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<BODY TEXT=#000000 LINK=#0000FF VLINK=#FF0000 BGCOLOR=#FFFFFF > <BASE TARGET="_top"> <DIV ALIGN=center class=s0 style='margin-left: 7mm;margin-right: 0mm;'> <FONT style='font-family:"Elephant";font-size:56pt;'><B>P</B></FONT><FONT style='font-family:"Elephant";font-size:45pt;'><B>ickens</B></FONT><FONT style='font-family:"Elephant";font-size:56pt;'><B> P</B></FONT><FONT style='font-family:"Elephant";font-size:45pt;'><B>olitics </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=right class=s0 style='text-align: right;margin-left: 7mm;margin-right: 2mm;'> <FONT style='font-family:"Cooper Black";font-size:48pt;'><B></B></FONT><FONT style='color:#FF0000;font-family:"Cooper Black";font-size:13pt;'><B>www.PickensPolitics.com </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV class=s88 style='margin-left: 7mm;margin-right: 2mm;'> <FONT style='color:#FF0000;font-family:"Cooper Black";font-size:13pt;'>    </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=center class=s0 style='margin-left: 8mm;margin-right: 2mm;'> <FONT style='color:#FF0000;font-family:"Cooper Black";font-size:14pt;'></FONT><FONT style='color:#FF0000;font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold";font-size:12pt;'><A class=s0 HREF="http://pickens.proboards83.com/"> Political Chat</A>    <A class=s0 HREF="alex_000001.htm">W</FONT><FONT style='font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold";font-size:12pt;'>rite-ups</A>    <A class=s0 HREF="alex_000006.htm">Videos</A>    <A class=s0 HREF="alex_000004.htm">About Us</A>     <A class=s0 HREF="mailto:pickenspolitics@yahoo.com">Contact Us</A> </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=center class=s1540 style='text-align: center;'>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=center class=s1722 style='text-align: center;margin-left: 15mm;margin-right: 1mm;'>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=center class=s1540 style='text-align: center;'> <FONT style='font-size:13pt;'><B>Prefiled Bills </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=center class=s1540 style='text-align: center;'> <FONT style='font-size:12pt;'>State House of Representatives </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=center class=s1540 style='text-align: center;'> January 23, 2012 </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540> H. 4419 -- Rep. Toole: A JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE VII OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO COUNTIES AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT, BY ADDING A NEW SECTION SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THERE MUST BE ELECTED IN EACH COUNTY A PROPERTY TAX ASSESSOR WHO SHALL SERVE FOR A TERM OF FOUR YEARS AND UNTIL HIS SUCCESSOR IS ELECTED AND QUALIFIES AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BY GENERAL LAW SHALL PROVIDE FOR THE DUTIES, QUALIFICATIONS, AND COMPENSATION OF COUNTY PROPERTY TAX ASSESSORS.  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540> H. 4420 -- Rep. Viers: VETERAN'S DAY MUST BE RECOGNIZED AS A HOLIDAY FOR ALL LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES OF THE STATE.  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540> H. 4433 -- Reps. King and Gilliard: NO STATE AGENCY, DEPARTMENT, INSTITUTION, OR ENTITY MAY BE REQUIRED TO USE A TELEPHONE GREETING OF "IT'S A GREAT DAY IN SOUTH CAROLINA" OR ANOTHER SIMILAR GREETING CONNOTING THE ADVANTAGES OF OR A PLEASANT DEMEANOR IN THIS STATE SO LONG AS CERTAIN CONDITIONS EXIST IN SOUTH CAROLINA.  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540> Alex’s Note: What has Nikkei Haley accomplished so far? She needs to do a better job of finding common ground with the legislature on issues that are important to conservatives, rather than taking 100% no compromise stands and getting nothing passed.  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540> H. 4436 -- Rep. Gilliard: PROVIDE THAT A STATE BUILDING, ROAD, HIGHWAY, INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, BRIDGE, INTERCHANGE, OR INTERSECTION MAY NOT BE NAMED FOR AN ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO IS NOT DECEASED.  