McCain campaign loses 2 staffers

Two staffers have left John McCain’s South Carolina campaign — one of them voluntarily.
Brian Haskins, the son of Rep. Gloria Haskins, R-Greenville, has returned to his job at Attorney General Henry McMaster’s office and continues to volunteer for the McCain campaign, said McCain spokesman Adam Temple. Gloria Haskins has endorsed McCain’s bid for the White House.
Blake Montgomery has also left the presidential campaign of the Republican U.S. senator from Arizona.
“Blake Montgomery was not a good fit for the campaign,” Temple said, declining further expla-nation.
Montgomery is the grandson of former Nixon aide Harry Dent.
Both Haskins and Montgom-ery were field staffers for the campaign, who helped organize events and grassroots support.

New school buses on the way

Hundreds of sleek new school buses like the one parked outside the State House Thursday will soon be cruising South Carolina roads.
At a press conference, Rep. Bob Walker, R-Spartanburg, thanked supporters of the school bus replacement bill that is awaiting Gov. Mark Sanford’s signature. The bill will replace the state’s oldest-in-the-nation bus fleet during a 15-year cycle. About 450 new buses will be purchased in the coming year, and then 380 annually thereafter.

Underage drinking bill gets key House approval

The House today gave key approval to a Senate bill (S. 213) aimed at combating underage drinking.
House members voted 100-0 to approve the second reading of the bill with some amendments that bill sponsor Sen. Joel Lourie, D-Richland, described as mainly technical.
The revised bill will receive an expected third reading in the House before heading back next week to the Senate for reconsid-eration.
Under the bill, youths under 21 could be charged with consuming or attempting to buy alcohol. Current S.C. law makes it illegal only to purchase or possess alcohol.
Underage offenders would face possible jail time and in-creased fines, and also would be required to complete a state-approved alcohol education or treatment program. Minors who participate in undercover police operations would be exempt.
The bill also would increase fines for those who sell or provide alcohol to minors, and convicted store clerks would be required to attend merchant education programs. The bill also would require that beer kegs be registered.

Sanford, Ryberg say state budget is too fat

Gov. Mark Sanford and Sen. Greg Ryberg, R-Aiken, said Thursday the state's budget, which is being negotiated, should be scaled back. Sanford and Ryberg said the General Assembly should hold the line on spending and return all or part of the additional $1.5 billion they plan to spend this year to taxpayers.

The state budget will likely be more than $7 billion.

"With the money coming into Columbia this year, we have a real opportunity to uphold a number of key principles of conservative budgeting," Gov. Sanford said in a news release. "One is the principle of first things first. Good times won't last forever, and the fact is that our state has $9 billion in unpaid for political promises that we ought to do more toward addressing this year.

"Two is the principle of looking out for the taxpayer, which the Senate is clearly not doing by planning to send less than two percent of this new money as a dividend back to taxpayers. Three is the idea of sustainable spending, so that government doesn't grow faster than people's ability to pay for government, and we end up with cuts to the services that hurt the people who need them most. The good news is that it's not too late to change the course we're on, and I'd ask the House and Senate conferees to put the taxpayers first as they continue work on the budget."

Black ministers: We'll continue fighting for vouchers

A group of black ministers said they will hold a petition drive this summer in an effort to put pressure on the Senate to approve more school choice, funded with public money.

"Over the summer, we've got to make this a wedge issue in our community," said the Rev. Richard Davis, of Clergy for Education Options. "This system we have sends more kids to jail and prison than to college."

Twenty ministers met with a group of senators Thursday to protest a Senate vote a day earlier that turned back an amendment that would have provided $2,500 to low-income children to switch schools if they wanted.

The amendment was offered by Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Berkeley, to an open enrollment bill under debate in the Senate.

Grooms met with the ministers.

"You're immediately attacked when you mention vouchers,"  Grooms said. "There's still a generation that's not learning."

Grooms, who said he does not want to destroy public schools, said school choice is perceived as a Republican issue, and any effort at greater choice this summer must be more non-partisan.

The ministers said they supported Grooms' amendment and questioned senators who contended the time was not right for such a change.

"One thing we can agree on is the current system is not working for too many low-income children," said the Rev. Kirk Bellesen of Columbia, who said the Senate "failed to step up to the plate."

School gun debate postponed

The House has put off debate on a bill that would allow more residents to carry guns on public school and college campuses. They are next scheduled to debate the bill on Wednesday.
The bill (H.3964) loosens rules for state concealed weapon permit holders, allowing them to store weapons in a car's glove box or under the seat. In addition, any concealed weapon permit holder would be allowed to bring a gun onto a school campus.
The bill also extends South Carolina privileges to out-of-state visitors with a concealed weapon permit in their home state.

New ATV law introduced

After  suffering a session-ending defeat on Tuesday, a new version of the Chandler's Law bill was introduced in the Senate today.

Chandler's Law provides that all-terrain vehicle operators between six and 15 years old get training and wear helmets.

The new bill, introduced by Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg, removed several provisions opponents objected to in the original legislation.

Hutto said he hoped to get the bill through the process again in the waning days of the session, but it more likely sets the bill up for consideration in the 2008 General Assembly.

