Ethics, Elections, and Roads — Weekly Update from Sen. Tom Young – January 22, 2013 to January 28, 2013

The Senate is in session for 2013.  I hope that you find this update helpful and informative.  If I can help you with an issue, please let me know.

Ethics Reform Recommendations Released:  Yesterday, the South Carolina Commission on Ethics Reform recommended strengthening state ethics, election, campaign finance and public records laws in its final report.  To see the report, go here.

Restructuring – Elimination of Budget and Control and Board:  Senate Judiciary Committee passed the bill (S.22) to eliminate the Budget and Control Board.  This is the same bill which died in the last hour of session last June.  The bill will be on the Senate floor today at noon.

Elections – Ballot Upheaval Fix:  The full Senate gave final approval to legislation (S.2) to correct the election issues which we saw across the state last year.  The fix includes changes so that incumbents and non-incumbents have the same filing requirements.  The bill now goes to the House.

Business Groups Release Plan for Improving Roads:  Last week, South Carolina’s business community released a plan for the General Assembly to begin addressing funding needs for the state’s infrastructure. Fourteen associations support the plan which addresses three major improvement areas: Interstate Expansion ($2.8 billion), Bridges ($2 billion) and Resurfacing ($1.2 billion).  To see the plan, go here.

Chukker Creek School Traffic:  The Aiken County School District, SCDOT, and the Aiken County Transportation Committee jointly developed a plan to address traffic congestion. The proposal is to lengthen the car pick up and drop off line. The 1,800-foot-long extension to the existing car line allows for two more lanes as well as 40 additional parking spaces. The City of Aiken City Council approved the plan last night.

Save for College – Future Scholar 529 College Savings Plan:  South Carolina’s 529 College Savings Plan Future Scholar offers special tax benefits for South Carolina residents including:

  • Tax –deductible contributions from your state income tax return;
  • Tax-deferred growth potential year after year;
  • Tax-free withdrawals provided that funds are used for qualified higher education expenses.

To learn more or to enroll, go to www.FutureScholar.com/parents. More than 5,000 South Carolina families signed up for the program in 2012.   Currently, there are 63,481 South Carolinians enrolled and more than $1 billion invested by SC residents.

Aiken County Legislative Delegation Meeting: The Aiken County Legislative Delegation meets Monday, February 4 at 5:00 pm at the Aiken County Council Chambers.  To learn more, call Jeannie at 642-1694.

Important Cyber Attack Information

Experian Credit Monitoring Deadline Extended:  Taxpayers now have until March 31, 2013 to sign up for protection and unlimited fraud resolution.

Notification Letters:  The Governor’s office says that  about 100,000 letters are being sent every day to affected taxpayers.  Approximately 3.8 million letters will be sent (includes both in-state and out-of-state affected taxpayers) by late January.  Some letters are being sent by email if a taxpayer has already enrolled in identity theft protection services (ProtectMyID) and provided an email address to Experian. The deadline to enroll in ProtectMyID was extended to March 31, 2013.  The deadline to enroll minor dependents, whose social security numbers may have been compromised, in Experian’s Family Secure plan is May 31, 2013.  To see a sample notification letter, go here.

Consumer Affairs Recommendations:  To see the SC Department of Consumer Affairs’ recommendations for what to do when there is a security breach impacting your personal identity information, go here.

Frequently Asked Questions:  The Governor’s office has prepared several groups of questions and answers as indicated below by category:

  • Experian Family Secure – To see those, go here.
  • Cyber Attack – To see those, go here and here.
  • Senior Citizens — To see those, go here.
  • How to Place a Security Freeze:  To see how to place a security freeze, go here.

Constituent Information

Legislative Email Updates:  Locally, three members of the House of Representatives, who represent portions of Aiken County within Senate District 24, send regular email updates.  Their respective contact information to get on their email lists to receive their email updates are as follows:

Speaking with Groups Around the District: If you are involved with a local group that would like for me to attend a meeting to provide a legislative update, 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 Senator 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.senatortomyoung.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.

Request a Flag:  If you would like to request a state or U.S. flag flown over the State Capitol in Columbia, please let me know at tom@senatortomyoung.com.   Flags vary in cost according to their size and their material from which they are made.

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 24 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@senatortomyoung.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.

Also, South Carolina has been elected runner-up in the 2012 State of the Year competition. Read the full article here.

 

Senate Back in Session and Taxpayer Hero Award — Weekly Update from Sen. Tom Young – January 8, 2013 to January 14, 2013

The Senate started the 2013 session last Tuesday. I hope that you find this update helpful and informative.

S.C. Senate Convenes for 2013 Session:  The S.C. Senate convened last Tuesday at noon.  This is the first half of a two year session.  The Senate is expected to meet for 3 days each week between now and early June except for the week before and after Easter.  If an issue is important to you, please let me know.  Thank you again to the people of District 24 for the honor to serve our District.

