Sunday, Nov. 09, 2008

Cap report

• QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington. It began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.”

— President-elect Barack Obama, during his victory speech last week. Obama held a fundraiser on a Charleston porch during the run-up to the S.C. primary.

• THIS WEEK

Meetings this week in state government

WEDNESDAY

1:30 p.m. The Education Finance Act Study Committee will meet in Room 521 of the Blatt Building. The legislative committee, which is studying ways to reform the way the state pays for public schools, will hear presentations from Scott Price of the state School Boards Association, Holley Ulbrich of Clemson University’s Strom Thurmond Institute and Timothy Daniels of the state’s Public Charter School District.

THE BUZZ

• Graham dares not use the ‘R’ word

The Buzz got a letter from U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham before the election and was surprised by what was missing.

Even in ruby red South Carolina, Graham’s mail piece never used the word Republican or featured an elephant. Instead, the mailer touted Graham as “an independent voice.”

Graham took a page from friend John McCain, whose nominating convention in September omitted nearly all references to the word Republican.

Graham’s flier only mentioned Republican President George W. Bush to note that Graham fought the administration to extend health insurance benefits to National Guard members.

Even in South Carolina, Republican seems to have been a dirty word this year.

IS SANFORD’S VETO PEN BROKEN?

Looking for an October Surprise (well, technically November)? How about Gov. Mark Sanford declining to issue a veto of any part of a General Assembly-approved budget?

After Sanford issued 604 vetoes in his first six years in office — including a veto of the entire budget in 2006 — The Buzz is puzzled by Sanford’s restraint. We know those regional economic development groups, paid for on the idea that Sanford’s Commerce Department isn’t getting the job done, drive him crazy.

So why no vetoes? Is this the first sign that Sanford, who can’t run again, is going to mail it in during his final two years in office?

Not likely, and The Buzz hopes it isn’t true.

What else would we write about?