South Carolina General Assembly
117th Session, 2007-2008
Journal of the House of Representatives

Printed Page 193 . . . . . Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Wednesday, January 10, 2007
(Statewide Session)

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

The House assembled at 10:30 a.m.
Deliberations were opened with prayer by Rev. Charles E. Seastrunk, Jr., as follows:

Our thought for today is from I Corinthians 12:7: "To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good."
Let us pray. Thank You God, for new beginnings and the opportunities before us. Give these Representatives and staff the gifts to serve the people of this State, to accomplish great things and to work together with the different gifts given to each to bring about the common good for Your people. Shower Your blessings on our Nation, President, State, Governor, Speaker and all who serve in this House. Protect our defenders of freedom as they protect us. Hear our prayer, O God. Amen.

Pursuant to Rule 6.3, the House of Representatives was led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America by the SPEAKER.

After corrections to the Journal of the proceedings of yesterday, the SPEAKER ordered it confirmed.

MOTION ADOPTED

Rep. HASKINS moved that when the House adjourns, it adjourn in memory of Dr. Walter Fremont of Greenville, which was agreed to.

MOTION ADOPTED

Rep. WHITE moved that upon the conclusion of the Inaugural Ceremony, the House stand adjourned, which was agreed to.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 3204 (Word version) -- Reps. Scott, Cotty, Brady and Howard: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND BLYTHEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH JEFF SCOTT

Printed Page 194 . . . . . Wednesday, January 10, 2007
FOR LEADING HIS FIRST-YEAR VARSITY FOOTBALL TEAM TO THE CLASS AAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.

The Resolution was adopted.

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

The following was taken up for immediate consideration:

H. 3205 (Word version) -- Reps. Harrell, Agnew, Alexander, Allen, Anderson, Anthony, Bales, Ballentine, Bannister, Barfield, Battle, Bedingfield, Bingham, Bowen, Bowers, Brady, Branham, Brantley, Breeland, G. Brown, R. Brown, Cato, Ceips, Chalk, Chellis, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Coleman, Cooper, Cotty, Crawford, Dantzler, Davenport, Delleney, Duncan, Edge, Frye, Funderburk, Govan, Gambrell, Gullick, Hagood, Haley, Hamilton, Hardwick, Harrison, Hart, Harvin, Haskins, Hayes, Herbkersman, Hinson, Hiott, Hodges, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Jennings, Kelly, Kennedy, Kirsh, Knight, Leach, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Loftis, Lowe, Lucas, Mack, Mahaffey, McLeod, Merrill, Miller, Mitchell, Moody-Lawrence, Moss, Mulvaney, J. H. Neal, J. M. Neal, Neilson, Ott, Owens, Parks, Perry, Phillips, Pinson, E. H. Pitts, M. A. Pitts, Rice, Rutherford, Sandifer, Scarborough, Scott, Sellers, Shoopman, Simrill, Skelton, D. C. Smith, F. N. Smith, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, J. R. Smith, W. D. Smith, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stewart, Talley, Taylor, Thompson, Toole, Umphlett, Vick, Viers, Walker, Weeks, Whipper, White, Whitmire, Williams, Witherspoon and Young: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION INVITING HIS EXCELLENCY, MARSHALL CLEMENT (MARK) SANFORD, JR., GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, TO ADDRESS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN JOINT SESSION AT 7:00 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2007, IN THE CHAMBER OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That His Excellency, Marshall Clement (Mark) Sanford, Jr., Governor of the State of South Carolina, is invited to address the General Assembly in joint session at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January

Printed Page 195 . . . . . Wednesday, January 10, 2007
17, 2007, in the Chamber of the South Carolina House of Representatives.

The Concurrent Resolution was agreed to and ordered sent to the Senate.

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 3206 (Word version) -- Rep. Hosey: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE BRIDGE THAT CROSSES KING CREEK ALONG SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY 3 IN ALLENDALE COUNTY "HERSELL N. MCINTOSH BRIDGE" AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS AT THIS BRIDGE THAT CONTAIN THE WORDS "HERSELL N. MCINTOSH BRIDGE".
The Concurrent Resolution was ordered referred to the Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions.

