As someone who tries to pinch pennies , I probably should’ve noticed the “new look pennies” much earlier than a few weeks ago. Apparently, the US Mint has changed the back of the penny but I’m not quite sure why?

I mean who, besides some tightwads like me, actually picks up pennies they find or actually saves pennies in “piggybanks” at the end of the day? Apparently there are SEVERAL like-minded folks in Irmo who are starting to be regulars on the “free circuit” when it comes to the perk of “kids eat free”.

Tonight, Karen and I took the kids to Moe’s (no surprise there) and have started seeing some of the same families the past few Tuesday nights. After commenting about this on Facebook and Twitter, I’ve since learned of some other “Kids Eat Free” spots in town (who said social-media doesn’t payoff?):

Carolina Ale House
O’Charley’s
Sticky Fingers

I imagine there are several more places out there with benefits so if you know of any, please pass along and post here.

I’m guessing there are more folks out there like me than we know!

Surely, I’m not the only one to drive a few miles to save $2.50 for a gas fill-up or to order water (instead of tea/diet coke) with lunch to save $2.15?

What are you and your family doing to stretch your dollar or pinch those pennies? I’ve already hit up the tooth fairy a few months ago, what else am I missing?

For the past few years, we’ve saved a ton by using generic razor blades (and you can’t tell the difference). Karen buys alot of our kids’ clothes at WalMart or some used “fancy ones” on Ebay for pennies on the dollar. We go generic on most things (not on PopTarts though, there IS a difference there).

After having to replace our Heating and Air Unit yesterday , we definitely need to find some more ways to save!

I’m sure we all do.

Wednesday during Bible Study at Pastors’ Day at the Capital, a pastor mentioned an African proverb “when elephants fight, the grass gets trampled”. This whole stimulus debate comes to mind and I actually wrote about it earlier this week . Today, the following OpEd ran from Senator Greg Ryberg and Senator Tom Davis . Fitting, the title was…

It doesn’t have to be this way

By GREG RYBERG and TOM DAVIS, Guest Columnists

The Senate is debating a budget this week that cuts law enforcement, cuts public education, funds health care with one-time money and lays waste to almost every other agency in South Carolina.

The budget, which was approved last week by the Senate Finance Committee, fires hundreds if not thousands of teachers, releases some unknown number of prisoners and takes troopers off the road.

Purveyors of the carnage offer two excuses for the devastation —the economic downturn and the accompanying revenue decline, and the $350 million in federal stimulus money that Gov. Mark Sanford has certified but not yet requested.

The authors of this budget even wrote and passed a mythical “Part III” that uses the stimulus money, sort of like dangling the jail-house key in front of the condemned.

The terrible tragedy of the budget lies not, however, in the threatened layoff of teachers and troopers but in the simple and undeniable truth that the entire scenario is unnecessary.

The budget reflects both poor math and a complete absence of prioritization along with a shameful cynicism that pits one group of South Carolinians against another and attempts to pit them all against the governor.

It does not have to be this way. We do not have to accept the portents of doom from government. There is another option.

We developed over the past two weeks an alternative budget that accomplishes four things that we believe should be the priorities for government.

• First, our budget, coupled with recent flexibility legislation, sends $2.57 billion straight to schools to use any way they want. Schools have never received more money for classroom funding.

No teachers need lose their jobs. None.

• Second, our budget prioritizes public safety. The Department of Public Safety receives more than $3 million more than the current year, which allows it not only to operate at full capacity but also to add 75-100 new troopers.

We increase funding to the Department of Corrections by more than $50 million, which means that no prisons will close, no prisoners will be released and its years-old operating deficit is eliminated. (The Finance Committee budget continues the deficit spending just as in Washington).

All other public safety agencies receive increases in their funding over the current year to ensure that government fulfills its responsibility to protect the public.

• Third, our budget restores the 7 percent that was cut this year from all agencies with health-care functions. The Department of Health and Human Services, the primary provider of Medicaid services, receives an increase of more than $200 million in recurring money. This money will be there next year and the year after that and the year after that.

• Our budget lastly, but by no means least, sets aside $200 million for debt reduction. South Carolina will owe by the end of this year nearly $1 billion in loans to cover unemployment benefits payments; $200 million is a start on paying that back.

There is no magic behind our budget. We simply use existing revenue wisely and prioritize. We also capture common-sense savings that Gov. Sanford has promoted for years. For example, we save nearly $18 million by closing TERI positions.

We fund our priorities and repay debt without one dime of the $700 million Gov. Sanford wants to put toward debt relief. That money might be used for K-12 education enhancement, other government programs or, as we would prefer, additional debt repayment.

We presented this common-sense alternative to the Senate Finance Committee. It was fully detailed and certified as balanced by the State Budget Office. The committee chairman denied us even the chance to vote on it.

