THE BUZZ: State Library scuffle ends – quietly
A controversy involving the State Library ended quietly last week after a House-Senate committee, trying to reach a compromise on the state budget that takes effect July 1, removed a proposal that would have restricted the agency’s virtual library.
State Rep. Leon Stavrinakis, D-Charleston, had proposed prohibiting the State Library from using its state appropriations “to license reference products where the same information is easily found in free online products such as Wikipedia.”
The proposal also would have barred the library from licensing databases of articles from newspapers and magazines, saying those articles almost always can be accessed free online and are discovered easily through internet search engines.
The State Library opposed the proposal.
“Wikipedia is not a valid, professionally reviewed reference site,” acting State Library director Leesa Aiken wrote in a March letter to members of the General Assembly. “Anyone can add content to Wikipedia without proof of authenticity or approval.”
She added that most newspapers and magazines require a subscription for full access.
“The impact, if adopted, will be negative and significant for our teachers, students, and citizens,” Aiken wrote last week to General Assembly members and users of Discus, the state’s virtual library.
“Last year, Discus was used over 42 million times,” Aiken wrote. “The services we provide through Discus are vital and help to provide equality of access to information to all citizens, primarily those most vulnerable without access to smartphones, tablets and other technology devices.”
Reached by The Buzz Friday, Stavrinakis said he wasn’t trying to eliminate the Discus program, adding it was absurd to say he was trying to replace it with Wikipedia.
"I just wanted them to upgrade the technology," Stavrinakis said, adding it is important the state not pay for information that can be accessed for free.
Lourie’s goodbye
State Sen. Joel Lourie, D-Richland, plans to give his farewell speech from the state Senate’s podium at 3 p.m. Wednesday, marking the end of a family political dynasty.
Lourie and his father, the late state Sen. Isadore Lourie, have represented Richland County in the Legislature for nearly five decades.
The Buzz caught up with Lourie to wrap up a few legislative loose ends. For example:
▪ Why did Lourie switch his Senate Finance Committee seat with Judiciary Committee member Karl Allen, D-Greenville, on Thursday?
The move, Lourie said, was so Allen’s constituents would know the Greenville Democrat, who is faces a primary challenger on June 14, is next in line to be on the Senate’s powerful budget-writing panel.
▪ Who is Lourie backing as his successor, state Rep. Mia McLeod, D-Richland, or Republican Susan Brill, a Richland 2 school board member?
Lourie said he wishes both the best. “I don’t think it’s my role to pick my successor.”
▪ Why did Lourie give $250 to Republican state Rep. Jenny Horne’s 1st District GOP primary campaign against incumbent U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford, R-Charleston, a former S.C. governor?
Lourie said he respects Horne as a policymaker, for her views on public education and for her courageous stand last year during the debate over the removal of the Confederate flag from the State House grounds.
State party endorses candidate in 2nd District race
That’s unusual.
The S.C. Democratic Party's executive committee last week endorsed Arik Bjorn in the the 2nd District congressional primary.
Bjorn faces Phil Black in the June 14 Democratic primary. The winner will face U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-Springdale, in November.
“The (S.C. Democratic Party) typically does not endorse candidates during the primary, but this is a unique situation and requires unique and bold action and leadership," said S.C. party chairman Jaime Harrison.
The endorsement resolution states Black “is a ‘fake Democrat’ who ran as a Republican in 2008, 2010 and 2012 and exhibits none of our Democratic values.”
This story was originally published May 28, 2016 at 5:29 PM with the headline "THE BUZZ: State Library scuffle ends – quietly."