The House of Representatives is out of session for the rest of the year. I hope that you find this update helpful and informative:
Veterans Day: Today 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. Also, remember to thank the families of those who have served in uniform especially the families of those who gave their lives for our nation. A ceremony will be held today at the Aiken County Veterans’ Park at 11:00 am. I will attend.
Thank you!: Last week, I was elected to serve as Senator for District 24 in the S.C. Senate. Thank you for the opportunity to serve, and I appreciate the support provided by so many people in the district. Also, I am very grateful for the honor of representing you in the S.C. House of Representatives for the past four years. Later today, I will be sworn in as State Senator at the Aiken County Legislative Delegation Meeting at 5:00 pm at the Aiken County Council Chambers.
State News
Aiken County Legislative Delegation: The next meeting of the Aiken County Legislative Delegation is today at 5:00 p.m. at the Aiken County Council Chambers. All newly elected members of the Delegation will be sworn in at this time.
Cyber Attack – Protect Your Identity: To see the latest on what to do to protect your identity in the wake of the lost information at the S.C. Department of Revenue, go here.
General Fund Revenue Collections: The Board of Economic Advisors (BEA) met on Friday and reported that revenue collections for FY 2012-13 are up $160.3 million or 7.6%. The BEA revised the estimate for budget year 2013-14.
Planning for the 2013 Legislative Session: The 2013 legislative session begins on the second Tuesday in January. If elected to the State Senate, I appreciate 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.
Frequency of Legislative Updates: Over the remaining 2 months of this year, my legislative updates may not come every week. Rather, I will strive to send them at least every other week.
Other Local News
Aiken — Hitchcock Parkway Widening: SCDOT held a public information session last Thursday from 5-7 pm at South Aiken High School. It is very important that all interested people provide their comments no later than November 23 to Kevin Gantt at SCDOT by email at GanttKL@dot.state.sc.us; by fax at (803) 737-1510; or by mail at SCDOT, PO Box 191, Columbia, SC 29202. To learn more on the proposed project, go here:. You may also go to Aiken City Hall where the proposed project materials are on display.
North Augusta – Changes to Highway 125: SCDOT held a public information session on October 30 about widening portions of and building intersection improvements for Atomic Road and East Buena Vista Avenue in North Augusta. It is very important that all interested people provide comments no later than November 14 to Kevin Gantt at SCDOT by email at GanttKL@dot.state.sc.us; by fax at (803) 737-1510; or by mail at SCDOT, PO Box 191, Columbia, SC 29202. To learn more on the proposed project, 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.
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.
Small Business Help – SC Dept. of Commerce: The South Carolina Department of Commerce has helpful information for small business owners and employees. To learn more, go to http://sccommerce.com/sc-business-network.
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.
Thoroughbred Country– South Carolina Regional Tourism Organization: To learn more about tourism in the four county region of Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, and Barnwell, visit www.tbredcountry.org.
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.
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