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August 19, 2008

Education/Workforce Development:

• Continue work addressing parental involvement
• Address K-12 School Funding, especially concerns about how schools are funded
  Make sure that the playing field is level
• Support increased funding for higher education
• To compete internationally, graduates need a first class education
• Better maintain school facilities, especially in the Corridor of Shame
• Support a quality, first class education system, and do not cut back on funding
• Increase incentives for recruiting and retaining teachers
• Support a statewide program to teach the Constitution in public schools
• Support a program to teach students in the public school system about taxes and where their money will go in the future
• Address procedural barriers in how schools/programs can use state and federal funds

Tax Reform:

• Comprehensive tax reform is needed, but oppose piecemeal approaches
• Address K-12 education funding in tax reform
• Address negative issues created by Act 388, and consider spending caps

Healthcare:

• Support increasing the state cigarette tax
  Do not let the disagreements on how to spend the extra tax dollars get in the way of passing the increase
  Medicaid is better than no insurance
• Address the nursing shortage, and provide more funds for the recruitment and retention of skilled nurses

Infrastructure:

• Address the shift of funds for infrastructure, and make sure that the area gets its fair share of dollars

Tourism:

• Address the shift of tourism dollars to other parts of the state
• Support rural tourism, and remember that tourism can grow more inland than on the coast

Environment and Energy:

• Address the quality of water in lakes
• Support a comprehensive statewide water plan
• Support offshore drilling
• Consider reducing the speed limit to 55 mph to conserve energy
• Provide incentives to industries that use alternative fuels
• Address landfill capacity issues, and incentivize industries to examine alternatives

Economic Development:

• Strengthen the relationship and interaction between the South Carolina Department of Commerce and local economic development entities.

Other:

• Require employers to support breast feeding in the workplace
• Support strong cities because they are a vital part of the puzzle
  Do not micromanage them from Columbia
  Think about how legislation impacts cities and local governments

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August 18, 2008

Education/Workforce Development:

• In a highly competitive global economy, it is essential that the South Carolina workforce demonstrate high level skills in English, especially literacy and technology
• Let's use innovative technology to create a virtual delivery system with easy access
• In order to be safe and keep others safe, non-English-speaking new arrivals in South Carolina should be actively involved in acquiring English language skills, including literacy
• Address the chronically unemployed, and support more publicity about where the unemployed can get connected and trained
• Continue support of the knowledge economy including: the Endowed Chairs program, the Hydrogen Infrastructure Development Act, and Industry Partnership Funds
• Support programs that encourage students to consider technical careers
• Support funding for Personal Pathways to Success
• Address underfunded areas like the Corridor of Shame
• Support more incentives to recruit quality teachers
• Address the low pay scale for teachers

Economic Development:

• Support the forestry industry, which is struggling with overseas competition
• Continue work on workers’ compensation reform and tort reform because there is still work to be done
• Continue support of military bases, and consider the state’s attitude towards the military
  Maintain focus for making life easier for soldiers in South Carolina by addressing issues like tuition, licenses for trades, etc.
• Support more resources and flexibility for economic development incentives
• Continue to be a small business advocate so that industry doesn’t just survive but will thrive
  Keep the business climate healthy and taxes low so that small business owners can develop new products and services, find new markets inside and outside the state and generate well-paying jobs

Tax Reform:

• Support comprehensive tax reform, and address the burdens that Act 388 has placed on the business community
• Support a comprehensive review of the tax system and an independent tax study committee.
  As health care costs continue to rise, do not raise business taxes in the process

Healthcare:

• Continue to promote a cigarette tax increase, and consider using funds for a Medicaid match and reducing smoking rates
• Support alternative health care plans like health savings accounts
• Address health care issues for seniors, especially seniors not getting accepted by physicians because of certain health plans

Infrastructure:

• Invest in roads and bridges, and address deterioration and safety issues
  Do not rely solely on the gasoline tax to fund infrastructure
• Support transit in the state by making an investment
• Communicate the fact that construction costs have increased significantly but funding for roads has not
  South Carolinians are losing construction jobs, so it is also an economic development issue

Tourism:

• Support investment in destination marketing, and let the legislature know how important tourism investment is

Environment and Energy:

• Examine future fuels and alternative energy in generating electricity and running automobiles
  South Carolina has an opportunity to be a leader in hydrogen
• Support research into hydrogen fuel cells
• Ensure affordable and available water, and address water issues
• Focus more on dollars and cents in the climate change issue
• Support the fact that there are economically based reasons to build lean
• Support investment into nuclear energy and IOU’s
• Reduce energy consumption by lowering the speed limit to 55 mph

Other:

• Support a consumer protection bill that addresses real estate appraiser coercion.

