Worries grow about payday lending restrictions

Lawmakers said Tuesday they're concerned a Senate payday lending bill is being killed in a House subcommittee. During a news conference today, a group of senators and House members, Democrats and Republicans, called on the House leadership to vote on the Senate-passed payday lending bill that would cap the interest the companies are allowed to charge and also limit the number of loans a consumer can have outstanding at any time.

DeMint takes aim at unions

 

U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint wants to protect workers' rights to secret ballot in union elections and to make sure workers can opt of union membership, according to amendements he's offering to a Senate bill on monopoly bargaining.

Here's the release from DeMint's office.

Broadband bill delayed

A bill that would take state-owned broadcast licenses to create a wireless Internet cloud across South Carolina has been delayed in the House.

The bill would create study committee that would explore leasing the licenses, owned by ETV, to a telecommunications company that can create a statewide Wi-Max network.

Wi-Max technology is considered by many industry experts to be the next generation of Internet technology, that some estimate would be 10 times faster than high-speed wired Internet connections.

ETV would like the network to be available to K-12 schools, colleges and other research institutions.

Filibuster to increase tourism spending ends

Advocates of increasing money for tourism advertising have abandoned a filibuster of the budget.

Sen. Luke Rankin, R-Horry, led the debate, arguing spending on tourism could spur state revenue growth. Others argued that the current weak dollar gave the state an opportunity to tap new visitors in Europe and Canada.

But in the end, Rankin admitted that the money was not available in a year when state agencies have cut budgets and services.

Study says broadband access widespread in S.C.

About 94 percent of S.C. households have access to broadband technology. That's the result of a study conducted by the national nonprofit, Connected Nation, for a Senate panel.

Gas tax hike proposed in the House

A House lawmaker has proposed raising the state's gas tax by a nickle a gallon, in exchange for eliminating the sales tax on cars.
The proposal was offered by Rep. Rex Rice during debate on a bill to use some car sales tax revenue to pay for road improvements.
The House Ways and Means committee adjourned without voting on the proposal. They will take it up again later today.

Senate holds off bid to ban payday lending

Senators rejected a bill that would ban payday lending and are now working on a compromise to regulate the industry.

Lawmakers opposing a ban won by five votes.

The Senate is now compromising on proposed caps on the amount payday lenders and a limit to the number of payday loans a consumer can take.

Sen. Vincent Sheheen, D-Kershaw, argued for a seven-day cooling off period whereby a consumer would not be able to take on additional payday loans.

Sheheen said if the industry is there for financial emergencies, then it potentially  provides a valuable service. But he thinks many consumers continue to take out loans and get mired in a cycle of debt.

"People don't need to keep getting loans week after week," Sheheen said.

Payday lending in crosshairs of Hawkins, Senate

The state Senate is taking up payday lending reform, which would put caps on how much the industry can charge for loans and how many loans a consumer can assume at once.

Spartanburg Republican Sen. John Hawkins, an attorney who is suing the industry on behalf of consumers, has taken the floor, arguing the loans enslave borrowers in a cycle of debt.

Hawkins said previous attempts at regulating the industry have been watered down. Hawkins said Tuesday he would vote to ban the industry if given the opportunity, not regulate it. While at the podium, Hawkins issued this challenge to his fellow lawmakers and the lobbyists who are representing the payday lending industry.

"Come up and explain how 400 percent interest is ever right," said Hawkins said.

1,200 Greenville jobs could be saved with vote

The State Budget and Control Board agreed to borrow $1.9 million from the state Energy Office to help save 1,200 jobs in Greenville County.

By a 3-1 vote, the board agreed to borrow the money, along with a $1 million grant from the Commerce Department, to make improvements to the Donaldson Center, which major tenant Lockheed Martin has asked for as it negotiates a new lease.

Gov. Mark Sanford voted against the project, arguing the state should use cash from the competitive grants program to pay for the project rather than borrow money in a tight budget year.

House Ways and Means Chairman Dan Cooper, R-Anderson, sponsored the resolution and joined with Senate Finance Chairman Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence, and Treasurer Converse Chellis to approve the plan. Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom, who participated via phone, did not vote.

The resolution requires the General Assembly to repay the loan next year.

Sanford, delegation in China on business

Gov. Mark Sanford and a delegation of South Carolina business leaders and legislators are leaving today for Dalian, China to attend  the World Economic Forum's inaugural "New Champions" meeting.

The governor's office, in a news release, said the Dalian conference presents a unique opportunity for the state, given that Gov. Sanford was the only U.S. governor invited to attend.

Sanford, according to the release, will be joined by:

• Marty Brown, President of Colite International;
• Mike Johnson, President of Cox Industries;
• Forester Adams, President of Joseph Walker & Co;
• Derick Close, President and CEO of Creative Products Group for Springs Industries;
• Guerry Green, President Screen Tight;
• O.L. Thompson, President of O.L. Thompson Construction and Chairman of Santee Cooper.