This year, the so-called Chandler's Law cleared both chambers of the Legislature, as it did last year, but was vetoed by Gov. Mark Sanford. The Senate failed this week to garner the two-thirds vote needed to override the veto.

Among the changes in the newly-proposed bill are exemptions for three-wheelers and vehicles that go no faster than 20 mph. Also, there would be no arrests for violations on private property unless the infraction is observed by law enforcement. And all-terrain vehicles would not be banned from public beaches.

Sanford going to Aiken to rail against spending

Gov. Mark Sanford and Sen. Greg Ryberg will be in Aiken Thursday to urge "taxpayers to make their voices heard" on the state budget, according to a release from Sanford's office.  The House and Senate are in negotiation on $7 billion budget that includes more than $1 billion in new spending. Sanford and Ryberg want the new spending to be "returned to taxpayers, rather than being spent in Columbia," according to the release.

Real ID rejected by House

The House has voted to reject new federal identification standards, concerned about the state cost and long lines at the Department of Motor Vehicles.

The state estimates the new rules, known as Real ID, would cost at least $22 million up front and an additional $10 million annually after. The Senate version of the bill, S. 449, rejects the plan unless the federal government pays the cost. The House version rejects the rules outright.

Thompson candidacy gets S.C. boost

A group of S.C. lawmakers have joined the charge to get former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson into the 2008  presidential race. "We want to be that extra encouragement that Sen. Thompson needs to announce his candidacy," said Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Berkeley, who led a morning press conference at the State House. Because South Carolina is expected to host the  first-in-the-South Republican presidential primary tentatively scheduled for early February, Grooms said it is important that Thompson hears he has support here.

Discussion of a possible Thompson candidacy has continued to persist in political circles, despite an already-crowded field of at least 10 challengers.

Similar calls for Thompson' s entrance into the race have gone forward from state legislators in Georgia and Texas recently, Grooms noted.

"There are many folks in the state, including myself, who feel something is lacking in the other candidates," Grooms said.

There is a national "draft Thompson" movement afoot, though Wednesday's announcement is unaffiliated. The Associated Press reported today Thompson will establish an official organization next week to weigh a White House bid.

Third District U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett, R-S.C., also attended the announcement.

"For me, he fits," Barrett said.  Barrett said Thompson, who until recently starred on the hit television series, "Law and Order," shares more of his "conservative and social values" than other announced candidates in the '08 race.

Open enrollment to give priority to poor

An amendment is expected to be proposed to H. 3124 when the the public school choice bill is debated in the Senate. An anticipated amendment would give students from poor families priority when seeking to transfer among public schools.
Further, the racial makeup of student enrollments may not be dramatically affected, according to the draft amendment authored by senators Darrell Jackson, D-Richland; Vincent Sheheen, D-Kershaw; and Ralph Anderson, D-Greenville.

Minors riding ATVs won't have to wear helmets

The Senate failed Tuesday to override Gov. Mark Sanford's veto of a bill that would have required minors to wear a helmet and get training in order to ride an all terrain vehicle. The override, which would have required a two-thirds vote, fell by a 25-17 vote. "It's a shame that of all the vetoes we sustain here, the most seem to have to do with public health practices," said Sen. Phil Leventis, D-Sumter, who favored the legislation. Gov. Sanford, who said the bill would infringe upon personal freedoms he vetoed the measure, apparently put great pressure on senators to sustain his rejection. "I'm voting with the governor on this," said Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Berkeley, who told the Senate the legislation could open residents up to violations for their children riding certain toys that require their legs be on either side of the riding toy. Sanford vetoed similar legislation last year.

Sanford pushes immigration reform

Gov. Mark Sanford called on the legislature Tuesday to put immigration reform on its “to do list.”
Five senators and representatives who have been involved in crafting the legislation stood with the governor and agreed. However, lawmakers also acknowledged it will be hard to accomplish because they already have a long list of bills to tackle during the last five days of the session.
“The purpose of this meeting is to say let’s just grab one of these bills and not let the opportunity pass us this session,” Sanford said.
This year, the legislature has considered more than a dozen immigration bills but a Senate bill addressing multiple issues under the S.C. Illegal Immigration Reform Act has the best chance of passing.
The bill would require S.C. employers to verify their workers' work eligibility. It also would ban businesses from taking tax deductions for illegal immigrant workers and would require them to withhold wages to pay their state income taxes.
The state’s business community, including the S.C. Chamber of Commerce, the Hospitality Association of S.C. and the Farm Bureau, has spoken against the state’s attempt at immigration reform.
Those groups have said immigration is a federal issue.

State Democrats name executive director

The S.C. Democratic Party has named Joe Werner its new executive director.
Werner was campaign manager for Florence Mayor Frank Willis’ unsuccessful bid for the party’s nomination as governor in 2006. He also managed Columbia Mayor Bob Coble’s successful 2006 re-election campaign.
A graduate of Penn State University, Werner most recently was S.C. political director for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.
“We have a lot of hard work to do in the coming months, from putting on the presidential primary to organizing a 46-county strategy to elect Democrats, and I can think of no better person to assist me in executing these programs,” said state party chairwoman Carol Fowler. “I am delighted that Joe is willing to take on the challenge of running the day-to-day operations of the South Carolina Democratic Party.”
Werner replaces interim director Morton Brilliant, who filled in after Lachlan McIntosh left to work for Bill Richardson’s presidential campaign.