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August 21, 2008

Education/Workforce Development:

• Address issues caused by retiring workforce to ensure the transfer of experience and knowledge
• Support succession management programs to replace retiring workers, and include a long-term view on planning
• Address procedural barriers that do not exist in other states in how educational institutions and programs can use state and federal funds
• Support stability in state funding for education
• In retooling South Carolina, work on all levels of education
• Address high tuition costs, and encourage the state to invest more dollars
• Address the nursing shortage, and improve pay for instructors
  South Carolina needs to recruit from within, not overseas
• 4-K age children and younger need more broad-based educational help earlier. Budget cuts are hurting children’s educational programs
  Support programs that work with kids earlier
• Train citizens on what information on the Web is beneficial and what information is not
• For those locating in the state and seeking second careers, online training is adequate but not enough
  Help these adults navigate through the latest technology to aid workforce development
• Address the educational needs of the existing workforce
• Second language curriculum must be taught much earlier for students to compete in a global workforce

Economic Development:

• Focus on research in the knowledge economy
• Support eliminating blue laws
• Continue work on a fair and balanced workers’ compensation system. There is still work to be done
• Examine regulations of programs like ReadySC, which require a certain amount of jobs being created before incentives are awarded
• The South Carolina Department of Commerce (DOC) has lost focus and needs to be rebuilt from the ground up
  Give the DOC the tools to make South Carolina globally competitive
• Protect South Carolina’s union-free status, and strongly oppose the Employee Free Choice Act
• As real estate investment declines, prices are going up
  Encourage positive communications to attract people to South Carolina
• Support legislative initiatives to address lending practices and foreclosure rules for sales

Tax Reform:

• Support comprehensive tax reform, and address problems that Act 388 caused for businesses and schools

Healthcare:

• Support the Allied Healthcare Initiative
• Increase the cigarette tax, and use some of the dollars for nursing recruitment
• Address the small numbers of ambulances and first responders
  More are needed

Infrastructure:

• Support transit funding, and invest state dollars to garner the federal match
• Increase funds for roads and bridges
• Comprehensively plan for infrastructure needs of the future
  Look at long-term solutions as construction costs soar but gas tax revenues remain flat.
• Comprehensively address long-term water and power needs
• Appropriate a dedicated stream of funding for the State Infrastructure Bank
• Support a state Capital Improvement Bond

Environment and Energy:

• Address water usage and allocation issues
• Support cutting edge research in nuclear and hydrogen production
• Address unnecessary, activist regulations on building/land use/wetlands protection/etc. that add costs to development
• Keep the momentum on hydrogen development
• Address environmental requirements by the EPA that are inhibiting the development of water treatment plants.

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August 20, 2008

Education/Workforce Development:

• Education attention/funding needs to include comprehensive colleges, such as Winthrop, that can compete to provide teachers and professionals for the state
• Include four-year institutions along with technical colleges and research institutions in Competitiveness Agenda
• Support a comprehensive review of K-16
• Support library at Winthrop as major capital need
• As a state, support recommendations to move the education system forward and away from the 1970’s model of funding that we currently use
• Oppose transferring public funds to private schools
• Continue to support funding for Personal Pathways to Success (EEDA)
• Support an Enterprise Campus Authority, and give them flexibility to partner with businesses to allow a leverage of resources
• Support increased education funding for high growth areas
• Support home rule in choosing school calendars. Local areas should be able to determine rules
• Support teachers receiving PACT test results earlier, perhaps in late-May

Economic Development:

• Border counties need to be funded more to support economic development
• Address unemployment rates
• Support incentives for commercial and industrial growth in border counties
• Examine outdated/too strict building regulations that deter industry from locating in areas.

Tax Reform:

• Support comprehensive tax reform
• Examine the negative impacts of Act 388
• Correct the formula for the distribution of education funds
• Oppose point of sale reassessment/taxation methods
• Oppose instituting local spending caps at the state level
• Support lowering taxes on businesses

Infrastructure:

• Oppose using sales tax on roads to fund infrastructure because it penalizes education. Instead, consider tapping surpluses
• Support increased infrastructure funding for growth areas

Tourism:

• Continue support of regional tourism organizations, not just on the coast

Environment and Energy:

• Streamline processes at the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), and support strong leadership at the organization

Other:

• Support legislation allowing breastfeeding in the workplace
• Support home rule, giving local areas the opportunity to control their individual needs
• Try to overcome problems like obesity, violence, drugs, rising costs and unemployment

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August 28, 2008

• Education/Workforce Development:
• Support Personal Pathways to Success, and engage superintendents.
• Educate legislature on equitable funding for school districts.
• Support education improvements.
• Support apprenticeships and technical worker training.

