The State of the Union

There were many themes in President Bush’s State of the Union address that we should adopt in South Carolina state government. Thad discusses those themes in this short video.

Sun News: Sanford touts reforms

Tying his reform proposals to competitiveness, Gov. Mark Sanford said Wednesday in his annual State of the State address that he wants to work with legislators and hopes they can put aside their past differences with him on policy.

“I look forward to the things we can do this year,” Sanford said.

In his sixth State of the State speech, the governor echoed many of the positions he has taken during his campaign and each year since, such as government restructuring and tax cuts.

He did not speak to the coast this year, as he has usually done in the past by referring to tourism’s spot as the state’s top industry. Local legislators said they were disappointed.

“I was amazed he did not mention beach renourishment or roads,” said Sen. Dick Elliott, D-North Myrtle Beach. Read more

Sun News: State immigration policy may get priority

Bill would prevent county, town laws on immigration

Cities and counties could not have immigration laws more extensive than the state’s under a version of a bill approved Thursday morning by a House subcommittee.

“This makes it clear the state is pre-empting the field,” said Rep. Jim Harrison, R-Columbia, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee that will take up the bill on Tuesday.

Rep. Greg Delleney, R-Chester, who led the subcommittee, said the provision also forbids so-called sanctuary cities, where local governments can order their police not to bother checking the immigration status of anyone.
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Sun News: Delegates vary candidate choices

Legislators share who their favorite campaigner is

Horry and Georgetown County legislators often disagree on issues except for local ones, and their choices for president are one of those times when they agree to disagree.

Four of the delegation members are campaigning for four different Republicans, for example. Some others have endorsed but are not campaigning and still others haven’t decided or won’t say who they support.

State Rep. Liston Barfield, R-Aynor, took up Mike Huckabee’s cause long before the former Arkansas governor shot up in the polls, and Barfield has been active in his campaign. State Rep. Tracy Edge, R-North Myrtle Beach, is working for Arizona Sen. John McCain, whom he also supported in 2000 against George Bush.

Rep. Alan Clemmons, R-Myrtle Beach, is active in Mitt Romney’s campaign. State Sen. Ray Cleary, R-Murrells Inlet, got active because he was captivated by former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson’s life story.
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Sun News: BUSINESS PULSE

ARRIVALS

Diane Dalen has joined Sunset Properties as the broker-in-charge of the company’s new Ocean Isle Beach, N.C., sales operation. Evelyn Madison has joined its sales team after she and her partners sold assets of the former Sand Dollar Realty to Sunset Properties.

Thad Viers, an S.C. representative for House District 68, has joined Joseph W. Reeves PA Attorney at Law as an associate attorney.

Mike Evans has joined Raymond James Financial Services at Crescent Bank as financial adviser.
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Sun News: Sparks fly in judge race

The race for Horry County’s family court judgeship sparked hotter than usual for these types of contests last week when Horry County lawyers started calling and writing legislators about which candidate they favored.

Anita Floyd and Ronnie Norton are seeking the spot to be vacated by Tommy Abbott. Melissa Johnson Emery was also nominated but withdrew on Wednesday after failing to get enough promised votes to stay viable.

Lawmakers say they expect one or the other will have the required number of votes by the end of this week.

Legislators elect judges, and Tuesday was the first day that candidates could seek votes. The election will be Feb. 6.

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Sun News: Chance to change missed, but not gone

By Thad Viers

Everyone following the presidential race will agree that change seems to be the theme of everybody’s campaign. This same theme struck a cord with me when I heard that the new State Board of Education met a few weeks ago, knowing that we recently missed a golden opportunity to help promote change within our public schools.

As you may recall, former Horry County School Superintendent Gerrita Postlewait was selected to the State Board of Education over the objections of S.C. Reps. Tracy Edge, R-North Myrtle Beach, Alan Clemmons, R-Myrtle Beach, Nelson Hardwick, R-Surfside Beach, Liston Barfield, R-Aynor, and myself. I want to commend my colleagues for taking a strong stand in support of a reform candidate rather than the status quo candidate who was thrust upon us.

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JANUARY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Dear Friends:

I wanted to take this time to update you on my legislative agenda for this year’s Legislative Session.  I will be focusing on 7 items for this session.  These items concentrate and reflect my basic, conservative philosophy:
smaller government, lower taxes, and maintaining a strong South Carolina.

My legislative agenda includes the following:

•    FIGHT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
•    STOP HIDDEN EARMARK SPENDING
•    TAX CUTS FOR FAMILIES
•    IMPROVING ROADS AND BRIDGES
•    TRUE EDUCATION REFORM
•    EXPANDING THE ECONOMY
•    STATE SPENDING CAP

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Immigrant issue weighty | Presidential aspirants take a strong line

Though it’s 1,500 miles away, the Mexican border has never seemed so close.

With every broadcast presidential debate, every traded accusation that one candidate is softer than another on immigration policy, the border looms a little larger.

“The new litmus test for the Republican Party nomination is where you stand on illegal immigration,” said state Rep. Thad Viers, R-Myrtle Beach, an organizer of the Horry County chapter of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, a controversial group of illegal immigration opponents. “People are just angry because of a complete lack of faith in the federal government.”

In recent months, illegal immigration has become an emotional and increasingly heated issue in the Carolinas, although different observers attribute the controversy to different sources. As the January debates in Myrtle Beach approach, the volume of the discussion is sure to increase.

Tough line

In 2007, there was no escaping the immigration debate, even on the Grand Strand.

Read more

Minuteman group to hold second meeting

The second meeting of the Horry County chapter of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps will be at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 11, at the Conway High School auditorium.

More than 100 people showed up for the first meeting, overflowing the meeting room at the Socastee library and prompting officials to rent the larger auditorium space. A crowd of 400 or 500 is expected, organizers say.

Speakers will include state Rep. Thad Viers, R-Myrtle Beach, former Myrtle Beach mayor and Senate candidate Mark McBride, Clemson City Councilwoman Margaret Thompson, retired Horry County probation officer Tim Zachary and Roan Garcia-Quintana, a Cuban exile and director of Mauldin-based group Americans Have Had Enough.

A question-and-answer session will follow the speakers.

-SUN NEWS

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