MegaVote - 3/31/09

Recent Congressional Votes - Senate: The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act House: Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 Upcoming Congressional Bills - Senate: Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for FY 2010 House: To amend the executive compensation provisions of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 House: Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for FY 2010

Recent Senate Votes

The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act - Vote Passed (79-19, 1 Not Voting) The Senate passed this national service bill which would increase the number of AmeriCorps volunteers from 75,000 to 250,000 and designate September 11 as a national day of service and remembrance. Sen. Lindsey Graham voted NO......send e-mail or see bio Sen. Jim DeMint voted NO......send e-mail or see bio

Recent House Votes

Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 - Vote Passed (285-140, 6 Not Voting) The House agreed to the Senate amendments to H.R. 146, sending this package of public lands, national parks and water development legislation to the president. Rep. Henry Brown Jr. voted NO......send e-mail or see bio

Upcoming Votes

Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for FY 2010 - S.Con.Res.13 This week, the Senate will work on the FY 2010 budget. To amend the executive compensation provisions of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 - H.R.1664 The House will vote on this bill intended to curb bonuses of executives at financial institutions that receive Troubled Asset Relief Program money. Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for FY 2010 - H.Con.Res.__ The House is scheduled to vote on their FY 2010 budget.

Private schools stand against vouchers

It's a great day, people.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present the following news piece that ran today in The State and the Sun News enforcing what I have been saying all along - but this time private schools speak up on the issue:

Bryan Burnett, chairman of the board of Jefferson Davis Academy, a private school in Barnwell County, said small schools like his would be interested in accepting students whose parents get a tax credit — as long as the students are learning at their grade level and have no major learning disabilities.

“We have one class for each grade. We have a small school facility. We’re just not financially set up to serve a lot of the students that public schools serve,” he said.

I am happy to see the private schools of this state speak out and inform the people of the obvious. Taking children away from a problem school will not fix the problem of a minimal education. Setting high standards in our state constitution is a great starter, but we have to be more focused on parent involvement in the public school system - and I mean involvement, not just dumping off kids for extra study hours and picking them up or letting them do activities while you mingle with other parents for social hour.

Charter schools - schools funded with public money, but have more flexibility for innovation, aren't faring so well either.

In the past few years, 35 charter schools also have opened in the state. These public schools are freed from some state regulations to encourage innovation.

But, so far, charter schools are faring no better academically than traditional public schools. According to 2008 state report card data, 22 of the state’s 34 charter schools were rated as below average or at risk of failure.

The problem is the funding, people. Fund the education system the way it's supposed to be funded, then you can filter to the branches of the tree - teacher merit pay, stricter guidelines, better buildings, more aides, etc.

I get sick and tired hearing and reading about teacher unions being the problem. Hey GOPhers, how about do your research about teachers, unions and South Carolina before even attempting to think the unions are to blame.

Again, it's a great day... Even when private schools tell you they are not the solution.

We Support Notre Dame - Obama's invite to speak at 2009 commencement

Dear Readers,

Thank you for standing with Notre Dame and supporting its decision to host President Obama. In less than 24 hours we collected more than 20,000 signatures. Will you help us keep the momentum by sending this petition to your family and friends?

Click here to tell your friends and family about the ‘We Support Notre Dame’ campaign.

After we launched our petition drive on Thursday, the Notre Dame administration announced that they were not backing down. The far right isn’t letting up either. Those attacking Notre Dame are claiming more than 190,000 signatures.

We need all hands on deck to spread the word about www.WeSupportNotreDame.org and to put the brakes on this latest effort to misuse the language of faith for political gain. Forward this message to your friends and family, or click here to use our convenient tell-a-friend form.

Help build the momentum and tell your friends and family about the ‘We Support Notre Dame’ campaign.

Our nation's colleges and universities are meant to be places that embrace open dialogue about the issues of our day. Don't let Notre Dame cave to political pressure. Help send a clear message that we welcome President Obama's appearance at Notre Dame by encouraging others to join the campaign.

Sincerely,

Notre Dame Alums in Support of Fr. Jenkins
Faithful America
Catholics United

Whole herd of elephants

March 2009

Dear Readers,

I've always said politics is like the circus: the worst job is cleaning up after the elephants. We're just beginning to find out how true that is.

