Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Buys the federal government three more months.
All of the Republicans in the South Carolina Congressional Delegation have voted in favor of the bill to raise the federal government's debt limit. The so-called "No Budget, No Pay" bill passed the House by a vote of 285-144. It is expected to be approved in the Senate with few changes according to Majority Leader Harry Reid. The measure means the federal government will be able to keep borrowing until May 19. It also takes the debt ceiling off the table as a political debate for the next three months, which was a loser for Republicans in the eyes of most Americans. It's a sharp contrast to the last debt ceiling debate when South Carolina's newest members of the House--Trey Gowdy, Mick Mulvaney, Tim Scott and Jeff Duncan were at the center…
Friday, January 4, 2013
Bill passes anyway.
Video of Rep. Trey Gowdy discussing his vote against the bill has been embedded to this story. -------------------- On Thursday the US House of Representatives passed a $9.7 billion Hurricane Sandy Relief Bill by a margin of 354 to 67. The bill is intended for flood insurance programs. Four of South Carolina's Republican members of the House--Jeff Duncan, Trey Gowdy, Mick Mulvaney and Joe Wilson--voted against the measure. Tom Rice, of the newly created 7th District, voted in favor of it. Democrat Jim Clyburn did not cast a vote. The delay in passing the bill caused controversy in the Republican Party. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie blasted House Republicans for playing …
Monday, December 10, 2012
Potential appointees come from across the state and with different backgrounds.
Since Jim DeMint announced his resignation from the Senate there has been rampant speculation about who Gov. Nikki Haley might select to become the state's junior senator. There was initially speculation that Haley might choose herself, but on Friday she put that rumor to rest. There was also some thought that Haley might select a so-called placeholder. On Monday, Haley put that suggestion to rest also: “As I continue to consider the impending U.S. Senate vacancy, many have discussed the possibility of a ‘placeholder’ appointee who would pledge to serve for only two years and not seek election to the seat in 2014. While there are some good arguments in favor of that approach, I believe the better case is against it. “I do not want to tie …
Same poll shows Tim Scott the slight favorite among possible Senate candidates.
Last week a poll from Winthrop University showed Gov. Nikki Haley's job disapproval numbers slightly higher than those approving of her performance. On Monday, a poll from Public Policy Polling (PPP) showed a wider gap between those who disapprove of Haley's work as governor versus those who approve. The PPP numbers showed 49 percent of voters disapproving of Haley and 42 approving. The Winthrop Poll showed 41.3 and 38.3, respectively. The PPP poll had 520 respondents and the Winthrop poll had 929. The PPP survey was conducted over this past weekend. According to PPP, Haley's polling numbers rank her 35th out of 43 sitting governors. The full poll is attached to this article. Elsewhere in the PPP results, Tim Scott (R-1) is the preferred …
Friday, November 23, 2012
Republican House members part of group of 97 who oppose Rice promotion.
Most of South Carolina’s Congressional delegation is at odds over Susan Rice, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Rice has been mentioned as a possible successor to Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, but before her candidacy is even official it’s encountered strong opposition, particularly from South Carolina’s Republicans. The opposition stems from comments that Rice made while appearing on Sunday talk shows following the attack on the United States embassy in Benghazi, Libya on Sept. 11 that killed four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens. During her appearances, Rice said that the attack on the embassy was spontaneous, when later investigations proved that it had been coordinated. Last Wednesday, Rice said …
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Constitutional Amendment passes; Haley's endorsees have mixed results.
Barack Obama was re-elected to a second term as 44th President of the United States on Tuesday. Obama defeated former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney by 332-206 in the Electoral College and by 1.7 million total votes, 56.7 to 55. Obama captured every state he won in 2008 except for Indiana and North Carolina. South Carolina easily went to Romney, one of the first states to go into his column. ---------- All six of South Carolina's Congressmen won re-election. Tim Scott (R-1), Jeff Duncan (R-3), Trey Gowdy (R-4) all won with 60 percent (or more) of the vote. Joe Wilson (R-2) and James Clyburn (D-6) ran unopposed. Mick Mulvaney (R-2) won his race over Joyce Knott 55-45 percent. The first occupant of the seat…
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Tracking the Presidential and congressional races.
Updated results: If you don't see election results above, or you're on a mobile device, click here for results. 8:15 a.m.: SC Influential Conservatives Say Romney Won Ground Game Former Gov. Mitt Romney won the South Carolina ground game on the way to the presidency, said participants in our final Red Palmetto survey of nearly 100 influential conservatives across South Carolina. Of the 30 conservatives who responded to our final poll, 63.3 percent said Romney "by a wide margin" had the best ground game. And 46.7 percent said Romney had the better media/advertising effort in the state. But convincing undecideds, which lis a goal of large advertising buys and compelling efforts on the ground, is not an important piece of winning South …
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Five of SC's 7 Congressional Republicans speak outside Bi-Lo Center in Greenville.
Nathan Leupp had been planning the Take Our Country Back 2012 Rally for two months, so he could not have known that a shot in the arm is precisely what Palmetto State conservatives needed. With Pres. Barack Obama starting to build a lead in polls, and with rival Mitt Romney taking what even many in his own party believe was an ill-conceived swipe at Obama’s Middle East strategy, conservatives were looking for a boost. Leupp said he hoped the rally would energize conservatives in South Carolina to pitch in for the cause in swing states like Florida, Virginia, Ohio and, of course, neighboring North Carolina. While the crowd outside the Bi-Lo Center in Greenville was significantly smaller than the original “Take Back” rally in 2009, it did …
Monday, September 10, 2012
Six elected officials scheduled to speak.
On Friday several notable South Carolina Republicans will be speaking at the Take Our Country Back 2012 Rally at the BI-LO Center in Greenville. Sen. Jim DeMint, Reps. Trey Gowdy, Tim Scott, Mick Mulvaney and Jeff Duncan are joined by State Attorney General Alan Wilson as the speakers. According to the organizers' web page, there are three main purposes for the rally: 1. Energize conservative voters of the Upstate. Because South Carolina is a “Red State”, we have a lively primary season, but tend to get overlooked during November elections. There are many ways for voters to get involved and aid in promoting the conservative message. Our speakers will not only be rallying conservatives, but also sharing how each voter can help. 2. Unite …
Thursday, June 21, 2012
18-month-long investigation House Oversight and Government Reform Committee held Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, the House committee overseeing the investigation into Operation Fast and Furious, found United States Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt for citing executive privilege and not handing over documents relevant to the inquiry. The Fast and Furious investigation has strong ties to South Carolina, with U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-4) one of its lead investigators and the whistleblower who helped shed light on the operation residing in Simpsonville. Next week, House Speaker John Boehner is expected to bring the contempt hearings to a vote before the entire House. While the investigation has dragged on, some have called a little more than political theater and precisely the kind of gridlock that has Congess' favorability polling in…
Jim Hargett
9:27 am on Saturday, February 9, 2013
It is heartbreaking when our 'fantastic 4' vote for ANY of South Carolina's tax-paying money to increase the debt. more ›