She’s got more “new ones” now than Carter’s got liver pills. Go Jeff, my hero, my Rep. My vote did count! – Phoebe
Category Archives: South Carolina
South Carolina Lawmakers Propose 5-Year Jail Sentence for ‘Obamacare’ Implementation
Federal officials could face fines and jail terms under proposed legislation
December 17, 2012
Nullification is yet again picking up steam in Dixie.
Pursuing an archaic legal theory that punctuated pre-Civil War disputes between the federal government and states, South Carolina state Rep. Bill Chumley last week pre-filed a bill for the upcoming legislative session that would criminalize implementation of President Barack Obama’s 2010 healthcare reform law.
If his bill becomes law, any state official caught enforcing the healthcare law would be guilty of a misdemeanor and “must be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.”
Federal officials caught enforcing the law, however, would be given stiffer punishment under the proposal.
Any federal employee or contractor enforcing the law “is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five thousand dollars, or imprisoned not more than five years, or both,” the bill proposes.
“I think we’re within our rights to do this,” Chumley explained to U.S. News. “It’s an obligation, I swore an oath to uphold the Constitution and protect the people.”
The bill was drafted after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the healthcare law in June, a decision that Chumley strongly disagrees with. In response, says Chumley, “we put a little study committee together to look at the possibility of nullification.”
The study group included local lawyers, retired political science professors, and medical doctors, Chumley says. Another attendee was state Sen. Lee Bright, who is proposing similar legislation in the legislature’s upper chamber.
“If we don’t do something now, when do we?” says Chumley. “It’s a sad situation that the government put us in… an unpleasant task you have to do from time to time.”
“I feel very, very good about support,” he adds. “I don’t think it’ll be a really hard sell.”
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, also a Republican, has made no public statement on the bill. Chumley said he has seen Haley just once since setting up his study group and “didn’t want to bother her with this.”
Among the items in the healthcare law that irk Chumley are the individual health insurance mandate, “the establishment of 150 or so more agencies,” “the addition of many thousand new IRS agents,” and “home visits to come out and see how you’re living.”
UCLA law professor Eugene Volokh, however, told U.S. News the proposed law “would be clearly un-enforceable, because the federal law – upheld by the Supreme Court – trumps state law.”
“But I assume it’s meant to make a political statement, not to have a direct legal effect,” adds Volokh.
Weapons Incident at My Granddaughters High School
Student had gun, 200 rounds, knives, cuffs, stun gun
Hunter Ray Green arrested
UPDATED 10:00 PM EST Dec 17, 2012
EASLEY, S.C. —
A 17-year-old was arrested Monday morning after a tip led authorities to a car on a high school campus filled with an assortment of weapons, police said.
Easley police said a concerned student told faculty members that another student had weapons and ammunition inside a vehicle.
Faculty members searched the car belonging to 17-year-old Hunter Ray Green of Easley, and said they found numerous weapons, including a loaded .22-caliber handgun.
Police said they also found two wood-handled axes, a stun gun, a razor blade knife, nine other knives of various sizes, handcuffs and 200 assorted rounds of ammunition.
Green is charged with possession of firearms on school property.
School District of Pickens County spokesman John Eby said under district policy, Green will be recommended for expulsion for no less than 365 days.
Eby said in a release, “It appears that the guns were left in the car after being used for hunting and recreation and were not taken to the school with the intent to harm anyone. (EXCUSE ME??? Those kind of weapons for hunting and recreation??? Among other things, what kind of recreation and hunting are handcuffs used for? -Phoebe) However, bringing weapons on school grounds violates state law, and the school district has a zero-tolerance policy towards weapons on school grounds.
“The timing of this incident is extremely unfortunate, but there is no indication that there was ever an intended threat to the school.
“We commend the student who came forward with the information and the staff members who responded quickly to ensure the safety of Easley High.”
Green was being held at the Easley Law Enforcement Center pending a bond hearing.
Gov. Nikki Haley names Sen. Jim DeMint’s replacement
Rep. Tim Scott is South Carolina’s first black senator
UPDATED 12:51 PM EST Dec 17, 2012
Tim Scott
Gov. Nikki Haley named Rep. Tim Scott as the replacement for U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint.
Scott is South Carolina’s first black senator. He becomes the Senate’s only black member and the GOP’s second African-American senator since Reconstruction.
