(i) a pecuniary item, including money, a bank bill, or a bank note;
(ii) a promissory note, bill of exchange, an order, a draft, warrant, check, or bond given for the payment of money;
(iii) a contract, agreement, promise, or other obligation for an advance, a conveyance, forgiveness of indebtedness, deposit, distribution, loan, payment, gift, pledge, or transfer of money;
(iv) a stock, bond, note, or other investment interest in an entity;
(v) a receipt given for the payment of money or other property;
(vi) a chose-in-action;
(vii) a gift, tangible good, chattel, or an interest in a gift, tangible good, or chattel;
(viii) a loan or forgiveness of indebtedness;
(ix) a work of art, an antique, or a collectible;
(x) an automobile or other means of personal transportation;
(xi) real property or an interest in real property, including title to realty, a fee simple or partial interest in realty including present, future, contingent, or vested interests in realty, a leasehold interest, or other beneficial interest in realty;
(xii) an honorarium or compensation for services;
(xiii) a promise or offer of employment;
(xiv) any other item that is of pecuniary or compensatory worth to a person.
(b) "Anything of value" or "thing of value" does not mean:
(i) printed informational or promotional material, not to exceed ten dollars in monetary value;
(ii) items of nominal value, not to exceed ten dollars, containing or displaying promotional material;
(iii) a personalized plaque or trophy with a value that does not exceed one hundred fifty dollars;
(iv) educational material of a nominal value directly related to the public official's, public member's, or public employee's official responsibilities;
(v) an honorary degree bestowed upon a public official, public member, or public employee by a public or private university or college;
(vi) promotional or marketing items offered to the general public on the same
terms and conditions without regard to status as a public official or public
employee; or
In this situation, the Committee has determined that the club membership is
definitely a "thing of value", as defined in 8-13-100(1)(a)(xiv). An item,
whether tangible or intangible, as in this case, does have worth to the recipient,
unless the item is specifically exempted in 8-13-100(1)(b). A club membership, a
discount for goods and services, anything except those gifts exempted is determined
to have value and worth to the Member.
The Committee must also determine if the club membership is being offered to the Member because he is a State Senator. In this case the country club has informed the Member that the club membership will be valid so long as the Member "holds elective office."
The Committee must seek guidance from Section 8-13-700(A), which states,
(A) No public official, public member, or public employee may knowingly use his
official office, membership, or employment to obtain an economic interest for
himself, a member of his immediate family, an individual with whom he is
associated, or a business with which he is associated. This prohibition does not
extend to the incidental use of public materials, personnel, or equipment, subject
to or available for a public official's, public member's, or public employee's use
which does not result in additional public expense.
The Committee has determined, that in this situation, the country club membership would constitute an economic interest for the Member. The Committee feels very strongly that the Member may not accept the club membership.
On motion of Senator LEATHERMAN, with unanimous consent, ordered printed in the Journal.
Subsequent to adjournment, a review of the session records revealed errors in the recording of committee selections. In order to avoid the publication and dissemination of inaccurate information, I have withheld the printing of committee selections.
At 2:00 P.M., on motion of Senator WILLIAMS, the Senate adjourned to meet tomorrow at 10:30 A.M.
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
The Senate assembled at 10:30 A.M., the hour to which it stood adjourned and was called to order by the PRESIDENT Pro Tempore.
A quorum being present the proceedings were opened with a devotion by the Chaplain as follows:
Beloved, hear the words recorded by St. Luke (16:10):
"He that is faithful in that which is
least is faithful also in much... "
Let us pray.
Our heavenly Father, we pray this morning for a very special blessing upon Your servants, David Muldrow Beasley and Robert Lee Peeler, and the other constitutional officers-elect who will this day take their oaths of office.
May they with us... and we with them... so attack the problems of our people and seize the opportunities for growth and prosperity that success will crown our labors.
But whether achievement be great or small, help us to be faithful in doing our duty as we are led to see our duty.
So, lead us O Spirit of the Living God into our future.
Amen.
The following was introduced:
S. 356 -- Senator Bryan: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 8-21-770(B), CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DETERMINATION OF FEES AND COSTS, SO AS TO SPECIFY THAT FEES IN ESTATE AND CONSERVATORSHIP PROCEEDINGS MUST BE BASED UPON THE GROSS VALUE OF THE PERSONAL PROPERTY OF THE PROBATE ESTATE; AND TO PROVIDE FOR A RETROACTIVE REFUND TO TAXPAYERS OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CURRENT FEES PAID THROUGH AUGUST 15, 1994, AND THE REDUCED FEES.
Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Senator COURSON from the Committee on Invitations submitted a favorable report on:
An invitation from This, That, `N' The Other II Cafe (Cafe for the Homeless) to attend a breakfast/drop-in in the lower lobby of the State House on Wednesday, January 18, 1995, from 9:00 until 10:30 A.M.
Courson Peeler Wilson
Thomas Patterson Stilwell
O'Dell
NOT VOTING
Matthews Russell Passailaigue
Senator COURSON from the Committee on Invitations submitted a favorable report on:
An invitation from S.C. Education Assn. to attend a reception at the S.C. State Museum on Wednesday, January 18, 1995, from 7:00 P.M. until.