Taxpayer Hero Award: Last week, the S.C. Club for Growth listed me as one of only 5 out of 124 House members to receive the Club’s Taxpayer Hero Award based on my two year voting record during the 2011-2012 legislative session.

Bills Filed by Sen. Tom Young: Last week, I filed several bills including the following:

S. 158 – No drive until turn 18 if drop out of school early
S. 159 – School district must have minimum of 2,500 students to receive state funds
S. 167 – Governor to appoint Sec. of State
S. 170 – Governor to appoint Commissioner of Agriculture
S. 175 – Governor to appoint Superintendent of Education
S. 177 – Shorten legislative session by one month
S. 178 – No unemployment if refuse to take or fail drug test offered by prospective employer

Restructuring – Elimination of Budget and Control and Board: Last week, I served on a Senate Judiciary sub-committee considering the bill (S.22) to eliminate the Budget and Control Board. This is the same bill which died in the last hour of session last June. The sub-committee meets again on the bill this coming Thursday.

Elections Mess Fix: Last Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed legislation (S.2) so that incumbents and non-incumbents have the same filing requirements. The bill is now going to the full Senate.

Video Gambling Prohibitions: Also, last Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed legislation (S.3) closing a loophole that allows a new form of video poker to operate in South Carolina.  The “sweepstakes” video games will be illegal under the proposal. The bill now goes to the Senate floor where a filibuster is expected.  It is very important that this pass this year.

USC Aiken Lady Pacers Basketball: This team is currently undefeated and ranked 4th in the nation. They play a huge game against undefeated and 3rd ranked Clayton State this Wednesday, January 16 at 5:30 pm at the USCA Convocation Center. I encourage you to attend if you can.

Latest on Cyber Attack

Experian Credit Monitoring Deadline Extended: Taxpayers now have until March 31, 2013 to sign up for protection and unlimited fraud resolution.

Notification Letters: The Governor’s office says that as of January 11, 2013, nearly 1.5 million resident letters have been mailed.  About 100,000 letters are being sent every day.  Approximately 3.8 million letters will be sent (includes both in-state and out-of-state affected taxpayers) by late January.  Some letters are being sent by email if a taxpayer has already enrolled in identity theft protection services (ProtectMyID) and provided an email address to Experian. The deadline to enroll in ProtectMyID was extended to March 31, 2013.  The deadline to enroll minor dependents, whose social security numbers may have been compromised, in Experian’s Family Secure plan is May 31, 2013. To see a sample notification letter, go here.

Consumer Affairs Recommendations: To see the SC Department of Consumer Affairs’ recommendations for what to do when there is a security breach impacting your personal identity information, go here.

Frequently Asked Questions: The Governor’s office has prepared several groups of questions and answers as indicated below by category:

  • Experian Family Secure – To see those, go here.
  • Cyber Attack – To see those, go here and here.
  • Senior Citizens — To see those, go here.
  • How to Place a Security Freeze: To see how to place a security freeze, go here.

Constituent Information

Legislative Email Updates: Locally, three members of the House of Representatives, who represent portions of Aiken County within Senate District 24, send regular email updates. Their respective contact information to get on their email lists to receive their email updates are as follows:

Speaking with Groups Around the District: If you are involved with a local group that would like for me to attend a meeting to provide a legislative update, 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 Senator 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.senatortomyoung.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 24 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@senatortomyoung.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.

Legislature Returns Tomorrow — Weekly Update from Sen. Tom Young – December 20, 2012 to January 7, 2013

The Senate returns tomorrow at noon for the 2013 session. I hope that you find this update helpful and informative.

Happy New Year: Happy New Year to you and your family! During the Holidays, I hope that you took a few moments to remember the true meaning for why we celebrate Christmas. I also hope that you were able to spend time with family and friends and reflect on how blessed that we are to live in the United States. My wife Heather and I hope and pray that the New Year brings you much joy, health, and happiness. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you in the South Carolina State Senate.

Senate Convenes Tomorrow: The S.C. Senate meets tomorrow at 12:00 pm in Columbia to start the 2013 legislative session.

My Senate Committee Assignments: My committee assignments for the 2013 session are as follows: Judiciary; Agriculture and Natural Resources; Corrections and Penology; Fish, Game, and Forestry; and the General (DSS and National Guard issues) Committee. Also, the Lt. Governor appointed me as the Senate appointee to the Governor’s Nuclear Advisory Committee.

State Chamber Releases 2013 Competitiveness Agenda: The S.C. Chamber of Commerce released its annual “Competitiveness Agenda” for the upcoming 2013 legislative session.  The agenda can be seen here.

Feedback for 2013 Legislative Session: 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; roads and bridges; 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.