Hiram Rhodes Revels was the first African-American U.S. senator. He was elected by the Mississippi State Senate in 1871. President Barack Obama, elected by popular vote, was the fifth African-American senator.
U.S. Rep. Tim Scott was sworn-in for his freshman term on Jan. 5, 2011. His website describes him as “a tireless advocate for smaller government, lower taxes and restoring fiscal responsibility in Washington.”
Scott was asked to serve as a Deputy Whip and sits as one of two freshmen on the Elected Leadership Committee.
His website also says that Scott has consistently voted for significant cuts in federal spending.
Before being elected to Congress, Scott served on Charleston County Council for 13 years, including four terms as chairman and in the South Carolina House of Representatives for two years where he was elected Chairman of the Freshman Caucus and House Whip.
He was previously the owner of Tim Scott Allstate and partner of Pathway Real Estate Group.
SacObserver, the African-American online news source, said, “Rep. Trey Gowdy, a former prosecutor from Spartanburg, said Scott would be his top choice. He noted that Scott has already been named to Ways and Means, the House’s tax-writing committee.
“If she asked my opinion, I would tell her there are two members of the delegation I wished she would consider, and I’m not one of them,” he said.
Gowdy said the other would be Rep. Mick Mulvaney, according to SacObserver.
DeMint leaving Senate to head Heritage Foundation
December 06, 2012
South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint is leaving Congress to head the conservative Heritage Foundation.
The Tea Party-backed senator announced the move Thursday, saying he will step down from the Senate in January to become president of The Heritage Foundation think tank. He plans to formally start the new job in April.
“I’m leaving the Senate now, but I’m not leaving the fight. I’ve decided to join The Heritage Foundation at a time when the conservative movement needs strong leadership in the battle of ideas,” he said in a statement. “No organization is better equipped to lead this fight and I believe my experience in public office as well as in the private sector as a business owner will help Heritage become even more effective in the years to come.”
DeMint later told Fox News that “I honestly believe I can do a lot more on the outside than on the inside.”
DeMint has been an outspoken voice in the Senate for its most conservative wing, most recently chiding House Republican leaders for offering to put revenue on the table as part of negotiations over the looming fiscal crisis.
He was elected to a second term in the Senate in 2010. His departure sets up a succession battle in South Carolina. South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley would choose a replacement, who would then have to run in a special election in 2014.
One member of the South Carolina congressional delegation told Fox News the move was seen as a “total surprise.”
DeMint will replace outgoing president Ed Feulner at Heritage. Heritage Board Chairman Thomas Saunders said in a statement that DeMint “has shown that principled conservatism remains a winning political philosophy.”
While DeMint has occasionally raised hackles among Republicans, conservative lawmakers and groups praised DeMint’s qualifications.
Fellow South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham said he’s “very disappointed” that his long-time friend and colleague is resigning.
“The Senate’s loss is Heritage’s gain,” Graham told Fox News Radio.
South Carolina on “most miserable states” list
Having lived in SC for the past 20 years I have to totally agree with this assessment except Alabama should be number one. I lived in Alabama for 6 months years ago and twice shortly after I left I encountered people who had also lived in Alabama, when they asked me why I had left my response was, “it took me that long to get enough money to leave”, they replied that was why they stayed there that long too. I actually never did get enough money to leave so I left the majority of my belongings and hitchhiked out of there.
South Carolina isn’t a bad place to live as long as you don’t associate with the locals, they’re lazy, uneducated and rude, no southern hospitality here. They can’t seem to get that, if it weren’t for northerners and foreign companies they would have no economy whatsoever, that they would still be living in the dark ages. The air quality is so bad that I developed asthma almost immediately on arrival. I guess on reflection there is really nothing good about living in SC except the mild weather.
-Phoebe
The Bloomberg network says South Carolina is the fourth most miserable state in the United States, according to a list of aggregated statistics.
Using the “misery index”, a method of measuring the level of happiness or sadness in a state, combined with 13 other measurements such as income inequality, air pollution, lack of health insurance and underemployment, the network says the top five states are all in the South.
Coming in at number one is Mississippi, which the network says has an income per capita of $31,000 — less than the national average of $39,000.
