Dear Friends,

It’s been a busy week in the State House and I wanted to quickly brief you on some key items.

Feds to sue SC on behalf of Union Bosses

Over the weekend, we received word from our State Attorney General Alan Wilson that the federal government plans to file suit against the “Card Check” State Constitutional Amendment that passed overwhelmingly in November, receiving the support of 86% of South Carolinians.  Remember, the “Card Check” State Constitutional Amendment granted workers the right to a secret ballot in union elections and received wide support from both political parties and our business community.  This is just the latest in the federal government’s attempts to overreach their boundaries and what my fellow conservatives in the House and I have vowed to resist.  Take a moment to read the SC House Republican Caucus’s press release here and keep your eyes out for more news on this to come.

This impending suit is yet another reason why I believe in the “Repeal Amendment”, a US Constitutional Amendment that would give states the ability to nullify intrusive federal mandates like Obamacare. Read more about the “Repeal Amendment” here and here.

Voter ID approved by House Committee

We strongly believe that showing a government-issued picture ID when voting would strengthen the power of your ballot on Election Day and decrease the possibility of dishonesty and fraud at the ballot box.  I am pleased to report that Voter ID passed out of the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday and we’ll be taking it up on the floor this coming week.  Looking back to the opposition’s reaction to the bill last year, we’re expecting much debate on the floor.  Check back on The Speaker’s Facebook Page and The Speaker’s Twitter Feed to get info on the scheduling of the bill on the floor, and watch the debate live here next week!

Governor Haley’s State of the State

This week the General Assembly gathered as Governor Nikki Haley gave her inaugural State of the State Address.  I’ve said many times that I’m looking forward to a better working relationship with the Governor and the administration.  I believe that priority #1 for our state must be private sector job creation and laying the foundation for a stable, competitive economic environment in South Carolina.  The appointment of Bobby Hitt as Commerce Secretary is a good sign for South Carolina’s future.  We have a lot of work to do, but are off to a good beginning.  Watch this quick video here taken after the State of the State.

House Republicans also continue to tackle our 2011 Legislative Agenda and I urge you to take a look at our action items.  In the first week of session, the House Republican Caucus already passed the agenda item of Roll Call Voting (H. 3004) to increase transparency in spending, and we’re moving along at a fast pace with other agenda items as well.

As the weeks continue to go by and more bills make their way throughout the legislative process, I’ll continue to keep you informed.  Remember, you can keep track of action on important issues during the week by joining The Speaker’s Facebook Page and following The Speaker’s Twitter Feed.

As always, thank you for staying up-to-date as House Conservatives push for the reforms you have called for, and please don’t hesitate to let me know if I can ever be of service.

Sincerely,

Bobby Harrell

SC Speaker of the House