(Or Lack Thereof) COLUMBIA (July 03, 2013) - When the legislative session ends many politicians rush out their “list of accomplishments,” as many of my colleagues are doing now. Many of them are touting things like the legislation that fixed the filing-for-office debacle or the closing of the legal loophole which allowed “sweepstakes” machines to [...]

PAULINE, SC (June 03, 2013) - 2013-2014 Budget Bill We have completed work on the 2013-2014 budget for South Carolina, and once again I faced the choice of taking the easy path of voting for the budget once it became a done deal or sticking with my principles and saying no to politics as usual. [...]

PAULINE, SC (June 10, 2013) - End of Session Well, it’s over—sort of. Tens of thousands of taxpayers can sleep a little easier now that the 2013 legislative session is behind us; that is, except for brief returns for a final vote on the budget conference report and votes on the governor’s vetoes. It also [...]

PAULINE, SC (May 20, 2013) - 2013-2014 Budget Bill Its budget week at the Statehouse and two things are clear. First, the way Columbia establishes a budget, bears absolutely no resemblance to the way that you and I budget at home around our kitchen tables. If you and I have needs and wants but not [...]