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540> H. 4442 -- Reps. Bingham and Quinn: ENACT "CAYLEE'S LAW" BY ADDING SECTION 16-3-1095 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON WHO HAS A LEGAL DUTY OF CARE FOR A CHILD TO FAIL TO REPORT TO A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR CONCEAL THE DEATH OR DISAPPEARANCE OF THE CHILD, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES.  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540> H. 4446 -- Rep. Corbin: RELATING TO THE OWNER OF A MOTOR VEHICLE MAINTAINING PROOF OF INSURANCE IN THIS VEHICLE AT ALL TIMES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON WHO FAILS TO MAINTAIN PROOF OF INSURANCE IN HIS VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO HAVING HIS VEHICLE IMPOUNDED AND DISPOSED OF AS ABANDONED PROPERTY AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY.  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540> Alex’s Note: A lot of people are driving around without car insurance.  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540> H. 4448 -- Rep. Huggins: CREATE PROVISIONS THAT GOVERN THE OPERATION, REGISTRATION, TITLING, AND LICENSING OF MOPEDS; TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-10, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF CERTAIN TERMS THAT RELATE TO THE OPERATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF THE TERMS "OWNER", "MOTORCYCLE", "LOW SPEED VEHICLE", AND TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS FOR THE TERMS "MOPED", "DAYLIGHT HOURS", AND "VEHICLE"; TO AMEND SECTIONS 56-1-40, 56-1-50, AS AMENDED, 56-1-130, AS AMENDED, 56-1-175, 56-1-180, 56-1-185, AND 56-1-187, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE AND RENEWAL OF A DRIVER'S LICENSE, BEGINNER'S PERMIT, CONDITIONAL DRIVER'S LICENSE, AND SPECIAL RESTRICTED DRIVER'S LICENSE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES, ALL SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ISSUANCE OF A MOPED CLASSIFIED DRIVER'S LICENSE, TO ALLOW A HOLDER OF A BEGINNER'S PERMIT TO OPERATE A MOPED, PROVIDE FOR THE SUSPENSION OF A CLASSIFIED DRIVER'S LICENSE UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, TO PROVIDE THAT A BEGINNER'S PERMIT OR A SPECIAL RESTRICTED LICENSE MAY NOT BE ISSUED TO CERTAIN MINORS UNTIL THEY REACH THE AGE OF AT LEAST FIFTEEN AND ONE-HALF YEARS, AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR A PARENT OR GUARDIAN WHO KNOWINGLY AND WILFULLY PERMITS HIS DEPENDENT TO OPERATE A MOPED IN VIOLATION OF A RESTRICTION IMPOSED UPON A MOPED CLASSIFIED DRIVER'S LICENSE; TO AMEND SECTION 56-2-2740, RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES' REFUSAL TO RENEW A DRIVER'S LICENSE AND VEHICLE REGISTRATION FOR NONPAYMENT OF PROPERTY TAXES, AND THE ISSUANCE OF LICENSE PLATES AND VALIDATION DECALS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT VALIDATION DECALS SHALL NOT BE ISSUED FOR VEHICLES THAT DO NOT REQUIRE THE PAYMENT OF PROPERTY TAXES; TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-20, RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF TERMS REGARDING MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION AND LICENSING, SO AS TO DELETE THE TERMS "VEHICLE", "MOTOR VEHICLE", "MOTORCYCLE", "MOTOR-DRIVEN CYCLE", "NONRESIDENT", "MOPED", AND "MOTORCYCLE THREE-WHEEL VEHICLE" AND THEIR DEFINITIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-200, RELATING TO REQUIRING A CERTIFICATE OF TITLE TO BE ISSUED BEFORE A VEHICLE MAY BE REGISTERED OR REREGISTERED, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THIS PROVISION APPLIES TO MOPEDS; TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-250, RELATING TO THE PAYMENT OF LOCAL TAXES BEFORE A VEHICLE MAY BE REGISTERED, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THIS PROVISION DOES NOT APPLY TO MOPEDS AND TO SUBSTITUTE THE TERM "DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE" FOR THE TERM "STATE TAX COMMISSION"; TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-630, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO VEHICLES CLASSIFIED AS PASSENGER MOTOR VEHICLES, SO AS TO SUBSTITUTE THE TERM "MOPED" FOR THE TERM "MOTOR-DRIVEN CYCLE", AND More. </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540> Alex’s Note: This is a massive bill that I had to cut off here.   </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540> H. 4453 -- Rep. Bowen: CLOSE THE TEACHER AND EMPLOYEE RETENTION INCENTIVE (TERI) PROGRAM TO NEW PARTICIPANTS EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2012.  