Uncategorized

Apr 16 2012

Mr. Lebanon Elementary 3rd graders

I had a great visit with the 3rd graders at Mt. Lebanon Elementary School this morning. Many thanks to Ms. Melida Reeves and Ms. Mona Fleming for the invitation. I was impressed by the kids attentiveness and interest in government. They knew several things many adults don’t. They new the 3 branches of government and they knew about vetoes and how vetoes are over-riden.

When I speak to kids I often ask this question: Are you a taxpayer? Normally, very few if any raise their hand. Then I ask them if they’ve ever bought anything in a store, then they all understand they are taxpayers indeed. I told them I tried to avoid referring to “my district” since it doesn’t belong to be, it belongs to them. Well, I slipped and said “my district”, and they corrected me. So I continue to use the phrase “the district that I represent”.

I also showed them these illustrations of how much debt we owe. They were shocked.

By Kevin Bryant • Uncategorized •

Apr 14 2012

s.1408 Constitutional Carry

I’m mistaken for Sen. Ralph Anderson (D-Greenville) by etv. Here are my remarks on the floor at 1st reading.

By Kevin Bryant • Uncategorized •

Apr 10 2012

s.1408 constitution carry legislation

Simply put, you want to carry a gun, you carry a gun. This legislation will be similar to Vermont’s interpretation of the 2nd amendment to the Constitution. Last time I checked, the 2nd amendment didn’t contain concealed weapons permit (cwp), training, or anything that makes you ask government to honor a constitutional right. I’d like to flip this mentality. We should honor the South Carolinians right to arm themselves and defend themselves by default. If the citizen violates the law, then and only then, we take it away.

S. 1408 does keep the cwp in place, yet optional. Many folks would like to continue the permit for two reasons: several states reciprocate our permit and permit holders are exempt from the federal requirement for a background check for gun purchases.

By Kevin Bryant • Uncategorized •

Apr 10 2012

Michelin Man adding jobs!

Michelin to grow business in Anderson, Lexington Counties $750 million investment expected to create 500 new jobs

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Michelin North America, Inc. today announced that the company will expand its Earthmover tire production in South Carolina with a $750 million investment expected to generate 500 new jobs.

“There is unprecedented demand for Michelin Earthmover tires throughout the world,” said Michelin Chairman and President Pete Selleck. “It’s a tribute to the productivity of our employees and the pro-business environment in South Carolina that the company is expanding its Earthmover capacity in the state where we first began manufacturing in the United States.”

When added to the $200 million announced last May in Lexington, this announcement brings the total Michelin investment in South Carolina to almost $1 billion in the last year.

“Michelin has been part of the economic and social fabric of South Carolina since the first tire rolled off the line in 1975 and has been one of our finest corporate citizens,” said South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. “It really is a great day in South Carolina when our largest manufacturer reaffirms its commitment to the state.”

“It’s always rewarding when new companies locate in South Carolina, but it’s even better when companies like Michelin that have been here for decades decide to expand and grow,” said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt. “It is a tribute to Michelin and its 8,000 employees in the state that the company has decided to grow their presence here.”

“We are pleased to recognize the achievements of Michelin North America. The recent expansion of Lexington plants US#5 and US#7 greatly strengthened the economic activity in our area and helped to foster the growth that we are currently experiencing. Today we are excited about the two announcements and delighted to be able to celebrate this milestone achievement by Michelin North America. We are pleased that they are a part of our community and wish them continued success,” said Lexington County Chairman Bill Banning.

“We are extremely proud to continue and strengthen the long running relationship between Michelin, the SC Department of Commerce and Anderson County,” said Tommy Dunn, Anderson County councilman, District 5. “I’m grateful for the hard work and dedication of Burriss Nelson and his economic development team in their efforts to cultivate relationships that can benefit from Anderson County’s unique mix of a skilled and willing workforce, the support of Tri-County Technical College and our area’s outstanding quality of life. This is another great day in Anderson County.”

