The Ballot - Incorporation Efforts (Vote Feb. 16th)
January 30, 2008 | 7 Comments
Ken Colton, Chair of the Ballentine-White Rock-Hilton Incorporation Working Group, forwarded a copy of “the ballot”
If you have any questions, I’m sure he welcomes your call at 803-749-0417.
BALLOT NUMBER
OFFICIAL BALLOT—INCORPORATION ELECTION
ISSUING OFFICER
PROPOSED MUNICIPALITY
INITIALS
BALLENTINE – WHITE ROCK – HILTON AREA
February 16, 2008
BALLOT
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OFFICIAL BALLOT—INCORPORATION ELECTION
PROPOSED MUNICIPALITY
BALLENTINE – WHITE ROCK – HILTON AREA
February 16, 2008
BALLOT
INSTRUCTIONS: You may choose only one (1) answer for each question. Place an X or check mark in the box next to your choice for each question. Before leaving the booth, fold the ballot so that the initials of the manager may be seen on the outside.
1. Incorporation Question: Should the following area be incorporated as a municipality:
That geographical area within boundaries beginning at the Lexington County line as the western border; Lake Murray, the north side of Ballentine Estates Road, as the southern border; the west side of Route 6 to south side of Route 76 to Bickley Road as the eastern border; and the northern border as the south side of Wise Road, to the east side of Gates Road, to the south side of CSX tracks, to the south side of Joe Free Road, to the east side of Harvey Killian Road, to the south side of Peace Haven Road, to the south side of Lynn McCartha Road, to the east side of Walter McCartha Road, to the south side of CSX tracks, to the Lexington County line.
2. Municipality Name:
What should be the name of the municipality?
Dutch Fork Community Action Group
January 30, 2008 | 2 Comments
As I’ve mentioned several times, we have a very active community that rallies together around several issues…..whether it’s a bond referrendum, annexation/incorporation efforts, WalMart, or now a CSX side-rail…..our community and our neighbors act quickly to preserve our quality of life.
Sometimes we win. Sometimes we lose. Regardless, the community gets involved!
Over the past few months, a new group has formed to fight the proposed side-rail that CSX is wanting to place near the Lowman Home.
The Dutch Fork Community Action Group was founded by numerous members of the Dutch Fork Community to insure the safe development of the area.
The chairman is Jonathan Harling who lives on Mount Vernon Church Road in White Rock, SC.
Jonathan’s email is jharling@dutchforkaction.com. I’m sure he wants to hear from you!
Senator John Courson and I have been in various meetings with CSX and the community. Unfortunately we have learned that railroads are a federal issue. We have offered to go to Washington to meet with our federal elected officials if they need us. A meeting with US Senators and Representatives would go along way in this fight. They could also involve the US Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration as well.
SCETV: This Week in the House
January 29, 2008 | 1 Comment
Each week Speaker Bobby Harrell (R-Charleston) hosts a live show 30 minutes before we begin our weekly session.
Today, I joined him and fellow Representative Mike Anthony (D-Union) for a talk about Earmark Reform, the budget, and more transparency in state government.
To see the archived video on ETV, click here and select January 29, 2008.
(Sigh) Another black eye on Columbia and our state
January 27, 2008 | 2 Comments
If you ask me what one thing bothers me most about our state, I would have to say it’s the fact that we always seem to find a way to be at the top of lists that are “bad” and at the bottom of lists that are “good”.
The number of these lists has grown quite large of late and I don’t have enough time to put them all here; but one that really got my attention tonight while doing research online was this one.
Columbia, SC ranked as one of the top 13 in the nation for - drunkest town. That’s a grade of “F”.
(Feel free to insert your lobbyists-politicians are back in town joke here).
Sadly, it’s not that funny. Read more
2008 CONSTITUENT SURVEY
January 24, 2008 | 8 Comments
Today, thousands of you in House District 71 should have recieved my constituent survey for this current legislative session. Your opinion is very important to me and I hope you will take the time to share your thoughts. Staying in touch often is the best way I know to do my job as a public servant and only by listening and considering all view points can I do the best job possible!
(A copy of both pages of the survey can be viewed here and printed by clicking on “constituent” and again on “survey” above) Read more
Statehouse Report - January 24
January 24, 2008 | Leave a Comment
House Republicans began moving several pieces of our ambitious, seven-piece agenda through the House – after only seven days of session.
The first major achievement was reforming how the General Assembly spends your tax dollars. I know you’re getting tired of hearing about this but I wanted you to see that my colleagues have taken the first step towards EARMARK REFORM.
