PoliTick-Tock

Bill would require more proof to vote

Here's an article from The Associated Press that our readers will probably find interesting. It was written by Seanna Adcox, who just won staffer of the year for AP.

COLUMBIA | Anyone registering to vote in South Carolina would have to show a passport, birth certificate or naturalization documents under a bill being pushed by Republican lawmakers.

Supporters of the bill say it will protect elections by ensuring illegal immigrants or other noncitizens can't cast a ballot. Critics say it's just a GOP move to hassle people who might vote for Democrats.

The measure would apply only to people registering after it becomes law, not voters already on the rolls.

"The only people stifled from voting are those who can't legally vote," said Rep. Alan Clemmons, who leads a subcommittee that approved the measure earlier this year.

By law, only citizens can vote. Clemmons said requiring residents to verify what they put on their voter application form is not a burden. "It's a simple matter to produce a birth certificate," the Myrtle Beach Republican said, adding he'll volunteer to help secure one for any South Carolinian without it.

State lawmakers to speak to Myrtle Beach GOP

Four state lawmakers from the Myrtle Beach area are slated to speak to the newly formed Myrtle Beach Republican Club later this month.

State Reps. Alan Clemmons and Thad Viers and state Sens. Ray Cleary and Luke Rankin will all speak about possible new laws before the state legislature.

Among the issues they'll address are: immigration, the state budget, tax cuts, roads and bridges, education, healthcare for small businesses, and spending caps. 

There is no charge and the meeting is open to the public.

WHAT | Myrtle Beach Republican Club legislative forum

WHEN | 6 p.m., Monday, Feb. 18

WHERE | Paradise Resort, 2201 South Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach.

For further information, contact Mary Henry at 444-4364 or myrtlebeachrepublicanclub@gmail.com.

South Strand GOP hosts legislators

The South Strand Republican Club will hold its annual legislative breakfast, featuring an open-question session with a number of state lawmakers, next month in Murrells Inlet.

The following legislators will attend: state Sen. Ray Cleary, Sen. Luke Rankin, Rep. Nelson Hardwick, Rep. Thad Viers and Rep. Alan Clemmons.

They will discuss proposed laws covering immigration, taxes, schools, health and others. Anyone is welcome to attend, and 30 minutes will be saved for questions and answers.

WHAT | South Strand Republican Club Legislative Breakfast

WHERE | Inlet Affairs Banquet and Catering, 4031 Hwy 17 Business, Murrells Inlet.

WHEN | 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 16.

COST | $10 per person; includes buffet breakfast. 

For reservations or more information, call Bill Schweitzer at (843) 215-5030 or Charlie Soto at (843) 655-1793.

Does the Grand Strand hold a special place in state lawmakers' hearts?

No, but it should, members of the local legislative delegation told area mayors and city council members at a Wednesday night meeting.

“There’s nobody else like the Grand Strand in the state,” said state Rep. Nelson Hardwick, R-Surfside Beach. “They (other areas) have gotten far too comfortable eating off our plate.”

The dinner meeting at the Train Depot was nominally about upcoming laws of concern to city officials – the agenda mentioned annexation and immigration, for example – but concentrated on one upcoming measure that would limit cities’ ability to spend property tax money.

The mayors and council members were concerned, they said, because their ability to cope with future challenges could be hampered, even though they have been fiscally responsible. Myrtle Beach has not seen a tax hike in years, while North Myrtle Beach has even lowered taxes.

“We feel like we’re being punished for it,” said North Myrtle Beach Mayor Marilyn Hatley. “It’s definitely going to create some problems for us.”

Local lawmakers’ support of the bill is not a personal attack on area cities, the legislators responded: it is a political reality. Voters want tax relief and the governor and top legislators have a “top-down mentality of cut and save,” said state Sen. Luke Rankin, R-Myrtle Beach.

“What we’re hearing is that you’ve got a problem and therefore you can’t help us,” replied North Myrtle Beach Councilman Bob Cavanaugh. “You can’t just say there’s no answer.”

Discussion of the spending-reduction bill, however, soon gave way to a lament on the lack of love for the Strand in Columbia. The area has 5 percent of the state’s population, but its tourist economy generates 11 percent of the state’s tax revenue, state Sen. Dick Elliott, D-North Myrtle Beach, reminded city officials. Meanwhile, city officials along the beach are left to create roads, sewers and other services for hundreds of thousands of visitors using the property taxes of a few tens of thousands of residents.

“People in Scranton don’t have our problems,” Hardwick said. “They enjoy the tourists, because they ride through there and they can write a few tickets.”

No solution was reached to the spending-cap bill, though legislators asked city officials to write some concrete suggestions and send them to Columbia, in hopes the bill can be modified to account for the Strand’s particular needs before it passes. Further, the legislators said, city officials should act as their own lobbyists. When the bill comes up again, city officials should drive to the capitol themselves to argue against it.

“You want us to be in Columbia?” asked Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes. “We’ll be in Columbia.”

Clemmons re-elected as GOP treasurer

S.C. Rep Alan Clemmons, R-Myrtle Beach, was re-elected by S.C. House Republicans as treasurer, according to this AP story.

Republicans have controlled the South Carolina House for 13 years. They currently hold 73 of the chamber's 124 seats, or roughly 60 percent.

Romney stops by for quick Q&A

Mitt Romney came by on Thursday morning to do an "Ask Mitt Anything" event. He stayed for just under an hour and entertained just under 100 people.

Romney held a Q&A and shook hands with attendees. He touched on nearly every hot-button issue.

The news of the day, however, was his views on embattled Sen. Larry Craig, arrested, more or less, for soliciting sex in an airport bathroom:

Romney said he thinks GOP criticism of a Republican senator arrested in a lewd-conduct sting is appropriate, but he did not join the increasing din of party members calling for the senator's resignation. Romney did not pile on: "That's something between him and the Senate, which is going to carry out an ethics review, apparently, him and his constituents, and him and his conscience," he said.

Read the full story for more. But this morning, I received a phone call and an e-mail from readers angry that we did not write about what Romney said. I'll reproduce here an e-mail I sent to one reader. Do you agree, disagree? The letter's on the jump.