We will present this fiscally responsible alternative to the full Senate, where the rules require at least an opportunity to vote on it. We urge you to call your senator and ask him to consider the alternative to what even the chief proponent of the Finance Committee budget labeled “Armageddon.”

It does not have to be this way. You can replace despair and defeat with responsibility and fairness. Call today.

Timing is everything and I’ve been very fortunate with the timing of our current two-week furlough from the State House .

Many folks are not aware that SC Legislators are “part-time” (even though the job is actually “all-the-time”) and that most of us have to juggle work at “real jobs” during the weeks we are in session. Getting a week (or two) away from session definitely helps and… one could argue it also helps our state as well!

During the past two weeks I’ve tried to focus on my paying job and, given the current rate environment (lowest since 1971) , it’s hard to get it all done every day . It’s a good feeling to help folks save hundreds each month and thousands over the life of their mortgages.

With SC unemployment at 11% and with news today that two ladies on my team will be displaced , I don’t want to sound ungrateful. I just wanted to let y’all know why I haven’t been blogging as much (for those that care).

I’ve talked with other mortgage officers in the state and their days are just as crazy as mine. Realtors are actually telling me they’re seeing folks start to look to buy houses. Could we be on our way out of this housing crisis/recession? Still too early to tell.

I’ll get back to regular posting this weekend and I did spend some time last week updating my Campaign Finance Reports .

Look for an updated Nathan’s News video soon about our campaign reports and the bill I prefiled last December to help provide more transparency on campaign finances: H.3066. . Yesterday, I did find time to meet with my Scholarship Committee to discuss this year’s finalists for the 2009 Ballentine Scholarships. I hope to continue to be able to return my legislative salary to worthy causes next year too.

Have a good week, I’ll be back this weekend!

I was pleased today to stand alongside Mayor Pro-Tem Harvey Hoots and Councilman Barry Walker, Sr. as they were recognized for being the first town in the state to post their finances online for all to see.

In addition to this recognition, Columbia’s Mayor Bob Coble also shared how his office will follow Irmo’s lead and join in the on-going efforts for more transparency in our government.

Representing parts of both the Town of Irmo and the City of Columbia , I am very excited to see these local elected leaders embrace this common-sense approach to more accountability and transparency in our state. I have heard that our Lexington/Richland School District Five may also join the movement and open up their finances online too!

Whether it’s how elected officials vote, how and where they raise/spend funds during a campaign, or how officials spend your money – I’m glad to see a movement continues on it’s way to restore the public trust and confidence in public servants.

Related links:

March 27, 20008 ……….. State Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom launches South Carolina’s New Spending Transparency Website

April 15, 2008 ………….. Representative Haley (R-Lexington) files H. 5019 “Roll Call Voting for expenditure of state funds”

August 24, 2008 ……… The Song Remains the Same

September 24, 2008 …. Transparency Reforms Take Flight

December 4, 2008 …… Well, I guess he showed THEM who the big ‘ol hairy Speaker is

December 9, 2008 ……. Representative Haley (R-Lexington) pre-files H. 3047 “Spending Accountability Act” (Roll-Call Voting) with 37 cosponsors

December 9, 2008 ……. Representative Nathan Ballentine (R-Richland) pre-files H.3066 “Campaign Finance Disclosure Reform” with 33 cosponsors

December 17,2009 ….. Senator Larry Grooms (R-Berkeley) pre-files S.0221 “SC Truth in Spending Act” prefiled in the Senate

January 9, 2009 ………. Transparency Bill Gains Momentum

January 14, 2009 ……… House Embraces Transparency, Requires Voting on the Record

February 17, 2009 …….. Rep. Garry Smith (R-Greenville) H.3540 “SC Truth in Spending Act” filed in House

On Wednesday, April 22, 2009, Capitol Ministries will host Pastors’ Day at the Capitol .

Capitol Ministries “exist to make disciples of Jesus Christ in the political arena in America and around the world.”

They are inviting pastors from all across our state to join in this ministry event. Ralph Drollinger , founder and president of Capitol Ministries will be our keynote speaker, addressing “The Missing Mandate of Modern Mission” as it relates the church in the political arena.

Events will begin at 8:30am with our Legislative Bible Study and a luncheon at 12:30-2:30pm at the Capital City Club here in Columbia. They would greatly appreciate your presence here in Columbia for the annual Pastors’ Day. Please feel free to invite other ministers to participate and RSVP to jeff.lingerfelt@capmin.org or 803-467-7634.

Schedule:

12:30-2:30PM Pastors’ Day at the Capitol
Luncheon
Capital City Club
1201 Main St 25th Floor

Warmest Blessings,

Jeff Lingerfelt
State Director, South Carolina

(Follow Jeff on Twitter by clicking here)