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 3207 (Word version) -- Rep. Hosey: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE BRIDGE THAT CROSSES GAUL CREEK ALONG SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY 3 IN ALLENDALE COUNTY "CLEMENT O. MCINTOSH, SR. BRIDGE" AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS AT THIS BRIDGE THAT CONTAIN THE WORDS "CLEMENT O. MCINTOSH, SR. BRIDGE".
The Concurrent Resolution was ordered referred to the Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions.

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 3208 (Word version) -- Reps. Miller and Anderson: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND MR. JESSE TULLOS OF GEORGETOWN FOR NEARLY FOUR DECADES OF DEDICATED SERVICE IN THE FIELD OF JOURNALISM UPON

Printed Page 196 . . . . . Wednesday, January 10, 2007
HIS RETIREMENT AND WISH FOR HIM MANY YEARS OF HEALTH AND HAPPINESS IN HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

The Concurrent Resolution was agreed to and ordered sent to the Senate.

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

The Senate sent to the House the following:

S. 228 (Word version) -- Senator Lourie: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND THE BLYTHEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY FOOTBALL TEAM FOR ITS STELLAR SEASON AND FOR CAPTURING THE CLASS AAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE, AND TO HONOR THE TEAM'S SUPERLATIVE PLAYERS, COACHES, AND STAFF.

The Concurrent Resolution was agreed to and ordered returned to the Senate with concurrence.

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

The Senate sent to the House the following:

S. 229 (Word version) -- Senator Peeler: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE BRIDGE THAT CROSSES THE BROAD RIVER ALONG UNITED STATES HIGHWAY 29 IN CHEROKEE COUNTY THE "JAMES D. BATCHLER BRIDGE" AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS AT THIS BRIDGE THAT CONTAIN THE WORDS "JAMES D. BATCHLER BRIDGE".
The Concurrent Resolution was ordered referred to the Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions.

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

The Senate sent to the House the following:

S. 230 (Word version) -- Senator Peeler: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION HONORING THE MANY YEARS OF SERVICE MR. WAYNE POWELL HAS GIVEN TO THE CHEROKEE COUNTY

Printed Page 197 . . . . . Wednesday, January 10, 2007
REPUBLICAN PARTY, THANKING HIM FOR HIS DEDICATED SERVICE, AND WISHING HIM WELL IN THE FUTURE.

The Concurrent Resolution was agreed to and ordered returned to the Senate with concurrence.

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

The Senate sent to the House the following:

S. 231 (Word version) -- Senator Peeler: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION THANKING MRS. JOAN S. WHEELER FOR HER MANY YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE CHEROKEE COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY, HONORING HER OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP, AND WISHING HER MUCH CONTINUED SUCCESS IN HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

The Concurrent Resolution was agreed to and ordered returned to the Senate with concurrence.

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

The Senate sent to the House the following:

S. 232 (Word version) -- Senators Patterson, Matthews, Ford, Anderson, Pinckney, Malloy, Moore, Courson and Lourie: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA UPON THE DEATH OF BISHOP A. C. JACKSON, FOUNDER OF BIBLE WAY CHURCH OF ATLAS ROAD AND FATHER OF OUR BELOVED COLLEAGUE, SENATOR DARRELL JACKSON.

The Concurrent Resolution was agreed to and ordered returned to the Senate with concurrence.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

The following Bills were introduced, read the first time, and referred to appropriate committees:

H. 3209 (Word version) -- Rep. Cobb-Hunter: A BILL TO AMEND ACT 456 OF 2006, RELATING TO THE CREATION, MEMBERS, AND DUTIES OF THE CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE TASK FORCE, SO AS TO

Printed Page 198 . . . . . Wednesday, January 10, 2007
PROVIDE THAT THE TASK FORCE SHALL SUBMIT ITS REPORT BEFORE APRIL 1, 2007.
On motion of Rep. COBB-HUNTER, with unanimous consent, the Bill was ordered placed on the Calendar without reference.