Alabama comes in at number two because of high income inequality. Number three is Louisiana, and of course, our beloved Palmetto State is number four. Filling out this dubious top five is Arkansas.
Praise the Lord!!! Funding reinstated for Sea Grant Consortium
Someone help me out, what the hell is the Sea Grant Consortium and why should I have to pay for it?
Recently Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina vetoed certain budget items that had been approved by the legislature, among them are …..
$10 million allocated to school districts to help boost teachers’ salaries.
money for a North Myrtle Beach museum
preserving African-American history sites in Charleston
preserving the nation’s first community of freed slaves in Beaufort County.
But that’s not what burns my ass, what does burn it is this….
House votes to override governor’s arts funding veto
COLUMBIA, S.C. -
The South Carolina House has voted overwhelmingly to override Gov. Nikki Haley’s vetoes that wiped out the state Arts Commission.
The 110-5 vote on Tuesday would restore $1.9 million for the agency’s operations. It was the first vote of the day. A later vote of 89-25 restores $500,000 for the commission’s grant money.
The other agency eliminated by Haley’s vetoes was the Sea Grant Consortium. The House voted 102-10 to restore that agency’s $428,000.
The arts should not be funded with public money it should be funded by private money, that includes both State and Federal levels. – Phoebe
SC elected officials react to Supreme Court ruling
South Carolina elected officials are reacting to the Supreme Court ruling.
The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of President Barack Obama’s historic health care overhaul, including the hotly debated core requirement that virtually all Americans have health insurance.
Statement from Congressman Jeff Duncan:
The United States Supreme Court ruled on an 5 to 4 decision that the provision known as the “individual mandate” that forces people to buy health insurance or face stiff penalties is constitutional as a tax.
Congressman Jeff Duncan, a strong opponent of ObamaCare, was disappointed by the court’s ruling. “ObamaCare interferes with the doctor/patient relationship, causes health insurance premiums to skyrocket, increases our national debt, rations care for seniors, and is a major abuse of federal power,” said Duncan. “While I’m disappointed in the court’s decision, this only strengthens my resolve to push for complete repeal in the United States Congress.”
As far as the future of ObamaCare is concerned, Duncan says the law’s broken and beyond repair. “There’s no way to fix a law this bad,” said Duncan. “We’re going to have to continue to push for a complete repeal, and once ObamaCare is completely off the books we can start working for ways to reform the system that gets government out of the way and puts patients first. I’ve never counted on the court to rule one way or another. Congress has been working from day one to repeal and replace this obtrusive law.”
“The next step towards repealing ObamaCare begins with making Barack Obama a one-term President. There’s no way we can repeal ObamaCare and enact the types of common sense health care reforms Americans deserve as long as he’s in the White House. Ultimately, the next battle in the fight to repeal ObamaCare will be fought by the American people at the ballot box in November.””
Statement from Senator Lindsey Graham:
“To our Democratic colleagues, stand by your tax increase or stand with us to Repeal and Replace Obamacare.
“During the entire congressional debate over Obamcare, Democrats vehemently denied this was a tax on the American people. The Obama Administration also denied it was a tax. However, when the case went to Court, they argued, for constitutional purposes, it was a tax.
“I have always believed the individual mandate would not be upheld under the Commerce Clause because you cannot compel someone to enter into commerce. However, I have always been afraid the broad power to tax could be used by the Court to justify Obamacare.
“The problem for the American people is this is a massive tax increase at a time they can least afford it and Obamacare will jeopardize the quality and accessibility of health care.
“Now Congress has a chance to Repeal and Replace Obamacare, one of the largest tax increases on the American people, with common-sense health care reform we can afford. I am glad I voted against one of the largest tax increases on the American people in modern history for the purpose of creating government-controlled health care.
“The question for Congress is — Did you intend to tax the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars to create a government-controlled health care system or not?
“I am urging the Republican leadership to immediately insist on debating whether or not Obamacare is in fact a tax in the eyes of the politicians who proposed the legislation. If it was never meant to be a tax, they should immediately Repeal and Replace this bill.”
Statement from Representative Trey Gowdy:
“The question every American should now be asking themselves is what’s next? Can Congress “tax” you for not exercising enough since that impacts the cost of healthcare? Can Congress “tax” you for eating certain foods or offer “tax” breaks for avoiding certain foods? Can Congress “tax” you because you only walk on the treadmill and don’t run? Are there any limits to the power of the federal government?”