Economic Development:

• Continue to support expansion of the ports.
• Support economic development incentives.
• Protect and promote forest land and related jobs.
• Address wholesale distribution and relocation to North Carolina.

Tax Reform:

• Support comprehensive tax reform and a tax study commission.

Healthcare:

• Support increasing the state’s cigarette tax.
• Support breastfeeding in the workplace.
• Address state healthcare needs.

Infrastructure:

• Examine negative impacts of moving the sales tax on vehicles from the General Fund to infrastructure.
• Examine funding for mass transit.
• Promote tax incentives for employees that use mass transit.

Tourism:

• Address the TMPP restrictions for smaller locations including eliminating small festivals, which are important to communities.
• Environment and Energy:
• Promote the hydrogen economy.

Other:

• Support annexation reform.

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August 27, 2008

Education/Workforce Development:

• Address the high number of high-school dropouts that are pregnant, and support the Prevention First package.
• Address funding for schools on the state level.
• Address underemployed in the state and the interaction with the courts and probation officers.
• Identify businesses that need workers.
• Address inconsistencies in lottery funding. Encourage legislature to set specific amounts for students, a fixed lottery amount.
• Support keeping the state’s young people in South Carolina to work and live. Support better student loan repayment programs, stipends for certain occupations, increased wages, mentoring opportunities and incentives for businesses owned by young women.
• Address programs for at-risk young adults.
• Support early childhood education.
• Capture outpouring military to stay in South Carolina. Market the business community to these workers to keep the talent here.
• Address job loss in the construction industry.
• Provide a better mechanism for building and maintaining schools.
• Support a bond bill for institution facility improvements.

Economic Development:

• Eliminate blue laws.
• Support film incentives, especially those from 2006.
• Support developing creative industries.
• Provide support for a healthy port system.
• Support a Charleston-area distribution center cluster.
• Expand and build trade, education and job centers.

Tax Reform:

• Support comprehensive tax reform, and address shifts caused by Act 388.
• Oppose point of sale assessments, and examine the entire picture in tax reform.

Healthcare:

• Support incentives to recruit skilled nurses, and support facility funding.
• Protect breastfeeding in the workplace, and support legislation in 2009 to address this.
• Address medical establishment needs to support assisted living. Examine a possible cluster.

Infrastructure:

• Address transportation needs in rural areas.
• Support moving sales tax to fund roads.
• Focus on the national Highway Trust Fund and matching funds.
• Expand public transportation.
• Address which entities have the authority to build (cities, counties, state).
• Examine a sustainable source of revenue for roads.
• Begin addressing the state’s rail needs. Use a sister city in Europe as a model.
• Support making roads more bike and pedestrian friendly.

Tourism:

• Support advertising and marketing funding for tourism.
• Fully fund the 2 to 1 match for destination specific marketing.
• Protect the accommodations tax.
• Examine the distribution of sales taxes.

Environment and Energy:

• Recruit more environmental businesses to the state, and support incentives.
• Ensure that nuclear/coal fire plants get built.
• Address solid waste needs.
• Provide easier ways to sell back solar power.
• Continue to support the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Other:

• Increase the state’s minimum wage.
• Support providing services to people in need.

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August 28, 2008

Education/Workforce Development:

• Address “soft skills” like attitude, interaction, discipline, etc. There is a disconnect in students being ready for the workforce.

Economic Development:

• Address tort reform and regulatory issues. Reduce some of the legal hurdles/lawsuit abuse for businesses.
• Continue work on workers’ compensation reform, the Second Injury Fund, and NCCI increases.
• Support the Small Business Administration as an economic development partner for businesses.
• Aid in explaining immigration laws to employers.

Tax Reform:

• Support comprehensive tax reform.

Healthcare:

• Increase the state cigarette tax.
• Address the uninsured cost-shifts to small businesses.
• Support more affordable healthcare and reform initiatives.
• Support a Small Business Cooperative Health Plan at the federal level. Sole proprietors were not eligible to be part of the South Carolina plan.
• Oppose band-aid approaches that address symptoms, not causes (i.e. increasing the cigarette tax).
• Examine a comprehensive solution to the health care crisis.
• Examine the many state health care mandates.
• Support South Carolinians going to other states to purchase health insurance.

Address escalating health care costs, and support employers to keep employees insured.

Infrastructure:

• Support highway funding and dollars for Interstate 73.
• Address airport needs and increasing the number of tourists as prices go up.

Tourism:

• Support recurring funding for the tourism industry.
• Support incentives to attract tourists to South Carolina.

Environment and Energy:

• Support a state law protecting smaller oil companies from mixing ethanol. Big oil companies are trying to get it reversed. Support the legislation that was passed.
• Support long-term state incentives to encourage alternative energy.

Other:

• Examine annexation laws.

