Originally from March 11, 2009

For current SC Senate Democratic Caucus Updates and News Releases, please email contact information to phil@scsenatedems.org .

Thanks.

Courtesy of Charleston City Paper

By calling out Governor Mark Sanford and his ultimate goal - stimulating his own national profile with his dogmatic stance against the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act - