Jun 28 2012
Thursday 2012.06.28 Sen. Lee Bright (R-Spartanburg) offered an amendment to the Continuing Resolution, H. 5418, to not allow any taxpayer funds to pay for any services provided by the nations largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood.
Whether its an abortion or a vitamin C tablet, I can’t in good conscience vote to send a single cent to this organization.
Jun 28 2012
June 25, 2012
The Honorable Paul Broun, United States House of Representatives, Washington, DC
The Honorable Jeff Duncan, United States House of Representatives, Washington, DC
Dear Representatives Broun and Duncan:
Subject: Savannah River Basin Management
As President of the Lake Hartwell Association, I am making the following requests on behalf of the thousands of voters and businesses that make up its membership. Based on feedback I am getting from them, during what should be the peak of our recreation season that is once again being diminished by drastically low lake levels, I am sure there are many thousands more who would join in.
We discussed these issues on April 4th in Representative Duncan’s office in Anderson, and it was agreed that the following would be investigated and appropriate action taken in Washington. First, we discussed your taking a lead role in forming a bi-state (SC &GA) coalition, including senators and other congressmen representing Savannah River Basin (SRB) interests at the federal level. Second, you would investigate and take appropriate action to get the SRB Corps of Engineers substantial relief from the stringent rules, regulations and bureaucratic constraints they now must work within. Third, you would investigate and take steps necessary to ensure that funding for future studies, operational updates, and other actions that would improve lake level management, and the basin in general, would be made available by using some of the power generation revenues now being sent to the general fund in Washington.
The most recent Savannah River Basin Advisory Committee (SRBAC) quarterly meeting was held on June 19th, with an agenda focused on the current drought situation and its impact on the Savannah River Basin’s lakes. It was well attended and informative, and further confirmed for me the importance of two issues that we discussed on April 4th.
First, the Corps’ authority to use proven adaptive management techniques to help mitigate the impact of a drought is severely limited by the bureaucratic environment they must operate within. Once again this became evident when it was announced that a final decision on the Environmental Assessment (EA) that was drafted by the Corp last November and would have given the Corps the flexibility to decrease flows by 200 cfs this summer, if necessary, has again been delayed pending an “unnamed agency” response. LHA’s response was due May 12th, 30 days after receipt. It seems that review times for the more than 100 agencies and stakeholders vary from 30 to 90 days depending on the different operating agreements with the Corps. Meanwhile, South Carolina and Georgia citizens whose businesses, jobs, home values, etc., depend on the lakes’ levels during this peak of the recreational season , suffer severe economic losses while the bureaucracy keeps a partial solution tied up in “red tape” and paperwork.
Second, attendees were told that South Carolina’s contribution needed to get phase 2 of the comprehensive study underway would be less than the $250K needed to match Georgia’s. Hopefully, in-kind services will be available and acceptable to make up the difference. This is the study we discussed as being so very important because it addresses lessons learned from the recent drought of record of 2009. Given the drought conditions we have been experiencing for the last year, one would think it would have been high on the priority list for funding. No doubt, the loss of tax revenues to the state due to low water levels this year alone will far exceed $250K.
As mentioned above, another topic we discussed on April 4th was the possibility of keeping some of the power generation funds (that now go into the general fund in DC) in the basin to pay for future studies, plans, etc. that will help to ensure better management and maintenance of the basin. Total cost of the phase 2 study, for example, is estimated at $1 million, 1/60th of average annual power generation income.
We thank you for your support of SRB issues and ask that you give these matters your immediate attention and highest priority, and keep us informed on a regular basis. A federal delegation tour of businesses hardest hit by the low water conditions would be welcomed and very beneficial. Please advise if the Lake Hartwell Association can assist in making arrangements… or in any other way.
Sincerely,
Herb Burnham, President
Lake Hartwell Association
Jun 27 2012
On Tuesday 2012.06.26 I put up an amendment to add S. 1409, commonly referred to as the Big Annual Tax 
bill, to the Sine Die resolution. This is an annual bill that clarifies tax law and to be honest, it contains a lot bad stuff.
Why would I do this? An amendment to add the school choice legislation would have been germane to S. 1409. This would have been an excellent opportunity for school choice. Unfortunately, we lost this effort, however, next year, if I return, I will use every opportunity to continue to promote educational opportunities for our children.
The Sine Die resolution is an annual resolution that determines what the General Assembly may take up after adjournment for the year. The Sine Die resolution requires a vote of 2/3rd of the General Assembly.
Jun 22 2012
Thursday 06.21.12 was full of procedures to get to a vote on the Department of Administration.
Jun 22 2012
Whitney is a young lady from Anderson serving missions in Barundi for the summer.
Hello from Burundi!
This week I have spent most mornings at the discovery school. The kids are having exams this week so me and Makenzie (a girl who I’m sharing a room with who is also volunteering) planned crafts for the kids who finished their exams. In the afternoons I have been helping with the family and doing some computer 
work for the school.
This weekend we went upcountry. It was so nice to get out of the city and enjoy the cool mountain air. We visited some waterfalls and a beautiful ravine. God has created some amazing things here in Burundi.
He has also created some amazing people here. I have been so blessed by the Johnsons and the Burundian teachers. I am learning that I am not a “super hero” who has come to save Burundi. God is doing amazing
things here which I am blessed to be a part of for a short time!