Further debate on open enrollment

The public school choice bill appears to be headed for lengthy debate in the Senate next week. State senators briefly began discussion today on H. 3124, which would allow students to apply to any public school in the state, regardless of where they live.
“This is perhaps the most important and far-reaching bill in education that we’ll take up all year besides the budget,” said Sen. Robert Hayes, R-York.
Today, several senators voiced concerns about who will be allowed to transfer into schools when there is limited space. The current bill and proposed amendments would offer first priority to students who live within a school district’s boundaries, including those in private and home schools.
Sen. Darrell Jackson, D-Richland, said family income levels should also play a role in determining admission priority.
Two private school voucher amendments are expected to be sought as attachments to the bill — an issue that has not been debated in the Senate.
A press release from Gov. Mark Sanford’s office said the governor supports the open enrollment concept, but the bill needs the voucher component of an amendment by Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Berkeley.

The amendment “would give families other options when capacity isn't available in the public sector,” Sanford is quoted as saying in the press release. “We believe that amendment is needed if we are really going to provide parents and students with a variety of educational options for their children.”

Grooms’ amendment limits the vouchers to students who are denied a transfer within the public school system as long as they at-tend a low-rated school and their families have annual incomes less than 200 percent of the federal poverty margin, or less than about $41,000 for a family of four.
A proposed amendment by Sen. David Thomas, R-Greenville, has a similar amendment without family income requirements.

Bill allows schools to teach Bible

The Senate gave second reading today to a bill that would allow schools to offer courses on the history and literature of both the Old Testament and New Testament eras.

Authored by Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Berkeley, the bill states that “each course offered must be taught in an objective manner with no attempt to influence the students as to either the truth or falsity of the materials presented.”

The bill, S. 726, has 40 Senate sponsors, but may not make it to Gov. Mark Sanford’s desk this year. That’s because bills approved after May 1 could require a two-thirds vote to be taken up by the other chamber.

Sanford pushing DUI bill

Gov. Mark Sanford will be in Spartanburg Friday to join 7th Circuit Solicitor Trey Gowdy and other law enforcement personnel in calling for the passage of tougher drunk driving laws.

South Carolina's current DUI law is considered by many in law enforcement to be weak and unenforceable, a contributing factor in South Carolina's high DUI death rate, said a media advisory released by Sanford's office.

A tougher DUI bill has recently passed the House, and is awaiting action in the Senate.

House makes viewing abortion ultrasound optional

The House on Thursday approved an amendment to the abortion ultrasound bill that makes it clear that a woman cannot be forced to view the ultrasound image. The amendment to H.3355 passed on a vote of 74-21. The bill now goes back to the Senate, which has already passed it once. The Senate can agree with the House changes or amend it back to its version.

Bear-hunting bill dead this year

A bill allowing more bear-hunting in the mountains is dead for the year --- and that’s fine with state senators caught in the cross-fire.

Mountain-area Sens. Larry Martin, R-Pickens, and Thomas Alexander, R-Oconee, said Wednesday they’re reluctant to support the bear bill until long-standing differences can be worked out. Conservationists, homeowners and animal welfare activists oppose the hunter-backed bill. “It isn’t going to fly’’ without more work, Martin said of the bill. The  bill expands the two-week bear-hunting season in the state’s mountain counties by three days, which is a concern to ani-mal welfare groups that say bear hunting is a cruel trophy sport. But the major sticking point is a provision allowing hunters to let their dogs chase black bears in the woods before the hunting season starts.

The proposed four week “running season” from mid-September to mid-October will disrupt neighborhoods and state parks as dogs pursue bears through the forests, critics said at a hearing Wednesday. “Dogs can’t read “No Trespassing’ signs and apparently many of their handlers can’t either,’’ Pickens County resident Wes Cooler said.

The bill has been approved by the House, but it won’t be voted on by Martin’s senate committee before the legislative session ends next month. It would go to the full Senate if voted out of the Fish, Game and Forestry Committee. Upstate bear-hunters and the state Department of Natural Re-sources contend there are more bears in the mountains than in the past.

Bill proponents say they’re trying to expand a traditional mountain hunting practice. Hunters have killed hundreds of bears in Pickens, Oconee and Greenville counties since 2000, state records show. The DNR says the state has about 900 bears in the mountain counties, up from about 300-400 in the 1990s.

Critics say more population research is needed. Opponents said the legislation also needs tighter rules and better education  requirements for hunters.

Hunters often walk public roads with guns at the same time tourists are in the mountains looking at the fall colors. The state’s existing two-week hunting season in late October is split into one week for hunting without dogs and one for hunting with dogs.

Beatty wins Supreme Court seat

Appeals Court Judge Donald Beatty of Spartanburg was elected to the state's Supreme Court, becoming the second African American elected to the South Carolina's highest court.

Lawmakers, in a joint session of the House and Senate, voted three times before Beatty picked up the 82 votes he needed to capture a majority and win election.

In the third round of voting Beatty picked up 84 votes, as a handful of lawmakers switched their support from Conway Appeals Court ChiefJudge Kaye Hearn to Beatty.