H. 3210 (Word version) -- Reps. Sandifer and Whitmire: A BILL TO AUTHORIZE THE GOVERNING BODY OF OCONEE COUNTY TO PROVIDE FOR A HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION SUFFICIENT TO EQUAL ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, INCLUDING THE STATEWIDE HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION AMOUNT, OF THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THE DWELLING PLACE OF A PERSON WHO HAS BEEN A RESIDENT OF THIS STATE FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR AND HAS REACHED THE AGE OF SIXTY-FIVE, A PERSON WHO IS CLASSIFIED AS TOTALLY AND PERMANENTLY DISABLED, OR A PERSON WHO IS LEGALLY BLIND, AND TO MAKE THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATEWIDE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION APPLY MUTATIS MUTANDIS TO THE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION ADOPTED BY THE GOVERNING BODY.
Referred to Oconee Delegation

H. 3211 (Word version) -- Rep. Harrell: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 9-11-29 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING JULY 1, 2007, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL EMPLOYED SHALL PARTICIPATE IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA POLICE OFFICERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM AND TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS APPLICABLE TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL.
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means

H. 3212 (Word version) -- Reps. Delleney and M. A. Pitts: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 23-31-215, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF CONCEALABLE WEAPONS PERMITS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT VALID OUT-OF-STATE PERMITS TO CARRY CONCEALABLE WEAPONS HELD BY A RESIDENT OF ANOTHER STATE MUST BE HONORED BY THIS STATE AND TO DELETE THE PROVISION THAT THIS STATE WILL ONLY

Printed Page 199 . . . . . Wednesday, January 10, 2007
HONOR OUT-OF-STATE PERMITS ISSUED BY A STATE WITH WHICH SOUTH CAROLINA HAS RECIPROCITY.
Referred to Committee on Judiciary

ROLL CALL

The roll call of the House of Representatives was taken resulting as follows:

Agnew                  Alexander              Allen
Anderson               Anthony                Bales
Ballentine             Barfield               Battle
Bedingfield            Bingham                Bowen
Bowers                 Brady                  Branham
Brantley               Breeland               G. Brown
R. Brown               Cato                   Ceips
Chalk                  Chellis                Clyburn
Cobb-Hunter            Cooper                 Cotty
Crawford               Dantzler               Davenport
Delleney               Duncan                 Edge
Frye                   Funderburk             Gambrell
Govan                  Gullick                Hagood
Haley                  Hamilton               Hardwick
Harrell                Harrison               Hart
Harvin                 Haskins                Hayes
Herbkersman            Hinson                 Hiott
Hodges                 Hosey                  Howard
Huggins                Jefferson              Jennings
Kelly                  Kennedy                Kirsh
Knight                 Leach                  Limehouse
Littlejohn             Lowe                   Lucas
Mack                   Mahaffey               McLeod
Merrill                Miller                 Mitchell
Moss                   Mulvaney               J. H. Neal
J. M. Neal             Neilson                Ott
Owens                  Parks                  Perry
Pinson                 E. H. Pitts            M. A. Pitts
Rice                   Rutherford             Sandifer
Scarborough            Scott                  Sellers
Shoopman               Simrill                Skelton
D. C. Smith            F. N. Smith            G. M. Smith
G. R. Smith            J. E. Smith            J. R. Smith
W. D. Smith            Spires                 Stavrinakis
Printed Page 200 . . . . . Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Stewart                Talley                 Taylor
Thompson               Toole                  Umphlett
Vick                   Walker                 Weeks
Whipper                White                  Whitmire
Williams               Witherspoon            Young

STATEMENT OF ATTENDANCE

I came in after the roll call and was present for the Session on Wednesday, January 10.