President Obama has done more good in just 8 weeks than George Bush did in his entire 8 years, but you and I both know it's going to take longer than that to clean up the Republicans' mess - especially with a whole herd of 'em in the Senate willing to filibuster change at every chance.

We need every last Democratic vote to overcome their obstruction. That's why the DSCC is fighting so hard to get to 60 Senate seats. It's the best way we can help President Obama change this country.

March 31 is the first big fundraising deadline of the 2010 campaign, and I'm telling you to get involved right now. Your urgent support is the only way we'll be able to match the energy - and the resources - of a united and energized Republican party.

Getting your help right now is so important that not only will a group of Democratic Senators match you dollar for dollar, but you'll also get a free "Change starts with me" magnet for your car. It just takes $5 to make a big difference.

I'm asking you to please click here to make a contribution of $5 or more by midnight, March 31 to help fund the DSCC's efforts to win the 60 seat filibuster-proof Democratic majority Barack Obama needs. Act before March 31 and get a free car magnet.

Even with Republicans trying to block him at every step, President Obama has already expanded health care for kids and moved mountains to try to put our economy back on sound footing.

Imagine how much more President Obama could do without Republicans throwing sand in the gears.

If you help the DSCC win 60 Democratic Senate seats, Barack Obama can truly deliver on universal healthcare, better education and a real plan to get us off foreign oil.

But to win, we've got to start prepping early and that means you and me helping put the DSCC over the hump before midnight, March 31. Remember, your gift will be matched by senators and you can get a free car magnet.

I'm asking you to please click here to make a contribution of $5 or more by midnight, March 31 to help fund the DSCC's efforts to win the 60 seat filibuster-proof Democratic majority Barack Obama needs. Act before March 31 and get a free car magnet.

Folks, I'm sorry to say it. These Senate Republicans just can't be helped. They're just too beholden to Rush and the rest of the right-wing fringe.

We have to clean out as many as we can in this next election.

Let's get to work.

Sincerely,

James Carville

United Parcel Service will not continue to advertise during O'Reilly Factor

From UPS:

Thank you for sending an e-mail expressing concern about UPS advertising during the Bill O'Reilly show on FOX News. We do consider such comments as we review ad placement decisions which involve a variety of news, entertainment and sports programming. At this time, we have no plans to continue advertising during this show.

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Georgetown's city elections look very interesting

The 2009 Georgetown City elections are set with the Friday deadline for filing for office. I believe this will be very interesting. The Georgetown Times has a end-of-filing update.

"Georgetown residents will have to go to the polls in June and again in November to decide who will be mayor next year and to decide who will hold three expiring council seats. Several people filed last week, forcing a Democrat Primary in both the mayor’s race and for the council seats. Council member Peggy Wayne filed Friday morning. That means a majority of council is running for mayor."

What bothers me is the fact current Mayor and DINO Lynn Wood Wilson filed as a Democratic candidate yet again. I do wish people would wake up and realize he's a Republican at heart. Just ask him who he voted for in 2008.

The Citizen's Report moderator Marty Tennant has filed for mayor as well - as a Republican, um... a GOPher. I do respect him for offering his services, but I do not think they are willing to change the elephant in place of a giraffe - although I think it would be a change for the better.

My candidate of choice - Peggy Wayne - filed Thursday. I am glad to see her in the race and I pledge my full support to her in the primary. Hope it turns out in our favor.

Peggy Wayne can be found on Facebook now. Look her up. Jack Scoville has a blog up and running as well. Fortunately, these two are using the Web to garner support.

Recovery Rally on April 1st ---Tell the governor to quit grandstanding at our expense!

People's Stimulus Rally

April 1, 5:30 - 6:30pm

State House, Columbia

Gov. Mark Sanford is refusing to take stimulus money that South Carolinians
will have to pay for even if we don't use.

Tell the governor to quit grandstanding at our expense!

With a small amount of the stimulus money, we could provide mortgage counseling to reduce mortgage payments and interest on the home mortgages of many South Carolinians.

