Legislative eNews-JUNE 29, 2007

LOCAL

County Immigration Ordinance Implementation Continues

 
County officials were closely watching the progress of the Senate's immigration bill.  With bill's demise on the Senate floor, the County plans to retain outside auditors to fulfill the directives of the ordinance which does not go into effect until January 1, 2008.  The plan is to audit 25 percent, or close to 1,300 of all licensed businesses in the unincorporated parts of the county per year.  The audit will include a review of federal I-9 forms to identify the legality of workers. 

STATE

 
Lawmakers Vote on Governor's Vetoes - Reject School Choice, Uphold Blue Laws

Lawmakers reconvened in Columbia on Thursday to consider the 243 budget items vetoed Wednesday by Gov. Mark Sanford.  Before adjourning, the House overrode 112 vetoes and let 38 stand worth at least $4.2 million.
 
Lawmakers returned Friday for more work. The House has yet to consider 83 more vetoes.
 
A proposal that would have allowed greater school choice was killed Thursday when the House failed to override Gov. Mark Sanford's veto. The House voted 60-52 in favor of the veto, which was short of the two-thirds vote needed. 
 
One of the vetoes sustained Thursday was a proposal in the budget to do away for a year with laws that prevent retailers in most of the state from opening before 1:30 p.m. on Sundays.  This does not impact Beaufort County where currently blue laws do not apply.
 
Governor Signs SCDOT Reform Bill
 
Gov. Mark Sanford this week signed a bill into law reforming the state Department of Transportation.  The department has been muddled by years mismanagement at the same time the state's infrastructure is in need of improvements.
 
The new law will allow the governor to appoint the executive director of the agency to be called the secretary of transportation. It also will require the DOT board to use a set of objective criteria in setting project priorities and the agency to undergo another performance audit.

FEDERAL

 

Immigration Bill Defeat

The Senate overwhelming defeated the bipartisan comprehensive immigration bill on Thursday by a vote of 46-53, dramatically short of the 60 votes need.  The defeat leaves a pressing federal issue, and one of the President's highest priorities, virtually dead for the foreseeable future.  The House had insisted that the Senate act first, but political pressure may force some action.  However, many observers believe that issue is off the table until after the November 2008 elections.

Labor Vote

In a win for the business community, the Senate voted this week against allowing further consideration of HR 800, the Employee Free Choice Act. The bill would have made it easier for labor unions to organize businesses by taking away workers' rights to a secret ballot election to determine unionization, exposing employees to pressure, intimidation, and coercion by the unions.