Finishing second in the voting was Columbia Appeals Court Judge Bruce Williams, who picked up 54 votes. Hearn finished with 25 votes.

Beatty, 54, is a former lawmaker who has spent the past dozen years on bench. He has spent the past four years on the state's Appeals Court, the second-highest S.C. court.

He will take the seat being vacated by Justice E.C. Burnett, who is retiring.

Lawmakers this afternoon also are filling a Court of Appeals seat and several other lower court seats.

Second vote: Beatty picks up two votes, still short

Appeals Court Judge Donald Beatty picked up two more votes in a second round of voting to elect a state Supreme Court Justice. His 80 votes are still two votes shy of the majority he needs to win election.

Beatty, of Spartanburg, got 78 votes in the first round of voting. Columbia Appeals Court Judge Bruce Williams got 50 votes and Conway Appeals Court Chief Judge Kaye Hearn got 35 votes.

The winner will need 82 votes to take the seat being vacated by the retiring E.C. Burnett.

First vote: Beatty leads but fails to get majority

Appeals Court judge Donald Beatty of Spartanburg outdistanced  two other judges vying for a seat on the state Supreme Court, but he failed to get a majority of lawmaker's votes needed to earn a seat on the high court.

Beatty, in the next round of voting, will need four more votes to win the seat.

In the voting, Beatty got 78 votes, Columbia Appeals Court Judge Bruce Williams got 50 votes and Conway Appeals Court Chief Judge Kaye Han got 35 votes.

The winner will need 82 votes to take the seat being vacated by the retiring E.C. Burnett.

Group urges calls, prayers as judicial elections get started

The Palmetto Family Council sent out e-mails today urging supporters to call lawmakers and pray for them as they select the state's next Supreme Court justice.

The e-mails did not endorse a candidate.

The council, according to its Web site, is a "a non-profit educational foundation committed to strengthening South Carolina families."

It's primary focus is "issues of concern include life-long committed marriage, the relationship between parent and child, sexual responsibility in youth and adults, the definition of marriage, life issues, and public and private gaming expansion."

Cancer-striken Moody-Lawrence back today

Rep. Bessie Moody-Lawrence, diagnosed with cancer in October, returned to the State House for the first time this session.

Moody-Lawrence was in a wheelchair, her hands so stiff from chemotherapy that she could no longer write her name, she said, but said she learned from her illness that she needed to let go of petty personal concerns and remember what's important.

"I have a new set of priorities," Moody-Lawrence, D-York, told the House. "The material things, they don't matter. So all I'm asking of you folks is improve the human condition."

While her body was weak, Moody-Lawrence showed she was still feisty.

"There ain't nothing wrong with my head, thank the Lord," she said.

Budget writers play waiting game

House and Senate budget writers must wait on a number of bills affecting state spending as the end of session looms.

House and Senate negotiators still have question marks about substantial parts of the budget. Legislation on Transportation Department reform and increasing the state cigarette tax -- and cutting grocery or income taxes - is still pending.

Negotiators will likely meet again today, and could begin to approve funding. Negotiators believe they could finish work this week, but may take longer if worker's compensation, DOT reform or other bills stall.

Sanford urges lawmakers to focus on DOT, workers' compensation, tax cuts

If the Senate and House are unable to reach a compromise on the budget, Gov. Mark Sanford Tuesday urged legislators to turn their attention to three other important issues: finishing up DOT and workers compensation reform and adding more tax cuts.

During a morning news conference in his office, Sanford scolded the Legislature for its plans to spend most of a $1.5 billion projected budget surplus, rather than rather than fulfilling unmet existing commitments on programs such a $41 million tuition grants program and individual tax relief.

"If they're gonna take a pause on the budget, let's go ahead and concentrate on DOT and workers' comp," Sanford said, referring to Rep. Tracey Edge's declaration Monday during a conference committee meeting that House and Senate conferees had reached an impasse.

The Senate and House appear far apart on all three issues. On tax relief, for instance, the House  plan returns $81 million in relief to taxpayers, while the Senate  plan returns $23 million.

Sanford said the Legislature has undermined its own credibility on fiscal responsibility.

"We've had brand erosion by saying one thing and doing another," the governor said.

Sanford to dedicate state-purchased forestland

Gov. Mark Sanford will be in Hampton County tomorrow for the dedication of the Hamilton Ridge Tract,  13,000 acres of forestland environmentalists say is among the most ecologically significant land purchases in state history. The tract was previously owned by International Paper. But the state purchased it through the Department of Natural Resources with help from the Conservation Fund and the Nature Conservancy.

Friday's dedication ceremony will be held at the Webb Wildlife Center.

Second Dem debate set for S.C.

South Carolina's next date in the national political spotlight will be July 23.

The South Carolina Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee will host a presidential debate in Charleston that night. Media sponsors for the debate will be YouTube, Google and CNN. 

Details on time and location will be announced later.

The event will be the third such event this political season. Eight Democrats participated in a debate in Orangeburg televised by MSNBC in April. Ten Republicans took part in a debate televised nationally Tuesday night by Fox News.

The S.C. primaries are set to be among the earliest in the nation. Democrats are set to vote Jan. 29. Republicans tentatively on Feb. 2.

