Way to go Danny Verdin. Senator Verdin recently jumped on the illegal immigration bandwagon in a BIG way (not that he wasn't already on it) by sending out a mail piece that was excellent.
From the piece: "State Senator Danny Verdin says that illegal immigration has become a harsh reality in South Carolina and Congress isn't acting fast enough to fix the problem. He and his Senate colleagues have found a way to address the issue at the state level.
Many southern states, including Georgia, Tennessee and Lousiana have already enacted laws preventing businesses from hiring illegal immigrants. Verdin says that if we don't act soon, South Carolina will become a safe haven for illegal immigrants fleeing other states, putting a massive burden on taxpayers."
It goes on to say: "We must welcome legal immigrants in South Carolina. But we cannot allow those who entered our nation illegally to stay here on the backs of hardworking taxpayers." Senator Verdin continues, "At the Federal level, amnesty is the absolute wrong thing to do."
Thanks, Senator Verdin and colleagues, for pounding the rock on this issue!
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Too Much Government
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Public School Choice - Open Enrollment
I am a big fan of parental choice in all aspects of our children's lives. I have been an advocate for more parental choice in education and I support public school choice as a component of the total choice package. It was interesting this Spring to watch the debate on the Open Enrollment bill in the South Carolina House of Representatives - to see the players involved, to hear and read the rhetoric, etc. What was interesting is that the past opponents of school choice issues involving private schools, such as the Put Parents In Charge bills, were using the same arguments that the supporters of the Put Parents In Charge bills used. Now, though, they were using these points in support of their position on the Open Enrollment bill. Interesting, to say the least!
I support the idea and ideals behind this legislation. The problems revealed during the debate, most articulately by Rep. Ted Pitts, were that there was just too much government in this bill. With the district caps, the application bureaucracy and red tape for parents, the transportation issues and the funding issues - it was just a good idea gone wrong.
Why can't we take the easy and simple road?
My thoughts are this: If a school district has extra capacity then make it availabe, allowing parents who wish to move their child to do so on a 1st come / 1st served basis until the capacity is met; the parents making the choice provide the transportation, period; let the state and federal dollars flow with the child to the receiving district and let the home district retain all of the local funding. I realize that this may cause an underfunding dynamic per child to the receiving district - but it is a start and seems fair to the home district as well as the receiving district.
It can be just that simple.
I am a big fan of parental choice in all aspects of our children's lives. I have been an advocate for more parental choice in education and I support public school choice as a component of the total choice package. It was interesting this Spring to watch the debate on the Open Enrollment bill in the South Carolina House of Representatives - to see the players involved, to hear and read the rhetoric, etc. What was interesting is that the past opponents of school choice issues involving private schools, such as the Put Parents In Charge bills, were using the same arguments that the supporters of the Put Parents In Charge bills used. Now, though, they were using these points in support of their position on the Open Enrollment bill. Interesting, to say the least!
I support the idea and ideals behind this legislation. The problems revealed during the debate, most articulately by Rep. Ted Pitts, were that there was just too much government in this bill. With the district caps, the application bureaucracy and red tape for parents, the transportation issues and the funding issues - it was just a good idea gone wrong.
Why can't we take the easy and simple road?
My thoughts are this: If a school district has extra capacity then make it availabe, allowing parents who wish to move their child to do so on a 1st come / 1st served basis until the capacity is met; the parents making the choice provide the transportation, period; let the state and federal dollars flow with the child to the receiving district and let the home district retain all of the local funding. I realize that this may cause an underfunding dynamic per child to the receiving district - but it is a start and seems fair to the home district as well as the receiving district.
It can be just that simple.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Prayerful Consideration
Dan Hoover with The Greenville News called today to ask if I was considering running against Lindsey Graham for the United States Senate. I don't know how he heard this - but I answered his questions truthfully. Yes - I am prayerfully considering the possibilities. Why?
A number of folks from all across the state have asked me to consider this.
You see, it seems that people in South Carolina are just as upset as I that our senior Senator would work with members of the other party, namely Ted Kennedy, to craft a comprehensive piece of legislation dealing with Immigration Reform in secret. I have a lot of concerns about this legislation and the processes I am seeing take place in Washington which could and do affect this great country of ours.
Should the Lord guide me to run against Lindsey Graham, you will hear more about these concerns as well as my visions for America.
I know there are a lot of people searching for someone, anyone, to run against him. As I search for this decision, I ask for your continued prayers and positive thoughts - for me and my family, as well as Lindsey Graham.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Prayers for Whetsell Family
The prayers of my family and mine go out to the Whetsell family. It hit home for me as I was at Camp McCall - an RA camp in Pickens County - this week with one of my sons. I am at a loss for words about this tragic accident. God Bless you Walter and your family....... Jeff
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