Bruce Bannister                   Creighton Coleman
Dwight Loftis                     Thad Viers
Alan D. Clemmons

Total Present--122

CO-SPONSORS ADDED

In accordance with House Rule 5.2 below:
"5.2   Every bill before presentation shall have its title endorsed; every report, its title at length; every petition, memorial, or other paper, its prayer or substance; and, in every instance, the name of the member presenting any paper shall be endorsed and the papers shall be presented by the member to the Speaker at the desk. A member may add his name to a bill or resolution or a co-sponsor of a bill or resolution may remove his name at any time prior to the bill or resolution receiving passage on second reading. The member or co-sponsor shall notify the Clerk of the House in writing of his desire to have his name added or removed from the bill or resolution. The Clerk of the House shall print the member's or co-sponsor's written notification in the House Journal. The removal or addition of a name does not apply to a bill or resolution sponsored by a committee."

CO-SPONSOR ADDED

Bill Number:   H. 3138 (Word version)
Date:   ADD:
01/10/07   FUNDERBURK

CO-SPONSOR ADDED

Bill Number:   H. 3137 (Word version)
Date:   ADD:
01/10/07   HALEY

Printed Page 201 . . . . . Wednesday, January 10, 2007

INAUGURAL CEREMONY

At 11:00 a.m., the House repaired to the south portico of the State House where it joined the Senate.
The Inaugural Party proceeded to the Speaker's stand.

INAUGURAL PROGRAM

Ceremony
THE HONORABLE GLENN F. MCCONNELL
President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Presiding

Welcome                   The Honorable Glenn F. McConnell
Invocation                 The Reverend Charles Jackson, Pastor

Brookland Baptist Church, West Columbia
Presentation of the Colors     The Citadel Color Guard
Pledge of Allegiance         led by Captain Brian James Pipkin and                   Chief Warrant Officer Two Gene Austin Norris
Star Spangled Banner       Francis Scott Key and John Stafford Smith

                    John Fowler, Assistant Professor of Music

College of Charleston Brass Ensemble

Richard Marcus, Conductor

ADMINISTRATION OF THE OATH TO THE OFFICE

Lieutenant Governor       The Honorable André Bauer

by Harriet Ward

STATE OFFICERS
by Lieutenant Governor André Bauer

Secretary of State               The Honorable Mark Hammond
State Treasurer                 The Honorable Thomas Ravenel
Attorney General               The Honorable Henry McMaster
Comptroller General             The Honorable Richard Eckstrom
Superintendent of Education       The Honorable James H. Rex
Adjutant General               The Honorable Major Gen. Stan Spears
Commissioner of Agriculture       The Honorable Hugh E. Weathers

Patriotic Medley

Benedict College Concert Choir
Dr. Linda L. Kershaw, Conductor

Printed Page 202 . . . . . Wednesday, January 10, 2007

"The World is Green Again"           Marjory Heath Wentworth

South Carolina Poet Laureate

America the Beautiful

Benedict College Concert Choir
The Furman Singers
The South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities Chamber and All-School Choirs
College of Charleston Brass Ensemble
Dr. Ryan Hebert, Conductor

God of Grace, and God of Glory         Paul T. Langston

The Furman Singers
Dr. Bingham Vick, Jr., Conductor
Charles Tompkins, Organist

ADMINISTRATION OF OATH TO THE GOVERNOR
The Honorable Marshall Clement Sanford, Jr.
by Chief Justice Jean Hoefer Toal

GOVERNOR OF SOUTH CAROLINA THE HONORABLE MARSHALL CLEMENT SANFORD, JR. INAUGURAL ADDRESS JANUARY 10, 2007

Thank you for that warm welcome.
Thank you as well to all the people of South Carolina for the honor of serving our state for the next four years.
While on the subject of thank you's:
I want to thank my Maker. I believe that God brought all of us to this moment. I am humbled in simply being here, and I'm humbled in how important the task of bringing change to our state is for every one of us.
I thank my family. Jenny and the boys have made a lot of certain and real sacrifices.
I want to thank friends - both old and new - for all the work and effort they put into bringing today about.
I want to thank our many distinguished visitors.
Finally, I want to thank members of the legislative and judicial branches for their role as partners in navigating the challenging waters before us.