Sanford to sign virtual schools bill

Gov. Mark Sanford will be joined Thursday via Internet simulcast by students from the S.C. Governor's School for Science and Mathematics when he signs a bill that will let students earn credit by taking classes online.

The signing ceremony will demonstrate the technology students will be able to use to expand their access to academic course offerings. The  S.C. Virtual Schools Bill was passed by the General Assembly earlier this month. The bill signing ceremony will be held in the auditorium of the S.C. Statehouse at 9:30 a.m.

Thousands gather for tax reform rally

Thousands who support replacing the federal income tax with a national sales tax have begun gathering at the Carolina Coliseum.

The movement, known as the Fair Tax, would wipe out all federal income taxes and exemptions in exchange for a roughly 23 percent tax on all purchases.

Fair Tax supporters have been the most boisterous group in Columbia so far, with two dozen backers standing at the corner of Assembly and Greene streets holding signs and waving at cars.

John Mitchell drove to Columbia from New Bern, N.C. The 42-year-old "recovering lawyer" said he was motivated to make the five-hour drive because the income tax should be repealed.

"I've never done anything like this before," Mitchell said, standing among people holding "North Carolinians for the Fair Tax" and "Virginians for the Fair Tax" signs. Some also said they drove in from Florida for the event.

"I like politics and I want to be part of something big. This could be the biggest thing in 50 years," he said.

Syndicated radio talk show host Neil Boortz, who wrote a book on the tax, will speak at the rally. A handful or presidential candidates are also expected to stop by. The rally begins at 6:30, but the crowd has been gathering since 3 p.m.

"This is the only issue that could bring a conservative and a liberal to the same quarter," Mitchell said.

Anti-war billboard circling debate site

Opponents of the U.S. role in Iraq have a mobile billboard at the Koger Center.

The red and blue sign reads "Republicans, Mission Accomplished?" on one side. On the other, it says: "Senator McCain, Mission Accomplished?" Americans Against Escalation in Iraq and the South Carolina Young Democrats are sponsoring the 20-foot billboard that is circling the site.

Falwell on minds of GOP candidates

As the Republican presidential candidates arrived at the Koger Center this afternoon, the death of the Rev. Jerry Falwell was a prominent topic of discussion.

U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., called Falwell "a great friend."

"I think he was a wonderful American," Hunter said, adding that Falwell helped him when his first bid for Congress in 1980.

"I've known him over the years, known him as a great voice or values. A real sense of goodness exuded from Jerry Falwell."

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, himself a Baptist minister, said he'd known Falwell since the 1970s.

"A great man, a great friend for America," Huckabee said. "One thing people probably don't know about him was what a great sense of humor he had."

Falwell, Huckabee said, "had a tremendous compassion or people from all walks of life."

More GOP meetings ahead

Once tonight’s debate is over, the real work begins for the national Republican Party.

State party leaders from around the country will remain in Columbia or the next several days for a series of meetings with the Republican National Committee.

RNC co-chairwoman Jo Ann Davidson of Ohio said today that the meetings offer state party leaders a chance to review notes and plan for the 2008 elections.

“We’re not going to spend an awful lot of time looking back,” Davidson said. “We do realize voters sent us a message in 2006 and they want us to return to the core principles of the Republican Party: Lower taxes, more personal responsibility, less government and a strong national defense. (They want us to) concentrate on why people are Republicans.”

Boost in health insurance urged

S.C. lawmakers from both parties urged Congress to re-authorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program and find the $50 billion needed to pay for it.

The program, set to expire September 30, would give the state $795 million and could allow it to move toward insuring 35,000 more children.

Both the state Senate and the House have approved increased spending for children's health insurance in separate versions of the state budget. Lawmakers raised coverage under the program from 150 percent of poverty to 200 percent, meaning families of three making $34,340 or less would be added to the insured rolls of the state. The move insures an additional 65,000 children.

The proposed spending plans each include an additional $22 million to pay for  new coverage. The House version uses one-time funds and adds a co-payment for recipients; the Senate makes the funding permanent. The differences are being resolved in a conference committee.

Fox readies "fly cam" for debate

Fox News co-executive producer Thom Bird pronounced the Koger Center “a beautiful facility” but a few tweaks are needed to accommodate the Republican presidential debate.  Perhaps most interesting is the “fly cam”  that will hover over the audience.

The “fly cam”  might be familiar to football fans who have seen the camera suspended above the playing field.

“You just need four corners to set it up.” Bird said referring to the wires from which the camera hangs.

The lack of aisles in the Koger Center auditorium necessitated the “fly cam” be used in place of  boom-mounted cameras. Fire codes also meant that if equipment occupied  any seats in the auditorium then the entire aisle had to be blocked off.

Fox gives candidates equal treatment

In the name of equity, each of the 10 candidates in tonight's Republican presidential debate will be given his own dressing room and his own same-sized prep area in the “Spin Room.” 

And if any of the dressing rooms have adjoining bathrooms, they will be blocked off  so every candidate has equal access to the same hall bathrooms.

Fox News created for the debates a set that is portable except for the laminate flooring covering the stage area. The laminate, needed to enhance stage lighting, cannot be removed intact.   