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540> Alex’s Note: The retirement system is underfunded by $13 billion. Additionally 32% of the assets of the fund are invested in equities or hedge funds (which have some equity exposure). The pension has another 18% invested in assets that contain some world stocks (Global Asset Allocation) and other stock investments (Opportunistic Creditors mostly mutual funds). I’d love to know the pension’s exact exposure to the stock market, but it is way too much from what I can decipher. Once the stock market rolls over, SC is really going to have a pension system problem. Until then TERI is a drain on the system because it contributes to early withdrawals of the pensions system. TERI needs to be eliminated in order to head off insolvency of the pension system. The school board has done what it can to limit post-TERI hiring.  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540> H. 4456 -- Rep. Bowen: A SCHOOL BOND ELECTION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE ELECTION MUST BE HELD ON THE DATE OF A GENERAL ELECTION.  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540> H. 4458 -- Rep. Viers: REQUIRE APPLICANTS FOR MEDICAID, TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES, AND FOOD STAMPS BENEFITS TO UNDERGO A DRUG TEST AS A CONDITION OF ELIGIBILITY TO RECEIVE THESE BENEFITS; TO PROVIDE THAT AN INDIVIDUAL WHO TESTS POSITIVE FOR DRUGS IS INELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THESE BENEFITS FOR ONE YEAR UNLESS THE PERSON SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES A SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT PROGRAM.  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540> H. 4469 -- Rep. J. R. Smith: RELATING TO BURGLARY IN THE SECOND DEGREE, SO AS TO PROVIDE MANDATORY MINIMUM TERMS OF IMPRISONMENT FOR SECOND OFFENSE BURGLARY IN THE SECOND DEGREE OFFENSES.  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540> H. 4478 -- Rep. Viers: PROVIDE THAT THE LIMIT ON GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATIONS FOR A FISCAL YEAR IS THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE ESTIMATE AS OF FEBRUARY FIFTEENTH FOR FISCAL YEAR 2011-2012, INCREASED ANNUALLY AND CUMULATIVELY BY THE LESSER OF SIX PERCENT OR A PERCENTAGE DETERMINED BY POPULATION INCREASES AND INCREASES IN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, AND REDUCTIONS FOR NONRECURRING REVENUES.  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540> Alex’s Note: Relying on the CPI to index anything is a mistake, because CPI understates the true rate of inflation.  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540> H. 4484 -- Rep. Ballentine: ASSESSMENT RATIOS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT, UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, A TAXPAYER MAY CLAIM THE FOUR PERCENT ASSESSMENT RATIO FOR TWO RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES LOCATED IN THE STATE SO LONG AS THE TAXPAYER IS ATTEMPTING TO SELL THE FIRST ACQUIRED RESIDENCE.  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540> Alex’s Note: This is another benefit thrown to the real estate industry. Let’s try to simplify the tax code, and not make more exceptions and add more complication.  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540> H. 4485 -- Rep. McCoy: RELATING TO SALES TAX EXEMPTIONS, SO AS TO ESTABLISH "HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEKEND" WHEREBY CERTAIN HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS ITEMS SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE STATE SALES TAX.  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540> Alex’s Note: Let’s not add any more complexity to the tax code. Make broad based changes that affect and benefit all. Government should stop picking winners and losers.  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540> H. 4488 -- Rep. Viers: PROVIDE THAT ALL UNEMPLOYED INSURED WORKERS SHALL PARTICIPATE IN A DRUG SCREENING PROGRAM TO MAINTAIN ELIGIBILITY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540> Alex’s Note: Any one collecting a government check who is not disabled or retired should be required to do community service. Workfare it is called.  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540> H. 4506 -- Rep. Butler Garrick: RELATING TO SALES AND USE TAX EXEMPTIONS, SO AS TO DELETE, EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2012, EXEMPTIONS FOR ALL SALES EXCEPT THOSE EXEMPT PURSUANT TO THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THIS STATE AND THE UNITED STATES.  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540> Alex’s Note: Will this be revenue neutral? I hope so.   </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540> H. 4507  -- Rep. Sellers: IMPOSITION OF THE SIXTEEN CENTS A GALLON MOTOR FUELS USER FEE AND ROAD TAX ON MOTOR CARRIERS, SO AS TO REDUCE THE FEE AND TAX BY TEN PERCENT TO 14.4 CENTS A GALLON EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2012.  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540> H. 4508 -- Rep. Huggins: RELATING TO A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION ADOPTING A BUDGET, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE POLITICAL SUBDIVISION TO GIVE NOTICE IN ADDITIONAL WAYS, INCLUDING SENDING ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS OR MAKING TELEPHONE CALLS TO REGISTERED VOTERS.  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540> H. 4511 -- Rep. Stavrinakis: RELATING TO NET CAPITAL GAIN, SO AS TO ALLOW A ONE HUNDRED PERCENT DEDUCTION OF NET CAPITAL GAIN RECOGNIZED IN THIS STATE IF THE NET CAPITAL GAIN RESULTS FROM A REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION.  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540> Alex’s Note: Another one thrown to the real estate industry. Those who earn a capital gain on their home should pay a capital gains tax. I’m all for lowering the capital gains tax or removing it totally, but don’t do that for some but not others. Government should not be in the business of picking winners and losers. Leave that to captialism.  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540> H. 4524 -- Rep. Bowen: PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING JULY 1, 2012, A SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THIS STATE MAY NOT PAY MEMBERSHIP DUES OR FEES TO ANY EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION OR ORGANIZATION AND INSTEAD IS REQUIRED TO REDIRECT ANY SUCH FUNDING AVAILABLE TO CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION.  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540> Alex’s Note: Our school district pays the SC School Board Association about $30,000 a year in dues. I can think of many ways in which the district would reap more benefit with that money (school supplies, teaching assistant, etc).  </DIV> <DIV class=s1541 style='margin-left: 15mm;margin-right: 1mm;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'> </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s1540>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s114 style='text-align: justify;margin-left: 15mm;margin-right: 2mm;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'></FONT><FONT style='font-size:11pt;'><B>Latest Write-ups: </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s114 style='text-align: justify;margin-left: 15mm;margin-right: 2mm;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'><B></B></FONT><FONT style='font-size:9pt;'><A class=s114 HREF="alex_000059.htm">No More Borrowing To Meet Payroll:</A> January 1, 2012 </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s114 style='text-align: justify;margin-left: 15mm;margin-right: 2mm;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'><B></B></FONT><FONT style='font-size:9pt;'><A class=s114 HREF="alex_000058.htm">Adding More Teachers:</A> November 30, 2011 </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s114 style='text-align: justify;margin-left: 15mm;margin-right: 2mm;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'><B></B></FONT><FONT style='font-size:9pt;'><A class=s114 HREF="alex_000054.htm">Role Models?</A> November 14, 2011 </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s114 style='text-align: justify;margin-left: 15mm;margin-right: 2mm;'> <FONT style='font-size:9pt;'> </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=center class=s0> <A class=s0 HREF="index.htm">Home</A>   <A class=s0 HREF="http://pickens.proboards83.com/">Message Board</A>   <A class=s0 HREF="alex_000001.htm">Write-ups</A>   <A class=s0 HREF="alex_000006.htm">Videos</A>    <A class=s0 HREF="alex_000004.htm">About Us</A>   <A class=s0 HREF="mailto:pickenspolitics@yahoo.com"> Contact Us</A> </DIV>