Join people who are concerned that our nation's economy is crashing due to the unregulated finance industry.

Instead of pouring our money into bailing out wealthy bankers, we need government investments that create new jobs, provide health care and quality education for all, end the foreclosure epidemic and support sustainable, clean energy.

Sponsored by the SC Progressive Network

www.scpronet.com * 803.808.3384

Flyer: http://www.scpronet.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/stimulus_rally_flyer.pdf

Healthcare for All

First, I want to say thank you. The outpouring of support and excitement over my return to Democracy for America has been incredible. I am honored to work with you and the rest of the DFA community again.

Last night, I announced our biggest and perhaps most important campaign yet on an issue very close to my heart: Healthcare Reform.

We can guarantee healthcare for all if we give every American the freedom to choose between keeping their private insurance - if they have any - and a universally available public healthcare option like Medicare.

CLICK HERE TO ADD YOUR NAME

President Obama campaigned on a healthcare plan that included a public option, but for-profit insurance companies and HMO's are already working hard to strip it from any upcoming healthcare bill. They don't want Americans to have a choice and they will stop at nothing to kill real reform.

Today, we draw a line in the sand.

A public option is the only way to guarantee healthcare for all Americans and its inclusion is non-negotiable. Any legislation without the choice of a public option is only insurance reform and not the healthcare reform America needs.

This is just the start. We need your help to generate broad based support for a public option. We will need to canvass our neighborhoods, call our elected leaders, and arrange meetings with members of Congress in the coming months.

We need 250,000 signatures by the time this bill is introduced in Congress. As a start, can you help me get to 10,000 by the end of the day today?

ADD YOUR NAME RIGHT NOW

After you add your name, you can sign-up to volunteer or make a contribution. You can also spread the word to your friends, family, and co-workers. Send a personal email and include a link to the website, update your Facebook status to tell people about the campaign, write a blog post at a local or national blog about why you support this campaign - we need all hands on deck to win this fight.

This will be the largest, most ambitious campaign DFA has ever launched. But I need your help to make it happen. The more people in our movement for change, the more effective we will be.

Working together, we will get healthcare for all Americans. Thank you for everything you do to make it happen.

-Howard

Gov. Howard Dean, M.D.
Founder, Democracy for America

Winning NOW: Seminar, Strategy Session, and Reception

Barack Obama's win has changed politics in America. SC New Democrats will bring together the best and brightest to help develop new strategies so that New Democrats can win in South Carolina in 2010. And, we will honor those 'Rising Stars' who are winning now and changing politics in South Carolina today.

Date: April 24, 2009
Time: 2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Where: The Inn at USC - 1619 Pendleton Street, Columbia, S.C., 29201

Winning NOW:
Seminar and Open Strategy Sessions

Winning in the South
Panel of Experts on Southern Politics

Winning in South Carolina
Potential Candidates for

SC Statewide Office in 2010

Rising Stars Reception
Honoring the New Democrats' Rising Stars,

Sponsorships

Event Sponsor ........................ $10,000
Reception Sponsor ................ $5,000, 12 tickets
Seminar Sponsors ................. $2,500, 10 tickets
Reception Table Sponsor..... $1,000, 8 tickets
Supporters .............................. $500, 4 tickets
Ticket ....................................... $25

To Buy Tickets, go to www.SCNewDemocrats.org

For more information, please contact Jamie Kirk.

Phone: 803.707.2038

Jamie@scnewdemocrats.org

PO Box 11373

Columbia, SC 29211

www.SCNewDemocrats.org

____________________________________

SCDPJefferson Jackson Dinner to follow

with a 6:00pm reception and 7:00pm dinner.

Blueprint

Public School Choice

I wanted to make you aware of two Public School Choice bills filed yesterday in the SC Legislature. The companion bills (H 3737 and S 0607) would increase the availability and variety of choices offered to public school students and their families.

School districts across our state are already seeing the positive results of offering multiple instructional options to their students. Successful examples such as Dent Middle School in Columbia, which offers four distinct options within its facility, prove that public schools can provide the services that parents want and - unlike vouchers or tax credits - can make those services accessible to every child.