You and I have been talking about this for years, and I’m glad to see that others are finally talking (and acting on it) this year!
I pledged at the beginning of the year to make spending more transparent by reforming the anonymous earmarks that are a piece of nearly every government budget throughout the nation. The reform we passed allows House members to object to any budget item not specifically requested by a state agency. That item must be defended or it will require a separate two-thirds vote by the membership of the House.
For example, if someone puts an item called “Pickens County Water Facility” in the budget, that member will have to defend the project through a written description or on the House floor. My colleagues and I will get to determine the merit of the specific project. Seems obvious, right? At first glance, that title might make you (and many of my colleagues) think “I’m guessing Pickens needs a water-treatment facility and has exhausted all local financing measures possible?” While that could actually be the case, what we never knew was another possibility: could there be a water park being built for a local Representative/Senator and could this really be a way to garner votes back home? Read more
House passes Earmark Reform rule change
January 23, 2008 | 5 Comments
Office of the Speaker
SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Greg Foster
January 23, 2008 (803) 734-3125
fosterg@scstatehouse.net
House Passes Earmark Reform Rule
Rule change, first major accomplishment in ending hidden earmark spending
(Columbia, SC) – Today, House Speaker Bobby Harrell and the House Republican Caucus approved a change to House Rules that will end the practice of hidden earmark spending in our state’s budget.
Speaker Harrell called the plan, “A victory for the taxpayers.” Harrell said, “Lawmakers must be held accountable for how the taxpayer’s money is spent. If lawmakers are not willing to put their name by an item they are requesting, it is probably something that should not be done in the first place.”
Nathan Ballentine “This is a major step in bringing more transparency to the way we spend the taxpayer’s money. This move should go a long way in helping to reduce wasteful spending in our state’s budget.”
The House Rule will require legislators to attach their name and a description of the spending project to any non-agency request included for consideration in our state’s budget. This separate document will be made available to the public throughout the budget process.
House Rules Committee Chairman Brian White said, “This rule change sheds light on our budget process and shows the House’s commitment to ending this practice of hidden spending in our state’s budget.”
Under this rule, anonymous spending earmarks from the Senate will take a two-thirds vote from the House to be considered in the final state budget.
Legislation containing the same language as the rule change has also been introduced and is supported by the House Republican Caucus for passage by both bodies of the legislature.
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Congratulations, Senator John McCain
January 20, 2008 | Leave a Comment
South Carolina has spoken.
After eight long years, US Senator John McCain has earned the coveted title of winner of the Palmetto State Presidential Primary.
Written off for dead months ago and low on cash, many national and local pundits had written him off.
I give credit where credit is due. His staff ran a great campaign and turned out the vote.
Senator McCain and Governor Huckabee captured all delegate votes from our state and now the contest heads to Florida for a January 29th showdown. After that, it’s Super Tuesday (February 5) and on to the convention.
We had over 4,000 voters in House District 71 get out and support the candidate of their choice yesterday and I’m proud to see it takes more than a cold rain and sleet to keep us away from our civic responsibility.
A New Year
January 17, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Ballentine Elected to House Ethics Committee
January 17, 2008 | 3 Comments
COLUMBIA – Rep. Nathan Ballentine was elected to the House Ethics Committee Wednesday morning by the full House of Representatives.
“The support from my colleagues is a testament to the way I represent our state as a public servant. For too long the word ‘politician’ has had a negative connotation and it’s my hope to help restore our citizens’ confidence in government and their elected officials,” Rep. Ballentine said.
The House Ethics Committee is the chief watchdog and policeman for the 124 members of the House of Representatives and hears all ethics complaints filed against the members. There are six elected members of the committee, including five Republicans.
“Ironically, just today, there are various campaign tactics being used which certainly could be considered unethical if not illegal. It’s my hope to work with the other committee members to uphold the highest ethical standards for our officials and those seeking office - whether dealing with campaign financial disclosures, electioneering, or actions in and outside of the body. We must restore the public trust so that public servants as a whole do not suffer for the actions of a few.”
Rep. Ballentine was elected to one of the two seats open on the committee following the resignations of Reps. Catherine Ceips and Shirley Hinson. Rep. Annette Young of Summerville won the other seat.
“Nathan is one of the hardest working members serving in the House,” said House Speaker Bobby Harrell. “I am happy to see his desire for serving our state lead him to seek a position on the House Ethics Committee.”