***Palmetto Morning Presented by Jim Dyke & Associates***
THIS FIRST — 12:01 AM — “Healthcare reform entered the inevitability stage in the Senate during the wee hours of Monday morning as Democrats came together on a party-line vote to all but lock in passage of the legislation on Christmas Eve,” reports The Hill. “Though only a procedural vote, the 60-40 tally represents the first opportunity for Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to demonstrate the he united his entire caucus of 58 Democrats and two independents in advancing President Barack Obama’s signature domestic policy initiative.”
FLOOR LOG — “The Senate reconvened at 12:01 AM and proceeded with a legislative Session. H.R. 3590 (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act). … Reid amend #3276 (Manager’s Amendment). Motion to invoke cloture on the amendment. Yeas and nays were ordered. The Motion to invoke cloture was agreed to by a vote of 60 – 40. … The Senate adjourned at 1:34 AM.”
SEEDY — “U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham said Sunday he wants South Carolina’s top prosecutor to investigate a deal that helped secure the 60th vote needed to pass a Democratic health care bill through the Senate.” The Greenville News says Graham was “blasting Senate Democrats for what he called ‘backroom deals that amount to bribes,’” and “found much to complain about in their health care bill. He was particularly irked that the senator who provided that final vote to head off a Republican filibuster, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, cut a deal in which the federal government pays his state’s share of the cost for new Medicaid recipients.”
WHY DO OUR AZALEAS STILL HAVE BLOOMS? Today is the first day of winter. Happy Winter Solstice, everyone.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Jane Fonda & Lee Roy Parnell are celebrating this morning. Ted Turner deliberates.
***GOT AN EVENT, STORY, TIP OR ANYTHING ELSE ON YOUR MIND YOU WANT INCLUDED IN PALMETTO MORNING? CLICK HERE AND TELL US ABOUT IT***
NATIONAL LENS — BIG DIG — “The Washington area struggled to return to normal Monday after a snow-drenched weekend. Rush hour was expected to be considerably lighter than usual, because many schools were closed and the federal government decided to close its agencies in the region and allow its workers to stay home. The Metrorail system was open and most buses were running. Highway and road conditions ranged from mostly clear to very slick, and Washington Reagan National Airport reported huge crowds of weary travelers trying to rebook flights canceled Saturday or Sunday. D.C. government offices were operating on a regular schedule, officials said, as were several county governments, with liberal leave policies were in effect.” (Washington Post)
YOU THINK I’D LAY DOWN AND DIE? The State’s political brain trust that that has the ring of a law firm – Burris, O’Connor & Smith – take a big dive into the process surrounding Governor Sanford’s successful effort to survive impeachment. It’s worth the read. Their conclusion – “Gov. Mark Sanford survived the threat largely because of a sound legal strategy and splintered opinion – among both lawmakers and the public – over whether the two-term Republican’s actions merited his removal from office.”
VIEWPOINT — ON TARP — Rep. Bob Inglis takes to the Greenville News opinion pages saying, “I argued recently for an amendment before the House Rules Committee that would require all unspent and repaid TARP money to go to deficit reduction. Americans cannot afford this continuing spending and borrowing, I argued, and it is contrary to the language and intent of the law. Unfortunately, the Democratic majority on the committee rejected my amendment. They plan to turn the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) into a revolving charge card for further spending. They support a plan to use $150 billion of unspent/repaid TARP money to stimulate housing and job creation. They really do see TARP as a revolving charge card. … When it comes to defending free enterprise and reining in runaway spending, we are utterly serious about our fight. I hear what people in the town hall meetings and telephone calls have been saying and we agree: It is time fight for our economy and defend free enterprise from government invasion.”
***SIGN UP NOW TO HAVE PALMETTO MORNING DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX EACH MORNING***
NO MORE OFF-BRAND CHIPS AND CRACKERS — “The Spartanburg County Republican Party will host the grand opening of its new headquarters and a holiday drop-in from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. … Spartanburg Republicans have been without a headquarters since April, when party activists ousted their former boss, Rick Beltram. Beltram had been using office space he leased on Pine Street for headquarters, but he shut that down when he was removed from his position.”
