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Release – SC House: Time for Government Restructuring to Become Law

May 15, 2013 by

For 5th time in 5 years, House again approves a DOA Bill

To hear an audio quote on DOA Restructuring from Speaker Harrell, click here

****NOTE: Chart detailing the House’s DOA plan: here****

(Columbia, SC) – Today, the SC House of Representatives (in a 91 to 23 bipartisan vote) again approved a Department of Administration (DOA) bill, marking the 5th time the House has passed this government restructuring reform over the last 5 years.

If the House’s DOA plan makes it into law this year, it would institute the broadest government restructuring effort to be undertaken in South Carolina in decades.  Breaking up the quasi-Executive/Legislative Budget & Control Board, the House’s reform measure places Executive Branch functions directly under the Governor, adds stronger accountability oversight and will save taxpayers money by eliminating waste and duplication.

House Speaker Bobby Harrell issued this statement about the House’s DOA reform plan:

“Fundamentally changing the way government operates by challenging the status quo never comes easy – or quickly, considering this is the fifth time a DOA bill has passed the House – but our state’s system of government is in need of major reform.

“The House’s DOA reform plan adds direct accountability oversight, streamlines operations by removing duplication, and ultimately, saves taxpayers money.  [Read more...]

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Release – House Passes Economic Development Bill to Make Boeing’s SC Expansions a Reality

April 17, 2013 by

Bill commits some core state infrastructure development; Boeing commits to double footprint, add 2,000 jobs & invest $1 billion in SC

(Columbia, SC) – By a 115 to 2 bipartisan vote, the SC House of Representatives today approved Economic Development legislation (S. 578) that addresses some core state infrastructure development enabling Boeing to move forward with its recently announced “Phase II” SC expansion – a commitment by the company to an additional investment exceeding $1 billion that will more than double its North Charleston footprint and add at least 2,000 new jobs.

Having already passed the Senate, a procedural 3rd reading by the House tomorrow will set the Economic Development bill for ratification this week which will then be sent to the Governor to be enacted into law.

House Speaker Bobby Harrell issued this statement about this major economic development win for our state:

“Having now experienced the lofty achievements our state’s highly-skilled and dedicated workforce can deliver, it’s no wonder Boeing wants to do a lot more business in South Carolina.  Companies worldwide are also taking notice that there are no limits to what South Carolina’s workforce can accomplish.  [Read more...]

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Release – Boeing Economic Development Infrastructure Bill on Fast Track

April 11, 2013 by

Bill will enable 2,000 new jobs & $1 billion in private investment

(Columbia, SC) – An economic development bill (S. 578) has been set on a fast track to become passed into law as early as next week.  Announced earlier this week, Boeing’s SC “Phase II” expansion will double the site’s size, add at least 2,000 new jobs and commits to an additional private investment well exceeding $1 billion.  This economic development legislation stems from an agreement reached between Boeing and South Carolina that will enable this Phase II expansion by allowing the state to fund in part core state infrastructure site development.

Introduced on Tuesday, the legislation has already been passed by the Senate.  Today, the House set the bill to go “without reference” which places it directly on the House Calendar and will be up for debate when the House of Representatives returns in session next Tuesday.

House Speaker Bobby Harrell issued this statement about the General Assembly’s swift action on this job creating legislation:

“We have made a commitment to Boeing and our state keeps its word, particularly when it comes to economic development.  And, as evident by the 6,000 South Carolina jobs they’ve already created, Boeing doesn’t just keep its word but greatly exceeds expectations. This is a good investment for our entire state that will create exciting new opportunities for our citizens and provide our state with huge returns.  [Read more...]

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Release – Speaker Harrell Comments on Yet Another Major Boeing Expansion

April 9, 2013 by

Boeing to double footprint, add 2,000 new jobs & invest an additional $1 billion in SC

(Columbia, SC) – In 2009, Boeing committed to investing $750 million and creating 3,800 new jobs in our state.  Boeing met those commitments four years early and now South Carolina is home to the only aircraft manufacturing campus in the world where airplanes are built start-to-finish and delivered.  Today, after investing well over $1 billion, there are more than 6,000 employees on site at Boeing South Carolina.

Boeing and South Carolina’s partnership continues to grow and prosper with Boeing’s announcement of its “Phase II” expansion that will double the site’s current footprint.  Conservative estimates by Boeing anticipate this expansion will add at least 2,000 new jobs and commits to an additional private investment well exceeding $1 billion.

House Speaker Bobby Harrell issued this statement about the announced “Phase II” expansion:

“Boeing is doing very well in South Carolina, and South Carolina is doing very well because of Boeing.   Boeing’s commitment to our state and to our workforce has done nothing but exceed expectations and grow stronger since breaking ground in 2009.  [Read more...]