Printed Page 203 . . . . . Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Four years ago I stood before you as Governor-Elect with grand dreams and important ideas. I spoke of the need for change in South Carolina State government - changing the way we do business, changing the way we handle our finances, changing the way we interact with the taxpayers, and changing the way we look at the future.
In my first inaugural, I spoke of Sir Ernest Shackleton's struggle for survival, and how it was through collective effort, focused vision, persistence, and sacrifice/bold steps they had prospered in a situation in which none should have even survived.
Like Shackleton, we began 2003 at times looking simply to how we get through the situation before us as we faced the first negative revenue numbers in the last fifty years, as we faced unconstitutional borrowings, borrowed trust funds and more.
The trek before us is ultimately about taking steps toward prosperity and making sure as Shackleton did that everyone makes the trip with us.
Today, I stand before you a little grayer, a little wiser and tempered by reality, but nevertheless affirmed in my conviction that we can, together as South Carolinians, make a change for the better.
I'm amazed by how much has changed over the last four years and how much more will change over the next forty.
I'm struck by how fundamentally the decisions of today will impact the South Carolina of tomorrow that each one of our children will one day inherit.
I'm humbled by the sacred obligation my father used to talk about in leaving the world a little better place than we found it, and in this I'm also struck by the importance of now.
Dr. Martin Luther King said in his I Have a Dream speech that, "we have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism."
These words are just as true for South Carolina today.
The fundamental challenge for all of us lies in assessing where we are, and where we need to go from here. Ecclesiastes 3 says, "that for everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven." In simplest form, our state is in a season of change.
The bigger question is whether or not change happens to us - or because of us.
Our choices in either bringing or reacting to change will directly impact opportunity in this state, and it is for this reason that I have
Printed Page 204 . . . . . Wednesday, January 10, 2007
spoken incessantly about Thomas Friedman and his Flat World over the last few years.
His presumption is that because of globalization, we're in a new found competition for jobs, capital and way of life across the 6 1/2 billion souls that make up planet Earth.
In this same vein, David McCullough, who wrote the book 1776, when asked what was the most pivotal time in American history remarkably replied not 1776 - but from 2000 to 2005. Not the stuff of history books, but the time in which we live.
Think for one second about the rate of change in the world around us.
The Pan Am Clipper Class used to be the envy of airline travel. One of their planes would fly 32 passengers at 150 miles per hour from point A to point B. The Miami to Buenos Aires flight took 6 days with numerous crew stops along the way.
The new Boeing 787, being in large part produced here in South Carolina, will soon take 300 passengers at 560 miles an hour on a 9 hour trip straight from Miami to Buenos Aires.
Sixty years ago, most cars didn't have air conditioning, power windows or even air bags. Today, Lexus cars can literally parallel park themselves.
The IPOD and satellites have replaced the vinyl record and the big three television channels many of us remember growing up.
It is in this rapidly changing world that certain things become more important.
Education has never before been more important than it is in the 21st century. To walk out into this age with anything less than a first rate education is the equivalent of a soldier walking out onto the battlefield without a gun.
The way that our government delivers results for its people has never before been more important given the competition we are in with other states and countries.
One's health has never been more important because an individual can't compete effectively with the other 61/2 billion people on Earth without feeling well.
Our state's infrastructure has never before been more important than today when we face the prospect of another million people coming to our state between now and 2030.
The soil conditions for the germination of businesses small and large has never before been more important as a consequence of globalization.
Printed Page 205 . . . . . Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Quality of life, and the way that we look and feel as a state, has never before been more important than it is today - again as a consequence of the new world in which we compete.
Our vision is that South Carolina becomes a state that is second to none in providing economic opportunities for its people. A place where its citizens are better educated, healthier and ready to meet the challenges of the 21st century. A place that offers a great quality of life so important in the building of a life or a family, and a state that retains its pride of place - by in fact retaining great places.
Some would say that although we've made some important steps forward over the last four years...as we set aside more land than during any other governorship in South Carolina history, - or in digging out of a billion-dollar financial hole, or in passing a landmark income tax cut, tort reform, or charter school legislation - that fulfilling that vision is just a dream.
I would remind them - all actions begin with dreams.
George Bernard Shaw wrote, "You see things and say 'why?' But I dream of things that never were, and say 'why not?'"
In Robert Kennedy's 1968 Presidential bid he paraphrased Shaw's words and said, "Some men see things as they are and say 'why?' I dream of things that never were and say 'why not?'"
I'd ask each of you as South Carolinians to think of Shaw and Kennedy's notion of dreams and this notion of "why not?"