Central SC Alliance Chairman Jim B. Apple said, “Michelin’s announcement today of continued expansion in Lexington County, S.C. reaffirms the pro-business environment, quality workforce and strategic location of Lexington County and Central South Carolina. We congratulate Michelin Corporation on their continued success and we congratulate Lexington County on the continued growth of this great corporate citizen.”

“Michelin’s increased investment in the Upstate speaks volumes to their belief in the South Carolina workforce and its business climate. We are grateful for their contributions to our region and for the jobs they bring to our citizens,” said Upstate SC Alliance President and CEO Hal Johnson.

“Michelin is currently one of the Port of Charleston’s largest customers, and I am very pleased to learn of their plans to expand their manufacturing footprint in South Carolina. Michelin has been a consistent partner and ardent supporter of the deepening of the Charleston Harbor to accommodate the new, larger cargo vessels. This announcement today solidifies the company’s relationship with our port and our state,” said Jim Newsome, president and CEO of the South Carolina State Ports Authority.

State and local incentives were approved for Michelin’s expansion.

About Michelin North America, Inc.

Dedicated to the improvement of sustainable mobility, Michelin designs, manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks and motorcycles. The company also publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America (www.michelinman.com) employs more than 22,200 and operates 18 major manufacturing plants in 16 locations.

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By Kevin Bryant • Uncategorized •

Apr 9 2012

Your New Health Care System – YouTube

By Kevin Bryant • Uncategorized •

Apr 9 2012

connect

By Kevin Bryant • Uncategorized •

Apr 9 2012

opt out from Obamacare? healthcare compacts s. 836

The SC Senate has placed S. 836 on special order. S. 836 allows SC to enter into a compact with other states to avoid Obamacare. Objectives of Health Care Compact:

• To organize the states to reassert sovereignty and challenge the assumption that Washington knows what is best on health care policy matters that affect SC citizens.

• To force a conversation on health care and break the health care monopoly in DC

• To provide a non-partisan alternative to the current system. The Health Care Compact pre-dates ACA and is 100% non-partisan

CONSTITUTION BASIS FOR HCC: Section 1, Article 10 of the Constitution explains interstate compacts and provides that Congress must approve these compacts

When HCC is approved by Congress, it will:

• Give states the authority and funding for all healthcare programs with the exceptions of Indian Affairs and Veteran Affairs
• Re-establish state sovereignty over health care (interstate compact trumps federal health care regulation)
• Not force any state to act. States have the ability to implement or not implement. A state may leave compact with 6 months notice.

HCC PROCESS

• Philosophical Step—Do you agree States should be partners in solving health care problems? No fiscal impact. Helps build a critical mass of states to force a conversation with Congress on health care.
• Congressional Approval—This will give states the final parameters of compact approval so they can make informed decisions on whether to proceed.
• Implementation—State legislature plans, designs, and implements healthcare programs at the state level

By Kevin Bryant • Uncategorized •

Apr 8 2012

Resurrection Day Video

By Kevin Bryant • Uncategorized •

Apr 6 2012

reject UN Agenda 21

The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee will take up two resolutions next week that each condemn and reject UN Agenda 21. These resolutions are, indeed, simply expressions of sentiment by the General Assembly and carry no weight in law. The issue, however, needs to be highlighted since it represents one of the most insidious forms of the approach of what many refer to as “one world government”.

Anyone who doubts the nature of this agenda need simply read the opening paragraph on the UN website for the program.
“Agenda 21 is a comprehensive plan of action to be taken globally, nationally and locally by organizations of the United Nations System, Governments, and Major Groups in every area in which human impacts on the environment.” I thought of highlighting the really important words in that sentence, but each one of them expresses the fact that the globalists simply want to invade every organization, elected and otherwise, everywhere in the world and dictate every move you make. They’re not shy about it.