RISE SC will be watching these bills very closely and will let you know when your action is needed. In the mean time, feel free to check the "Legislation" area of our Advocacy Network to read these bills in their entirety and to track their progress.

Thank you for your continued support of public education.

Best,

Rachel

Carrie Rachel Dean

Executive Director

RISE SC

MegaVote - 3/24/09

Recent Congressional Votes - Senate: Confirmation of Ronald Kirk to be U.S. Trade Representative Senate: Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 House: Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act House: To impose an additional tax on bonuses received from certain TARP recipients Upcoming Congressional Bills - Senate: Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act House: Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 House: Federal Land Assistance, Management and Enhancement Act

Recent Senate Votes

Confirmation of Ronald Kirk to be U.S. Trade Representative - Vote Confirmed (92-5, 2 Not Voting) On Wednesday, Ron Kirk was confirmed as U.S. Trade Representative. Sen. Lindsey Graham voted YES......send e-mail or see bio Sen. Jim DeMint voted YES......send e-mail or see bio Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 - Vote Passed (77-20, 2 Not Voting) The Senate passed this package of legislation related to public lands, national parks and water development. Sen. Lindsey Graham voted NO......send e-mail or see bio Sen. Jim DeMint voted NO......send e-mail or see bio

Recent House Votes

Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act - Vote Passed (321-105, 6 Not Voting) The House passed this bill to reauthorize and reform national service programs. Rep. Henry Brown Jr. voted NO......send e-mail or see bio To impose an additional tax on bonuses received from certain TARP recipients - Vote Passed (328-93, 10 Not Voting) The House passed this bill that would enact an additional income tax on bonuses given to employees or former employees of companies that received Troubled Assets Relief Program money. Rep. Henry Brown Jr. voted YES......send e-mail or see bio

Upcoming Votes

Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act - H.R.1388 This week the Senate will work on this national service bill. Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 - H.R.146 The House will vote on this public lands, national parks and water development legislation. Federal Land Assistance, Management and Enhancement Act - H.R.1404 The House is scheduled to vote on this bill intended to improve funding and management of fighting wildfires.

State Sen. Robert Ford joins the dark side of school voucher issue

In a story today in The State, State Senator Robert Ford (D-Charleston) has come out publicly against public education... Literally.

“You’re damn right I’m hurting public education, because public education is hurting our kids,” Ford said.

Not only has he done that, but he offers his version of a bill to provide public money to fund scholarships to private schools. From the same story, here's some of the details:

Claim a tax credit

Tax credits could be claimed by any person who files a state tax return and pays any part of a student’s private school tuition.

Parents of special-needs students would get a credit equal to a private school’s tuition or the state’s per-pupil spending.

Parents of students zoned for failing public schools would get a tax credit equal to 75 percent of private tuition or the state’s per-pupil spending, whichever is less.

Parents of other students would get a tax credit equal to 50 percent of private tuition or the state’s per-pupil spending, whichever is less.

Home-schooled students would get up to $1,000 in tax credits for instruction-related expenditures.

Donate a scholarship

A person or a corporation could claim a state income-tax credit for a contribution to a student scholarship organization that paid for private school scholarships or offered tuition grants.

An SSO only could give scholarships to students from families with a household income of 200 percent or less of the federal poverty level.

Contributors to an SSO could claim a tax credit.

Seeing that Sen. Ford is going to run for governor, I guess he's trying to garner the support of Republicans because, quite frankly, that's his best shot. But this move really does hurt... It hurts public education - the teachers, the staffers, the administrators and especially the children. Nowhere will this bill - or this dream of vouchers - help children in "failing" schools. He claims this will help African-American students get a better education. I personally think he needs to revisit that claim and study it a lot more.

Here, Senator... I'll provide you with some information:

Voucher evaluators have made a concerted effort to eliminate "selection bias" by offering vouchers to families with low incomes by lottery. In comparing pupils who receive vouchers to those who do not, bias from differential motivation and socioeconomic background is allegedly eliminated.