Because in any decision, you get to the point of "why not?" No matter how much evidence you have before you, at some point you have to make a decision, and with it take a step of faith.
And given the challenges of the world we live in, it is time for each one of us not only to dream of a greater South Carolina and the building blocks to getting there - but that we also be willing to say "why not?" in being bold and taking concrete steps to change the way some things have been done for far too long in South Carolina.
Why not - right now - commit to excellence in the things we do individually and in what we expect from those in government and the results we get from government?
Because change takes time, we can't waste time. We must act now.
In stepping forward, I believe certain principles should guide our actions.
One, that there is no greater key to unleashing South Carolina's potential than unleashing the power of each South Carolinian.
South Carolinians are a great people as demonstrated by their actions. Those actions have been demonstrated in the workplace, home place,
Printed Page 206 . . . . . Wednesday, January 10, 2007
and even on the battlefield in each of the wars that have preceded today's latest test of character and resolve in the Middle East.
They are demonstrated daily as hard working South Carolinians produce world class products like the Cougar or the Buffalo at Force Protection on the coast or the X5 at BMW in the upstate.
They are demonstrated in the remarkable services of a 3D Systems or Wholesale Forklifts up in Rock Hill or with Park Seed in Greenwood.
They are demonstrated everyday with unrecognized heroes teaching in the classroom, nursing patients in the hospital or in disking under last year's harvest in the setting sun.
They are more visibly demonstrated with the successes of a Sidney Rice on the field or a Ray Ray McElrathbey both on and off the field. But in all cases and in all too many ways, we see a disconnect between individual South Carolinians and the government that serves them.
Accordingly, the answer to many of South Carolina's challenges lies not in more government, but in more freedom for each South Carolinian.
I believe in the inherent dignity of each human soul. Our founding fathers were very deliberate in setting up a republic wherein each person was guaranteed life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Inherent in that promise was the recognition that every person would have different ideas of happiness and that no man would have to scrape or bow before another in pursuing their own dreams.
Therefore, maximizing an individual's discretion and choice on where they work, receive education, health care and more, are a key part of our vision in improving South Carolina's future.
Now is the time.
Two, I also join thousands of others in believing the structure of our government must change. A constitutional construct put in place when neither black people nor women could participate in our political system is an outdated construct. It is inefficient and in the competitive world in which we live this bridles economic opportunity and it continues to hold us back.
Now is the time to restructure State government.
Three, we must commit ourselves each year to improving the business soil conditions of this state. We must do so in ways that are open and transparent and fair, as government should never be in the business of picking winners and losers in the commercial market place.
Now is the time.
Four, we believe that government's growth must be slowed to sustainable rates. This is key to staying true to the common sense
Printed Page 207 . . . . . Wednesday, January 10, 2007
notion of paying for the promises you've made in government before you make new ones. More than anything, it's about speeding the rate of change in South Carolina.
By its very design, things in government change slowly. Therefore, if you want to match the rate of transformational change in our economy with what's occurring in the world around us, you need to slow government's growth. You would do this not because government is inherently evil, but to put more money in the private sector is key to revolutionizing our economy.
Now is the time to discipline our government's growth.
Five, we must commit to taking everyone with us on the voyage before us. In the Bible it talks of when you do it to the least of these you do it unto me.
So we must be very deliberate in not only thinking of every South Carolinian as a brother or sister who deserves our respect and careful attention - but that we must go one step further in looking at our policies to make certain we are including all South Carolinians as we go about the business of increasing opportunity.
Now is the time to make diversity a reality and allow all our people to prosper.
Finally, we must be bold. We must free ourselves of the shackles that come with limiting our sights to simply whatever fits into the old notion of "the way things have always been done."
Now is the time.
I think if we view these challenges and changes as opportunities, profound improvements can come our way over the next four years - and I am genuinely optimistic that they will.
In his second annual message to Congress in 1862, Abraham Lincoln said, "The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew."
Two hundred years ago South Carolinians like Rutledge, Lynch, Middleton and Heyward pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to a new form of government, and the question for each one of us is what will we commit.
In our collective hands are the keys to change. I need your help. I need not only the full participation of everyone gathered here today - but more powerfully the participation of citizens across this state.
Indeed in our collective hands are the keys to change.
Printed Page 208 . . . . . Wednesday, January 10, 2007
I look forward to working with you over the next four years to prepare our state for the next four decades. Together we can, and together we must.