Legislative Email Updates: Locally, three members of the House of Representatives, who represent portions of Aiken County within Senate District 24, send regular email updates. Their respective contact information to get on their email lists to receive their email updates are as follows:

Latest on Cyber Attack

Experian Credit Monitoring Deadline Extended: Taxpayers now have until March 31, 2013 to sign up for protection and unlimited fraud resolution.

Notification Letters: The Governor’s office says that as of January 2, 2013, 607,620 resident letters have been mailed.  About 100,000 letters are being sent every day.  Approximately 3.8 million letters will be sent (includes both in-state and out-of-state affected taxpayers) by late January.  Some letters are being sent by email if a taxpayer has already enrolled in identity theft protection services (ProtectMyID) and provided an email address to Experian. The deadline to enroll in ProtectMyID was extended to March 31, 2013.  The deadline to enroll minor dependents, whose social security numbers may have been compromised, in Experian’s Family Secure plan is May 31, 2013. To see a sample notification letter, go here.

Consumer Affairs Recommendations: To see the SC Department of Consumer Affairs’ recommendations for what to do when there is a security breach impacting your personal identity information, go here.

Frequently Asked Questions: The Governor’s office has prepared several groups of questions and answers as indicated below by category:

  • Experian Family Secure – To see those, go here.
  • Cyber Attack – To see those, go here and here.
  • Senior Citizens — To see those, go here.
  • How to Place a Security Freeze: To see how to place a security freeze, go here.

Constituent Information

Speaking with Groups Around the District: If you are involved with a local group that would like for me to attend a meeting to provide a legislative update, 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 Senator 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.senatortomyoung.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@senatortomyoung.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.

Holidays, Senate Organizes, and Health Rankings — Weekly Update from Sen. Tom Young – December 12, 2012 to December 19, 2012

The Senate is out of session and will convene January 8th for the 2013 session. I hope that you find this update helpful and informative.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!:  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family! During this month of December, we have all been busy with the sights and sounds of the season.  Nevertheless, I hope that you will take a few moments over the next few days to remember the true meaning for why we celebrate Christmas.  Spend time with family and friends and reflect on how blessed that we are to live in the United States. Remember our troops who are abroad and who will not be able to be home with their families for the Holidays. Cherish our children for whom we strive to make a better future in our state and nation. My wife Heather and I hope and pray that the Holiday Season and the New Year bring you much joy, health, and happiness.  Thank you for the opportunity to serve you in the South Carolina Senate.

“Meaning of Christmas” Message from Former President Reagan:  Thirty-one years ago this week, former President Reagan addressed the nation on television and delivered his “meaning of Christmas” message.  Regardless of your political leanings, I encourage you to take a moment to watch this message and to reflect on that message both this week and next.  To see the video, go here.

Senate Organizational Session: Last Wednesday, the Senate met for its organizational session in anticipation for the 2013 session starting on January 8. During the session, I received my committee assignments which are as follows: Judiciary; Agriculture and Natural Resources; Corrections and Penology; Fish, Game, and Forestry; and the General (DSS and National Guard issues) Committee. Also, the Lt. Governor appointed me as the Senate appointment to the Governor’s Nuclear Advisory Committee.

Major Economic Development Project in North Augusta: The city of North Augusta announced a major economic development project this morning involving the city’s riverfront. To learn more, go here.

SC Health Rankings: South Carolina is 46th in the nation when it comes to the health of our citizens. The costs associated with chronic health problems continue to burden our state.  The report notes that we have a high prevalence of obesity and diabetes and a high percentage of children living in poverty.  This is another statistic confirming my view that the greatest challenge that we face as a state is how to overcome the problems associated with generational poverty. To see the latest rankings, go here.

Feedback for 2013 Legislative Session: The 2013 legislative session begins January 8. 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; roads and bridges; 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.

Latest on Cyber Attack

Consumer Affairs Recommendations: On Monday, the SC Department of Consumer Affairs released recommendations for what to do when there is a security breach impacting your personal identity information. To see that information, go here.

Frequently Asked Questions: The Governor’s office has prepared several groups of questions and answers as indicated below by category:

  • Experian Family Secure – To see those, go here.
  • Cyber Attack – To see those, go here and here.
  • Senior Citizens — To see those, go here.
  • How to Place a Security Freeze: To see how to place a security freeze, 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 Senator 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.senatortomyoung.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.

Roads and Bridges and More on Cyber Attack — Weekly Update from Sen. Tom Young – November 27, 2012 to December 11, 2012

The Senate is out of session and will meet tomorrow at noon for a one day organizational session in preparation for the 2013 session. I hope that you find this update helpful and informative.

Roads and Bridges: The S.C. Department of Transportation maintains the fourth largest highway system in the nation comprised of 41,460 center line miles and 8,357 bridges.  The DOT’s primary funding source is the 16 cents per gallon motor fuel user fee which was last adjusted in 1987. Last week, the DOT released a report outlining that South Carolina has $30 Billion in infrastructure needs over the next 20 years. To see the report, go here.

