***Palmetto Morning Presented by Jim Dyke & Associates***
THIS FIRST — 37 — That’s the number of counts against the Governor by the Ethics Commission. Sanford released the full document shortly before midnight.
— 18 TIMES in which Sanford is accused of buying or approving the upgrading of coach tickets to first or business class. State law requires that state officials take the lowest cost travel during trips;
— 9 TIMES of improperly using state aircraft for personal or political travel that was not official state business;
— 10 TIMES that he improperly reimbursed himself with campaign cash.
THE STATE: Sanford prosecution rests with McMaster
HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Today or tomorrow (hopefully today), Baby Boling is on the way
***GOT AN EVENT, STORY, BIRTHDAY OR ANYTHING ELSE ON YOUR MIND YOU WANT INCLUDED IN PALMETTO MORNING? CLICK HERE AND TELL US ABOUT IT***
NATIONAL LENS — AFGHANISTAN — “President Obama is expected to announce his Afghanistan policy with an address to the nation next Tuesday, Dec. 1, likely in prime time, officials told Politico. Obama held his ninth formal Afghanistan strategy session in the Situation Room on Monday night. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said in a statement: ‘After completing a rigorous final meeting, President Obama has the information he wants and needs to make his decision and he will announce that decision within days.’ The decision is shaping up as one of the most momentous of Obama’s presidency, coming as the public is turning negative toward the war effort and his fellow Democrats are growing increasingly vocal in their opposition to a troop buildup in Afghanistan. Obama’s decisions about his strategy are not known. But administration officials expect him to announce an increase of 20,000 to 40,000 additional troops in Afghanistan, a victory for his commander, Gen. Stanley McChrystal.”
EXTRAVA-GUN-ZA! — New York is a little gun-shy about South Carolina’s tax holiday on firearms.
RAINING PERVERTS — Henry McMaster gets another one.
MONEY & MOUTH — “House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., spoke Monday to the YWCA of the Upper Lowlands Inc. and praised the Sumter-based organization’s work in helping victims of domestic violence. A Sumter native, Clyburn also announced that in the wake of budget cuts from the state Department of Health and Environmental Control, which would have wiped out the YWCA’s sexual assault program this year, he would make up the difference. Clyburn then presented representatives with a check for $5,000. ‘You don’t have time to write a grant for federal money,” he said, “and you probably wouldn’t get it anyway because of the cuts from DHEC.’” (Sumter Item)
SIKE! — “Officials from U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett’s office said today that they erred in saying the South Anderson post office branch had been spared from closing. The future of the branch remains undecided. The U.S. Postal Service is making cuts nationwide because of a $7.1 billion shortfall in fiscal year 2009, said officials from the Greater South Carolina District of the service. The closing of the South Anderson branch would save the postal service $641,000 over the next 10 years.” (Anderson Independent-Mail)
***SIGN UP NOW TO HAVE PALMETTO MORNING DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX EACH MORNING***
2012 WATCH — “Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum doesn’t appear to be shy about his 2012 intentions,” according to the CNN Political Ticker. “The Republican, who was thumped by 18 points in his 2006 re-election bid … is headed to another early primary state: South Carolina.
Santorum will campaign for Republican gubernatorial candidate Gresham Barrett in Bluffton, Spartanburg and Greenville on December 8 and 9. Barrett, currently a member of Congress, is one of five candidates seeking the GOP nomination for governor.”
BLOCKIN’ UP THE SCENERY, BREAKIN’ MY MIND — “The city of Orangeburg has filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit alleging it violated a resident’s constitutional free speech rights when it removed a political sign from her Custer Court yard,” reports the Orangeburg Times & Democrat. “She placed a sign supporting Bill Connor for lieutenant governor between her fence and trees next to Custer Court in April. The city sent All a letter saying political signs can only be displayed 30 days prior to an election. It also said signs cannot be displayed on the road right-of-way and no closer than 5 feet from the right-of-way. Code enforcement officials removed the sign in early May.”
VIEWPOINT — WHERE CREDIT IS DUE — Dr. Garrison Walters, Executive Director of the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, writes in the Post & Courier, “A number of state and local political leaders are being praised, and deservedly so, for their role in bringing Boeing’s second 787 Dreamliner production line to South Carolina. I can’t mention all the names here, but they did some amazing work to attract such a highly sought after business. But I would like to call attention to one of the key elements of our success in securing Boeing — our technical colleges. The exceptional efforts of Trident Technical College led by its outstanding president, Dr. Mary Thornley, and her superb staff, as well as those of Dr. Barry Russell, South Carolina Technical College System president, and the system’s top-notch workforce training program, readySC, are worth noting. Without their exceptional work we might not be celebrating today. Attracting high technology companies in today’s ultra-competitive environment is a complex and demanding game. Various kinds of incentives, including tax adjustments and infrastructure investments are expected — if you don’t offer them you’re not going to be a player. Again, well-deserved kudos to our state’s leaders. But let’s add Mary Thornley and Barry Russell and their staffs to the list of those we recognize. And let’s take the larger view and put higher education at the top of the list when we think about economic development. The world has changed. Well- paying, stable jobs for unskilled high school grads are gone and not coming back. The workforce of today needs post-secondary training, or an associate degree or a baccalaureate or higher. The best economic development incentive is a highly educated workforce.”
GREENWOOD — SPF Announces Expansion and 50 New Jobs
LANDRUM — Resident hits jackpot
ORANGEBURG — Walk to highlight HIV/AIDS education, promote awareness
GREENWOOD — PTC to build training facility for weatherization
STATEWIDE — Survey: S.C. high in obesity, diabetes
NORTH MYRTLE — Four arrested in connection with narcotics sales
STATEWIDE — Layaway helps penny pinchers in S.C.
ENERGIZED — “The U.S. Energy Department said Monday that a site on the former Charleston Naval Base in North Charleston would become a test-bed for the world’s largest offshore wind turbines, a move that lawmakers said may turn out to be a Boeing-size economic development prize. A consortium led by Clemson University’s Restoration Institute beat proposals and aggressive lobbying efforts by Pennsylvania, Michigan and several other states to land a $45 million federal grant to jump-start the project. The $45 million federal grant is part of a $98 million proposal organized by Clemson and other state agencies. Clemson officials described the project as the largest single research effort in the university’s history. In the short term, the Restoration Institute estimates the project will create at least 113 construction jobs and 21 full-time jobs. But officials said the most significant impact of the facility will be as a powerful jobs magnet. ‘This is of tremendous significance to our state,” said state Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Bonneau, one of several lawmakers who helped Clemson put the proposal together. Citing Energy Department figures, Grooms said, “anyone who develops an offshore wind turbine cluster could be the beneficiary of 20,000 jobs, and we are better suited than any other state.’”
WHAT CHU DOING, SANFORD? — “U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu and South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford are among guests scheduled to attend a groundbreaking Monday for a $795 million biomass steam-generating station at Savannah River Site.”
FINALLY THIS — And for those that missed it yesterday – Paula Dean took a ham to the face.
THAT’S IT FOR THIS MORNING – STAY TUNED ON TWITTER OR FACEBOOK FOR UPDATES THAT JUST CAN’T WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW. HAVE A GOOD ONE!
