Kevin Bryant

We’ve heard it all, but now Jim DeMint is being compared to a popular Old Testament saint, Gideon. Here’s some interesting excerpts from a recent World Magazine editorial:

…When Sen. Arlen Specter (R—no, it used to be an R but now it’s D-Pa.) decided late in April that it would be more comfy during his sunset years to be part of the political majority instead of a pitiful and impotent minority, the argument broke out all over the place. What could Republicans do to stanch the flow of blood?…

…DeMint launched this debate, to be sure, with his feisty remark earlier in the week that he’d rather have 30 Republican senators who know what they believe than 60 who blow constantly with the wind. “Really!” said Noonan. “Good luck stopping an agenda you call socialist with 30 hardy votes. ‘Shrink to win’: I’ve never heard of that as a political slogan.”…

…Did she really forget Gideon, in Judges 7? “The Lord said to Gideon, ‘The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead.’ Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained.” And you’ll remember (although Peggy Noonan didn’t seem to) that God wasn’t through until he got Gideon’s band down to 300…

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, MARK SANFORD, GOVERNOR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Contact: Joel Sawyer – 803-734-2100

GOVERNOR VETOES STIMULUS FUNDS, 47 ADDITIONAL BUDGET PROVISIONS

Columbia, S.C. – May 19, 2009 – Governor Mark Sanford today vetoed state budget sections compelling him to spend stimulus funds, saying the budget failed to put South Carolina in a better post-stimulus financial position, and that it wasted a once-in-a-generation chance to make much-needed reforms to state government.

Governor Sanford vetoed part 1A of the budget, the budget’s main spending portion, and Part 3, the portion that directs stimulus spending, in their entirety. Governor Sanford has advocated throughout the budgeting process using $700 million in stimulus money – about 10 percent of the total headed to South Carolina – to pay down state debt.

The governor separately vetoed 47 provisos that made inefficient structural changes, continued wasteful practices, or represented misplaced priorities. In his veto message, the governor said the spending plan suffered from fundamental flaws in the way it failed to set priorities and failed to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the stimulus to address debt repayment like the $20 billion in unpaid for political promises tied to the retirement system.

“If a prudent family received a windfall like what is represented by this stimulus bill, they would use at least a small portion to pay down debt like the mortgage and credit cards – and to that end, we’re disappointed that the General Assembly didn’t follow suit,” Gov. Sanford said. “What’s worse is that this budget is written in such a way as to make a political point, with stimulus dollars being used to fund core agency budgets rather than setting priorities and restructuring through the budgeting process. Quite simply, the General Assembly needs to start over on its spending plan if we’re going to have a responsible state budget that not only looks out for current taxpayers, but future generations as well.”

Among other items the governor vetoed were:

*The newly created “Capitol Police Force,” aimed at protecting entrances to the legislators’ garage

*A provision that prevents exploring privatization of state-owned golf course parks that lose $500,000 annually

*A legislative attempt to avoid $350,000 in cost savings related to state aircraft by moving the state Aeronautics Commission to the Budget and Control Board

*A prohibition on the Highway Patrol recouping costs from game day traffic control, part of the nearly $1 million annually it costs the Highway Patrol to provide traffic enforcement at special events

*A $37 million raid of the state’s Insurance Reserve Fund, and a $15 million raid on unclaimed property in the Treasurer’s Office

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An interesting topic came up at Saturday’s State GOP convention on what’s a Republican. Some will say, like Governor Mark Sanford, that true conservatives must embrace liberty. They claim they are in full adherence to the Republican platform. Others, such as Lindsey Graham, throw out this “we don’t want Libertarians in our party” argument. Watch the two videos and give me your thoughts.

Sen. Lindsey Graham states “I am not a Libertarian…we’re not going to build this party around Libertarian ideas…winning matters to me, if it doesn’t matter to you, there’s the exit sign…

In response, Governor Mark Sanford says “Liberty is the hallmark the American experiment…and frankly what’s made it great…you unleash individual initiative that can’t be there with central planning…people say Mark you’re kinda Libertarian as if its a evil word..I’m like ‘throw me in that briar patch’…I love liberty…I wear it as a badge of honor…

This notice came after the fact, but I agree with its importance. I wish they’d helped us with this issue beforehand.

SC Club for Growth – Key Vote Alert

South Carolina Club for Growth strongly urges all members of the General Assembly to support Senator Lee Bright’’s motion to recommit Judge Kaye Hearn’’s nomination to the Judicial Merit Selection Commission.  The vote will be included in the Club’’s 2009-2010 Legislative Scorecard.

SC Club for Growth believes South Carolina’’s judicial selection process needs significant reforms.  Those reforms include moving to a more federal-style selection system, where nominees are chosen by the governor and confirmed with the advice and consent of the Senate.  Judge Hearn’’s now-unopposed nomination has exposed every imaginable flaw in the current system.

Mainly, political maneuvering and blatant disregard for judicial merit have characterized the process.  Recommitting Judge Hearn’’s nomination would bring much-needed awareness to these problems.  South Carolinians deserve a judicial system served by independent and responsible judges – not by those who can survive the Columbia political gauntlet.

The Anderson Independent Mail picked up on this recent action by the right wing of the Senate:
William Wallace Caucus SENATOR LARRY GROOMS, CHAIRMAN

William Wallace Caucus Stands with Governor Sanford

The William Wallace Caucus, a group of South Carolina Senators committed to liberty through less government, declare their continued commitment to the principles and standards of Governor Mark Sanford and true fiscal conservatives across South Carolina. William Wallace Caucus members stand in unison against the recent irresponsible spending of the General Assembly.

The budget adopted by both chambers of the South Carolina Legislature reflects unsustainable practices in fiscal planning.

The budget not only cuts public education, public safety and public health but also spends over $400 million that does not currently exist. We ask ourselves at times whether we are in Columbia or Washington. This budget, while raiding trust funds, could still lead to as many as 3,000 teachers losing their jobs and as many as 3,000 inmates obtaining early release.

The William Wallace Caucus stands with Governor Sanford in the belief that the South Carolina General Assembly fails to fully fund the core missions of government: the classroom, public safety and public health. It also uses one-time federal money in an irresponsible manner.

We offered principled leadership in presenting an alternative budget that met these concerns. For example the shortfall in the Unemployment Trust Fund will sit at approximately $1 billion by the end of the year. Our alternative budget paid down $200 million of that debt. It was rejected.

Finally, the General Assembly’s failure to place its budget in a simple, transparent, open conference committee prior to a vote on the final product is disappointing and unprecedented.

The recent budget process engaged in by the General Assembly serves notice to all South Carolinians that even in poor economic times the habits that contributed to our fiscal crisis continue unabated.

MEMBERSHIP: SENATOR GREG RYBERG R-AIKEN; SENATOR LARRY GROOMS R-BERKELEY; SENATOR DANNY VERDIN R-LAURENS; SENATOR KEVIN BRYANT R-ANDERSON; SENATOR CHIP CAMPSEN R-CHARLESTON; SENATOR SHANE MASSEY R-EDGEFIELD; SENATOR LEE BRIGHT R-SPARTANBURG; SENATOR TOM DAVIS R-BEAUFORT; SENATOR SHANE MARTIN R-SPARTANBURG; SENATOR MICK MULVANEY R-LANCASTER; SENATOR MIKE ROSE R-DORCHESTER; SENATOR PHIL SHOOPMAN R-GREENVILLE