But this strategy does not speak to other issues. The sample of low-income, urban parents seeking vouchers does not represent the average low-income urban parent with children in public school. Parents who file for vouchers are, for one thing, more dissatisfied than other parents. To argue that they are more satisfied with their child's new, private school than parents who never applied for a voucher does not measure whether private schools are better than public, even if the comparison only concerns parental satisfaction.

This is no surprise, however. Sen. Ford is a bought pawn of Howard Rich. I guess he's doing his job now since he was paid to do it during the election.

Sen. Ford has really become the tyrant as of late, especially with his stance on saggy pants - an issue I agreed with him on.

But this is too far. Selling out for donations and votes instead of helping the kids in schools now that need it is a little out of bounds.

Costco, others look for EFCA compromise

The Wall Street Journal reports today that Costco Wholesale Corp., Starbucks Corp. and Whole Foods Market Inc. are interested in compromising with unions to support a modified version of the Employee Free Choice Act.

"Costco Wholesale Corp., Starbucks Corp. and Whole Foods Market Inc. are supporting the alternative proposal, according to someone familiar with the effort. Ray Krupin, a management labor lawyer in Washington said the most likely compromise would allow employees to unionize if 70% of them sign union-authorization cards, as opposed to 50% as currently proposed in the Employee Free Choice Act."

Stewart Acuff, an assistant to AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, says "we expect to pass the bill the way it is now" in a response.

"Labor unions also expressed opposition to the Starbucks-led effort to find an alternative. 'What we have consistently heard from the business community is that there is no compromise.'"

It will be very interesting to see whether the number changes to get the bill passed. In other news, WSJ writer Seth Michaels clears up the notion about the EFCA and "secret ballots" being eliminated.

Homeland Insecurity

Homeland Insecurity: Doing Better for our Children from Every Child Matters on Vimeo.

Video message from President Obama

President Obama recorded a special message for you about the budget he's submitted to Congress and what you can do to help it pass.

Watch the video now and take action to make sure your representatives know you support this new direction:

The budget President Obama has proposed isn't the same old document Washington has come to expect year after year.

Right now, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to finally confront the systemic problems that have held America back for far too long in energy, health care, and education.

But it's up to you to get involved and make it happen. Join a canvass this weekend and talk with everyone you know about the President's plan to secure long-term prosperity for our families.

After watching the President's video, you can also look up your elected representatives and let them know you support this new foundation for economic growth:

http://my.barackobama.com/budgetaction

Thanks,

David Plouffe

Employee Free Choice Act would benefit all

South Carolina is a "right-to-work" state. Some people probably do not even have a clue to what that means. At face value, it looks like all people in South Carolina have a right to work, right? Sounds great... Wrong.

Right to work laws are statutes enforced in twenty-two states, mostly in the southern or western U.S., allowed under provisions of the Taft-Hartley Act, which prohibit agreements between unions and employers making membership or payment of union dues
or "fees" a condition of employment, either before or after hiring. In other words, non-union workers have the right to live off the backs of union workers and receive the same benefits fought for in contractual negotiations.

These laws hamper all efforts that unions provide their members because it allows workers to not pay dues for benefits they receive. How would you like to pay for a golf membership to a club, only to have the next person walk in for free and obtain the same rights and benefits you have - for nothing?

Republicans have always been anti-union, believing the good ol' CEOs of big companies will take care of all their employees and provide the best benefits possible to all of them. Yeah, right.

The Employee Free Choice Act would allow just that, however. The EFCA has widespread support, including bipartisan backing in Congress and President Obama’s pledge to sign it into law. Nearly three-quarters of the public, 73 percent, support the Employee Free Choice Act. Hundreds of respected religious, academic and business people and organizations have signed on in support.

Corporate CEOs wouldn’t work a day without contracts to protect their outrageous pay and perks. But they routinely deny workers the same opportunity. Although U.S. and international laws are supposed to protect workers’ freedom to belong to unions and bargain, employees are on an uneven playing field from the first moment they begin exploring whether they want to form a union, and the will of the majority often is crushed by brutal management tactics.

Let's look at some of those tactics, shall we? Twenty five percent of companies illegally fire at least one worker for union activity during organizing campaigns, 92 percent of companies force employees to attend mandatory closed-door meetings against the union, 51 percent threaten to close the plant if the union wins the election and 75 percent hire consultants or union-busters to help them fight union organizing drives.

