The House of Representatives has adjourned for the 2010 session. I hope that you find this update helpful and informative:
Thank you!: Last week, I was reelected to serve as Representative for District 81 in the S.C. House. I am very grateful and honored for the opportunity to serve and I appreciate the support provided by so many people in the district.
Veterans Day: This Thursday, November 11, is Veterans Day. Please join me in thanking our veterans for their service and sacrifices which allow us to enjoy the freedoms and security with which we are blessed in the United States.
Legislative Forecast for 2011: Last week, I spoke to the First Friday Means Business monthly meeting sponsored by the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce. The focus of my presentation was to forecast some of the key legislation and issue areas that are expected to come up during the 2011 session of the General Assembly. A copy of my power point presentation can be seen by clicking here.
USC Aiken: Recently, Dr. Tom Hallman, Chancellor of USC Aiken, delivered his 2010 State of the Campus Address. Dr. Hallman noted that USCA is number one among public regional colleges in the South as ranked by US News and World Report; USCA will celebrate 50 years next year in 2011; and USCA has 3,247 students this Fall which represents one of the highest overall enrollment numbers for the school. A complete copy of the address can be seen by clicking here.
Congratulations to the Aiken High Volleyball Team!: Aiken High’s volleyball team won the State Championship this weekend after defeating Rock Hill. This is a great accomplishment. The team will be honored in the spring at the State House when the players and coaches are recognized by the S.C. House of Representatives.
Celebrate Aiken! Photos Needed: To debut the results from Aiken’s Tomorrow: Local Acts-Global Impacts, the updated City of Aiken Strategic Plan, and in support of the grande finale Celebrate Aiken! Birthday Party to be held at the USCA Convocation Center from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 18th, 2010, the City of Aiken is asking citizens—whether pros or amateurs—to submit their photos to be considered for inclusion in super-sized birthday cards we will be preparing for Aiken turning 175 on December 19th, 2010 as well as an additional one for Aiken when it turns 200 on December 19th, 2035. Categories of photos for each card will be Aiken as a: Green City, Historic City, Family City, or as a Business City.
Rules for submitting photos and the link to digitally upload your photos to be considered can be found at: http://www.cityofaikensc.gov/photo_submissions/
Deadline for photo submissions is midnight Sunday, November 21, 2010.
If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail Richard Pearce at rpearce@cityofaikensc.gov or 642-7657.
Planning for the 2011 Legislative Session: The 2011 legislative session will convene on the second Tuesday in January. I am seeking input from constituents on the critical issues facing our state and area including tax reform; spending reform; K-12 education; the costs of higher education; health care; immigration; economic development; job growth; and the unfunded liabilities in our state’s retirement system. Your input is welcome on any issue important to you. Please email me back or contact me by phone or in person at your convenience.
Speaking In Schools: Last month, I was invited to speak to the 3rd grade students at East Aiken Elementary School. While there, I provided each of them a copy of the South Carolina symbols and emblems booklet. If you would like for me to speak with students in a local school, please let me know.
Speaking to Groups Around the District: Several local groups have asked me to attend one of their meetings to provide an end of session report to their members. If you have a group that would like for me to come to a meeting, please let me know. I recently spoke with members of the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce.
Frequency of My Updates: Since the legislature is not in session, my updates will not come every Monday as they do during session. I will strive to provide an update each week. However, there may be some weeks where I combine two weeks of updates into one. The frequency will be back to every week when the legislature reconvenes in January.
Email Updates: Many people in District 81 are receiving this email update. However, there are many others who do not receive them because I do not know their email addresses. If you know of people who do not receive my updates but they would like to, please email their names and email addresses to me.
Road Issues: If you see a road problem, you can call the SCDOT at 641-7665 or Aiken County at 642-1532 to report the problem. If you do not get a prompt response, please let me know at TomYoung@schouse.gov or call me. In general terms, most paved roads in the County are maintained by SCDOT and are identified on the road- sign poles by a small black and white sign listing the road number, such as S-2-1669. On the other hand, nearly all unpaved roads in the County are maintained by the County.
Thank you for the opportunity to represent you. Please let me know if I can help you in any way or if you have questions about these or other issues. Your feedback is meaningful and appreciated.
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