State Reps. Mick Mulvaney and Nikki Haley and Sen. Greg Ryberg are also traveling with Sanford, representing the General Assembly.

"I think attending this conference is a real compliment to some of the people who've worked hard on behalf of economic development over the years in this state," Gov. Sanford said in the news release. "In the global competition for jobs and investment, South Carolina - like these private sector companies - has both some real challenges and opportunities in what lies ahead in today's world.

"We believe this trip will result in some real dividends for our state down the road, both as we learn more about how to compete in this new world and in building relationships with global business leaders."

The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization, best known for its Davos meeting, which is held each March in Davos, Switzerland.  The attendees are the CEO's of the world's top 1200 companies.

Blue law veto upheld by House

Retailers in most S.C. counties will continue to be restricted from either selling certain goods or opening before 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.

The House upheld a veto by Gov. Mark Sanford of a budget item that would have relaxed the state's blue laws.

Lexington Rep. Ted Pitts had inserted the item in the budget.  The county's retailers, Pitts argued, were at a disadvantage because Richland County retailers are not bound by blue laws.

Sanford vetoed the measure because he said he thinks relaxing the  laws would interfere with employees  attending church services. 

Sanford signs workers' compensation bill

Gov. Mark Sanford today signed workers' compensation reform , S.332, that will lower premiums for business and disqualify certain ailments from coverage.

Workers' compensation reform has been a top priority for Gov. Sanford this year.

"We believe this bill will have a material impact in improving our workers' compensation system, a system that had unfortunately become too subjective, was hurting our small businesses' ability to compete, and was driving up costs for the average South Carolinian," Sanford said in a news release. "I'd give real credit to many of the business groups in our state and to reform-minded legislators who pushed for these changes, because the unfortunate reality is that one of the main impediments to getting this bill passed sooner were some of the lawyer-legislators who vote on these reforms and make millions from the current system. Even though this bill represents a big step forward, it does fall short on the idea of making workers' compensation awards based upon objective standards, something we continue to believe needs to be addressed."

The bill will:

• make winning "repetitive trauma" claims tougher by limiting claims to the injury suffered by the employee and not future injuries that might result
• require employees to provide medical expert testimony in medically complex cases
  
• make it tougher for workers with back injuries to make  disability claims.

Sanford cites numbers which say South Carolina's workers' comp premiums grew more than 18 percent, the second-fastest growth rate in the nation.

Blue laws could be relaxed in bigger counties

South Carolina's blue laws restricting the times when retail business can operate on Sundays could be repealed in all but the smallest counties if the House passes the conference version of the state budget today.

A proviso offered by Lexington Republican Rep. Ted Pitts drastically lowers for one year the threshold communities would have to meet in order to ignore the longstanding, restrictive regulations regarding Sunday retail sales. Under the blue laws, general merchandisers like department stores cannot do business before 1:30 p.m.

Right now, the blue laws can be ignored in communities that take in more than $900,000 a year in accommodations sales taxes. Under the Pitts proviso, the threshold at which businesses may ignore the regulations is lowered to $900.

"It was time something be done," said Pitts, who pointed out that businesses in Lexington County regularly lose money to businesses in neighboring Richland County, where blue laws are not in effect.

The proviso would not affect conscientious objectors -- those who don't work on Sundays because of religious beliefs, Pitts said.

Not everyone is on board with the proposed changes, however, and some already are looking to the governor for a veto.

"We are looking into this," said Sen. Harvey Peeler, R-Cherokee. "Not everyone is of the mind this applies to the whole state."

The Senate approved the measure as part of the budget Wednesday.

Senate votes to override Sanford veto of hydrogen bill

The Senate voted 39-2 today to override Gov. Mark Sanford's veto of  bill, S.243, which establishes South Carolina as a research center for hydrogen technology.

"I sincerely do not understand why the governor vetoed the hydrogen bill," said Lexington Sen. Nikki Setzler. "This is about the future of South Carolina - what is best for South Carolina." The governor raised concerns about revenue expenditures in his veto of the bill.

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.

Liquor making cheaper under House bill

The House has approved a bill that lowers the permit price for alcohol manufacturer's to $1,000 from $50,000. Supporters said the change was needed to allow state wineries to brew their own vodka for use in a product that mixes the two drinks. Currently, the wineries must import the vodka to make the beverage.

House votes down opposition to radio merger

The House this afternoon rejected a symbolic bill asking the federal goverment to prevent a merger of two satelite radio companies.

The resolution (H. 3806) would oppose the joining of Sirius and XM into one company. Federal regulators are considering the deal now.

