***Palmetto Morning Presented by Jim Dyke & Associates***
THIS FIRST — HOT NEWS — A new national initiative to help firefighters cope with trauma and tragedy draws on Charleston’s experience after the June 2007 Sofa Super Store blaze that killed nine city firemen. The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation is unveiling this new model at Firehouse Expo in Baltimore today before an audience of fire service officials from across the nation. It’s part of a movement to promote better physical and emotional well-being in the fire service.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY — A family affair Charles and Woody Harrelson, of Jewish decent Monica Lewinsky and Daniel Radcliffe, and vegetarian Don Imus
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NATIONAL LENS — AND FREEZE — The last thing the dragging U.S. economy needs right now is a huge new burden. The last thing unemployed Americans need is for companies, already shy on the hiring front, to start worrying about getting hammered with new costs. That’s why Democrats in Congress made the right call yesterday in putting comprehensive climate change legislation – which by one estimate would cost the economy $161 billion in 2020 – on the back burner this year.
DEEP POCKETS — Unless Congress acts to extend its repeal, the death tax is scheduled to return in 2011– a tax that liberals and conservatives alike seem to agree is designed only to attack the “pockets” of the wealthy.
NO MORE INTERRUPTION — Federal checks could begin flowing as early as next week to millions of jobless people who lost up to seven weeks of unemployment benefits in a congressional standoff. President Barack Obama on Thursday signed into law a restoration of benefits for people who have been out of work for six months or more.
FINGER POINTING — Eighteen months ago, Barack Obama took office pledging to deal with a “planet in peril.” Then came the nation’s worst-ever environmental disaster, an oil spill in the Gulf that put momentum behind environmentalists and scarred the image of big, polluting industries. Add in a summer of record-high temperatures, and it would seem the stars had been aligned like never before for climate legislation. But by Thursday, the White House’s biggest energy and environmental initiative sat in tatters. The blame game has already begun.
SMALL DOLLAR — The Senate Appropriations Committee didn’t add in $400,000 to study deepening the Port of Charleston’s shipping channel, and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham said Thursday that he now will try to include the money when the Energy and Water appropriations bill hits the Senate floor. Port officials and businesses who depend on it are keeping a close watch on what happens next in Washington.
CALENDAR ITEM — House Ways and Means Chairman Sandy Levin (D-Mich.) said his chamber will vote on jobs legislation next week before adjourning for the August recess. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) is scheduled later Thursday to join Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) and caucus chairman John Larson (D-Conn.) for a press conference on the agenda. But it is unclear if the event will discuss the bill by Levin.
MAKE A RESERVATION — Democrats expanded their plan for the final four weeks of television advertising during the fall election campaign, reserving another $20 million in air time to defend endangered incumbent lawmakers. The reservations indicate Democrats would be in position to defend some of their most vulnerable — and powerful — incumbents, such as House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton of Missouri and Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt of South Carolina.
CHECK IT — For 40,000 South Carolinians who missed unemployment payments because of a congressional stalemate, checks will be on their way soon. But some might have a few hoops to negotiate to get their make-up payments. Here’s how the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce said the retroactive payments should work and when the money should arrive.
OLD BUDDIES — The bonds that have drawn Vice President Joe Biden to South Carolina again today stretch back through four decades of friendship with former U.S. Sen. Ernest “Fritz” Hollings of Charleston. Officially, Biden is coming to Columbia today to serve as the keynote speaker for the opening of the new $18 million, 50,000-square-foot Hollings Special Collections Library, located on the campus of the University of South Carolina. But the unofficial purpose is for Biden to pay tribute to Hollings, an old colleague and friend who was a mentor and political soul mate during their 30 shared years in the U.S. Senate.
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2010 WATCH — ‘RIDICULOUS’ — U.S. senatorial candidate Alvin Greene dismissed highly critical assessments of his military service Thursday, calling his supervisors in the Air Force and Army “ridiculous.” Greene said he was passed over for promotions in the military and ultimately discharged involuntarily, but honorably, and claimed that only “the terrorists and the communists” are given higher ranks.
