Legislative eNews
Local
May 20 Education Referendum Vote
Remember to cast your vote on May 20 for the Beaufort County School Bond Referendum. The chamber passed a resolution in support of the referendum. Polls are open from 7:00 am-7:00 pm. Please call Beaufort County Board of Elections at (843) 470-3759 with any questions about polling places.
See America Week
This week, in observation of See America Week, the chamber and local governments highlighted the importance of travel and tourism to the economy noting that: travel and tourism strengthened the national economy by $645 billion last year; provided $100 billion in tax revenue to local, state, and federal governments; and in 2004 the direct economic benefit of visitors to our area was $1.5 billion.
State
Gas Tax
A proposal, pushed by the Governor, to repeal the state's 16-cent-per-gallon motor fuel user fee from October 1 through December 31 was debated in the Senate this week. The House-passed budget includes $100 million to cover the cost of the user fee suspension.
Property Tax
The House of Representatives met this week to deal with the Senate-passed version of property tax relief and separated the relief plan into four areas, each raising the state sales tax by a different amount in an effort to make it easier for the conference committee to handle this complex issue. One option allows for the removal of school operating taxes with an eight-tenths of 1 percent state sales tax increase to fund the measure. Another option removes county operating taxes through a half-cent state sales tax increase. Yet another removes the municipal portion of property tax bills by raising the state sales tax two-tenths of 1 percent. Finally, a provision to exempt food taxes is included through a sales tax increase of six-tenths of 1 percent.
Regulatory Takings
The House Judiciary Committee sent to the full House a Senate-passed eminent domain bill that does not include a regulatory takings provision. The Senate earlier passed legislation that would require a vote to change the state constitution prohibiting condemnation of private property for private use. Gov. Sanford asked the House to pass a version of the eminent domain bill without takings provisions. The House must now consider the bill before moving to a conference committee.
Federal
Immigration
The President called for Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration bill in 2006 and this week the Senate floor was dominated by the immigration debate. The following occurred in the Senate: the Senate opposed an amendment that would have blocked eventual citizenship for future immigrants who arrive under a temporary work permit; voted to make the English language the official U.S. language; agreed to build 370 miles of triple-layered fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border; agreed to block access to a new guest-worker program by lawbreaking illegal immigrants; approved another provision prohibiting illegal immigrants seeking a guest-worker permit from petitioning for legalization on their own, instead they must be sponsored by an employer.
The H-2B visa program supported by the local hospitality industry is caught up in the debate of the larger immigration reform bill. The chamber is working to ensure that the provision continues in the coming year.
Coastal Natural Gas Drilling
The House of Representatives rejected an attempt to end the ban on oil and natural gas drilling that is in effect for 85 percent of the country's coastal waters, including South Carolina. In state action, the Natural Gas Exploration Study Committee (H.4977), a bill that develops a group to study the drilling for natural gas off South Carolina's coast, received second reading in the state House this week by a vote of 78 to 14.
Land Use
Two pieces of land use legislation — one of which would reform the Endangered Species Act and another that would deny of the use of federal funds in eminent domain projects have stalled in the U.S. Senate. Unless consensus can be built on this legislation, Senate consideration will be delayed indefinitely.
Savannah River Site
The House Appropriations Committee eliminated the entire $368 million construction budget for a plutonium-processing plant at the Savannah River site on Wednesday, jeopardizing the project scheduled to break ground in October. Rep. Joe Wilson is counting on approval by the full Senate and that the project then will survive intact in the conference committee negotiations to reconcile differences between the House and Senate bills. Senators Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint also support the project.
