Even if I can’t do the dance.

From today’s Post and Courier , “Politicians Reach Out on Internet.”

I don’t consider myself one of the most technologically-gifted folks in the world. In fact, we don’t even own a Playstation, XBox, or Wii in our house. But I am glad I “gave in” about a year ago and enhanced the way I communicate to my constituents via the web (NathansNews).

When my web consultant gave me the name of my site, I didn’t like it. But he said we needed a catchy title for folks to remember and www.nathanballentine.com (my former site) was just too “1980s”. I told him I was a simple-spoken guy…nothing “high brow” or fancy…just wanted to write and speak what was on my mind and my constituents’ minds. He said “that’s why people like you; don’t change. Tell it like it is even if it rocks the boat in Columbia”

Since then, the site has grown to over 3,000 readers a month and I continue to receive “contacts” and “twitter messages” and even a few posted comments that help me stay in constant contact with my voters. I have always believed (and continue to believe) that elected officials who stay in touch regularly with their voters (as opposed to just campaign season) have a far better chance of doing the job they were sent to do.

I wouldn’t be at 3,000 hits a month if not for fellow SC bloggers who have found interest in what I write and how I write it. Thanks goes out to SCHotline.com , The Other Brooks Brothers , FITS news , The Blogland of Earl Capps and Wesley Donehue .

Lately, I’ve been hearing alot about Roll-Call Voting and I will continue to push for this common-sense reform next session. I’ve also been hearing about our education system, roads, and government spending. Look for continued improvements on those fronts in January.

Those of you in House District 71 (Irmo, Chapin, Dutch Fork, Ballentine, White Rock), thanks for staying in touch! Those of you in other parts of the state, be sure you’re talking directly with your elected officials too.

Special thanks to Mel Coker (Remax, Irmo, SC) who apparently nominated me for a 2008 Blogger’s Choice Award. After learning about this today, I went to the site and was deeply humbled. No…not at being nominated….at seeing I have a whopping total of ZERO votes!

Hey…at least Charleston loves me, right?

…like a woman scorned.

I deliberately didn’t read or watch any news today about Palin because I wanted to be able to blog tonight with my two cents on the selection of Gov. Sarah Palin as McCain’s choice for Vice President.

For starters, I was really hoping McCain would pick my guy, Governor Romney , to provide a National Defense/Economy ticket that I thought would also help our chances in Michigan and out West. But it didn’t happen.

Then I began to think of why that didn’t happen and I came up with three items.

1) Huckles . I’m of the opinion that McCain and Governor Huckabee are friends. They seemed to thoroughly enjoy teaming up against Romney during the primary and, even as recent as last week, Huckles was still throwing out jabs against Romney. IF this opinion is correct, how could McCain give Romney a “leg up” for 2012 or 2016 over his friend Governor Huckabee?

2) Soundbites. Much like the criticism the Democrats are facing, having Romney on the ticket would all but assure his words during the primary season would be used against the ticket. Granted, he never said McCain wasn’t ready to lead (like Biden said of Obama) but still there would be soundbites used.

3) Hillary! When Obama dissed Hillary for his selection, the door was left WIDE OPEN for the Republicans to scoop in and pick up some of her disenfranchised voters. Now I’ve been told (by a female) that women won’t vote for the ticket just because a woman is on it. (I’m not buying it but it wouldn’t be the first time I didn’t understand women.) The selection has to, in part, be because of the fact that the Obama DIDN’T pick a woman. Were an option Governor “Sam” Palin, there is no chance that person would have been chosen.

I don’t fault McCain for his selection. In fact, it was a brilliant political move. He’s been running for president for at least 8 years and being this close, he’s got to finish with the prize. The pick does make me think of a few more things before I call it a night. [Read more...]

There’s really only one nerd in this bunch and it’s me; but, tonight my wife decided to join TWITTER .

Somehow she was able to get the name StateHouseWife because it hadn’t been taken yet.

Not sure what I think about her being so exposed on the net, although this may cut down on the phone calls during the day. Instead, I can simply check TWITTER and see what she and the kids are doing.

If you missed the earlier post about what all this is about, click here.

Karen’s life is as busy as mine. With three kids (11, 4, and 3), our church, Junior League and helping me in my role as a State Representative, she’s working nonstop from the time she gets up until the time we get together in the late evenings. I’m sure, in time, you’ll see what it’s like to be married to an elected official. She gives so much to our family and I couldn’t serve our community and state without her!

Looks like The Song Remains The Same after an eventful weekend at the national and the state level.

First, what was Obama thinking? Seriously? I’ll write more over on Andy Brack’s blog (SCElectionWatch) but it’s one thing to bypass a “sure thing” with Hillary. It’s another to thumb your nose at her by texting your VP selection at 3 am. Yes, that’s right. 3:00 a.m. Anyone remember this ad ? You can’t tell me 3am was co-incidence. Just when the Democrats appeared poised to take over the White House, they appear to blow it.

