Back to Session
The General Assembly returned this week for the 2012 legislative session, and I was excited to return to Columbia to work for you!
One of the first items we addressed was Governor Haley’s veto of S. 211, which would have established an “I-95 Corridor Authority.” I received many emails from across the state on this issue in the off-session and was pleased to vote to sustain the Governor’s veto. Remember, you may view my or any other legislator’s voting record by visiting www.scstatehouse.gov.
Last year, the General Assembly passed a law that would require a person to present a valid photo identification to vote at the polls. The U.S. Department of Justice rejected the law. During the debate, some questioned the need for the law, saying that no evidence of voter fraud exists in South Carolina. This week, South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles director Kevin Schwedo testified before the House Judiciary Election Laws Subcommittee that his staff analyzed the records of more 239,000 voters who do not have a state driver’s license or identification card. They discovered that 37,000 of those people were dead and, of those, 957 had been recorded as casting a vote after their recorded death date. My position was and is that having to prove one’s identity, as one does when boarding a plane, buying certain prescription and over-the-counter drugs, and cashing a check, is an important measure in protecting the integrity of our electoral process. We will continue to work to fully implement a Voter ID law. Read more here.
In advance of the budget process, we heard a briefing from a Federal Reserve economist regarding the economic outlook for 2012. While unemployment, housing prices, and political uncertainty will present obstacles to economic growth this year, the outlook for economic growth in South Carolina is more positive than the national outlook. This is partially due to our competitive advantage as a business-friendly, right-to-work state. We have all been thrilled that companies such as Boeing, Continental, Bridgestone and Amazon have chosen to expand here.
On the local economic development front, BMW just announced plans to invest $900 million in its Spartanburg County facility during the next three years, creating 300 jobs, as it ramps up production to 350,000 vehicles. The expansion will include production of the X4 model vehicle.
Next week, Governor Haley will present her annual State of the State Address to the General Assembly. I look forward to hearing her vision for 2012 and working with her to keep South Carolina the best state in the nation in which to live, work and play.
As always, if I can ever assist you with state government issues, please do not hesitate to call me or email me. Besides my email updates, you can keep up with what’s happening at the State House by following me on Facebook and Twitter. It is an honor to serve you.