The measure was voted down on a voice vote. A similar bill has been introduced in the Senate.

Sanford gets gifts at cabinet meeting

Gov. Mark Sanford received two gifts at his cabinet meeting this morning: a bag of Starbucks coffee and a water bottle with the Google logo.

The gifts, from Commerce Secretary Joe Taylor, celebrated two big job announcements this week.

Google announced a data center in Dorchester County, while Starbucks said it would open its fifth roasting plant in Calhoun County.

"It's been a good week," Taylor said of the 2,000 jobs announced.

Sanford also criticized Senate budget plans at the meeting.

Sanford asked the Senate to limit new spending, include an income tax cut and eliminate a legislative grants program.

Panel rejects bill to keep Barnwell dump open

A bill to keep the Barnwell County low-level nuclear waste dump open to the rest of the country past July 2008 is effectively dead today.

The House Agriculture and Environmental Affairs Committee voted 16-0 to kill the bill. Two members, including committee chairman Bill Witherspoon, didn't vote.

Witherspoon, who sponsored the measure, said he would have preferred that the site stay open but he called today's vote "democracy in action."

The possible lack of space was the main issue cited by members voting against the bill.

The measure could be resurrected later this year or in 2008, which is the second year of this two-year legislative session.

Sanford to discuss small-business health care

Legislative changes to improve small businesses' access to health care will be outlined Wednesday by Gov. Mark Sanford and lawmakers.

Sanford pledged to push the issue in his State of the State address.

Legislative leaders and Sanford are planning an afternoon press conference to discuss details.

200 turn out for Barnwell meeting

About 200 people are in attendance at a House subcommittee meeting this afternoon where members will decide whether to advance a bill to keep the Barnwell nuclear waste dump open to the nation past July 2008.

There were so many people on both sides of the issue that officials had to move the meeting to a larger room.

At least 120 pro-Barnwell people came for the meeting, sporting green and yellow stickers with the saying "I support Barnwell."

The anti-Barnwell crowd wore red and white stickers reading "Dump the bill."

Twenty-three people signed up to speak before the subcommittee.

Former Greenpeace leader Patrick Moore, now chairman of Greenspirit Strategies, told representatives the landfill poses no threat to the community.

Former Rep. Harriett Keyserling, R-Beaufort, spoke against the bill and said the state should keep its word to shut the dump to all but three states in 2008.

Ben Johnson, chairman of the Atlantic Compact that represents the three states, spoke against the bill. He raised concerns about whether there was going to be enough room in the landfill for the three states who were promised space after next summer's scheduled closing.

Sanford appoints 9 to climate panel

Gov. Mark Sanford is naming nine members to his Climate, Energy and Commerce Advisory Committee, which will review possible climate change effects in South Carolina and formulate strategies to address those changes going forward.

Sanford named the following people to the group, which will be expanded to include representatives from various stake-holding groups:

• Lonnie Carter, Moncks Corner, president and CEO of Santee Cooper
• Bill Timmerman, Columbia, CEO of SCANA
• Dana Beach, Charleston, executive director of the Coastal Conservation League
• Reggie Gallant, Columbia, Southern Zone vice president of State Farm
• Barry Falin, Columbia, vice president and general manager for Carolina Operations of Voridian
• Dr. Marcus Newberry, Greenville, former dean of the MUSC College of Medicine
• Ladd Hall, Berkeley, vice president and general manager of Nucor Steel
• Rep. Ben Hagood, R-Sullivans Island
• Sen. John Courson, R-Columbia

Richardson confirmed S.C. Insurance director

The Senate today confirmed Scott Richardson as S.C. Insurance Department director.

Richardson, himself a state senator from Hilton Head Island, had to go through the confirmation process after being nominated to the post by Republican Gov. Mark Sanford.

Richardson replaces Eleanor Kitzman, who resigned this month. She had held the post since 2005.

Rankin questions Sanford's insurance oversight

Sen. Luke Rankin, R-Horry, blasted Gov. Mark Sanford's oversight of the insurance industry, saying politics had led to rising rates and canceled coastal homeowner's policies.

Appearing on Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell's weekly S.C. ETV news conference, Rankin said the lack of oversight had led companies to reap $50 million in inflated overhead costs from S.C. customers.

Rankin wants to make the insurance director a statewide elected position.

House Dems propose cigarette tax hike

House Democrats are unveiling their plan to raise cigarette taxes in order to pay for more small business health insurance.

The proposal, the Democrats' top agenda item, is similar to a 2006 plan.

The bill would raise the nation's lowest cigarette tax by 30 cents per pack, using most of the $107 million raised to expand insurance for 173,000 workers.

A second part of the plan would spend $20 million to $28 million to increase the number of poor children covered by Medicaid.