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Release – House Approves Restructuring Reform to let Governor Appoint SC’s Adjutant General

March 20, 2013 by

Adds accountability; takes politics out of top Military post

(Columbia, SC) – After last November’s election, where voters overwhelmingly approved a House-led plan to change the way our state’s Lt. Governor is chosen, the House is advancing another major government restructuring reform.  Today, the SC House passed a plan that will allow the Governor to appoint a qualified candidate to become our state’s Adjutant General upon Senate confirmation.

“Our state’s top Military post should be filled by the most qualified candidate, not by the most politically successful one,” House Speaker Bobby Harrell said.  “This government restructuring reform will protect the integrity of this important position by replacing political qualifiers with benchmarks of Military leadership and experience.  Currently, our state’s highest Military Officer can be duly filled by someone with absolutely no Military experience – that needs to change.” [Read more...]

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Release – House Defeats Efforts to Opt-into Obamacare Expansion

March 12, 2013 by

House rejects spending billions to expand broken system

(Columbia, SC) – As the full House debated the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) section of the state budget today, amendments were offered to opt South Carolina into Obamacare’s massive new Medicaid expansion.  Each attempt to force our state into implementing this Obamacare expansion was defeated by wide margins.

House Speaker Bobby Harrell issued the following statement about the House’s strong stance against Obamacare Expansion:

“If more money and more government produced healthier citizens, Americans should be the healthiest population on the planet – but we’re not.  The current system is clearly broken but instead of trying to fix this broken system, Obamacare simply makes it bigger.
[Read more...]

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Release – JetBlue Landing in Charleston

February 28, 2013 by

Daily nonstop flights to Northeast Corridor begin today

****Click here for an audio quote from Speaker Harrell on JetBlue

(Columbia, SC) – In September of last year, JetBlue Airlines announced it would begin servicing three daily nonstop flights between Charleston International Airport and two major markets in the Northeast – two for New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and one for Boston’s Logan International Airport.  JetBlue planes begin flying those new routes today.

“The skies over Charleston are a little Bluer today and our future horizons are even brighter,” said House Speaker Bobby Harrell.  “JetBlue has built their company on a foundation of quality and excellence, providing outstanding service by focusing on the needs of its customers.  JetBlue will greatly benefit by providing these new markets with nonstop service to the world’s top tourist destination and will soon realize that the locals they’re hiring as new ‘JetBlue Crewmembers’ are some of the most dedicated and hardest working employees in the industry.”
[Read more...]

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Release – Tax Reform Component Makes Road Funding a Priority

February 27, 2013 by

Bill dedicates $100M in car sales taxes to infrastructure needs

Click here to hear what Speaker Harrell told radio stations about this bill.

(Columbia, SC) – Today, by a vote of 106-5, the SC House of Representatives passed a bill (H. 3412) that uses the money generated by the current tax on car sales to establish a dedicated funding source to improve our state’s roads and bridges.  The measure doesn’t raise or create any new taxes but rather prioritizes those funds to be dedicated to infrastructure improvement needs, in much the same way a 2008 House-passed bill did.  That legislation died in the Senate at the end of that session.

House Speaker Bobby Harrell, lead sponsor of the bill, said, “Just as a student’s college tuition at one of our state’s universities is dedicated to funding that student’s education, this bill dedicates the sales tax on cars to maintaining the roads these cars will use.”
[Read more...]

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Release – House Speaker & Adjutant General Introduce Responsible Restructuring Reform

February 19, 2013 by

Joint effort adds accountability, takes politics out of top military post

Click here to hear what Speaker Harrell told radio stations about this bill.

(Columbia, SC) – After a year-long analysis of the issues by a diverse review panel appointed by Adjutant General Robert E. Livingston, Jr., reform legislation was introduced today by Speaker of the S.C. House Bobby Harrell that employs many of the panel’s recommendations to change how our state’s head military position is chosen.

“General Livingston worked very hard to be elected our state’s Adjutant General,” House Speaker Bobby Harrell said.  “With a distinguished military career and great devotion to public service, he is more than qualified to hold this important statewide post.  Putting our state’s best interests ahead of political ambitions, General Livingston should be applauded for recommending such a responsible restructuring proposal to ensure that we will continue to have capable military leaders serving in this position.”
[Read more...]

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Release – House Passes Session Shortening Bill…for the 10th Time

February 6, 2013 by

Cutting two months from one of the longest legislative sessions in the country will save taxpayers more than $400,000/year

Click here to hear what Speaker Harrell said about the Session Shortening Bill

(Columbia, SC) – Today, for the 10th time, the SC House of Representatives passed a bill to shorten the legislative session.  The constitutional amendment (H. 3340) to shorten the annual session by two months was approved by a 91-9 vote, well exceeding the required 2/3 majority.  The amendment cuts one month from the beginning and one month from the end of the constitutionally prescribed annual session calendar, and by doing so, will save taxpayers more than $400,000 a year.
[Read more...]

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