“Our forefathers would not recognize the modern day interpretation of the document they wrote and ratified.”
“The President said this wasn’t a “tax” and the Supreme Court bailed him out by re-interpreting his argument as a “tax” rather than as a mandate and an expansion of the commerce clause.”
“Federalism is gone. The state has the power to control – via mandate or “tax” – virtually all aspects of your life. It’s a sad day for those who believe in personal responsibility and a limited federal government.”
Rep. Trey Gowdy is Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform’s Subcommittee on Healthcare, District of Columbia, Census and the National Archives. Rep. Gowdy’s subcommittee has held numerous hearings on the impact of the healthcare law. PPACA is ill conceived and delivers many unintended costs to the taxpayers. On March 28, 2012, Rep. Gowdy attended the U.S. Supreme Court hearing on the mandated healthcare law.
Statement from U.S. Senator DeMint:
“The Supreme Court may have failed to stop this government takeover of health care, but the American people will not. Since the day this law was rammed through Congress, the American people have demanded repeal, and today’s ruling doesn’t make Obamacare any less dangerous to our nation’s health. Freedom-loving Americans are disappointed, but we cannot be discouraged.
“The President’s health care law must be fully repealed as all of its promises have proven false. We were told it was not a tax hike, but this ruling confirms it is an unprecedented and enormous tax on the poor and middle class Americans. President Obama needs to explain why he is enacting this middle class tax hike over the objections of the American people during the worst economic recovery since the Great Depression.
“We were told it would lower health costs, but health care premiums are exploding. We were told that Americans could keep their personal health plans, but millions will now lose it. We were told it would improve our economy, but it is now the largest obstacle to employers hiring new workers.
“This government takeover of health care remains as destructive, unsustainable, and unconstitutional as it was the day it was passed, unread, by a since-fired congressional majority. Now as then, our first step toward real health care reform and economic renewal remains Obamacare’s full repeal, down to the last letter and punctuation mark.
“I urge every governor to stop implementing the health care exchanges that would help implement the harmful effects of this misguided law. Americans have loudly rejected this federal takeover of health care, and governors should join with the people and reject its implementation.”
“The President’s health care law will not reform anything, but is already undermining what does still work in America’s health care system. We cannot build a free market health care system on this flawed structure of centralized government control, we must repeal all of it and start over with commonsense solutions that make health care more affordable and accessible for every American. We can allow Americans to purchase lower cost plans from other states, support state high-risk pools to cover those with pre-existing conditions, medical-malpractice reform to end frivolous lawsuits, and tax equity so Americans who don’t get their health insurance from an employer are not penalized.”
“Today’s decision, however unfortunate, nonetheless represents an opportunity to all Americans, to claim their right to create a health care system of, for, and by the people, not government or special interests. The American people now have the chance and Congress has the responsibility to fully repeal this Washington takeover and reform health care ourselves, together, around the principles of individual liberty, not government mandates.
“The same freedom that made America strong and prosperous will make us healthier, too, so long as politicians remember that the health care system is supposed to serve our people, and not the other way around.”
Statement from Attorney General Alan Wilson:
“While the Supreme Court agreed with the states that the Act violates the Commerce Clause of the Constitution, it carved out new authority to accomplish the same goal under Congress’ taxing power – despite the Obama Adminstration and Congress’ own efforts to avoid calling the Individual Mandate a tax on Americans.”
“The Obama Administration, through Congress, has now been allowed to pass this tax on all Americans. It was, and is, a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Congress must now repeal this tax and draft a solution that will actually help the health care problems this country faces.”
“Further, for states like South Carolina, a catastrophic new reality emerges. Under the Act, the states will be forced to expand their Medicaid rolls to unprecedented levels. While the Court ruled today that existing federal money used to fund Medicaid cannot be cut, any new money necessary to fund this explosion of new recipients could be withheld from any state that does not fall in line with Congress’ wishes. Many states will simply not be able to afford this new onerous mandate.”