The media turnout requires Fox News pitch a tent behind the Koger to accommodate the number regional, national and international  press, television, radio and  Internet representatives.

City gets Columbia ready for its close-up

The City of Columbia has outfitted the areas around the Koger Center for the Arts in festive colors and has prepared information about the city to distribute to visitors.

Other things the city is doing.

• Kiosk at the airport, welcoming the media and giving out information about the city.
• That information includes a special notebook that includes maps of the area, a listing of amenities like the Columbia Art Museum and locations for debate events.
• Red, white and blue banners around the city, welcoming visitors. Also, the trees on Gervais Street have been wrapped in red and white lights.
• Golf carts are available for seniors who may have trouble walking from the parking area to the debate.
• The city has staff who is helping the media find appropriate lo-cations for live shots.

USC students working debate

USC journalism students are getting an up-close look at the preparations for the national debate that will take place on their campus tonight.
“Some of our students are helping Fox News. About nine from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications were hired for three days — Sunday-Tuesday — and are getting a behind-the-scenes look at the preparations,” said Dean Charles Bierbauer. “My class did a walk-through of the Koger Center Monday morning to get a sense of scale and degree of preparation that goes into a debate.”
USC spokesman Russ McKinney said Fox News has asked the university to identify a diverse group of students to appear in the network’s post-debate programming.
“Being associated with a high-profile event like this is always a plus for the university,” McKinney said.

Michelle Obama to speak at Brookland Baptist event

Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, will speak at Brookland Baptist Church in West Columbia on Saturday.

Obama, a native of Chicago, will speak at the church's Women's Day Luncheon. The program begins at 11:30 a.m. She is currently the vice president for community and external affairs for the University of Chicago Hospitals.

Cox bid to stop GOP debate denied

A federal judge Friday denied Illinois Republican John Cox's bid to block Fox News’ and the S.C. GOP’s Tuesday presidential debate in Columbia.

Cox argued in court papers that he'd met criteria set forth by the South Carolina Republican Party and Fox News to be included in the debate. To qualify, candidates had to pay a $25,000 filing fee to the party, which gets the candidate on the 2008 primary ballot, actually be running for president and register at least 1 percent in a Fox poll of South Carolina Republicans.

U.S. District Judge Joe Anderson, in denying the debate, ruled:

The Debate is not a state action, but a private function put on by and produced by private parties. Because it is a "nonpublic" function, the government has no say in who's included.

Fox News has a right to choose who will be in the debate as long as that choice does not discriminate against viewpoints. Furthermore, the debate isn't covered by the same fairness laws as a primary would.

While the record is not clear whether other candidates in the debate me the criteria set forth by the S.C. GOP and FOX News, it is clear that Cox did not meet the requirements.

Ten candidates met requirements set by the state GOP and Fox to participate in the debate, scheduled for 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Koger Center for the Arts.

Columbia attorney Mark Hardee, who represents Cox, said he might appeal to the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. An appeal would be filed Monday, Hardee said, the day before the debate.

Cox takes legal steps to get in GOP debate

An Illinois Republican has asked a judge to block attempts by Fox News and the S.C. GOP to ban him from Tuesday’s presidential debate in Columbia.

John Cox wants to either be allowed to participate in the debate or force the cable network and state party to cancel the event.

Columbia attorney Mark Hardy has filed the injunction on behalf of Cox’s presidential campaign.

Ten candidates met the requirements set by the state GOP and Fox to participate in the debate, scheduled for 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Koger Center for the Arts. To qualify, candidates had to pay a $25,000 filing fee to the party, which gets them on the 2008 primary ballot, and register at least 1 percent in national and state polls.

Cox is the only announced candidate not to meet that threshold. Cox has made unsuccessful runs for U.S. Senate, Congress and the Cook County Recorder of Deeds.

Efforts to reach party leaders and Fox officials were not immediately successful.
More details to come.

Huckabee heading to Darlington

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee will bring his presidential campaign to Darlington Raceway on Sunday.

Huckabee, one of at least 10 Republicans vying for the party’s 2008 nomination for president, will attend the Dodge Avenger 500 at the Pee Dee race track. His campaign schedule says he’ll be there at 2:30 p.m.

He will miss the start of the race, at 7:30 p.m.  Huckabee is going to the beach for a 7 p.m. barbecue in his honor hosted by former first lady Iris Campbell at the exclusive DeBordieu Colony community, located between Georgetown and Pawleys Island.

Fox News outlines GOP debate coverage

The 90-minute presidential debate among Republican candidates begins at 9 p.m. Tuesday, but Fox News coverage is 3 p.m. to midnight live from the Koger Center in Columbia.

The regular Fox affiliates, including WACH in Columbia, will not be carrying  the debates. But WACH expects to have some live post-debate coverage on its 10 p.m. newscast. 

Here's the lineup:

-- Pre-debate coverage begins with “Studio B” at 3 p.m., hosted by Shepard Smith, followed by a 6 p.m. “Special Report” with Brian Wilson. At 7 p.m. Smith is back with the “Fox Report” that leads to the 9 p.m. debate.

-- The 9-10:30 p.m. debate will be moderated by Fox News anchor Brit Hume and will include correspondents Chris Wallace and Wendell Goler.