Roads and Bridges — Perspective: South Carolina needs a dedicated source of funding for road and bridge maintenance and improvements. Strengthening South Carolina’s infrastructure will benefit our state for the long term and provide us with a competitive advantage over other states in our effort to keep existing businesses and to attract new and expanding businesses. Since 2009, the General Assembly stepped up multiple times to make the Port of Charleston as strong as it can be with the most recent commitment being the $300 Million approved in this year’s budget for the Port’s necessary and anticipated harbor deepening. Now, the General Assembly must turn its attention to our roads and bridges. The continued growth in Medicaid funding requirements will present challenges as policy makers consider how to pay for Medicaid growth and still meet other needs in our state including those of public education and road and bridge infrastructure. We need strong leadership from both the Governor and the General Assembly on this issue. The DOT report referenced above describes the situation and offers possible solutions for consideration by the Governor, the General Assembly, and the public. I am working with other General Assembly members on initiatives to meet these and other challenges facing our state. Your input is appreciated and valued. Please email me back or contact me by phone or in person.

Aiken County Economic Development Efforts: A recent article in SC Biz magazine highlights the economic development potential of Aiken County. To see the article, go here.

Feedback for 2013 Legislative Session: The 2013 legislative session begins January 8. 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; roads and bridges; 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.

Latest on Cyber Attack

Who is Impacted?: According to Governor Haley, the DOR has now determined whose information was stolen and impacted residents and non-residents will receive letters of confirmation during the next two weeks.

Minor Children and Dependents: If you enrolled with Experian’s ProtectMyID since late October when offered by the state and you provided an email, then you should have received an email allowing you to enroll your minor children. If you did not provide an email when registering, then you should receive a letter within the next two weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions: The Governor’s office has prepared several groups of questions and answers as indicated below by category:

  • Experian Family Secure – To see those, go here.
  • Cyber Attack – To see those, go here and here.
  • Senior Citizens — To see those, go here.
  • How to Place a Security Freeze: To see how to place a security freeze, 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 Senator 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.

Hacking, Unemployment, and School District News — Weekly Update from Sen. Tom Young – November 20, 2012 to November 26, 2012

The Senate is out of session and will meet for a one day organizational session on Wednesday, December 12 in preparation for the 2013 session. I hope that you find this update helpful and informative.

Unemployment Numbers: Unemployment in Aiken County has declined from 9.0% in October 2011 to 7.3% in October 2012. The statewide average is down during the same period from 10.0% to 8.6%.

Unemployment Numbers Based on Education Level: Several local residents have asked me for data to share with at risk kids in middle and high school about the rates of unemployment for those with and without high school and/or college degrees. To see the latest information from 2011 compiled by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, go here.

School District Shows Improvement: Schools in the Aiken County School District showed improvement according to the latest State Department of Education report card released last week. To see the School District’s press release, go here. To see the State Department of Education’s report card for Aiken County schools, go here. To see the detailed information for each school in Aiken County, go here.

School Districts – Statewide: Statewide, progress was made but the numbers still show that one in four children still do not graduate from high school and one in five children are not reading on grade level in 3rd grade. To see the statewide summary, go here.

Importance of Reading: The above report again shows the importance of reading in student performance. During the past 3 years, I have written wrote several columns in this email update about the importance of reading in the effort to end generational poverty. In addition, I included a report finding that one in six children who are not reading proficiently in third grade do not graduate from high school – 4 times the rate of those who can read at grade level in the third grade. This report emphasizes why it is so important for our children to be able to read at grade level by the third grade. To see the report, go here. I appreciate all input that you may have on this important topic.

Latest on Cyber Attack

Mandiant Report: The Governor’s office released a report last week from Mandiant which was hired to determine the extent of the hacking breach; to perform immediate remediation activities; and to develop short and long term remediation plans. The report can be seen here.

Latest from Governor’s Office on Cyber Breach — Notifications Coming from State by Mail or Email: According to Governor Haley, the DOR has now determined whose information was stolen, and impacted resident and non-residents will receive letters of confirmation either by mail or email in the next two weeks. The hacker, who law enforcement authorities said was based in Russia, stole 74.7 gigabytes of data containing information on individual and business tax returns that had been filed electronically since 1998. That information includes Social Security and business ID numbers, bank accounts and credit cards listed on tax returns. The latest report shows that information from 3.8 million individual taxpayers, 1.9 million dependents, 699,900 businesses, 3.3 million bank accounts and 5,000 credit cards was stolen by the hackers. The Governor says that all of the credit card accounts are expired.

DOR Chief Resigns: Last Tuesday, the Governor announced that Jim Etter, executive director of the State Department of Revenue, resigned effective December 31. Governor Haley named William Blume to take over as the new Department head on January 1.