Graham wants trade prosecutor

U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham and Debbie Stabenow want to create a post for a federal prosecutor to bring cases to the World Trade Organization against other countries accused of breaking international trade accords.

The bill introduced today by Graham, R-S.C., and Stabenow, D-Mich., would establish a new enforcement division within the office of the U.S. trade representative.

Graham says currency manipulation by the Chinese government is enabling companies there to sell artificially cheap products in the United States.

"My message is that trade, to be free, has to be fair," he said. "As we've seen these trade agreements be negotiated and implemented, it seems to be one-sided."

Graham, Democrats move federal labor legislation

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and two Democratic senators are introducing a bill aimed at preventing American companies from selling goods produced with forced labor or in a broad range of inhumane conditions.

Graham, R-S.C., and Sens. Byron Dorgan of North Dakota and Sherwood Brown of Ohio say their measure would allow U.S. firms to sue competitors that they believe are benefiting from "sweatshop" labor abroad.

"Believe it or not, ladies and gentlemen, there is a world out there where people are exploited - sometimes literally to the point of death - just to make a buck," Graham said at a Capitol Hill news conference today.

Dorgan introduced similar legislation last year, but it gained only five cosponsors, all Democrats, and went no where in a GOP-controlled Congress.

Dorgan said the measure's prospects are better with Graham on board and with Democrats running Congress. Graham is confident other Republicans will back the bill.

Bill would cap payday loan interest rates

A bill to limit payday loans has been filed in the S.C. House with five Republicans and 19 Democrats as sponsors.

The bill would cap the annual interest rate at 36 percent; allow a $5 administrative fee per loan; and restrict lenders from having more than one loan at time with any customer.

State law now allows lenders to charge $15 for every $100 on the two-week loans, which equates to an annual percentage rate of 391 percent.

Rep. Alan Clemmons, R-Horry, the bill's chief sponsor, said the interest rates are too high and snare workers in a cycle of debt. Payday lenders say most borrowers pay off their loans and use them responsibly.

S.C. House Democrats set priorities

S.C. House Democrats say their No. 1 priority this year is health insurance for the state's 150,000 uninsured children, even if there's no increase in the state's lowest-in-the-nation cigarette tax.

"I don't see why we can't do this," said House Minority Leader Harry Ott, D-Calhoun. "North Carolina has done it. Georgia has done it. But there is a real reluctance on the part of Republicans to raise spending on Medicaid."

Democrats say a $2O million investment in the state's Children's Health Insurance Program program would draw down $80 million in federal funds and eliminate the disparity in health care to uninsured children.

The caucus named a committee to work with new state Education Superintendent Jim Rex to formulate an education agenda.

Democrats also vowed to push legislation targeting: the fast-rising costs of workers' compensation insurance premiums; predatory lending; and the spiraling costs of homeowners insurance on the coast. They plan to rejuvenate the rural caucus, which will concentrate on improving health care, jobs and education in small-town South Carolina.

Sanford wants $13M more for tourism marketing

Gov. Mark Sanford has proposed adding more than $13 million to the state budget to entice people to visit South Carolina.
Tourism is the state’s largest industry, contributing an estimated $10.9 billion to the state economy each year. A consultant’s report recently concluded the state could quadruple that amount by 2020 with improved marketing.
The additional funds, which are recurring, would be for advertising.
"Whether it's with tourism or manufacturing," Sanford said, "we've always believed that when it come(s) to economic development we have to invest our limited dollars in places where they'll have the greatest impact - and based on what this report has laid out, we believe direct marketing is one of those places."
Sanford will send his spending plan to legislators, who will draft their own budget when they return to the State House next month.

$15M would go to companies for hydrogen research

S.C. House Speaker Bobby Harrell is proposing $15 million in state grants and tax credits to companies that partner with South Carolina-based research institutions and conduct hydrogen fuels research in the state.

The Charleston Republican said today the incentives are needed to help make South Carolina a leader in alternative fuels technology, which he said could become a major creator of jobs in the coming decades.

The South Carolina Hydrogen Infrastructure Development Fund would be available to private companies that work with the University of South Carolina, Clemson University, South Carolina State University and the Savannah River National Laboratory, Harrell said, and the institutions would have a voice in who receives the financial incentives.

The fund, spread over three years, is front-loaded to encourage companies to commit to research partnerships sooner rather than later. It would be funded at $7 million in 2007-08; $5 million for 2008-09; and $3 million in 2009-210. Funds unspent by June 30, 2012, would relapse to the state under Harrell’s proposal.

The legislation also will require state agencies to consider purchasing equipment and machinery operated by hydrogen fuel cells. The proposal provides for a sales tax exemption for equipment or machinery operated by or used to distribute hydrogen fuel cells.