Then the following morning the House Republicans met in Charleston to discuss the upcoming agenda for next session. I was very pleased the Speaker asked to be on my proposal for campaign disclosure reforms (all but assures passage due to his political presence) but I was equally shocked when another common-sense idea (roll-call voting) appeared to blow up like it was some school-choice proposal.

Representative Nikki Haley (R – Lexington) and Senator Glenn McConnell (R- Charleston) plan to file companion bills next session. As anyone in politics knows by now, what McConnell wants – McConnell gets. So why the darts thrown at Haley this weekend? She’s one of the most influential members in the House and is an asset on the Labor, Commerce, and Industry committee. She’s also one of three running for LCI Chairman. Surely, the opposition to this bill has nothing to do with that race does it?

You’ve probably read about roll-call legislation recently; and while the old-guard opposition is rising now, a version of the legislation was actually filed last year and no one raised an eye-brow. Probably because we were approaching the end of a two-year session but still…this idea didn’t just pop up.

What triggered the need last year? Nathansnews readers remember . A little four letter word – COLA. As in “Cost-of-Living Adjustment” in retirement pay for elected officials (along with state retiree and law enforcement).

The opposition’s using the same old playbook used to opposes any new idea or any change in how things have “always been done”. Why change a “good thing?” is basically what we heard.

Sure, the current system allows for any House member to ask for a roll call (and get it) with only a handful of colleagues agreeing to it. Seems simple but….thinking back to last year, we couldn’t get a roll-call fast enough before a voice vote on that back-door pay raise was sliding through.

You see, in order to keep from things like that happening, let’s be sure everyone goes on record. Everyone of us needs to be able to say: I voted “Yes” or I voted “No”. Wouldn’t it be good to know how your representative of Senator voted? That is important to you isn’t it?

Hey, I’m honest enough to admit many of us didn’t know every detail that was in that bill. Opponents tried the “shame on you (for not knowing)” approach last year…as if only a a handful of us didn’t know all the details. Trust me. It happens OFTEN in Columbia especially with very detailed legislation. Trust me, it wasn’t an accident that this wasn’t brought up to everyone either. Here’s the bill. Maybe many of us were wrong to assume the bill matched the recommendations of the State Treasurer and his Task Force? (note: Those recommendations did not include elected officials. Only the other state retirees/law enforcement).

Oh well, the push will continue for this common-sense idea. The opponents cries of “it costs $55 every time” or “it’s one more day spent on the budget” or “you can do it anyway” don’t outweigh the pros to why this is needed. I’m not buying it and the citizens of our state won’t either.

This legislation would save far more tax-dollars than it would cost. This legislation also would provide another layer of sunshine to what goes on in Columbia. Now what’s wrong with both of those? Oh, we’d finally catch up to Mississippi and Tennessee. Maybe the song would change then.

Lexington/Richland School District Five (editor’s note: one of the top two districts in our state) starts the new school year tomorrow so get ready for congestion on I26 heading downtown. (No more eating my Chicfila biscuit while driving. Did I just admit to that?).

With a new school year comes lots of questions and one on a few folks minds is “Will the buses run?”

You may have read the papers about a recent 3% across-the-board cut approved by the Budget and Control Board. Obviously, that has an impact. Obviously, an “across-the-board cut” is more “fair” and let’s be honest, politically safer/easier vote than the alternative. Is it the best thing to do though?

Education got cut and now the districts are in a bind (again). Now, to be fair, “Education” fared very well in the State Budget so their 3% cut is not like a 3% to an agency/department that was already cut 5% from our budget last session. Nonetheless, tranpsortation (previously short due to rising gas prices) is now gonna be a little tougher.

My question in all this is: When the income in your house drops, do you do “across-the-board cuts” or do you prioritize? Do you say “Ok, we’ll cut going to our going-to-the-movies budget 3% and also cut our dinner-vegetables budget by 3%”?

No. You decide what areas get cut based on a variety of things, right? While not a fan of vegetables, I even know that those are more important than Stepbrothers .

As elected officials, we have the ability to address the state’s shortfall when we return in January but I have a feeling we won’t. Why? Well, could be a variety of reasons but “taking an easy way out” shouldn’t be one of them.

This weekend we Republicans will head to Charleston for a Caucus Meeting. I imagine this shortfall will come up…as well as a few other things too.

Some new members-elect will be there too and I for one will be glad to see them. Get on the bus guys (and gals), but don’t get bullied this year. There’s strength in numbers.

Wow! Talk about embarrasing and humbling.