Cyber Attack – Frequently Asked Questions: The Governor’s office prepared two rounds of general Frequently Asked Questions and Answers. To see those, go here and here.

Senior Citizens — Frequently Asked Questions: The Governor’s office also prepared Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for senior citizens. To see those, go here.

How to Place a Security Freeze: To see how to place a security freeze, go here.

Constituent Information

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.

Latest on Hacking, Thanksgiving, and Small Business Saturday — Weekly Update from Sen. Tom Young – November 13, 2012 to November 19, 2012

The Senate is out of session for the rest of the year. I hope that you find this update helpful and informative.:

Happy Thanksgiving!:  Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!  We have so much for which to be thankful.  I hope that you and your family enjoy the Thanksgiving Holiday.  Annual Thanksgiving events in Greater Aiken include the following:

Thursday, November 22
One Table
Time: 11am – 2pm
Place: The Alley in Aiken

This Thanksgiving Dinner is open to the entire community. For more information, please visit www.onetable.org.

Thursday, November 22
Blessing of the Hounds
Time: 11 am
Place: Hitchcock Woods Memorial Gate

This annual event opens the hunt season in Hitchcock Woods. Park by the Aiken County Historical Museum and enter the woods from South Boundary for a 20 minute walk to Memorial Gate. Children are welcome, but the request is for no pets. Call 803.643.DRAG for more information.

Small Business Saturday – November 24:  This coming Saturday is “Small Business Saturday” which is a nationwide initiative to encourage shopping at local, independently owned businesses on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year.  To learn more about this, you can go to www.smallbusinesssaturday.com.  Support our local small businesses when you shop this Holiday season and during the coming year.

Important Local News – Road Widening Comments

Aiken — Hitchcock Parkway Widening: It is very important that all interested people provide their comments no later than this Friday, 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.

Latest on Cyber Attack

Cyber Attack – Frequently Asked Questions: The Governor’s office prepared two rounds of general Frequently Asked Questions and Answers. To see those, go here.

Senior Citizens — Frequently Asked Questions: The Governor’s office also prepared Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for senior citizens. To see those, go here.

How to Place a Security Freeze: To see how to place a security freeze, go here.

Constituent Information

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.

Thank You to Our Veterans and Their Families! — Weekly Update from Rep. Tom Young – October 30, 2012 to November 12, 2012

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.

Latest News for You Regarding Cyber Attack – Special Update from Rep. Tom Young – November 2, 2012

Here is the latest information on the cyber attack on the S.C. Department of Revenue:

INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYER

Q: Who may have been affected by the SC DOR security breach?

A: Individual taxpayers, their dependents, and businesses who have filed a South Carolina tax return since 1998 to the present may have been affected.

Q: What type of personal information may have been exposed?

A: While the investigation is still ongoing, South Carolina taxpayer’s Social Security Numbers, debit card numbers, credit card numbers, and information that would be found on the front of a check like bank account and routing numbers may have been exposed.

Q: What should you do if you have filed a SC tax return since 1998 to the present?

A: If you have filed a South Carolina tax return since 1998 to the present, the State is offering you the opportunity to register with ProtectMyID™ free of charge. There are two ways to register:

Option One: Sign up online.

  • Go to www.protectmyid.com/scdor and use the activation code: SCDOR123 to initiate the registration process. All future notices from Experian® will be sent to you by email.
  • Only one email address may be associated with one registration for ProtectMyID™.

Option Two: Call the Experian® Call Center.

  • Call 1-866-578-5422 to complete the process with a live agent. You may choose to have all future notices from Experian® sent to you by postal mail or email.

If a taxpayer has no access to the internet, does not have a working email address, or if there is another reason why he or she cannot access the internet, then he or she must call the Experian® Call Center.

Q: What are the hours of operation for the Experian® Call Center?

A: Monday – Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. EST
Saturday and Sunday: 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. EST

Q: What benefits will a taxpayer receive after registering with ProtectMyID™?

A: Experian® will provide the following:

  • Credit Report: You will get a free copy of your Experian® credit report.
  • Daily Credit Monitoring: You will receive alerts regarding any suspicious activity, including new inquiries, newly opened accounts, delinquencies, or medical collections found on your Experian®, Equifax® and TransUnion® credit reports for one year.
  • Identity Theft Resolution: If you have been a victim of identity theft, you will be assigned a dedicated, U.S.- based Experian® Identity Theft Resolution Agent who will walk you through the fraud resolution process from start to finish.
  • Identity Theft Insurance: If you have been a victim of identity theft, you will immediately be covered by a $1 million insurance policy that can help you cover certain costs, including lost wages, private investigator fees, and unauthorized electronic fund transfers for one year.
  • ExtendCARE: You will get full access to personalized assistance from a highly-trained Fraud Resolution Agent even after the initial one year ProtectMyID™ membership expires.

