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-State budget: Legislators must figure out how to close a roughly $300 million revenue gap for 2008-09.

Hmmm. Cut spending? Not.. I say we will see an increase in taxes and fees.

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-Immigration reform: The many proposals meant to clamp down on illegal immigration include requiring state agencies to print documents in English only and requiring businesses to check the legal status of their employees through a federal program.

We can only hope...

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-Budget reform: In the lean budget year, legislation will call for yearly spending caps and requiring lawmakers to attach their names to budget requests.

Sounds good!

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-Drunken driving: A bill toughening the state's drunken driving laws passed the House last year and is in the Senate.

Seems pretty tough already but whatever..

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-Cigarette taxes: Debate will pick up in the Senate on a 30-cent per-pack increase, to 37 cents. The real fight will be over what's done with the money. While many legislators want to put the extra money toward health care, Gov. Mark Sanford wants to use it for income tax cuts.

Yeah, let's tax smokes to pay for health care and hope people keep on smoking. Absurd. How about a candy and ice cream tax?

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-Payday lending: A bill to restrict payday lending remains in the Senate. One Republican senator suing payday lenders now wants to ban the industry in South Carolina. The leaders of each chamber say they support more regulation, but no ban.

This industry needs heavy regulation. They are worse that the worst load sharks.

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-Fire sprinklers: A fire in Charleston that killed nine firefighters has prompted some legislators to call for mandated sprinkler systems. But legislative leaders from Charleston argue mandates could hurt small businesses and instead advocate incentives.

Sprinkler systems? Well, Duh!

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-School choice: While some legislators push for more choice in public schools, voucher advocates will renew their push to help parents send their children to private schools.

Mixed feelings but considering the geniuses we crank out, I can't see how it hurt.

That's my quick take.. link
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"Linux is more than an OS, it's a state of mind."

Ice cream tax; Don't give them any ideas Sir GW. Thanks for the legislative update.



P.S.

I'll try to control my trolling tendencies


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Age - Older Than Dirt

Gadget Wizard wrote:

Quote: -Fire sprinklers: A fire in Charleston that killed nine firefighters has prompted some legislators to call for mandated sprinkler systems. But legislative leaders from Charleston argue mandates could hurt small businesses and instead advocate incentives. Sprinkler systems? Well, Duh!

I can see the opposition to this. Make a one time tax exemption for the cost of installing automatic suppression system to get the buildings that are grandfathered. Then after that. Require all buildings of a certain size and use, to have some sort of automatic system.

Gadget Wizard wrote:

Quote: -School choice: While some legislators push for more choice in public schools, voucher advocates will renew their push to help parents send their children to private schools. Mixed feelings but considering the geniuses we crank out, I can't see how it hurt.

Vouchers will help. If a public school has to compete for the money for their kids they will clean up. Competition is always good.
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You can't hold a liberal responsible for their words because it's character assassination.

Goodness! I hope they don't decide to tax my chocolate!