I opened our mail and saw “Covenant Violation – Landscaping” from the Belfair Homeowners Association. The box that was checked was “Edging”.

Now, I’m the first to admit that I don’t pay much attention to our yard and am so busy that when I get a spare moment I spend it with Karen and the kids but….I went out to check the yard and only noticed we may have FOUR little strands of grass extending over the curb. Talk about a tough crowd. I even used to serve as President years ago.

Now being the tightwad I am, I don’t even own an edger. I often joke (self-deprecation) to Karen that I feel like our neighbor, Steve Pesek, is “dad” because he has all the tools and oftentimes even edges for me.

Rather than complain to the HOA (which everyone usually does), I’ll just accept it as a “constructive criticism” and go clip those four strands tomorrow.

UPDATE: I have been told that over 40 notices were sent out in the neighborhood. Wow! At least I’m not alone.

UPDATE (August 31, 2008): No chance I was gonna go out and BUY an edger ( you know how cheap I am )! Fortunately, my father-in-law had one to spare and today he helped me get “compliant”. Glad that’s over. Would hate for that to come up two years from now during an election! : )

That’s not my page above, just a sample people.

Ok, so my little site has about 3,000 visitors a month. Much more than I ever imagined. I only represent 30,000 folks in House District 71 so I imagine others outside the district are reading and that’s good too! While those 30,000 folks here are the ones who actually can vote for me, the other 4,000,000 residents of our state are folks I represent in my role as as House member. It’s good to hear from all over our state when forming policy and shaping debate.

I kinda thought my blog would be a big step towards sunshine/open government and more accessibility for constituents than ever before. That was nothing compared to TWITTER ! [Read more...]

The November Election is less than 90 days away and this will be the meeting where we outline the countdown to VICTORY 2008. We need everyone who considers himself/herself a Republican/Conservative in attendance. ALL CANDIDATES ARE INVITED.

JW Ragley, Executive Director of the South Carolina Republican Party and Warren Mowry, Victory 2008, will be our speakers for the evening. Be there and get the “scoop” straight from the planners.

Richland County Republican Party Meeting
Monday, August 25th at 6:00 PM
Suggs & Kelly Law Center
Corner Huger & Taylor Streets
Columbia, SC

Lou Nolan, Chairman
803 254-9543
marcum@scgovdirect.com

Mrs. Lou Nolan
803 254.9543
marcum@scgovdirect.com

If you’re in Lexington County - particularily in House District 71 (Chapin, White Rock area) – and have been wanting to serve and participate in local government….now’s your chance!

There are four vacancies on our local boards/commissions and I can help you through the application process and work towards getting you approved by our delegation.

*** WARNING: I do not support folks looking to “build their resume”. I only support folks I feel are willing to “roll up their sleeves” and commit to working to help their particular board or commission. ***

Presently we have a vacancy on the Richland-Lexington Disabilities and Special Needs Board and three vacancies in the Department of Social Services Commission.

If you are interested in applying for these vacancies, please contact my office at 734-2969.

Last night, Brittany, a freshman at the University of South Carolina and former Chapin High School student, won first runner-up for Miss Teen USA!

Last year, Brittany was crowned Miss Teen South Carolina before a packed house at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center in North Charleston, SC., Brittany Pjetraj is an 18-year-old freshman at the University of South Carolina. She is the daughter of Lieutenant Colonel Walter and Susan Pjetraj of Chapin, SC. As an “Army Brat,” Brittany has attended seven schools in the past nine years. She loves photography, playing soccer, swimming competitively, and values her faith, her family, and her friends.

Brittany is extremely passionate about volunteering and strives to remain active in her school as well as in the community. She is the Wellness Ambassador for her residence hall, participates in Young Life , and tutors elementary students through the Waverly Program . She is a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority and holds the office of Scholarship Chair. As an ADPi, she works closely with the Ronald McDonald House in Columbia . Prior to continuing her education as a college student, Brittany was involved in her high school. She was a senator to Student Government through the National Honor Society, the Treasurer of Junior Civitan, Varsity Swim Captain, and select soccer captain. She was also an active member of Beta Club and Class Board. Brittany was instrumental in raising $24,000 through her high school and Good Works for a needy family in the Chapin community. She was selected Homecoming Queen by the entire student body and was able to maintain a 4.4638 grade point average.

Brittany is pursuing a career in the medical field, and had the opportunity to shadow both an orthopedic surgeon and a dermatologist in the clinic and in the operating room. As Miss SC Teen USA 2008, Brittany plans to make many appearances and inspire other teens to become involved in community service.

Earlier this year, Brittany’s grandfather passed away. In reading about him tonight, he seemed to lead a life of service for family and country.

Hat tip to The Palmetto Scoop for posting this news earlier today.