Q: Is there a deadline to register with ProtectMyID™?

A: January 31, 2013 is the deadline to register for one year of identity theft protection with ProtectMyID™.

Q: How much does it cost to register with ProtectMyID™?

A: No fee is charged to the enrollee to register with ProtectMyID™ for the first year.

Q: How will someone be contacted who has filed a tax return since 1998 to the present in SC and no longer lives in the state?

A: Notice will be sent to them by standard U.S. mail.

CHILDREN: MINORS / DEPENDENTS /
Family Secure™ COVERAGE

Even though your minor dependent may not have a credit history, you may enroll them for identify theft protection. All individuals under the age of 18 must be enrolled by one parent or guardian. A parent or guardian will be notified several weeks after registration when Family Secure™ enrollment has opened by postal mail or email.

  • Minors are individuals under the age of 18.
  • Dependents are individuals who are claimed as dependents for tax filing purposes.

Q: Have minors’ Social Security Numbers been exposed?

A: Social Security Numbers of minors and/or dependents may have been exposed.

Q: How do I enroll a minor for Family Secure™ coverage?

A: There are 3 steps to follow:

  • Step One: A minor’s parent or guardian must first enroll with ProtectMyID™. Only one parent or guardian may enroll the minor.
  • Step Two: The parent or guardian, who enrolled in ProtectMyID™, will receive a letter or email explaining how to enroll minor dependents in the Family Secure™ plan.
  • Step Three: The parent or guardian, who enrolled in ProtectMyID™, will then enroll minor dependents in the Family Secure™ plan.

Q: After being enrolled as a minor in the Family Secure™ plan, what should I do when I turn 18 years old or begin to file tax returns?

A: Call Experian® for assistance 1-866-578-5422.

Q: What are the benefits of Family Secure™ coverage?

A: The primary benefit that Family Secure™ offers is monitoring the identity (primarily the SSN) of the minor for one year, even if the minor has no credit report. Once registered, in the event a child does not have a credit file, if any credit, loan or similar account is opened with that information, Experian® will alert the parent or guardian. Details of the alerts on minors are not released unless or until the parent or guardian authenticates themselves with Experian® as the parent or guardian of the minor.

Family Secure™ coverage is for one adult and any number of minors. (Five minors can be enrolled via the website. For more than five, the customer must call Experian®). The adult coverage includes a $2 million product guarantee covering the whole family, Score Tracker and Fraud Resolution.

Minors receive monthly monitoring for existence of a minor’s credit report, and if a credit report is found, then Experian® monitors for any changes to that report.

Q: What if I file joint tax returns or have joint banking and credit accounts with my spouse?

A: Every individual with a Social Security Number should register with ProtectMyID™ separately, because credit histories are tied to individual’s Social Security Numbers.

Q: Will my deceased family members be at risk?

A: It is not necessary to sign the deceased up for ProtectMyID. However, you should notify all three credit bureaus (Experian®, Equifax® and TransUnion®).

ADULT DEPENDENT / DISABLED

Q: How do I protect an adult who is a dependent and/or is disabled?

A: The individual charged with the legal authority to assist a dependent adult filing taxes can enroll the dependent adult with ProtectMyID™ as long as that individual provides proper documentation to Experian®.

MILITARY PERSONNEL

Q: What if I serve in the military and filed taxes in South Carolina since 1998 to the present?

A: The State of South Carolina will work with the U.S. Department of Defense to identify and notify all military personnel who have filed South Carolina taxes since 1998 to the present.

BUSINESSES

Q: What should I do if I am a business owner?

A: South Carolina business owners are being offered two free products. Businesses have the opportunity to enroll with both Dun & Bradstreet and Experian® Business Credit AdvantageSM.

Q: What type of business information may have been exposed?

A: While the investigation is still ongoing, Federal EIN numbers, SC Department of Revenue tax ID numbers, credit and debit card information, and bank account information may have been exposed.

Dun & Bradstreet:

If your business has filed a South Carolina tax return since 1998, you should contact Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Corp. who will give South Carolina businesses a CreditAlert product that will help them stay alerted to changes in their D&B® scores or ratings and other indicators of fraudulent activity that could be taking place on their business. The deadline to register with Dun & Bradstreet is January 31, 2013. There are two ways to register:

Option One: Sign up online.

Option Two: Call Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Corp. Call Center.

  • Call 1-800-279-9881 to complete the process with a live agent.
  • Hours of Operations: Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. -8:00 p.m. EST.