-- “Hannity & Colmes” will wrap up the debate coverage with a 2 1/2-hour broadcast from the spin room set up at the Koger Center.

Viewers also will be able to submit questions for the debate online via e-mail at debate@foxnews.com.

In addition to the television broadcast, live coverage will be picked on Fox New Radio (FNR) starting at 8 p.m. And Fox-news.com will host a live web stream featuring USC students discussing the candidates and issues before, during and after the debate.

House asks Congress to repeal 'Real ID' law

The House has approved a resolution (H. 3985) asking Congress to repeal new federal identification standards for state-issued driver's licenses and ID cards.

Known as Real ID, the standards are intended to make it more difficult to counterfeit a license.

States across the country are concerned about the cost and burden to meet the standards. In South Carolina, those costs could be $25 million initially and $10 million per year thereafter. Lawmakers also worry the rules could result in long lines and inconvenience for residents.

House overturns Sanford veto of housing bill

The House has overturned Gov. Mark Sanford's veto of a bill allowing local governments to create trust funds to help middle class home buyers purchase homes.

Sanford vetoed the bill (H.3509) because an attorney general opinion said local governments can already create such funds.

Supporters said the funds would help teachers, firefighters and police buy homes in cities where the  affordable housing stock is dwindling.

The vote to overturn the veto was 100-5.

House overrides Sanford veto on athletics spending

The House has overridden Gov. Mark Sanford's veto of a bill allowing USC and Clemson to borrow more money to build athletic facilities.

Sanford vetoed the bill concerned it would result in higher fees for students. The bill (S.451) was previously overridden in the Senate.

The House voted 98-7. A two-thirds majority of the voting is required to override a veto.

McCain picks up local endorsements

Two state lawmakers and 57 local officials have endorsed John McCain’s bid for the Republican presidential nomination.

Reps. Bob Walker of Spartanburg County and Kit Spires of Lexington County endorsed the U.S. senator from Arizona last week. McCain’s campaign on Tuesday released a list of local leaders who have joined his campaign.

They are:
Rock Adams, Spartanburg County Council
Sandra R. Anderson, Greer City Council
Larry Bagwell, Easley City Council
Billy Baldwin, Darlington County Council chair
Wanda Barnette, Travelers Rest City Council
Dale Black, Mauldin City Council
Wesley Blackwell, Darlington County Council vice chair
Rusty Cater, Westminster City Council
Curwood C happell, York County Council
Ron Charlton, Georgetown County Council
Bob Cook, Mauldin City Council
J.C. Cook, III, Clemson City Council
Randy Crenshaw, Pickens County Council
John B. DuBois, Seabrook Island Town Council
Danny Duncan, Westminster City Council
Robert G. Gecy, Simpsonville City Council
Bob Grabowski, Horry County Council
Clyde Hamrick, Barnwell City Council
Bailey Humphries, Cherokee County Council
Johnny W. Jeffcoat, Lexington County Council
Maida Kelley, West Pelzer City Council
Steve S. Kelly Jr., Kershaw County Council chair
Marshall King, West Pelzer City Council
Tony Kobach, Pickens City Council
Billy Love, Gaffney City Council
Marion E. Lyles, Oconee County Council chair
Adrian Martin, Woodford Town Council
Bill McAbee, Anderson County Council vice chair
Walt McJunkin, Liberty City Council
Trelvis Miller, Orangeburg City Council
Reba Moore, Starr City Council
Ronnie O’Kelly, Seneca City Council
Sandra Ragsdale, Pelzer City Council
Barbara Reeder, Gilbert Town Council
Brad Richardson, Johnsonville City Council
Carl Schwartzkopf, Horry County Council
Otis Scott, Williamston City Council
Tom Scruggs, Folly Beach City Council
Alex “Buzz” Shaw, Darlington County Council
Wallace Shaw, Belton City Council
Michael Sheriff, Liberty City Council
Larry Shirley, Charleston City Council
Scott F. Singer, Aiken County Council
Anthony H. Smith, Seneca City Council
Mario Suarez, Oconee County Council
Jack Taylor, Great Falls Town Council
Jerry Taylor, Honea Path City Council
Joe Turner, West Pelzer City Council
Rodney Turner, Lyman City Council
Kim Valentin, Easley City Council
Herbert Vaughn, Greenwood City Council
Jim Waters, Travelers Rest City Council
Dave Watson, Eas ley City Council
Pat Welborn, Pickens City Council
John Wells, Kershaw County Council
Lee Williams, Abbeville City Council
Steve Wilson, Blacksburg Town Council

Confederate holiday makes for short week in the Legislature

It will be a short week for thee General Assembly, as both the House and Senate will not meet on Thursday, Confederate Memorial Day.

The Senate typically takes the holiday off, but this is the first time in recent years that the House will not meet. Confederate Memorial Day is a state holiday, and other government offices will be closed.

Judges begin campaigning today

Campaigning for open judge seats officially begins today, as lawmakers can begin publicly committing to candidates at noon.

The highest profile election will be the one to replace a retiring Supreme Court Justice E.C. Burnett of Spartanburg. The 10-member S.C. Judicial Merit Selection Commission nominated Don Beatty  , 54, of Spartanburg; Kaye Hearn, 57, of Conway; and Bruce Williams, 51, of Columbia as candidates to replace Burnett.

