McConnell: Bill breaks back of career criminals

Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell has released a video statement urging the House to agree to a Senate-authored bill that would allow police to search anyone on probation, parole or other supervised release without a warrant.

Furman professor a GOP candidate for governor

The first Republican has entered the GOP gubernatorial field, with Furman University political scientist Brent Nelsen annoucing he will file paperwork to start raising money tomorrow.

Nelsen is chairman of Furnan's political science department and said  he will bring an outsider's perspective to Columbia.

Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer also inched closer to an official annoucement, saying Thursday he will "probably" run, but will wait until this summer to decide.The first Republican has entered the GOP gubernatorial field, with Furman University political scientist Brent Nelson annoucing he will file paperwork to start raising money tomorrow.

Nelsen is chairman of Furnan's political science department and said he will bring an outsider's perspective to Columbia.

House to let county government trim salaries

County council members may soon be able to slash their salaries without waiting until the next fiscal year. The House has given key approval to a bill that will allow councils to cut their salaries immediately after passing an ordinance. A couple of Democrats including Rep. Jimmy Bales ofRichland County unsuccessfully argued that county councils already have a way to cut their salaries. After one more routine vote the bill moves to the Senate.

Cheap divorces targeted by House bill

The House has given key approval to a bill prohibiting people who are not licensed lawyers from practicing law, meaning businesses that advertise quick, cheap divorces could be out of business. Rep. Jim Harrison, R-Richland, said the bill is aimed at those businesses that advertise in the phone book they'll handle divorce cases for $100 but are not licensed attorneys.

The bill does not affect people who choose to represent themselves in court.

Senate approves warrantless convict search

The state Senate approved a bill Tuesday that allows convicted criminals to be searched with or without a warrant as a condition of their release on parole or furlough.

The bill, approved on the second of three required readings, is designed to reduce recidivism among convicts while protecting the public, supporters said. Third reading is considered a formality.

The bill will go to the S.C. House next.

- from Staff Reports

Democrats take aim at GOP state budget proposal

House Democrats ripped the state budget under consideration by House Republicans today and promised they would not go easily into the night on other legislation set for debate this week on the House floor.

"We will have a (budget) plan ready by March 10," said Rep. Harry Ott, D-Calhoun, the Democrats' leader.

The plan being proposed by the House raises taxes on local governments by $122 million in unfunded mandates, Ott said, which county and municipal governments are not aware of yet.

"They're saying we won't raise taxes, but we will send a bill to local governments so they will have to raise taxes," Ott said.

Others agreed.

"This bill sucks," said Rep. Ted Vick, D-Chesterfield. "If you haven't heard from your local leaders yet, you will."

Ott said Republicans are casting the budget provisions as filling an emergency in state government, while ignoring that they caused the emergency by overspending.

On the House floor this week, lawmakers are expected to debate an abortion bill and a new voter ID bill, requiring a state-issued photo identification.

Democrats say they are stoked for a fight on voter identification, which they said is an attempt at voter suppression, targeted mainly at Democrats.

Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, said she is pushing House Speaker Bobby Harrell to consider infusing a standing education infrastructure bill with federal stimulus money to assist underfunded S.C. Schools such as the J.V. Martin Junior High in Dillon, which is more than 100 years old and and crumbling physically.

A student from the school, Ty'Sheoma Bethea, will be in Washington, D.C., tonight as a guest of President Barack Obama when he addresses the nation before a joint session of Congress.

In other developments, the House is mourning the deaths of family members of two of its members, Rep. Herb Kirsch, whose wife, Suzanne S. Kirsch, will be eulogized Wednesday in Clover, and the sister of Rep. Jerry Govan, D-Orangeburg.

The House will adjourn early Wednesday to allow members to attend the Kirsch funeral, Harrell said.

Progress on bill to ease restrictions for driving teens

Teens with restricted licenses may soon get a little more freedom.

A bill that received key approval from the House today would allow 16-year-olds with such licenses to drive to religious events.

Currently, licensees can only drive to work and vocational training during daylight hours.

The bill needs one more routine vote from House lawmakers before heading to the Senate.

Bill to boost lawyer access to jailed clients clears hurdle

The House has given key approval to a bill, requiring jails and detention centers to give attorneys daily access to their clients from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Rep. Jim Harrison, R-Richland, said the bill should not increase jail costs.

"What we have here is some detention centers that are absolutely denying access to clients," Harrision said.

After one more routine vote, the bill will move to the Senate.

Sanford doesn't rule out presidential run when asked

Gov. Mark Sanford did not rule out a run for president or vice president during an appearance on FOX News this morning.

Sanford appeared on a panel with three other governors to discuss the federal stimulus package. The panelists were asked by moderator Chris Wallace on "Fox News Sunday" to raise their hand if he had no plans of running for president or vice president in 2012. Neither Sanford nor Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a fellow Republican, raised his hand.

S.C. revenues will continue slide, report says

The Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute released a timely report for South Carolina lawmakers yesterday, one that concludes that state tax revenues are not likely to return to pre-recession levels until after the 2011-2012 fiscal year when federal stimulus money runs out.

The draft budget approved by the House yesterday uses $1 billion in federal aid to avoid cuts to education, colleges and health care.

“The economic and revenue picture for states is uncertain,” researcher Donald J. Boyd wrote. “Under any likely scenario, states will face significant budget problems when the new federal aid runs out.”