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August 27, 2008

Education/Workforce Development:

• Find quality technical employees, using the universities and chambers of commerce as resources. Promote careers in the industry.
• Address the exodus of the Latino population, and encourage replacements for these jobs.
• Move adult education to technical colleges.
• Address school funding issues, and invest in higher education.
• Support a bond bill to address school facilities to compete with other states.
• Aid schools in buying into Personal Pathways to Success, and help make it work.
• Address the high level of unemployment in the state, and provide a pathway for people to return to the workforce.
• Support Junior Achievement, and show kids at an early age that they have a choice.
• Support a comprehensive vision study addressing the state’s retiring workforce.
• Address inequities in the amount of education funding that the Lowcountry receives back from the state.

Economic Development:

• Amend South Carolina Department of Commerce incentives to fit into the high-tech industry, and review recommended changes.
• Support the Alliance’s Legislative Agenda.
• Support the Small Business Administration.
• Convince the state that the Jasper port is a statewide economic resource.
• Support military bases and mechanisms for systems to purchase property.
• Support limited liability corporations as an important economic development tool.
• Educate businesses on how 2008-passed immigration reform affects them.
• Address commercial and development taxes.
• Support a bi-state study on port needs.
• Support hiring South Carolinians, not out-of-state workers.

Tax Reform:

• Support comprehensive tax reform.
• Balance full-time and part-time resident taxes, and do not stifle sellers with point of sale provisions.
• Oppose knee-jerk reactions to tax reform, and oppose spending caps.

Healthcare:

• Support excellent health care, and address the jump in noninsured rates.
• Support small business collaboration in purchasing health insurance.
• Support universal health care in South Carolina.
• Support increasing the state cigarette tax.

Infrastructure:

• Address transportation needs of getting employees to and from work, and examine bus systems.
• Support increasing the gasoline tax.
• Fund the South Carolina Department of Transportation adequately.
• Support infrastructure improvements to accompany port expansion.
• Oppose 48-foot dredge permit.
• Support rail to accompany Jasper port expansion.
• Address the condition of interstates and congestion.
• Support a multimodal transportation trust fund with no earmarks that is separate from the General Fund.
• Support more emphasis on where transportation needs are versus total geographic equity.

Tourism:

• Maintain and/or increase tourism funding, and lower the 2 to 1 local/state match.
• Provide more affordable housing for hospitality workers.

Environment and Energy:

• Support offshore drilling at 50 miles offshore.
• Oppose offshore drilling.
• Support the efforts of the Coastal Conservation League, and support land trusts. Preserve environment for tourism and quality of life.
• Support a comprehensive energy plan.

Other:

• Support annexation reform.
• Address annexation laws that are too easy.

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September 8, 2008

Education/Workforce Development:

• Support Personal Pathways to Success, and identify key issues to connect communities and business.
• Expand training options for workforce development. Consider distance learning.
• Streamline/expand virtual schools process.
• Support four-year-old kindergarten for all children.
• Examine the quality and availability of child care.
• Support continued funding of training for the workforce (i.e. QuickJobs).
• Support a strategy for marketing for the manufacturing industry in South Carolina. Educate citizens on “new manufacturing.” Increase skill sets.
• Continue funding of technical colleges, and oppose budget cuts.
• Raise the level of workforce.
• Address issues related to child care licensing laws, and work towards a strategy for a dedicated funding stream.

Economic Development:

• Continue to allow local governments the ability to make decisions on economic development.
• Address tort liability and continue to improve workers’ compensation reform with strict guidelines on AMA.
• Reduce business costs.
• Oppose any long-term new taxes on businesses.

Tax Reform:

• Revisit Act 388, and support comprehensive tax reform.
• Support state spending caps (not local caps).
• Continue to pressure the Executive Branch and General Assembly on taxation issues.
• Support tax incentives for companies that invest in recruiting and green initiatives.
• Provide necessary resources for cities.
• Support government restructuring.

Health Care:

• Support health insurance for employees, and address high costs.
• Support more efforts in small business health care pooling.
• Support the Covering Carolina Collaborative efforts.
• Support equitable solutions to health care where everyone pays.
• Address Medicaid costs and the match.
• Support increasing the state cigarette tax.

Infrastructure:

• Support a dedicated funding source for roads and bridges.
• Address interstate needs. Support the widening of I-85.
• Support an increase in the motor fuel user fee.
• Encourage Congress to reauthorize federal funding for infrastructure.

Tourism:

• Support regional tourism efforts and a fair share of funding for the Upstate.

Environment and Energy:

• Support incentives for biofuels, and correct current language around incentives.
• Support the surface water withdrawal bill.
• Support nuclear power in South Carolina, and examine the DHEC permitting process.
• Support offshore drilling.