Experian® Business Credit AdvantageSM:

If your business filed a South Carolina tax return since 1998, Experian® is offering a comprehensive business credit monitoring service called Business Credit AdvantageSM – a service that allows unlimited access to the company’s complete business credit report and score, plus instant email notifications of changes to the business credit profile. These email alerts include reported changes to the business address, credit inquiries, newly opened credit lines, and score changes. South Carolina businesses can begin to view and protect their business credit information with Experian® by signing up for Business Credit AdvantageSM at www.smartbusinessreports.com/SouthCarolina.

How-to-enroll:

  1. Go to www.SmartBusinessReports.com/SouthCarolina
  2. Register to get an Experian® business credit monitoring access code
  3. An instant email is sent to the user’s email address with the access code
  4. Follow instructions on the email to redeem the access code at the web address provided

CREDIT REPORT QUESTIONS

Q: How can I get a free credit report?

A: Under the Federal Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, you can get a free credit report through the Federal Trade Commission at www.annualcreditreport.com   or call (877) 322-8228. The law entitles you to a free report from each of the three major credit-reporting companies every 12 months. You may choose to order one report every four months. Further, the site contains tips on steps you can take to prevent identity theft as well as what to do if your identity has been stolen.

Q: What does it mean to “freeze my credit report?”

A: A credit freeze simply means that new credit accounts will not be approved and your credit file cannot be accessed by anyone without your approval. Therefore, even if thieves have all of your personal identifying information, they still will not be allowed to get credit in your name. However, freezing your credit account may slow down the process of obtaining credit legitimately.

Q: How can I freeze my credit report?

A: Contact one of the three credit-reporting companies if you want to freeze your credit, which privacy advocates say is the surest way to protect against identity theft. Your answers to security questions will tell the credit agencies that you live in South Carolina, which entitles you to a freeze at no charge to you. However, if spouses have joint accounts, each spouse must seek a freeze independently of the other. You will be provided a PIN so that you can lift the freeze when you decide. Be sure to ask whether a freeze with one reporting agency freezes all your credit with the two others. The credit agencies names and numbers are: Experian, (888) 397-3742; Equifax, (800) 525-6285; and TransUnion, (800) 680-7289. You may also go to their respective websites to do this.

Q: Is there a charge to freeze my credit report?

A: There should not be a charge to do this under S.C. state law. If the credit-reporting agency charges you a fee to freeze your credit records, which is barred by state law, contact the S.C. Department of Consumer Affairs at (800) 922-1594.

Q: Are there protective measures available short of implementing a credit freeze?

A: Ask about a less aggressive “fraud alert” that requires credit companies to monitor your credit for any unusual activity for 90 days. A fraud alert requires the credit company, with which you filed the alert, to share that request with the two other credit companies.

Q: Where can I get a summary of South Carolina’s credit freeze law?

A: To learn more about South Carolina’s credit freeze law which started in 2008, go here.

Q: What can parents do to protect their children from identity theft?

A: The Federal Trade Commission has an excellent summary on this topic which includes steps for how to freeze your child’s credit. To see that summary, go here.

Extending Your Credit Monitoring Protection

I am hearing from lots of constituents that one year of credit monitoring provided by the state is not sufficient.  I agree.  My understanding is that the one year period was negotiated as a quick fix to an immediate crisis. However, the potential exposure to our citizens is much longer than that. Hence, I am working with other state representatives to explore extending the period for credit monitoring protection.

Other Questions? If you have other questions, I will do my best to get you an answer. Please be patient as I do my best to get information for you. You can email me at tom@tomyoungforsenate.com or call me at (803) 215-3631.

More Information? I will provide more information to you by email as I learn it.

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.

More on Cyber Attack – Special Update from Rep. Tom Young – November 1, 2012

Here is the latest information on the cyber attack on the S.C. Department of Revenue:

What Happened?: Last Friday, the Governor and Chief of SLED announced that someone from an international email address gained access to personal information of taxpayers at the SC Department of Revenue. Law enforcement is working to capture the hacker(s).

Individuals and Businesses – What to Do?

Individuals — What Should You Do?: Anyone who has filed a South Carolina tax return since 1998 should take the following steps:

Enroll by Internet: Visit http://www.protectmyid.com/scdor and enter the code “scdor123” to enroll in one year of credit monitoring provided by Experian

OR

Enroll by Phone: Call 1-866-578-5422 to determine if your information is affected and to enroll in one year of credit monitoring provided by Experian.

According to the Governor’s office, Experian’s ProtectMyID™ Alert is designed to detect, protect, and resolve potential identity theft and includes daily monitoring of all three credit bureaus. The alerts and daily monitoring services are provided for one year, and consumers will continue to have access to fraud resolution agents and services beyond the first year.

Businesses – What Should They Do?: Governor Haley announced late yesterday afternoon that up to 657,000 businesses in South Carolina may be affected in the hacking attack. The Governor said that Dun and Bradstreet, a company that provides credit monitoring and protection for businesses, has agreed to assist SC business owners at no charge to the business or the state. Any business that filed a tax return since 1998 should sign up starting tomorrow — Friday, November 2, at 8 am by visiting www.DandB.com/SC or calling 1-800-279-9881.