Here are a few examples of the plans that the UN has in store for you. From Chapter 1: “The developmental and environmental objectives of Agenda 21 will require a substantial flow of new and additional financial resources to developing countries….” “Resources”, of course, means your money and the only way anything flows “to” somewhere is if it first comes “from” somewhere—that would be your wallet.

The Agenda, of course, makes the requisite nod to “global warming” which every day is more revealed as a hoax that makes even Bernie Madoff blush. The UN says in Chapter 9 that: “The basic and ultimate objective of this programme area is to reduce adverse effects on the atmosphere from the energy sector by promoting policies or programmes, as appropriate, to increase the contribution of environmentally sound and cost-effective energy systems, particularly new and renewable ones.” The definition of “new and renewable”, as stated in the footnote, is, in part, “solar thermal” and “solar photovoltaic”. When a government promotes (again, with your money) a programme to increase the contribution of new and renewable energy systems, then we get—wait for it—Solyndra.

Agenda 21 goes on for 22 mind-numbing chapters, and I haven’t read them all, but then again I need to keep down three meals a day. The point is that the UN wants your money to move its agenda. The current fear in America is that we have too many politicians, including President Obama, who seem eagerly inclined to accommodate them. A wise man once told me that, “It isn’t a problem until it’s a problem”. Well, it’s a problem.

By Kevin Bryant • Uncategorized •

Apr 5 2012

Friedman Foundation on School Choice

South Carolina Poised to Join Growing Number of States Offering School Choice
Friedman Foundation applauds efforts of House and Senate leaders

INDIANAPOLIS — With the passage of H. 4894, South Carolina is poised to join a growing list of states that offer school choice for families. Already, 18 states and the District of Columbia give families the freedom to choose an effective education for their children, whether that education is provided by public or private schools, at home, or online.

The proposed legislation, which would establish a tax deduction for schooling expenses, a tax-credit scholarship program for low-income families, and a tax-credit scholarship program for students with special needs, recognizes the importance of giving parents the maximum number of opportunities for children to thrive in educational settings best suited to their needs.

“The Friedman Foundation applauds the historic step taken in the House,” Robert Enlow, President and CEO of the Friedman Foundation, said. “We would like to thank the many legislative leaders in the House who supported the rights of parents to choose schools that work best for their children, including House Speaker Bobby Harrell, Majority Leader Kenny Bingham, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Brian White, House Ways and Means Subcommittee Chairman Rita Allison, and long-time school choice advocate Eric Bedingfield.”

The proposal now moves to debate in the Senate, where Senators have the opportunity to make South Carolina the 19th state to give parents the right to choose an educational environment that motivates and challenges their children.

“Leaders across the state are coming together to improve education by giving parents more options,” Enlow added. “We appreciate the leadership in the Senate of Majority Leader Harvey Peeler, chief sponsor Larry Grooms, and the sponsors on the Senate Finance Committee including Kevin Bryant, Mike Fair, Greg Ryberg, David Thomas, and Danny Verdin.”

As policymakers consider these important issues, it is vital to know the facts. According to recent polls and peer-reviewed research:

A sizeable majority of parents, particularly low- and middle-income parents, want more options for their children.
Studies show that children receiving scholarships achieve more (they perform marginally better on standardized tests) and attain more (they are more than 20 percent more likely to graduate).
20 out of 21 studies find that school choice helps traditional public schools improve. No empirical studies find school choice harms public schools.
State-sponsored evaluations in Wisconsin, Indiana, and Florida find that school choice programs save money and are a better use of taxpayer funds.
About the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice
The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, solely dedicated to advancing Milton and Rose Friedman’s vision of school choice for all children. First established as the Milton and Rose D. Friedman Foundation in 1996, the Foundation continues to promote school choice as the most effective and equitable way to improve the quality of K-12 education in America. The Foundation is dedicated to research, education, and outreach on the vital issues and implications related to choice and competition in K-12 education.

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By Kevin Bryant • Uncategorized •