PLEDGE PLUS — Morgan Bruce Reeves, candidate of the S.C. Green and United Citizens parties for governor, said Thursday he will sign a pledge to actively seek out and recruit women to the state’s boards and commissions if he is elected. “Actually, I would do more than the pledge says,” Reeves said, promising 45 percent of all of his appointees will be women.
SCOTT FREE-DOM — FreedomWorks PAC is pleased to announce the endorsement of Republican candidate Tim Scott in the SC-1 congressional race. Tim Scott has earned the “Champion of Freedom” title because of his firm commitment to lower taxes, less government, and more freedom.
BONE CUTTING — An initial recommendation to change South Carolina’s sales tax system is being met with hostility by a lot of taxpayers, since the plan would add a 2.5 percent sales tax to groceries, electricity, water bills and prescription drugs. The Taxation Realignment Commission gave preliminary approval to the plan Wednesday, but TRAC must still give its final approval, send the recommendations to state lawmakers and then they must vote on them.
HEALTHY GAIN — More than 88 percent of South Carolina small businesses with fewer than 25 employees will be eligible this year for tax credits to help pay the cost of employee health coverage, according to a new study. Small Business Majority founder and CEO John Arnsmeyer says in South Carolina, this means 53,200 small businesses will qualify.
CAR COST — South Carolina’s next treasurer says no statewide officer should drive a taxpayer-funded ride, calling it an unnecessary perk for politicians amid deep budget cuts. “It’s just a great perk, is what it is. Everybody would like not to have a car payment, a gas payment, insurance and taxes,” Loftis said. “With our lean economic times, it’s a perfect opportunity for the state to look at all of these perks and do away with most of them.” Officials counter that, while the idea may sound good to voters, it could end up costing more.
WATCH IT — Alvin Greene has entered the modern era of political campaigning, apparently releasing a video that summarizes his policies. Folks, it does not disappoint. And it’s legit – at least according to the NY Times.
MYRTLE BEACH — Sun, sand lure running events to Myrtle Beach
COLUMBIA — Tin Roof coming to Columbia
CLARENDON — Clarendon 1 seeks large grant
OKATIE — Private-jet company NetJets moves most of Okatie jobs to Ohio headquarters
SPARTANBURG — Many student loans in jeopardy, Spartanburg college officials say
MOUNT PLEASANT — Official says Yorktown must install sprinklers
GREENVILLE — I-385 rebuilding effort in S.C. finished weeks early
BEAUFORT — Whale Branch Elementary to get another opportunity
FLORENCE — New DNR Florence hub office opens July 26
LAURENS — Auto parts supplier investing $350M, 900 jobs in Laurens County
VIEWPOINT — NEW JOHN — “That Lindsey Graham is at it again. What is the boy thinking, tearing through Washington like a RINO (Republican in Name Only) in a china shop, breaking our budget with his outrageous spending habits? Now he’s trying to secure funding — through earmarks, of all things — to keep Charleston Harbor dredged and competitive with other East Coast ports. He acts like it’s his job to represent South Carolina’s interests or something.”
VIEWPOINT II — WILSON WONDERS — “American economist Milton Friedman once said, “The gov-ernment solution to a problem is usually as bad as the problem.” Friedman’s statement is not only spot-on, it also was validated most recently by this administration’s response to America’s stagnant economic state.”
FINALLY THIS — GOOD JUDGE-MENT — From many angles, Katarina Judge is like any other kid enjoying summer break. She swims, plays tennis, and helps to look after her younger brother and sister. “I am still a 13-year-old; I still do 13-year-old things. I like Justin Bieber a lot,” she said. She is also making moves to help others. She donated $585, her entire life savings, to South Carolina State University for scholarships. “If you don’t have an education, you can’t get a job, and if you can’t get a job, you’re not going to be successful,” she said.
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