On Budget Vetoes

Those of you who have known me for a while know that I consider myself an "across-the-board" conservative - Fiscal, Social, and Security (both border and defense). This is one of the reasons I'm running for National Delegate on Saturday - we need across-the-board conservatives to represent our Party in Minneapolis.

As evidence of my fiscal conservatism, last year, during Governor Sanford's budget veto process, I put together a "Lard List" for the South Carolina Club for Growth (where I was Executive Director at the time) of a dozen or so items (or types of items) that we thought should be excised from the budget. I'm grateful that the Governor agreed with a number of them, and fifty of his vetoes become the "Lard List" that we fought to keep out of the state budget.

Of course, showing my true prowess as a short-lived lobbyist, the Legislature responded by making a focused effort to overturn those particular fifty votes, called me out on the House floor, and literally turned to wave goodbye after the fiftieth vote went down. And now, I'm gainfully employed elsewhere...

All of which to say, I think I have a pretty solid history as a fiscal conservative.

This year's budget vetoes came out yesterday, and again, I agree with most of them. Governor Sanford has done great work trying to cut the fat from state government without cutting muscle - and his stated intention of funneling the money to the Prisons Department is absolutely correct - as I've written before, that budget has been cut too hard, too often, and now places our law enforcement folks at risk as a result. Jon Ozmint has been right about that for years now, and whatever paltry help we can get him as a result of the budget veto process will be worth it.

But, there are two vetoes that I disagree with this year, and would urge my friends in the House, even my fellow fiscal conservatives, to override these two particular vetoes.

The first involves funding for I-73. There is a move underfoot to increase the gas tax (which B.R. Skelton proposed unsuccessfully last year) to pay for infrastructure. The best alternative to this approach is to cut wasteful spending (hence the other budget vetoes) and spend general fund money on roads and bridges (like I-73). Is $1M going to build the freeway? No, but it's a start, and with our broken budgeting system, that's how we have to fund roads like this one - in fits and starts. Funding the road from the general fund is a great example of why we do NOT need the tax hike.

Make no mistake - I-73 is necessary, as anyone who has ever tried to drive to Myrtle Beach can attest. This will be a boon to the tourism industry in our state (an industry which we unfortunately over-rely on) and an economic advantage in the long run. And, road construction is certainly a legitimate function of state government (unlike the piggie festivals in the "Competitive Grants" monstrosities). Hopefully the House and Senate will restore those funds when they vote on the vetoes.

The other issue is one of abstinence education, where $1.2 million in funding for abstinence education and teen pregnancy prevention was cut. These programs, especially abstinence education, have effectively cut the teen pregnancy rate in South Carolina by 35% over the last ten years.

Last month, our friends over at the Palmetto Family Council noted a nationwide study that broke down the financial impact of teen pregnancy and divorce in South Carolina. This state spends $469 million a year in social programs, incarcerations, and lost tax revenue because of fragmented families. Of that, $227 million was for the Justice System alone. Next to that, a preventive investment of $1.2 million seems like a very wise choice.

The parents of our school children agree - 80% of parents surveyed by a USC research team stated that schools should emphasize abstinence in their sex education classes.

That seems like one of the “priorities of South Carolinians” to me. It’s also one of the only conservative social education programs out there, a drop in the bucket next to the billions lost to the bureaucratic abyss of the Department of Education.

I do hope that the House and Senate will make the wise choice by restoring this funding.

Out of State Groups in District 23 backing... Knotts?

Very interesting post card hitting in Senate 23 today - the NRA's ILA (also known as the Incumbent Legislator Award) is endorsing Senator Jake Knotts from the safety of their offices in Fairfax, Virginia. The card (seen here) was mailed out from "Suburban, MD".

Four items of note for irony or newsworthiness with this piece.

First, this comes on the heels of his last campaign mailer, which included dead people (Louis Shealy), convicted felons (Charlie Sharpe), and a whole array of people who have since told the Knotts campaign they never gave their permission. That probably warrants it's own story, but I know the local newsies are working on it, so I'll leave it at that for now.

Second, Senator Knotts cannot open his mouth or send a mail piece without screaming about "out-of-state special interests", "Wall Street Billionaires", "Walmart-style Schools" and the like. One wonders if he'll denounce the out-of-state intrusion on his behalf. (/sarc)

Third, the out of state group in question kinda got his name wrong on the headline. If you look close at the image's second line (I zoomed in on the back half) you'll notice they asked the voters of District 23 to "Vote for Judy Boyle". Now, as everyone in Lexington County surely knows, Judy Boyle is running for District 9 in the Idaho House. That happens to be only 2472 miles away from downtown Lexington, according to Yahoo Maps. Here's to hoping Jakie's voters write her in on June 10...

Finally, the mailer specifically references Knotts' support for concealed weapons reciprocity. This is interesting, since Knotts spent all of his debate time on Monday night (a debate Shealy won handily, according to the audience who cast straw poll ballots) bashing reciprocity for CWP holders, and likened reciprocity supporters to the "ACLU". No, I don't know what he was blathering about, but it's still entertaining to figure out how he was against it Monday, but for it Thursday afternoon. (this is the inverse of last week, when he claimed to be for mandatory "e-Verify" on Monday night before voting against it on Thursday afternoon).

