DCDP

The aggressive strategy of the SCDP is making the news lately.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry announced his presidential campaign from right nearby in Charleston. And right across the street from the facility where Perry made the announcement were a couple of Dorchester Dems, who celebrated with a tongue-in-cheek theme.

Elizabeth Montgomery, an active Democrat in nearby Georgetown County, was one of four Americans who won a trip to the president's recent birthday bash!

(click here to read about it in local press)

After signing a controversial Voter ID bill into law earlier this year, South Carolina’s Gov. Nikki Haley has been quick to rebut criticism with promises of aid.

"Find me those people who think that this is invading their rights — find — and I will go take them to the DMV myself and help them get that picture ID,” Haley told Greenville’s FOX Carolina.

And just the other day Robert Tucker, a senior Carolinian and Army veteran, did just that.

But to no avail. He called the governor’s office, only to speak to staff who didn’t know what Tucker was talking about.  Haley’s office declined to aid the senior.

(click here to read the entire story, as well as see the video produced by the SCDP)

Yesterday, South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Dick Harpootlian called on Congressman Tim Scott (R - SC District 1) to apologize for his irresponsible remark that, in his opinion, using the Fourteenth Amendment to ignore the debt ceiling would be "an impeachable act" on the part of President Obama.

Democrat Hirak Pati thinks impeachment and removal would be a more appropriate punishment of the lieutenant governor's dishonesty than just a monetary fine.

In an astounding vote of no-confidence from Democrats as well as many Republicans, 25 of Gov. Nikki Haley's 34 line-item budget vetoes were overriden yesterday.

In a rare moment of complete agreement, state senators and representatives unanimously approved a bill that would address a recognized need in South Carolina. On June 1, they passed S. 588 – a motion to improve the care for and prevention of strokes in the state, which has one of the highest rates of this medical malady and resultant death nationwide.

On June 14, however, Gov. Haley vetoed the bill.

The State Assembly recently passed a bill requiring all voters display a valid identification with photograph in order to participate on election days, a motion that leaves the voting rights of over 178,000 South Carolinians in jeopardy.

A voter who lacks a state-issued photo ID, or whose ID is expired, will not be able to cast a traditional vote on election days after the bill is officially enacted, following its review by the U.S. Dept. of Justice.

While many are attempting to challenge this measure before it goes into effect, there may still be a loophole, however – absentee voting by mail.

There's no such thing as good will for Gov. Haley, though - even when it comes to her own party.

As he had promised, Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell (R - Charleston) filed suit against Gov. Nikki Haley on Monday, rather than call the state Senate to order in a special session as the governor had requested.

Now it has come to light that all but about $18,500 of that money is still sitting there and that there are no plans to use it.

By the narrowest of margins, the Education Opportunity Act, which would have given parents voucher-like tax credits to send their children to private schools, went down to defeat in the S.C. House.

Yesterday we heard some very good news for public education in South Carolina - the defeat of the Education Opportunity Act. Today, though, there's some bad news...

Melissa Watson, Chair of the Berkeley County Democratic Party and recently elected Second Vice Chair of the state party, sent the following message to South Carolina Democrats today. It contains important information about the Voter ID Act and how it will impact our voter registration drives.

A planned Tea Party rally on the State House steps, at which hundreds of Tea Party conservatives were anticipated, fizzled to around thirty attendees after would-be candidate Donald Trump spurned them. Meanwhile, Gov. Haley is appointing a citizens' advisory committee made up entirely of Tea Party stalwarts.

The Election Laws Subcommittee of the South Carolina House of Representatives has released its proposed plan for redrawing state and federal House districts.

After serving as Executive Director of the South Carolina Democratic Party for the past three years, Jay Parmley will leave his post and head to North Carolina after the state convention this weekend.

ACTION NEEDED NOW!!   PLEASE, if you oppose using public (taxpayer's) money to fund vouchers for private school students, CALL the members of the Senate Education Committee ASAP--at least by Thursday. Their names are listed below. Click on names to get phone numbers  If you write it might be too late.  Voice your opinion on this bill. 

For those who were wondering whatever happened Monday night at the County Council meeting, see this article from the Summerville Journal Scene.

