Legislative eNews-december 15
Local
Immigration Ordinance Proceeds
The Beaufort County Council voted 9-1 on Monday night to proceed on its Lawful Employment Ordinance on second reading. The Council will meet again in a specially scheduled meeting on Wednesday, December 27 to consider the ordinance, but no other regular business. The latest draft of the ordinance was changed significantly to conform to federal law in a manner the business community requested in writing and public comments before the Council.
We appreciate the efforts of the Council Member who showed a willingness to hear the business community’s views and make the changes we suggested. However, there are still several questions that need to be addressed, including what would trigger an investigation of a business under the ordinance. Our hope is that this and other concerns would be thoughtfully considered and the community could focus on the holiday season before rushing to passage, but supporters of the ordinance are intent on passing it before their terms expire at the end of the year. You can view the latest draft of the ordinance at www.bcgov.net.
Smoking Bans Passed in County and Town of Bluffton
The Beaufort County Council voted 9-1 to ban smoking in public places beginning January 10, 2007. The Beaufort County Sheriff’s office is responsible for enforcement of the ordinance.
Bluffton’s Town Council also voted to ban smoking in public places at its meeting on Tuesday. The Council voted a 3-2 in favor of the ban. The ordinance provides for enforcement by the Bluffton Police Department.
A similar smoking ban is on the agenda for the Tuesday, December 19 Hilton Head Island Town Council. It is expected that the Council will instruct staff to draft an indoor smoking ban ordinance for consideration early next year.
Constitutional challenges face the Greenville City Council and other county and local governments in South Carolina that have passed similar ordinances in the last few months.
Federal
Congress Adjourns
The 109th Congress adjourned late last week after passing key legislation. Lawmakers passed a continuing resolution funding government agencies until February 15, 2007. Also passed was a tax package extending several key tax provisions through 2007 including the research and development credit, work opportunity and welfare-to-work credits, state sales tax deduction, and college tuition deduction.
Also passed were several international trade bills, an expansion of health savings accounts, a rollback of the Medicare physicians' fee cut set to take effect on January 1, Gulf of Mexico off-shore drilling legislation, the postal service reform bill, and fisheries legislation.
After convening on January 4, the new Democratically-controlled 110th Congress will reportedly remain in session for six weeks until the Presidents' Day recess in mid-February. Democratic leaders want to pass priority legislation including increasing the minimum wage during this work session. The House will be in session five days a week, as opposed to the traditional Tuesday through Thursday schedule. The Senate will have a similar schedule.