God Bless America                   Arranged by Jay Bocook

Benedict College Concert Choir
The Furman Singers
The South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities Chamber and All-School Choirs
Dr. Bingham Vick, Jr., Conductor

Benediction                       Dr. Bob Jones III

RECESSIONAL

RETURNED WITH CONCURRENCE

The Senate returned to the House with concurrence the following:

H. 3181 (Word version) -- Reps. Scott, Bales, Ballentine, Brady, Cotty, Harrison, Hart, Howard, J. H. Neal, Rutherford, J. E. Smith, Agnew, Alexander, Allen, Anderson, Anthony, Bannister, Barfield, Battle, Bedingfield, Bingham, Bowen, Bowers, Branham, Brantley, Breeland, G. Brown, R. Brown, Cato, Ceips, Chalk, Chellis, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Coleman, Cooper, Crawford, Dantzler, Davenport, Delleney, Duncan, Edge, Frye, Funderburk, Gambrell, Govan, Gullick, Hagood, Haley, Hamilton, Hardwick, Harrell, Harvin, Haskins, Hayes, Herbkersman, Hinson, Hiott, Hodges, Hosey, Huggins, Jefferson, Jennings, Kelly, Kennedy, Kirsh, Knight, Leach, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Loftis, Lowe, Lucas, Mack, Mahaffey, McLeod, Merrill, Miller, Mitchell, Moody-Lawrence, Moss, Mulvaney, J. M. Neal, Neilson, Ott, Owens, Parks, Perry, Phillips, Pinson, E. H. Pitts, M. A. Pitts, Rice, Sandifer, Scarborough, Sellers, Shoopman, Simrill, Skelton, D. C. Smith, F. N. Smith, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, J. R. Smith, W. D. Smith, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stewart, Talley, Taylor, Thompson, Toole, Umphlett, Vick, Viers, Walker, Weeks, Whipper, White, Whitmire, Williams, Witherspoon and Young: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND THE BLYTHEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY FOOTBALL TEAM FOR ITS OUTSTANDING SEASON AND FOR CAPTURING THE CLASS AAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE,

Printed Page 209 . . . . . Wednesday, January 10, 2007
AND TO HONOR THE TEAM'S EXCEPTIONAL PLAYERS, COACHES, AND STAFF.

H. 3183 (Word version) -- Reps. G. R. Smith and Bedingfield: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE THE 2006 HILLCREST HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY GIRLS VOLLEYBALL TEAM ON WINNING THE CLASS AAAA VOLLEYBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, COMMEND THE PLAYERS, COACHES, AND STAFF OF THE 2006 HILLCREST HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS VOLLEYBALL TEAM FOR A SEASON OF SPIRITED COMPETITION, INSPIRING PERSEVERANCE, AND TREMENDOUS ACHIEVEMENT, AND TO WISH THEM EVERY SUCCESS IN THEIR FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

