S.C. Politics Today: S.C. can say 'no' to health care reform

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"This Senate, the only legislative body in the country with no lady, has just gone on record saying the most notable protection (of women's voting rights) won't be included (in a bill affirming the constitutional rights in the 9th and 10th amendments). We can't affirm that?"

- Sen. Phil Leventis, D-Sumter, during the Senate debate over a resolution aimed at affirming S.C.'s state's rights under the U.S. Constitution's 10th Amendment.

SCHMOOZING

Where and when lawmakers can eat and drink for free today - and who's buying

8-10 a.m. Breakfast, Blatt Building, room 112, by the S.C. High School League

Noon-2 p.m. Lunch, Blatt Building, room 112, by the S.C. Consortium for Gifted Education

CAPITOL CONNECTION

S.C. can say 'no' to health care reform

The Senate stopped its fight over state sovereignty Tuesday, ending more than a week of debate aimed at expressing South Carolina's opposition to federal health care reform.

At the end of the day, lawmakers approved a non-binding resolution that affirmed the state's rights under the 2nd, 9th, 10th, and 14th amendments to the U.S. Constitution, but carries no force of law.

The law was originally aimed at affirming the 10th Amendment, which guarantees states' rights.

"The people of South Carolina have been represented by their leaders, who have taken steps to protect their rights, and hopefully, will send a message to Washington," said Sen. Lee Bright, R-Spartanburg, who sponsored the original 10th Amendment legislation filed last year.

Bright is part of a group of senators who think the federal government has over-reached its authority, and poses a threat to state's rights.

In a surprise move, Bright's resolution was amended to exempt South Carolinians from participation in several facets of national health care reform awaiting passage in Washington, D.C. Ultimately, the resolution will not prevent health care reform from coming to S.C.

"It is my opinion that what we have before us is not worth the paper it is written on," said Sen. Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence, Senate Finance Committee chairman.

The measure, which must go to the House, passed the Senate 31-11, but not before it was expanded by Senate Democrats to include the body's affirmation of the 2nd Amendment, which guarantees the right to keep and bear arms, the 14th Amendment, which guarantees due process rights and assures equal protection under the law for all citizens, the 9th Amendment which acknowledges there are other individual rights guaranteed that are not explicitly in the Constitution.

GANG PREVENTION A MUST, DJJ CHIEF SAYS

The head of juvenile justice in South Carolina says legislators must make gang prevention a budget priority or crime will increase and businesses will stay away.

Director Bill Byars says a lack of prevention programs is giving gangs time to recruit and grow stronger.

A survey released by the state Education Department shows nearly one in 10 high school students are in a gang. Broken down by race and gender, one in five black males said last spring they were in a gang.

Byars said kids join gangs for money and security. But budget cuts forced his agency to close job training and placement programs, and stopped plans for anti-gang teams to work with youth.

Byars is set to make his case Wednesday before a House Ways and Means subcommittee.

- The Associated Press

LEATHERMAN LAUDED FOR ORGAN REGISTRY

In the past year, more than 324,000 South Carolinians have used on online registry, giving their legal consent to become an organ and tissue donor.

To celebrate the success of this online registry, Donate Life South Carolina will hold a celebration Thursday at the State House, honoring Senate Finance chairman Sen. Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence, an outstanding supporter of organ and tissue donation.

Those interested in becoming a donor can register at www.Every11Minutes.org or by obtaining, renewing or changing their S.C. driver's license or I.D. at any S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles office.

Nationally, another person is added to the transplant waiting list every 11 minutes. In 2009, 132 South Carolinians became organ donors at their deaths and helped save 394 lives.

- Gina Smith

HUNTERS DISAGREE ON DOG RESTRICTIONS

Even avid dog-hunting advocates see the need to tamp down rising conflicts between dog hunters and property owners who don't want wayward hunting dogs on their land.

"I'm 100 percent for dog hunting," said Rep. Mac Toole, R-Lexington, during a House Agriculture subcommittee hearing on the issue Tuesday. "However I do feel we do need to put in some kind of limits. . . . For us to do nothing is going to create major issues. There are some tragedies waiting to happen."

Deer hunting with dogs has a deep tradition in South Carolina. The dogs are released and chase deer through property to where hunters are stationed at openings in the woods. But as more hunters have switched to still hunting and more non-hunters have moved into rural areas, dog hunters have caught flak more often when their dogs strayed from their property.

Dog hunters from Sumter, Charleston and Goose Creek said the bill under discussion (H.3723) could punish even the most careful dog hunters. Still hunters and property owners from Sumter, Cayce and Charlotte said the bill doesn't go far enough to protect them from yapping intrusions.

Rep. Harry Ott, D-Calhoun, said the key is for legislation to focus on rogue hunters who set out with no intention of keeping their dogs on their property. "We've got to make this a precision shot at what is clearly broken," said Ott, who favors a similar bill (S.1027) in the Senate.

At the request of House bill sponsor Jeff Duncan, R-Clinton, the subcommittee agreed to strike the language in his bill and replace it with the Senate bill. That calls for punishment of people who hunt with dogs on someone else's property without permission, but not for simply allowing dogs to enter other property.

- Joey Holleman

ONLINE

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