Also, Experian is offering impacted South Carolina businesses Business Credit AdvantageSM – a self-monitoring service that allows unlimited access to a company’s business credit report and score. Beginning today, South Carolina businesses can sign up for Business Credit AdvantageSM at http://www.smartbusinessreports.com/SouthCarolina.

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

When were elected officials notified? The Governor’s office did not notify members of the General Assembly until last Friday afternoon when the press conference was held.

Are young adults who previously filed in SC covered?  If a tax return was filed from 1998 until the present and a person’s SS# was listed on the return as the filer or a dependent, they can sign up for the protection.  Individuals currently 18 and older must enroll themselves.  Individuals currently 17 and younger must be added on the family plan by their parent or legal guardian. According to the Governor’s office, after the parent or legal guardian has enrolled, then Experian will contact the parent or legal guardian by email within two weeks to allow the enrollment of dependent children.  Laws do not allow them to consent to this agreement on their own.  SCDOR will cross check SS#s with all enrollments.

Why doesn’t SCDOR just enroll taxpayers?  It is against the law to enroll taxpayers without their consent.

What is the cost to the State for the protection for affected citizens provided by Experian? According to the Governor’s office, the State has negotiated a fee for the first year’s worth of protection of $12 Million.

For individuals to enroll in credit protection offered by the state, is there an internet portal to allow quicker, more direct and easier access than calling the toll free number?  Experian has a South Carolina portal/page located at the following: www.protectmyid.com/scdor .  The activation code is SCDOR123 (not case sensitive) to enroll.  A way to confirm that you are on the correct page is the picture of the person/model on the page should be a female. Some people are being bounced directly to the Experian home page (the picture on this page is a male). If this happens, this is a problem on the user’s end not Experian’s end.  If a person does not have internet access, the person can call 1-866-578-5422.  Experian is working to address wait times and as of Wednesday, no waits should be more than 12 to 15 minutes.

How much time should deployed, overseas military personnel expect to wait before they are contacted?  The State is working with the Department of Defense to make the notification enrollment process as easy as possible for active military personnel.  Details will be released when confirmed.

Were checking account routing numbers compromised?  Of the files accessed, an individual’s entire return many have been accessed.  The Social Security #’s and bank information were not encrypted.  Credit cards were encrypted on returns older 2003.  Any unencrypted credit card information would be for cards that have expired.

How can I get a free credit report?    Under the Federal Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, you can get a free credit report through the Federal Trade Commission at www.annualcreditreport.com   or call (877) 322-8228. The law entitles you to a free report from each of the three major credit-reporting companies every 12 months. You may choose to order one report every four months. Further, the site contains tips on steps you can take to prevent identity theft as well as what to do if your identity has been stolen.

What does it mean to “freeze my credit report?” A credit freeze simply means that new credit accounts will not be approved and your credit file cannot be accessed by anyone without your approval. Therefore, even if thieves have all of your personal identifying information, they still will not be allowed to get credit in your name. However, freezing your credit account may slow down the process of obtaining credit legitimately.

How can I freeze my credit report? Call one of the three credit-reporting companies if you want to freeze your credit, which privacy advocates say is the surest way to protect against identity theft. Your answers to security questions will tell the credit agencies that you live in South Carolina, which entitles you to a freeze at no charge to you. However, if spouses have joint accounts, each spouse must seek a freeze independently of the other. You will be provided a PIN so that you can lift the freeze when you decide. Be sure to ask whether a freeze with one reporting agency freezes all your credit with the two others. The credit agencies names and numbers are: Experian, (888) 397-3742; Equifax, (800) 525-6285; and TransUnion, (800) 680-7289.

Is there a charge to freeze my credit report? There should not be a charge to do this under S.C. state law. If the credit-reporting agency charges you a fee to freeze your credit records, which is barred by state law, contact the S.C. Department of Consumer Affairs at (800) 922-1594.

Are there protective measures available short of implementing a credit freeze? Ask about a less aggressive “fraud alert” that requires credit companies to monitor your credit for any unusual activity for 90 days. A fraud alert requires the credit company, with which you filed the alert, to share that request with the two other credit companies.

Where can I get a summary of South Carolina’s credit freeze law?  To learn more about South Carolina’s credit freeze law which started in 2008, go here.

What can parents do to protect their children from identity theft? The Federal Trade Commission has an excellent summary on this topic which includes steps for how to freeze your child’s credit. To see that summary, go here.

Questions? If you have other questions, I will do my best to get you an answer. Please be patient as I do my best to get information for you. You can email me at tom@tomyoungforsenate.com or call me at (803) 215-3631.

More Information? I will provide more information to you by email as I learn it.

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.