TROLLING — “State Sen. Chip Campsen of Mount Pleasant wants to give Internet access providers the information they need to identify and ban from social networking sites the sex offenders who are required to register in this state,” writes the Post & Courier’s Barbara Williams. “Currently S.C. state law only requires those registering to provide their current physical address. The Campsen bill would require they give their e-mail and Internet identifier, which would be made available upon request to Internet entities. Further, newly convicted sexual predators whose crime involved those under 18 would be prohibited, as a condition of their parole, from having e-mail accounts. If the Campsen bill is approved, its author says it shouldn’t take long to determine just how many of the registered offenders are trolling social networking sites. Falsification of a registration form is a felony that carries a mandatory sentence.”
VIEWPOINT II — NOD IF YOU CAN HEAR ME — United Steelworkers Local 7898 President, James E. Sanderson Jr., writes, “The time has come for all good men and women to come to the aid of their country and the Georgetown Port. I have sent an e-mail to Sen. Lindsey Graham, Sen. Jim DeMint and U.S. Rep. Henry Brown requesting their assistance in getting our port dredged. I know that Mayor-elect Jack Scoville has already started discussing the needs of our port. Scoville served on the State Ports Authority for about four years and has contacts within the SPA. Georgetown County currently has a member on the SPA board, Harry Butler. City Council members Brendon Barber and Clarence Smalls once worked on the Georgetown docks and should understand the importance of having an active port and the impact it has on our economy. In my opinion, leaders should lead in an effort to address the problems that their constituency is facing. Do any of you disagree with our port being a vital recruitment tool in order to attract business in Georgetown? If you agree, then please do something meaningful that our state and federal elected leaders will see as a positive sign about the port. Merry Christmas and happy new year!” (The Sun-News)
CHINESE JOB HUB — “Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer held a courtesy meeting with Chinese Minister Guangyuan Liu and his staff Thursday in his Statehouse office. During the meeting, Bauer and Liu discussed the importance of educational priorities, economic development and expanding Chinese business and investment in South Carolina. Bauer shared his thoughts on further expanding Chinese manufacturing investment in South Carolina, pointing out that large corporations like Boeing and BMW have realized the benefit of locating in South Carolina for its tax incentives and a willing non-union workforce. He also discussed Charleston’s potential as an import hub for Chinese goods, pointing out the state’s growing infrastructure and access to Interstate highway and rail systems.” (T&D)
EXIT 3 — “U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson and Sen. Lindsey Graham helped secure the recent earmark … [that] would spur economic development in a poor corner of the state and speed hurricane evacuation,” reports the Island Packet. “Hardeeville officials hope $500,000 in federal funds will expedite development of a planned Exit 3 on Interstate 95.”
STATEWIDE — Bill would alter magistrate selection in state
CHARLESTON — Dreamliner takes off; jobless rate hits record
GREER — Sets sight on the future
ORANGEBURG — Cooper confident SCSU accreditation will be reaffirmed
GEORGETOWN — Area jail offers goodwill to struggling men
LEE — Kindergarten Teacher Accused Of Hitting Kids
CHARLESTON — Attorney elected chairman of S.C. Education Oversight Committee
GREENVILLE — Many graduates now struggle to find work
SCROOGED — “A state employee passed The Buzz a note this week that was included with paychecks. State Treasurer Converse Chellis thanked state employees for their work along with their earnings. Good move, bad timing. ‘Thank you for your service to our state … all the best to you and your family for a safe, prosperous and healthy New Year,’ Chellis wrote. But Chellis’ note arrived one day after playing Scrooge on the State Budget and Control Board. Chellis, worried about a $98 million deficit left over from the budget year that closed June 30, asked for a larger across-the-board cut than legislative members Sen. Hugh Leatherman and Rep. Dan Cooper felt was necessary. Chellis found support from Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom and Gov. Mark Sanford, and the measure passed 3-2.”
FINALLY THIS — WISCONSIN INTEREST GROUP GETS JESUS BOOTED FROM WEST ASHLEY FIREHOUSE — “After charges that it illegally promotes Christianity with a nativity scene at Fire Station 12 in West Ashley, the city of Charleston removed the creche from display.” (Yea – we didn’t know what a “crèche” either. Apparently Adam Parker is feeling smart and used a fancy word for nativity scene or crib) “The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation, which advocates separation of church and state, sent a letter dated Dec. 17 to Mayor Joe Riley and Fire Chief Thomas Carr notifying them of the city’s Constitutional breach and requesting removal of the creche from the fire station. The letter expressed dismay that the problem has occurred for at least six years. A local resident had complained to the organization about the creche, the letter states. … The nativity scene had been removed Thursday in response to the complaint, according to fire department personnel.”
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!
You must log in to post a comment.