When it was finally made public that Gov. Haley had removed philanthropist Darla Moore from the USC Board of Trustees, many feared Ms. Moore would get offended and withdraw her generous support from the University and the state. Nothing could be farther from the truth, since it turns out that Darla Moore well out-classes our new governor.

Our own Rob Groce reports on his blog that buried in H.R. 1135, the "Welfare Reform Act of 2011," is a provision that would prohibit a family from receiving food stamps if any of its adult members is a union member on strike. S.C. House District 1's Congressman Tim Scott is a co-sponsor.

Please let Congressman Scott know we won't let him get away with this under-the-radar attack on unions.

Two more interesting pieces of news were reported about our governor today: first, a list of the campaign donors she has appointed to various boards and other positions, and second, how she is remaking the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) board in the image of her pro-corporation, anti-conservation views.

Today at 12:15, Darla Moore will speak to students and other supporters in Columbia. She will thank the rallying students for their support; it is unclear what else, if anything, she will say on the subject of the governor or her future on the board.

Your frustration with traffic jams in the Summerville area isn't all in your head. Now that the 2010 census numbers have been released, it turns out the Dorchester County is the fastest-growing county in the state, and Summerville is the fastest-growing medium-sized or large-sized municipality.

On Monday, March 21, at 7:00pm in Summerville, the County Council will hear and vote on the third reading of a proposed ordinance that would allow the Republican majority on Council to pack the Transportation Authority with their friends and deny representation on the all-important committee to thousands of Dorchester County residents.

Governor Haley's very bad week began with a strong backlash from her plan to grade legislators.  Her misguided effort was criticized as an arrogant attempt to pressure elected leaders, who work for their constituents and are not accountable to anyone else including the Governor. 

This was only the beginning.

Gov. Haley has replaced Darla Moore, native South Carolina multi-millionaire and generous patron of USC and its business school, with an attorney who contributed $4500 to her campaign.

In state capitals all over the U.S., vital government functions like education and care for the disabled are in grave danger of cuts, thanks to irresponsible GOP grand-standing. Check out this website: http://democrats.senate.gov/gopplan/. You can click on any state (including South Carolina) and view a PDF document detailing budget cuts proposed by Republican lawmakers.

Looking for a little inspiration as we fight political battles on the local level? Look no further than Bell, California.

Next Wednesday, March 16, Governor Nikki Haley plans to hold a town hall-style forum in Charleston, at the College of Charleston's Randolph Hall. She will talk about her plans for the state and "accomplishments" so far in her term, and presumably listen to comments and answer questions.

Every day, we get more information about the effect GOP-proposed state budget cuts will have on ordinary South Carolinians.

S.C. House Republicans, cheered on by Gov. Nikki Haley, passed a bill that would grant enormous new powers to the state's governor. It would move many duties of the Budget and Control Board to the new Department of Administration, which would answer to the governor. It would also put on the ballot two amendments to the state constitution.

If you would like to attend with other Democrats from your area, please contact Clayton Seufert ASAP at seufertc@hotmail.com.

On March 12, join a broad coalition of faith-based and progressive groups in Columbia to demand a moral budget - one that allows the state to care for its most vulnerable citizens.

It seems that Lt. Gov. Ken Ard is digging himself even deeper into the hole in which he found himself after the State Ethics Commission announced it was investigating him for expenditures of campaign funds made after the general election.

At the last County Council meeting, a proposed smoking ban was defeated. (The Town of Summerville passed its own smoking ban last week.) That proposed ordinance could be taken up again in the future, but newly elected Councilman David Chinnis (District 2) plans to introduce a new proposal that would require businesses to post signs clearly indicating whether or not they allow smoking. This will most likely be taken up at the next meeting, to be held this Monday night, Feb. 7,  at 7:00 in St. George.

Technically, the proposal isn't a "vouchers" plan, because it doesn't give each student's family a set amount of money to spend on private education. Instead, it gives a tax credit for money spent on tuition.

Bauer's replacement, Republican Ken Ard of Florence, may not have his flair for showmanship, but he's found himself under investigation in record time.

Sending the strong message that Democrats haven't given up on the South, the Democratic National Committee has decided to hold its 2012 convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Jay Byars, newly elected to the Dorchester County Council, is apparently in over his head already. Reporting on last night's County Council meeting, the Post and Courier noticed that "An hour into the meeting, the new councilman got that stunned look in his eye."