What is the percentage of public that know companies routinely resist unionization efforts by their employees: 47 percent.

Republicans in South Carolina see the writing on the wall. That is why Republican State Rep. Eric Bedingfield introduced H.3305, an amendment to the South Carolina constitution, protecting the rights of workers to a "secret ballot" in a union organizing election. Since this is a Republican-controlled state, the bill passed. Democratic State Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter provided a challenging debate with Bedingfield, but to no avail.

Even Congressman Henry Brown is preying on that statistic in order to get the Secret Ballot Protection Act (anti-EFCA) passed. He is a co-sponsor of the bill. Knowing people do not know the truth, they frame this bill to say it protects workers when voting for a union. Again, I must bring forth the truth.

Workers in NLRB elections are twice as likely (46 percent vs. 23 percent) as those in majority sign-up campaigns to report that management coerced them to oppose the union. Further, less than one in 20 workers (4.6 percent) who signed a card with a union organizer reported that the presence of the organizer made them feel pressured to sign the card.

Current union elections involving secret ballots bear no resemblance to political elections. Workers’ free speech rights are squelched, employers practice various forms of economic coercion, and labor law allows employers to indefinitely delay recognition through drawn-out appeals. Says University of Oregon political scientist Gordon Lafer, “The presence of secret ballots can’t overcome the corrupt nature of NLRB elections.”

Finally, and most importantly, The Employee Free Choice Act does not abolish elections. Under the proposed legislation, workers get to choose the union formation process—elections or majority sign-up. What the Employee Free Choice Act does prevent is an employer manipulating the flawed system to influence the election outcome.

I sense a pattern with the Southern states that have first stood against the stimulus package and now are deciding to stand against the same workers it would benefit by not allowing them more freedom to form a union. It's becoming rather routine for these Republican-led Southern states to buck the federal government these days for political points that, quite frankly, I have yet to see helping them. Are we doomed to repeat the past? I sure hope not.

For more information, please visit USW.org, AFLCIO.org and AmericanRightsatWork.org.

SC Democrats react to Gov. Mark Sanford's stimulus stunts.

Courtesy of the Indigo Journal

EFCA receives big boost with new poll

If you listened to the South and the GOPher leaders here, you'd think the Employee Free Choice Act was a dead bill moving. That is far from the truth. In a new independent poll, the majority of people in the United States favor the bill. Gallup Surveys conducted a poll and released the results today. The findings aren't really surprising, unless you live in the South. Click "poll" above to see the results in detail.

PRINCETON, NJ -- A new Gallup Poll finds just over half of Americans, 53%, favoring a new law that would make it easier for labor unions to organize workers; 39% oppose it. This is a key issue at stake with the Employee Free Choice Act now being considered in Congress.

MegaVote - 3/16/09

Recent Congressional Votes - Senate: Cloture Motion; Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 House: Omnibus Public Land Management Act House: Water Quality Investment Act of 2009 Upcoming Congressional Bills - Senate: Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Battlefield Protection Act House: Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act

Recent Senate Votes

Cloture Motion; Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 - Vote Agreed to (62-35, 2 Not Voting) The Senate reached the necessary sixty votes to end debate on this bill funding government programs. The bill was later approved by voice vote. Sen. Lindsey Graham voted NO......send e-mail or see bio Sen. Jim DeMint voted NO......send e-mail or see bio

Recent House Votes

Omnibus Public Land Management Act - Vote Failed (282-144, 6 Not Voting) Because this bill required a 2/3 majority vote, the House failed to pass this package of legislation related to public lands, national parks and water development. Rep. Henry Brown Jr. voted NO......send e-mail or see bio Water Quality Investment Act of 2009 - Vote Passed (317-101, 13 Not Voting) The House passed this legislation to authorize funding for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which helps states build water treatment facilities. Rep. Henry Brown Jr. voted NO......send e-mail or see bio

Upcoming Votes

Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Battlefield Protection Act - H.R.146 The Senate is scheduled to use this battlefield protection bill as a vehicle for the Omnibus Public Land Management Act. Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act - H.R.1388 The House will vote on this bill to reauthorize and reform the national service laws.