It will be interesting to see if Jakie keeps trying to play the "out of state" card now that these are running around the district, and it will be interesting to see what else Knotts flip-flops about over the next 3 weeks.

Congradulations, Earl Capps

So in the midst of a hectic work schedule (hey, with 4 weeks to the election, did you expect any less?) I did find some time this weekend to head down the highway to Moncks Corner yesterday to attend the Masters party for fellow right-side blogger Earl Capps.

The food was great, the company terrific, and future 6th District Congressman Mike Reino did an excellent job of roasting Earl (as did a number of other friends). Remind me to block off cell phone time if Earl calls... :-)

Seriously, Earl, congrats! I know that you worked hard to obtain that degree, and how hard it must've been to do that while working and providing for two children as a single dad. You have much to be proud of, and much to be grateful for.

I'm sure we'll talk again soon...

Senate Republican Caucus on Immigration Reform: Thank you Jim Ritchie

Just noted a press release/blog post from the folks at the Senate Republican Caucus: Thank you Jim Ritchie. The thrust of the Thank You Note is for his leadership on tax issues and immigration reform. The Caucus also notes that they've put up a new website: ThankYouJim.com.

Now, I have to admit I like Senator Ritchie, who I regard as one of the brightest policy minds in the Senate. We don't always agree on issues, but Jim's intellect on policy matters is unquestionable. I happen to give him tons of credit for trying to advance the illegal immigration bill for the past two years - I know others have faulted him for some of the steps taken along that process, but on balance, Ritchie's work has been invaluable to the debate. Without fear of contradiction, I can say that without Senator Ritchie's efforts and leadership, we would not have a state immigration bill to discuss right now. Hence the new website.

That being said - since when is the Caucus putting up websites? And, does this mean there's a "ThankYouJakie".com in the works? If so, what would they thank him for - obstruction of every major Republican reform and tax cut in the past four years?

Let's see, he's the major Senate force undermining concealed carry, he's the major force trying to stop e-Verify in the Senate, he single-handedly delayed DUI reform by a year and a half with his DUI trial lawyer buddy Brad Hutto, he was a thorn in the side of anyone trying for meaningful workers comp reform, he voted against income tax cuts, the hits just keep on coming...

At the end of the day in Ritchie's case, he's getting criticized for trying to push the agenda forward (and defended by the Caucus for trying to do the right things). That's far from true in Knotts case. I hope we don't see the Caucus try that one on for size.

Random Thoughts

Just a few notes on this and that...

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For those of you who listen to the weekly Andy Thomas Show hits, you'll know we talked this morning about Obama's poll numbers. Here's the latest from Rasmussen: Hillary is up ten points on Obama nationwide in the three days since the Rev. Wright press conference.

Maybe, just maybe, Wright's linking the United States Marine Corps to Christ's crucifixion was a bit of a stretch.

Sooner or later, the twenty-year relationship with Jeremiah Wright finishes Barry O. The only question now is who gains, Clinton (in time for the convention) or McCain in the General. Even "throwing Wright under the bus" won't help now - that time was two months ago.

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I don't know who this Indiana "Republican" Congressional candidate jokeris kidding, but the sooner he disappears from the political scene, the better. We've never been the "Hitler Party", and we aren't about to start now. His anti-Semitic hatred is not welcome in our party.

Illinois Nazis? Well, we can't stand Indiana Nazis either.

The Indiana Nazis have no more place in the modern political dialogue than Jeremiah Wright/Louis Farrakhan should. Both forms of bigotry are equally obnoxious.

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Global Warming on Hold for another Decade, due to "natural variations in ocean currents". Ummm... don't you think maybe it was those same variations that might've contributed to some temporary warming ten years ago? (since we already know that the Earth cooled more than a Fahrenheit degree last year alone.)

Memo to John McCain: Jump off the Global Warming Bandwagon while you still have the chance. The sooner you do it, the bigger the long-term gain will be when we have climate alarmists in fur coats explaining that man-made warming will be coming around any old day now...

Oh, and don't forget the solar pattern/cosmic ray/cloud seeding theories from our Danish friend, Henrik Svensmark. When in climate doubt, never underestimate the power of the Big Ball of Fire in the Sky...

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Dueling Headlines:
Senate passes Immigration bill that includes fines for businesses who hire illegals vs. SC has fastest growing Hispanic population

Just a guess, but I'd say those two are related, and the first headline will significantly alter the longterm impacts of the second one. One of the key reasons for the growth in SC is the GA law that passed last year to crack down on illegal immigration there. I strongly suspect that will change once our Legislature finally comes to agreement and passes a strong bill.

I will also note that the second story studiously avoids mentioning the number of illegal immigrants included in that statistic.

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Thomas Ravenel goes to prison in GA in May.

I haven't blogged my thoughts about the Ravenel case yet. I still think it's one of the saddest stories I know - a friend who we didn't know was going through a struggle with drugs, a friend with a brilliant mind and a bright future, all thrown away because of the power of cocaine. I hope he uses this time to reflect on his own mortality, on his need for repentance and forgiveness, and come out a changed man. He may not have a future in public political life, but he can still have a future, and I pray he realizes that and reacts accordingly.