Vetoes Up This Week — Weekly Legislative Update from Rep. Tom Young – July 3, 2012 to July 16, 2012

The House of Representatives returns this Tuesday to consider the Governor’s vetoes in the State Budget.  I hope that you find this update helpful and informative:

Governor’s Vetoes

Governor Haley’s Budget Vetoes:  South Carolina’s Governor, unlike the President of the United States, has the line item veto for the appropriations bill/state budget.  During his past week, using that line item veto authority, Governor Haley vetoed 81 line items and provisos in the final version of the budget passed by the General Assembly.  The vetoed items total more than $67 Million.  The House and the Senate meet this week to consider whether to sustain or to override the Governor’s vetoes.  Some of the Governor’s vetoes included, but were not limited to, a number of local projects such as the Andrews, SC Public Safety Building and the Darlington County Watershed. Other vetoes include $10 Million of the $48 Million total funds allocated by the General Assembly for public school teacher salary increases; funding for the SC Arts Commission; funding for the SC Sea Grant Consortium; funding for the SC Coalition on Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Centers; and technology support funds for the SC Judicial Department.  I am reviewing the vetoes and developing a position on each before Tuesday.  Out of the 81 vetoes, I am certain as of now that I will vote to override the veto as to the SC Coalition on Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis; teachers’ salaries; and technology support funds for the SC Judicial Department.  If you feel strongly about a particular veto and have not yet emailed or called me, please let me know before Tuesday.  Governor Haley’s veto messages can be accessed as follows:

General Appropriations Act

Capital Reserve Fund

Senate Campaign Update

Senate Campaign:  We turned in our petition campaign signatures to the State Elections Commission.  The Commission says that we will know no later than August 15 as to whether we qualify to be on the November 6 ballot as a petition candidate for Senate District 24.  As of right now, I will still be on the ballot as the Republican nominee for Senate District 24.

THANK YOU!:  Thank you to everyone who helped in my campaign’s petition drive to remain on the ballot for the November 6 election for State Senate.

Other Topics of Interest

End of Session Town Meetings:  Like the past three years, I plan to hold end of session town meetings around the district.   Based on constituent requests, I will hold those after the summer vacation season ends.  The dates, times, and locations will be provided in future updates.

Savannah River National Lab:  There is a good article about the national lab at Savannah River Site in this month’s SC. Chamber of Commerce magazine.  To see the article, go here.

SCDOT Weekly Update: The Department of Transportation’s weekly update to inform the public about what is going on at the agency as to its financial situation and other matters can be seen by going here.

Constituent Information

Speaking with Groups Around the District: Several local groups have invited me to attend one of their meetings to provide a legislative update.  If you have a group that would like for me to come to a meeting, please let me know.

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

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 website can be reached at www.tomyoungforsenate.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.  If you set a tour between January and June and it is on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, please let me know so I can do my best to see you.

Email Updates:  If you know of people in or around District 81 who do not receive my updates but they would like to get them, 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 at tom@tomyoungforsenate.com 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

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