State Capital Report - Rep. Vida Miller

March 13, 2009

The State Capitol Report

Submitted By

Rep. Vida O. Miller, 335D Blatt Building

SC House District #108

This week the House approved and sent to the Senate a state government budget for fiscal year 2009-2010. The budget proposed for the upcoming fiscal year incorporates federal stimulus funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. In order for the state to be eligible to receive the federal stimulus dollars, 81.8 percent of the funds must be used to restore funding through the state’s primary and secondary education formula by eliminating cuts imposed in recent years. The remaining 18.2 percent may be used for other education or government services. The proposed budget utilizes federal funds to restore funding for the Education Finance Act, four-year-old kindergarten, and institutions of higher learning to required levels. Remaining federal funds are devoted to school bus fuel, education assessments needed to comply with federal No Child Left Behind requirements, items related to teacher salaries, the deficit at the Department of Juvenile Justice, and a portion of the deficit at the Department of Corrections.

As part of its economic stimulus efforts, the federal government is temporarily increasing its financial commitment within the Medicaid program that it offers in collaboration with the states. With the enhanced federal Medicaid match rates, the proposed budget allows for the restoration of Medicaid reductions made in October’s rescission bill and the avoidance of proposed reductions in Medicaid coverage that were, at one point, scheduled to take effect on February 1 of this year. Federal provisions also allow for enhanced Medicaid match rates to apply on a retroactive basis through October of 2008. The budget includes a one-time transfer of funds from the Department of Health and Human Services to allow the funds realized through the retroactively enhanced federal Medicaid match rates to be redistributed to other budget needs.

Since restoring K-12 and higher education funding levels is a condition for receiving federal stimulus money and since new federal Medicaid match provisions effectively prevent reductions in Department of Health and Human Services programs, the categories of education and health, which together comprise the vast majority of the state’s budget, are shielded from significant reductions. Remaining eligible to receive federal stimulus funds requires that the budget cuts needed to cope with current revenue shortfalls be concentrated in the relatively small portion of the budget that remains after the categories of education and health are removed. To avoid drastic state agency budget cuts within this remaining sector, a $50 million base reduction is authorized for the Local Government Fund and these funds are redirected to other budget needs. To allow for this redistribution, a statutory requirement is temporarily suspended that guarantees the state’s counties and municipalities an annual increase of 4.5 percent in state aid to political subdivisions in order to accommodate growth. The budget legislation also draws upon $37 million from an insurance reserve account and $35 million from Medicaid savings to contend with shortfalls. The proposed budget reduces most state agencies to fiscal year 2005-2006 funding levels, if they were not already functioning at such levels.

Many lawmakers were unwilling to support this budget because of the cuts to local government funds, the lack of willingness to expand healthcare for children and the questionable use of the economic stimulus money. A summary of the budget details will be included in next week’s report.

DATE CHANGE - Winning NOW: Seminar, Strategy Session, and Reception

DATE CHANGE Winning NOW: New Strategies for New Democrats Barack Obama's win has changed politics in America. SC New Democrats will bring together the best and brightest to help develop new strategies so that New Democrats can win in the South and in South Carolina. And, we will honor those 'Rising Stars' who are winning now and changing politics in South Carolina today. Seminar and Open Strategy Sessions 2:30 - 5:00 Winning in the South Panel of Experts on Southern Politics Winning in South Carolina Potential Candidates for Statewide Office in 2010 The Seminars and Open Strategy Sessions will be webcast live and a transcript published. ____________________________________ SCDPJefferson Jackson Dinner to follow with a 6:00pm reception and 7:00pm dinner. _________________________________________ For more information, please contact Jamie Kirk. PO Box 11373 Columbia, SC 29211 Phone: 803.707.2038 Jamie@scnewdemocrats.org www.SCNewDemocrats.org New Date: April 24, 2009 Time: 2:30 - 5:00 Location: The Inn at USC 1619 Pendleton Street Columbia, SC 29201 "This is not about simply changing Republicans for Democrats. This is about changing our politics so we can change the basic direction of our state and enact new policies to make us competitive in the global economy of the 21st century." Phil Noble President SC New Democrats

Gov. Sanford Playing Politics - Tell Him Enough is Enough!