H. 3186 (Word version) -- Rep. Scott: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO HONOR THE RICHLAND COUNTY RECREATION COMMISSION ON BEING AWARDED NATIONAL AGENCY ACCREDITATION BY THE COMMISSION ON THE ACCREDITATION OF PARK AND RECREATION AGENCIES, AND TO COMMEND THE AGENCY FOR THE OUTSTANDING WORK AND DEDICATION IT HAS INVESTED IN SERVING THE RESIDENTS OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

H. 3187 (Word version) -- Reps. Scott, Agnew, Alexander, Allen, Anderson, Anthony, Bales, Ballentine, Bannister, Barfield, Battle, Bedingfield, Bingham, Bowen, Bowers, Brady, Branham, Brantley, Breeland, G. Brown, R. Brown, Cato, Ceips, Chalk, Chellis, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Coleman, Cooper, Cotty, Crawford, Dantzler, Davenport, Delleney, Duncan, Edge, Frye, Funderburk, Gambrell, Govan, Gullick, Hagood, Haley, Hamilton, Hardwick, Harrell, Harrison, Hart, Harvin, Haskins, Hayes, Herbkersman, Hinson, Hiott, Hodges, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Jennings, Kelly, Kennedy, Kirsh, Knight, Leach, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Loftis, Lowe, Lucas, Mack, Mahaffey, McLeod, Merrill, Miller, Mitchell, Moody-Lawrence, Moss, Mulvaney, J. H. Neal, J. M. Neal, Neilson, Ott, Owens, Parks, Perry, Phillips, Pinson, E. H. Pitts, M. A. Pitts, Rice, Rutherford, Sandifer, Scarborough, Sellers, Shoopman, Simrill, Skelton, D. C. Smith, F. N. Smith, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, J. R. Smith, W. D. Smith, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stewart, Talley, Taylor, Thompson, Toole, Umphlett, Vick, Viers, Walker, Weeks, Whipper, White, Whitmire, Williams, Witherspoon and

Printed Page 210 . . . . . Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Young: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING BLYTHEWOOD LINEBACKER CHARLES WHITE OF RICHLAND COUNTY ON BEING NAMED TO THE STATE NEWSPAPER'S 2006 ALL-STATE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM.

H. 3188 (Word version) -- Reps. Scott, Agnew, Alexander, Allen, Anderson, Anthony, Bales, Ballentine, Bannister, Barfield, Battle, Bedingfield, Bingham, Bowen, Bowers, Brady, Branham, Brantley, Breeland, G. Brown, R. Brown, Cato, Ceips, Chalk, Chellis, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Coleman, Cooper, Cotty, Crawford, Dantzler, Davenport, Delleney, Duncan, Edge, Frye, Funderburk, Gambrell, Govan, Gullick, Hagood, Haley, Hamilton, Hardwick, Harrell, Harrison, Hart, Harvin, Haskins, Hayes, Herbkersman, Hinson, Hiott, Hodges, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Jennings, Kelly, Kennedy, Kirsh, Knight, Leach, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Loftis, Lowe, Lucas, Mack, Mahaffey, McLeod, Merrill, Miller, Mitchell, Moody-Lawrence, Moss, Mulvaney, J. H. Neal, J. M. Neal, Neilson, Ott, Owens, Parks, Perry, Phillips, Pinson, E. H. Pitts, M. A. Pitts, Rice, Rutherford, Sandifer, Scarborough, Sellers, Shoopman, Simrill, Skelton, D. C. Smith, F. N. Smith, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, J. R. Smith, W. D. Smith, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stewart, Talley, Taylor, Thompson, Toole, Umphlett, Vick, Viers, Walker, Weeks, Whipper, White, Whitmire, Williams, Witherspoon and Young: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING WIDE RECEIVER MARQUAN JONES OF RICHLAND COUNTY ON BEING NAMED TO THE STATE NEWSPAPER'S 2006 ALL-STATE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM.

ADJOURNMENT

At 12:20 p.m. the House, in accordance with the motion of Rep. HASKINS, adjourned in memory of Dr. Walter Fremont of Greenville, to meet at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow.

***

This web page was last updated on Monday, June 22, 2009 at 1:37 P.M.