Courson Peeler Wilson
Thomas Patterson Stilwell
O'Dell
NOT VOTING
Matthews Russell Passailaigue
S. 339 -- Senator Saleeby: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE MR. DAVID R. MERCER, THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE YMCA OF THE UNITED STATES, FOR HIS DEDICATION AND EXEMPLARY SERVICE TO THE YMCA OVER THE LAST THIRTY-FIVE YEARS.
Returned with concurrence.
Received as information.
S. 341 -- Senators Passailaigue, Ford, McConnell, Richter, Rose, Greg Smith and Washington: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF MR. MILTON ALFRED PEARLSTINE, PRESIDENT OF I.M. PEARLSTINE AND SONS, CHARLESTON'S OLDEST CONTINUOUSLY OPERATED FAMILY BUSINESS.
Returned with concurrence.
Received as information.
S. 343 -- Senator Land: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO THE FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS AND ADMIRERS OF DR. MARION WOODARD WRIGHT MCLESTER OF REMBERT WHO DIED FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1994.
Returned with concurrence.
Received as information.
The following Bill having been read the second time was ordered placed on the third reading Calendar:
S. 334 -- Senators McGill, Glover and Leatherman: A BILL TO AMEND ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 31, TITLE 33, CODE OF LAWS OF
(By prior motion of Senator McGILL)
At 10:40 A.M., on motion of Senator HOLLAND, the Senate receded from business for
the purpose of attending the Inaugural Ceremonies.
I stand before you today humbled by the awesome responsibility of this office but confident in the system and the people of South Carolina. Standing at the top of these grand stairs moments ago, my mind raced through South Carolina history. I thought about the 112 people who came before me - some during wars - others during economic uncertainties. But through it all, they and their people persevered. They did it with hard work, with vision and with boundless faith in their destiny as a people - a people called South Carolina. Our rich heritage of leaders is unbroken. For about three decades one man has served the people with dedication and integrity and his wife has been right there all along. I want to thank Nick and Emilie Theodore for their fine contributions to our State and ask that you join me in thanking them. There's another couple I want to recognize. Two teenagers from Greenville discovered each other some time back. I dare not say how long ago it was. But time has been good to them and to the people they served in the legislature, Congress, and the Governor's Office. Carroll Campbell is leaving office the highest rated Governor in America. He has taken us to new economic heights. His leadership saved lives. His stewardship reformed government. Because of programs he and Iris championed, fewer babies are dying at birth and more children are being immunized. There's not a person in this State who has not been touched by their leadership. To Carroll and Iris Campbell, I say the people of South Carolina love you dearly and on behalf of them thank you for everything you've done. The last two years were a wonderful education for Mary Wood and me. Ours was the privilege of getting to know South Carolina one community, one street, one family at a time. Yes, we are a diverse lot, we South Carolinians. But, even though we are of different religions, races, and politics, we can agree that before the institution of government, there was another institution already created. It was the institution of family. Let us agree that it's time to put families first in South Carolina. We will put families first by declaring that government exists to serve them not vice versa. We will put families first by making sure that decisions made around government conference tables do not conflict with decisions made around family dinner tables. Our highest calling is not to perpetuate bureaucracy but to offer opportunity. State government is poised to provide such opportunity as never before. For the first time some of the most important agencies in government are directly accountable to the people because they answer to the governor elected by the people. We have initiated fundamental change in the structure of our government. Now we must initiate fundamental change in our philosophy of governing. I have
Are they needed?
How can they be carried out more efficiently? and,
The most important question - Is every program and policy pro-family and pro-business? We will reject policies that hurt our efforts to create jobs and rebuild families. There are other changes in which agencies under my direction do business. As a legislator, I was appalled by turf- protecting and narrow-minded bureaucrats who competed for scarce tax dollars. The big picture did not seem to matter to some. Elected officials were constantly thwarted by special interest groups promoting their own agendas. This often led to overlap and duplication. No longer. Agencies under my direction will work together. They will work for the people, not themselves. They will be in tandem with the governor in providing opportunity, and they will get out of the way as individual initiative flourishes. That's a promise. The foundation of opportunity is an education and a job. You can't have one without the other. To the business community, I say that we will continue our efforts to maintain a climate in which you can create jobs and wealth which will benefit all of us. We will give you the skilled work force. We will be your partner to develop rural South Carolina. We will assure you of fair tax policy. We will grow our economy by helping business grow, not by following the pied pipers of higher taxes and gambling. And we must prepare our people to perform jobs the private sector creates. The average person changes jobs seven times in a lifetime. Our technical, vocational, and university systems must be retooled to accommodate the demands of an information-based society. Our public schools must be adequately funded, our teachers adequately paid, to prepare our children to enter the world of technology... and we must embrace innovation in the schools. But opening the school doors to innovation does not require closing the doors on time-tested principles. C.S. Lewis, the Oxford don, wrote, "We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst." Thirty years of value free social experimentation in society at large and the public school system have heaped disaster upon disaster... a virtual moral meltdown. Value free means that nothing is right and nothing is wrong. If, then, there is no right and wrong, no ultimate truth, there are no parameters. And if there are no parameters, then anything goes. Juvenile crime, school violence, educational mediocrity, illegitimate births, deadbeat dads, crack babies... all are logical consequences of a society that accepts anything. But on November 8th, the people of South Carolina and our
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