S.C. Politics Today | Graham says progress is evident in Iraq

Iraqis are moving closer to establishing a national government, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham said Wednesday.

Graham, who visited Iraq last week, told The State that Iraqis are beginning to set aside sectarian differences in preparation for October elections.

The key, Graham said, is a proposal to divide oil revenues among all regions of the country.

The turnaround, Graham said, is because of the “surge” strategy of adding more troops in Iraq just more than a year ago. Since then, Graham said, U.S. and Iraqi forces have regained control of some regions of the country.

Graham said he also supported a national energy policy bill up for debate in the U.S. Senate.

The bill was introduced by U.S. Sen. John McCain, a close Graham ally. Graham said the bill would help the United States move toward cleaner energy sources. The bill, he said, needs to give more incentives to nuclear power.

Graham also doubted that a South Carolinian would be chosen as presumptive GOP nominee McCain’s vice president.

“I don’t see any of us in South Carolina bringing a whole lot of value to the ticket,” Graham said. More likely, he said, would be a choice boosting national-security credentials or one from a region that could win McCain more votes.

— John O’Connor

SCHMOOZING

Where and when lawmakers can eat and drink for free today — and who’s buying.

8-10 a.m.: Breakfast by the S.C. Vocational Rehabilitation Association, Blatt Building, Room 112

ONLINE

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CAPITOL CONNECTION

• WiMax panel appoints study group

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

The study could play a role in determining whether South Carolina will pursue a license agreement with a wireless telecommunications company to provide WiMax, the next generation of wireless Internet, to the entire state.

Connected Nation’s report came out as Sen. Luke Rankin’s Senate panel approved a bill that puts together a study committee to decide how to use a South Carolina ETV radio frequency it no longer needs to carry educational programming. ETV wants to provide WiMax. Rankin, an Horry Republican, said the state needs to study its options before committing to a plan.

HELPING DROPOUTS

A proposed pilot program that allows teenagers who don’t expect to graduate to take courses that will prepare them for the high school equivalency test is heading to the Senate floor.

The legislation approved Wednesday by the Senate Education Committee would create a trial GED program for students 16 to 19.

TEEN DRIVERS

The state’s youngest drivers would have to go through more training before getting a regular license under a bill that has won approval in a Senate panel.

Sen. Joel Lourie, D-Richland, said requiring four hours of private driver training will help reduce the number of teenage drivers involved in accidents. He says statistics show drivers between 16 and 24 are involved in 28 percent of accidents.

BUILDING ‘GREEN’

S.C. home builders would get a $1,000 credit against their state income taxes for building affordable homes at all price levels that consume less energy, under joint House and Senate bills introduced Wednesday.

The Energy Independence and Sustainable Homes Act is part of a developing package of bills aimed at improving energy-efficiency standards in S.C. homes, which experts say will reduce energy and water usage, among other benefits.

Rep. Nikki Haley, R-Lexington, introduced the House measure.

WATER WITHDRAWAL

A Senate committee drew closer to agreement Wednesday on a key measure that will balance how water is withdrawn from the state’s rivers and lakes, but it failed to give the measure its final OK.

Trying to strike an accord between the water needs of business and industry along with those of recreation enthusiasts, farmers and environmental preservationists, the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee settled in principle on establishing an 11-member advisory council to define individual flow levels for each of the state’s unregulated waterways.

The bill would for the first time require businesses to obtain permits to withdraw water from the state’s waterways.

Contributing: Staff writers Gina Smith, Roddie Burris and The Associated Press