Courtesy of the South Carolina Democratic Party, here are some "talking points" summarizing what President Obama will likely say in his speech tonight.

Columbia – This evening, President Obama delivered his State of the Union Address.  Following the President's address South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Carol Fowler released the following statement:

The profoundly disabled will be some of the first South Carolinians to suffer from budget cuts proposed by the Governor and the legislature, reports the Post and Courier.

Last week in her first State of the State address, Gov. Nikki Haley proposed a raft of controversial budget cuts that ought to energize Republicans in the legislature but do little to address the state's overall financial crisis.

Following Gov. Haley's call to eliminate state funding for ETV and the Arts Commission, these beloved organizations stand ready to defend their vital importance to South Carolina.

Republicans are at it again this session, trying to push through voting ID legislation while everyone's paying attention to the budget crisis.

Please contact your legislators by Tuesday to ask them to reject both the House and Senate versions of the "voter ID legislation" now being considered. If passed, voter identification requirements will make it harder for senior citizens, students, and rural residents to vote; result in disenfranchisement for anyone whose appearance is has changed significantly since his or her last driver's license photo; and result in more expensive elections and longer lines at the polls. It's quick and easy and important - take action now!

A big new round of education stimulus funding is coming from the Federal government.  Trouble is, South Carolina and Texas are not eligible because of the cuts they have made in state budgets (for South Carolina, it's higher education cuts). 
Rep. Clyburn has a bill to fix it pending in Congress, but Sen. Jim DeMint is blocking it.  About 2600 teaching jobs are at stake.

On Sunday, October 3, a day after Democrats got "fired up" at the Alice Cicenia Dinner with our candidate for Lieutenant Governor, Ashley Cooper, gubernatorial candidate Vincent Sheheen joined Dorchester County Democrats at the St. Paul Campground in Harleyville. Read all about it in the Eagle-Record here.

Recent revelations have cast doubt on Republican gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley's claim that she voluntarily left her job as a hospital foundation fundraiser to campaign full-time, and that there was nothing inappropriate about her filling that position while serving as a state legislator.

An enthusiastic crowd of Democrats, from Dorchester County and elsewhere, got together last Saturday night to eat delicious food, enjoy camaraderie with their fellow Democrats, hear from Lieutenant Governor hopeful Ashley Cooper, and raise money to help us elect Democrats in November.

Christine Jackson's opponent, Dorchester County Councilman Chris Murphy, has always voted
in support of rich developers who want taxpayers to pay for their developments and enhance
their profits.

On Sunday, August 29, Dorchester Democrats celebrated the grand opening of our Ridgeville headquarters.

Please take a look at this article in the Summerville Journal Scene about our fantastic Democratic Women's group here in Dorchester County. These folks have made a commitment to cook a delicious, healthy meal each month for the residents of Palmetto House.

Democrat Frank Holleman and Republican Mick Zais, contenders for the position of Superintendent of Education, will debate live on ETV Radio on Monday, Sept. 20, at 7:00pm.

Nikki Haley, the Republicans' candidate for governor, is afraid to debate our candidate, Vincent Sheheen, openly and on the issues.

The historic election of President Barack Obama and the major gains the Democrats achieved during the last elections have brought about some of the most ridiculous claims and innuendoes ever to be unleashed on an American political office-holder.

Writing on behalf of a bi-partisan group of women who have long hoped
to see a qualified woman governor of South Carolina.  Alas, Nikki Haley is
not that woman.

These right-wingers are spreading the same myths they did during George Bush's privatization scheme, saying Social Security is in crisis, it's going bankrupt, and it's adding to the deficit.

Chrissy Jackson is the Education and Enviroment Candidate for Dorchester County.    If you believe in strong PUBLIC EDUCATION and a strong environmental sound county -- Vote of Chrissy Jackson in November for House District 98.  Vist her web page!

http://www.jacksonforsc.com/

Kenny Waggoner, stalwart of the Dorchester County Council is runing for re-election against George Bailey, two-time loser to State House Representative Patsy Knight.  Vote on November 2 and re-elect Kenny Waggoner to County Council!