The are several lower court judgeships which will also be contested. A legislative panel has narrowed the candidates for each seat down to three.

House set to take up budget, coastal insurance

House leaders said Tuesday they will likely take up a bill to help coastal homeowners find insurance, as well as voting whether or not to accept the Senate's $7.4 billion budget. The House will also deal with two gubernatorial vetoes, including one expanding the amount of money Clemson and USC can borrow for athletic facilities.

Lawmakers passed a bill that allow Clemson and USC to borrow up to $200 million to build athletic facilities. 

Head of S.C. taxpayer group endorses McCain

The president of the S.C. Taxpayers Association has endorsed U.S. Sen. John McCain’s bid for the White House.

Don Weaver has been president of the group since 1998 and will serve as a national advisor to the Arizona Republican on fiscal issues. He will also chair a new group, Palmetto Taxpayers for McCain.

The endorsement is an important one for McCain, who has come under fire from other limited-government organizations, such as the Club for Growth.

New drivers could get break on traffic offenses

The House has approved a bill that would lower penalties for first-time driving offenses in exchange for taking safety classes.

The bill is targeted toward new teen drivers, and would lower 4-point offenses to 2-point offenses. Drivers in S.C. can get up to 12 points before their driving privileges are suspended.

The program is not mandatory and counties can choose whether or not to grant the option.

Newton, Ceips advance to runoff for Richardson's seat

Weston Newton and Catherine Ceips will advance to a second round of campaigning for the state Senate District 46 seat after no one snagged the majority vote necessary to win Tuesday's Republican primary.

Newton bested three opponents, winning 33.39 percent of the vote in 68 of 70 precincts reporting. Ceips won 31.66 percent.

Former Beaufort County Council chairman Tom Taylor earned 26.52 percent. Rep. Richard Chalk won 8.44 percent.

Newton is Beaufort County Council chairman. Ceips represents Beaufort in the House.

Only 14.6 percent of the 75,171 people registered to vote cast ballots, according to preliminary results. Election officials said turnout was poor even in precincts that traditionally have high showings, including Sun City Hilton Head.

The candidates are running to replace former Sen. Scott Richardson. The Republican gave up his seat to become state insurance commissioner.

Voters had two extra hours to cast ballots following a ruling by the Beaufort County Circuit Court. The request was made by Ceips who said the closing of the damaged J.E. McTeer Bridge made it difficult for some voters to get to the polls.

The runoff will be held May 15. The primary winner will face Democrat Terry Thomas and Libertarian Greg Graziani.

Compromise proposed on DOT reform

Sen. Glenn McConnell said he is trying to head off a filibuster by proposing a compromise on a Department of Transportation reform bill.
McConnell offered an amendment to the bill, different versions of which were approved by the House and Senate. The amendment would separate some functions from the agency's executive director, such as paving, resurfacing and traffic light projects less than $10 million. Those decision would be made by the state highway engineer, who would have a two-year contract.
McConnell said the change would make politically-based decisions less likely.
McConnell worried Democrats might filibuster the House version if it is approved in conference committee.

Group prays for removal of flag

About 40 people met for prayer and communion at the State House's African American monument today, then marched 100 yards away to the Confederate Soldier's Monument.

Led by ministers from area United Methodist churches, the group held a silent protest prayer beneath the Confederate flag, asking that it be removed from the State House grounds.

"Put it in a museum," said Tim McClendon, Columbia district superintendent of the United Methodist Church, which includes Richland, Lexington,Fairfield, and Kershaw counties.

McClendon said the Confederate flag is a divisive symbol whose history can be remembered, but whose heritage should not be passed on. "Some things we don't need to pass on," he said.

The Confederate flag has flown at the soldier's monument since 2000, when legislators yielded to a groundswell of public pressure and removed the flag from atop the State House.

The United Methodist Church played a role in providing pressure in the lead-up to the 2000 flag removal. Rev. John Wesley Culp, pastor of Virginia Wingard Memorial United Methodist Church in Columbia said a resolution calling for complete removal of the flag would be presented to the entire church body at its annual state conference when it meets in June in Florence.

Culp said he was inspired by USC football coach Steve Spurrier's call three weeks ago for the flag's removal. Spurrier's call sparked a renewed interest in the flag, and Culp said he wants to see it grow again to historic levels.

"Injustices still exist," Culp said. "Now hopefully you will see people bringing their churches and congregations down here for services," as a means of consolidating support to take down the flag, he said.

House may hold up work on budget

House Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, and Ways and Means Chairman Dan Cooper, R-Anderson, said they may hold up final budget negotiations in an attempt to get the Senate to deal with Transportation Department reform and a cut in the state income tax rate.

Last year, the House stopped conference committee talks until the Senate approved property tax reform.
Both Harrell and Cooper said DOT reform and the income tax cut are important enough to members to take the action.

The House-passed budget drops the top income tax rate to 6.83 percent, down from 7 percent. The Senate-passed budget leaves the income tax rate alone but trims the sales tax on groceries.

On DOT changes, the governor would appoint the executive director under the House plan. In the Senate plan, a committee of lawmakers would have to approve the person and other policy matters.