Please pray for Joy Johnson who I am staying with. She has bronchitis and needs to be feeling better next week because there is a team coming to work at the school.
Thanks for all your prayers, Whitney
I uploaded some pictures on my blog whitneyinburundi2012.blogspot.com
Jun 21 2012
Dear Friends,
I want to express my appreciation for all you have done to assist us in winning the Republican primary. Currently, we are unopposed in November. We are grateful that you have chosen to send me back to the South Carolina Senate Chamber.
Gaining 76% of the vote is a huge victory by anyone’s standards and we are blessed to have achieved the nomination with this margin. However, when considering such a success, it is sobering to remember that the battle for our conservative values still rages in Columbia. We have scored a touchdown, but the real victory celebration will have to wait until the game is won.
In this regard, I am reminded of Super Bowl XXVII (1993) between the Cowboys and the Bills. Late in the game, Defensive Tackle Leon Lett recovered a fumble on the Bill’s 45 yard line and ran for the end zone. Ten yards before the guaranteed touchdown, Lett decided to celebrate prematurely by holding the ball out for a victory taunt. Lett was unaware of the opposing defender, Don Beebe chasing him down. Beebe swatted the ball, causing him to fumble and miss the score. In winning the game, Dallas lost the chance to break the record for most points scored in a Super Bowl.
Let us endeavour not to repeat Lett’s mistake by enjoying our victory in this primary with an appropriate sense of humility and gratitude while also moving forward to the next goal.
Re-electing Barack Obama is like buying a ticket for the Titanic’s 2nd voyage. We must reverse the mistake of this presidency and defeat the most ultra-liberal to every reside in the White House.
There is much more at stake than a football victory or loss. The battle for the cause of Liberty rages on; so let us continue together.
Sincerely,
Kevin
Jun 20 2012
H. 4801 Free Conference Report – Pioneer Rural Water District
Board Membership
-Board comprised of 5 members to represent distinct territories within district’s service area.
-Board members must be qualified electors of Oconee or Anderson county, reside in the territory they represent, and are customers of the district.
Board Membership Terms
-Board members will be elected by qualified customers for 3-year terms (currently appointed by Governor upon recommendation of majority of customers).
-Qualified customers must be residents of the district’s service area and qualified electors of Anderson or Oconee county. One vote per household.
-Sixty days prior to an election to fill a board member’s seat, a territory meeting will be held to nominate up to 2 individuals to be placed on the ballot. Procedure established for providing notice to customers of meetings – newspaper ad, post on district’s website and written notice included in customer’s bill.
District’s Investment/Rates
-Prior to the board making an investment of $1 million or more, it must have an independent audit. This audit would be provided to the Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS) to verify the audit’s assumptions.
-Board would present independent audit to its customers before entering into the investment. Procedure established for providing notice to customers of meetings – newspaper ad, post on district’s website and written notice included in customer’s bill.
-Board must consider, at a minimum, ratepayers’ interest, the district’s financial integrity and economic development of the service area.
-Provide to ORS by July 1st each year information regarding rates (for informational purposes only).
Jun 12 2012
We’re making an attempt to have an online updated vote counts as they come in. As you know, the poll managers post the results after the polls are closed before they bring the ballot machines to the civic center for the official count. We’ve got volunteers phoning in the results as they are posted at each precinct. If all this works, we’ll have an unofficial count very early.
click here to view the public spreadsheet
Also, we’ll be collecting the numbers for the Council race (Crowder/Benca) and the House race (Putnam/Johnson)
Jun 11 2012
Dear Friends,
On the eve of Election Day, I want to say thanks for the opportunity to serve you in the General Assembly. If I am blessed with re-election tomorrow, I will continue to fight hard for our conservative values. I look forward to that opportunity.
As this ballot fiasco affected most races in Anderson County, it did not affect our race, the Republican Primary for SC Senate District 3. However, if re-elected, I am committed rectifying the recent injustice done to so many people who tried to run for office in this election. It is unfair to the voters who wanted a true choice on their ballot.
Immediately after the first court’s blow to free elections, I sponsored this bill on May 5th as a remedy, unfortunately it failed.
I also introduced a bill that would eliminate straight ticket voting to take away the advantage partisan candidates have over petition and write in candidates. This bill never got a hearing. Obviously, the legislature is more interested in protecting its own, than being accountable to the voters.
The court rulings thus far have disenfranchised several hundred candidates and millions of South Carolina voters. It’s been a bi-partisan effort. Democrats have been behind some of the lawsuits and a few “Republican” lawmakers have used the courts to protect their positions of power. It is hard enough to fight the liberals in Columbia, but when so-called “Republicans” and their minions conspire to keep conservatives off of the ballot, then change becomes more difficult.
I have encouraged all candidates to pursue a petition campaign. Tuesday’s primary is an excellent opportunity to collect signatures to place a candidate on the ballot for November’s election. A petition candidacy is much more effective than write-in campaigns.
A collection of volunteers will be assigned at many precincts to ask the voters to sign. I would even urge you to sign these petition(s) even if you don’t support the particular candidate. Whatever your political philosophy may be, we all agree that free elections are not possible when candidacies are denied over simple technicalities.
Again, thank you for your support. We’ll be having an election party Tuesday night at the Corner Bagel Shop on Greenville Street at 7:30pm as we collect the results. We’d love to have you.
Sincerely,
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