proud to watch Ty’sheoma Bethea, an 8th grader from J.V. martin high school in Dillon, SC, tell the nation and the world she and her fellow students were not quitters. Democrats say South Carolina shall not quit on them. Democrats will support an amendment to provide an emergency school infrastructure bank. There is no place in South Carolina for a corridor of shame.Early Childhood Education
Democrats believe at a minimum this budget should fully fund four-year-old kindergarten in the plaintiff’s counties. South Carolina can not afford, particularly in these challending times, to fail South Carolina’s children.High Quality Education = Protecting Teacher’s Jobs
Democrats do not support republican efforts to retreat on the state’s commitment to high quality teachers by cutting the national board certification program. Democrats will fight to make sure that education remains a priority in South Carolina.Health Care: Affordable and Accessible Care for Hard Working South Carolinans.
Medicaid Reform
Democrats will fight to reduce provider fraud for medicaid reform that holds accountable those providers that are scamming the system fraudulently inflating costs for everyone.Small Business Incentives
Democrats will fight for a cigarette tax that will provide small business assistance to meet the challenge of increasing health care costs for their employees while also expanding schips to 250% of poverty. A cigarette tax will also provide jobs and expand employment opportunities in healthcare.Better Access for Our Veterans
All South Carolinans appreciate the service of our veteran’s and SC House Democrats believe South Carolina should be ready to take care of returning veteran’s to ensure they have the mental and physical healthcare needed. Our state agencies are already working together to assess the current state of healthcare services for our veteran’s. Democrats will introduce a proviso to support this effort, highlight its importance and establish a plan for handling any recommendations for change. Our veteran’s have never forgotten us and we shall not forget them and their service. -
Patriot State Employees Fight to Save The Ship That Would Not Die
Rep. James Smith with Paul Jeffers and General Tant
The House paused last Wednesday to recognize the heroic efforts of South Carolina State Employees as they work 24/7 to Save the Ship That Would Not Die, USS Laffey (DD 724). These Patriot State Employees work on the shoulders of and in the same honorable tradition as Laffey’s crews have done throughout her venerable history. May she continue to float at Patriot’s Point as a living reminder to all of the courage of our Nation’s tin can sailors who kept her afloat against impossible odds. South Carolina is grateful for the courage of Patriot’s Point State Employees who fight to keep her afloat today.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND THE EXTRAORDINARY EFFORTS OF THE MANY STATE WORKERS AND VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE WORKING TIRELESSLY AROUND THE CLOCK TO PRESERVE THE HISTORIC AND GALLANT USS LAFFEY (DD-724) FOR HER SURVIVING VETERANS AND COUNTLESS ADMIRERS.
Whereas, the historic destroyer, USS Laffey (DD-724) supported not only the D-Day landings at Normandy on June 6, 1944, but also the United States offensive against Japan; and
Whereas, while operating off Okinawa on April 16, 1945, the USS Laffey was attacked by twenty-two Japanese bombers and kamikaze aircraft; and
Whereas, the USS Laffey survived this ferocious onslaught despite suffering direct hits from five of the suicide aircraft and three bombs; and
Whereas, valiantly refusing to abandon their ship, the USS Laffey’s heroic crew shot down eleven of the attacking aircraft and saved the damaged ship, earning her the nickname, “The Ship That Would Not Die;” and
Whereas, the USS Laffey was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation and five battle stars for her service during World War II and two additional battle stars during the Korean War; and
Whereas the USS Laffey was added to the Patriots Point fleet in 1981, six years following her second decommissioning; and
Whereas, a different enemy now threatens this venerable and stately ship, namely the corrosive effects of more than twenty-five years of active service at sea protecting our nation’s freedom and more than twenty-five years of additional service as a living memorial to the patriotism, courage, and sacrifices of America’s “Greatest Generation;” and
Whereas, the destroyer Laffey has been under repair since December first when she began taking on water through her rusted hull; and
Whereas, the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina wishes to express its gratitude to the many state workers and dedicated volunteers who are performing the essential and often dangerous repair work to save the USS Laffey. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution recognize and commend the extraordinary efforts of the many state workers and volunteers who are working tirelessly around the clock to preserve the historic and gallant USS Laffey (DD-724) for her surviving veterans and countless admirers.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to
Brigadier General Hugh Tant III, (U.S. Army Ret.), Executive Director, Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum.
