Weekly Legislative Update from Rep. Tom Young –- October 4 to October 10, 2011

October 4 to October 10, 2011
The House of Representatives is out of session for 2011 and returns to session on January 10, 2012. Nevertheless, a lot is happening around District 81 and in Columbia.  I hope that you find this update helpful and informative:

End of Session Town Meetings Coming Up:  Like the past two years, I have set town meetings in our district where I will review the past legislative session and discuss the upcoming session.  The public is invited.  I have three town meetings set as follows:

Wednesday, October 12 at 6:00 pm at Odell Weeks Center in Aiken;
Monday, October 17 at 6:00 pm at Leavelle McCampbell Middle School Cafeteria in Graniteville;
Monday, October 24 at 4:00 pm at Woodside Plantation Reserve Club House in Aiken.

Governor Haley in Aiken:  Governor Haley held a town meeting in Aiken at the Municipal Building last Wednesday.  During the meeting, she said that her 2012 legislative agenda will focus on job training initiatives; restructuring; pension reform; tax reform; and higher education funding reform.

Governor Haley Report Card:  Governor Haley released her “Report Card” for legislators for the 2011 session.  Along with most of the Aiken County delegation, I scored an “A.”  To see the card, go here.

Aiken County Legislative Delegation Meeting: The Aiken County Legislative Delegation met last Monday, October 3 at the Aiken County Council Chambers. At the meeting, the delegation presented resolutions to the family of the late former State Representative and State Senator Frampton W. Toole and to retired Master in Equity Judge Bob Smoak for their service to the state and Aiken County. Additionally, two citizens spoke to express ideas on how to improve schools in Aiken and our state.

Feedback Requested — Planning for the 2012 Legislative Session:  The 2012 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; economic development; job growth; and the underfunded liabilities in our state’s retirement systems.  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.

Frequency of Legislative Updates:  Over the remaining 3 months of this year, my legislative updates may not come every week.  Rather, I will strive to send them every other week.

SCDOT Weekly Update:  The Department of Transportation started a weekly update seven weeks ago to inform the public about what is going on at the agency as to its financial situation and other matters.  To see the latest, go here.

One Table Thanksgiving in Aiken:  On Thanksgiving Day, many churches and non-profit organizations within greater Aiken are sponsoring a community-wide Thanksgiving celebration called One Table in The Alley in downtown Aiken.  Food will be served at noon.   To learn more, go here: www.onetable.org.

Speaking to Groups Around the District: Several local groups have invited me to attend one of their meetings to provide an end of session report.  If you have a group that would like for me to come to a meeting during the next couple of months, please let me know.

Help for Displaced SRS Workers: If you or someone you know lost a job at SRS, there is a One-Stop Transition Center open in downtown Aiken at Park Avenue and Laurens Street to assist workers displaced at SRS with finding new work.  The Center is open from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. For more information, visit www.workforce.psa-inc.com.

Report Waste, Fraud and Abuse in State Government:  To report waste, fraud and abuse in state government, you can call: 1-855-SC-FRAUD.

Roll Call Voting:  There is a new link available to keep up with all the roll call votes in the S.C. House.  That link can be accessed at either my website at www.reptomyoung.com or at thewww.scstatehouse.gov website.

Facebook:  I have a Facebook page for Representative Tom Young. Please “like” the page to receive updates during the week from me on Facebook.

Tom Young’s Website: My updated website can be reached at www.reptomyoung.com. There are links to a variety of constituent services; the status of sponsored bills; and roll call votes. Please add my web site as a bookmark on your computer.

State House Tours:  Tours are available for the S.C. State House by calling (803) 734-2430.

Email Updates:  If you know of people in or around District 81 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, 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 atTomYoung@schouse.gov or call me. Generally, 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. Most unpaved roads in the County are maintained by the County.

Thank you for the opportunity and the honor 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.

Sincerely,

Tom Young
649-0000 (o)
215-3631 (cell)
P.S. Please visit www.reptomyoung.com for more posts, news, video updates, and, if you have Twitter, please click here to start following me!



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