Sanford’s Rejection Of Stimulus Funds Could Cost 7,500 Teachers Their Jobs

From ThinkProgress.org:
By - Ali Frick

Last month, eighth grader Ty’Sheoma Bethea was an honored guest of President Obama when he made his address to a joint session of Congress. Bethea had written a letter to Gov. Mark Sanford (R) asking him to repair her school, JV Martin Jr High School in Dillon, SC, which was falling apart. “I felt that our school was in bad condition,” she said. “After the stimulus bill was passed I hoped we could get some of the money to rebuild the school.”

However, Sanford continues to stand in the way of Bethea’s hopes. Yesterday, in what Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) deemed “100 percent political posturing,” Sanford announced he would seek to pay down the state’s debt by redirecting $700 million of the state’s stimulus money meant for school funding and public safety:

– 81.8% must be used to backfill education funding to maintain current funding levels and prevent school districts from laying off teachers and increasing class sizes. Any money that remains can be used for school modernization or construction.

– 18.2% is discretionary funds provided to the governor which can be used for “public safety or other government services.”

John Cooley, deputy superintendent for finance and operations at the South Carolina Department of Education, explained that the stimulus funds would help fill a 15 percent budget cut already inflicted on the school system. Without those funds, Cooley estimated that up 7,500 teachers (15 percent of the state’s 50,000 teachers) could be negatively impacted. But he cautioned, “I’m not going to sit here and tell you that we’ve reduced 7,500 teachers” or that all 7,500 will lose their jobs.

Regardless, Cooley warned that Sanford’s cuts will make an already dire situation much worse:

It’s going to create a significant problem for us if that was to happen. I know that our general assembly — the House of Representatives completed their work on the appropriation bill for 2010 and they have used that money and appropriated it to education to help fill in the cuts that we’ve taken. If those funds are not permitted to be used that way, it will create a significant problem for the education budget in South Carolina.

Ironically, Sanford cited his “duty” to “future generations of South Carolinians” in explaining his slashing of funding for the state’s school system, in a letter to the legislature. And in a press conference yesterday, he insisted he was acting with young people’s best interests at heart:

Of course we’d like to spend unlimited amounts of money on education or for that matter healthcare or law enforcement. but you have to do it within the confines of that which is sustainable. So the idea of digging a $1.2 billion hole whose costs ultimately will be born by school-aged kids to me is not in their best interest.

As Charleston Mayor Joe Riley said yesterday, “Paying off the debt does nothing for the schoolteacher who is losing a job or the probation officer who is being laid off.” Even with news yesterday that South Carolina now has the second-highest unemployment rate in the country, at 10.4 percent — and the fastest growing rate anywhere — Sanford is apparently willing to offer his citizens nothing but his prayers.

There are updates to this story as I post, so please visit the link and view them.

MegaVote - 3/12/09

Recent Congressional Votes - House: Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009 House: Making further continuing appropriations for FY2009 Upcoming Congressional Bills - Senate: Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 House: Water Quality Investment Act of 2009 House: District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2009

Recent House Votes

Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009 - Vote Passed (234-191, 7 Not Voting) The House passed this bill intended to prevent mortgage foreclosures and enhance mortgage credit availability. Rep. Henry Brown Jr. voted NO......send e-mail or see bio Making further continuing appropriations for FY2009 - Vote Passed (328-50, 53 Not Voting) The House passed this resolution to continue funding most government programs for fiscal year (FY) 2009 at FY 2008 levels through Wednesday, in anticipation that the Omnibus Appropriations Act will be passed by then. Rep. Henry Brown Jr. voted Not Voting......send e-mail or see bio

Upcoming Votes

Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 - H.R.1105 The Senate is scheduled to continue work on this spending bill for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2009. Water Quality Investment Act of 2009 - H.R.1262 The House is expected to vote on this bill to finance the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which helps states build water treatment facilities. District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2009 - H.R.157 The House may consider their version of a bill to provide the District of Columbia with a voting seat in the House of Representatives.