Read more: http://www.wyff4.com/news/columbia-statewide-news/SC-elected-officials-react-to-Supreme-Court-ruling/-/9324106/15334326/-/14wm7gg/-/index.html#ixzz1z6wCTI46
Court decision leaves SC primary in turmoil
More than 200 candidates disqualified for election
UPDATED 11:06 AM EDT Jun 07, 2012
A decision by the South Carolina Supreme Court has left the upcoming June 12 election a mess.
Justices ruled Tuesday that Florence County Republicans incorrectly certified candidates who hadn’t properly filed economic disclosure papers.
Florence County Democrats accused the GOP of not following the court’s May 2 ruling that candidates must submit proof they’ve filed financial paperwork at the same time they file candidacy documents.
The court warned other counties that they ignore the justice’s earlier ruling “at their own peril.”
The state Supreme Court on Wednesday turned down Florence County Republicans’ request for clarity on the ruling.
Nearly 200 candidates were dropped from ballots last month after justices ruled that financial and candidacy paperwork must be submitted together.
The Florence County GOP disqualified four more candidates after Tuesday’s ruling.
On Wednesday, Kylie Johnson, with the Oconee County election commission, said the primary was called off after officials determined that none of the 11 challengers had filed paperwork appropriately, leaving no qualified candidates for the ballot. Guess I won’t be voting. – Phoebe
Voters cannot write-in candidates for primary elections. Johnson said decertified candidates only option would be to run as petition candidates, meaning they would have to petition signatures that would have to be verified and certified by the Board of Elections. If they get signatures equivalent to 5 percent of the registered voters in their district, they will be allowed to appear on the November General Election ballot as non-partisan candidates.
Voters will be able to write-in whatever candidates they want in the General Election.
The Greenville County elections office is still waiting to hear from respective party chairs. As of Wednesday, they said the ballot is not changing.
But Greenville County Elections Director Conway Belangia said the ruling will affect absentee voting. If a person is disqualified, the vote will not count. Belangia said this leaves the opportunity for a candidate who loses the primary to potentially sue, claiming the victor may not have been properly certified.
In Anderson County, five GOP candidates have been decertified: sheriff candidate Creed Hashe, County Council hopefuls Denny Floyd, Ann Smith and Mitchell Cole, and State House candidate Ted Luckadoo.
Laurens County Democratic Chair John Henley confirmed two Democratic candidates decertified. An Eric Robinson and he couldn’t remember the other name.
Spartanburg and Pickens counties have not yet said if any candidates are affected.
The confusion follows a Supreme Court ruling that denied a party attorney’s request to specify if current officeholders who already had financial paperwork on file must resubmit those documents if they seek a different office.
County parties around the state are re-examining candidate lists for the June 12 primary after the high court ruled Tuesday that Florence County Republicans disregarded an earlier ruling regarding paperwork submission and just certified all candidates
As it stands, signs will be posted at polling places naming the decertified candidates, and warning voters that a vote cast for those candidates will not be counted.
The State Republican Party had told News 4 that it would hold a news conference at 10 a.m. on Thursday at the State Supreme Court building, but as of 11 a.m., no news conference had been held.
Obama goes after SC Gov. Nikki Haley
Looks like Obama is extracting his revenge. Let this be a lesson to all of you, piss Obama off, get audited.
Report: DOJ may indict SC Gov. Nikki Haley for tax fraud
By Nicholas BallasyReport:
The Department of Justice may indict South Carolina Republican Gov. Nikki Haley on charges of tax fraud, according to the Palmetto Public Record, a South Carolina political blog.
PPR reported that a “highly ranked” federal government official “privately confirmed rumblings of an investigation” and the “possible indictment of the governor.” The report said the official, however, could not provide a specific time frame.
However, two “well-placed legal experts” said the DOJ indictment could come as early as next week, according to the report.
The alleged tax fraud reportedly occurred during Haley’s time managing finances for the Sikh worship center in South Carolina run by her father, Dr. Ajit Singh Randhawa.
In addition to reports of impending federal criminal charges, a group of South Carolina Democratic lawmakers is calling on Haley to waive her right to treat confidentially any ethics complaints that may be pending against her.
Asked by The Daily Caller to clarify what charges, if any, Haley will be facing, a Department of Justice spokesman responded, “We would have no comment.” Asked if that meant no investigation into Gov. Haley’s alleged tax fraud was underway, the spokesman responded in an email: “It means we have no comment.”
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
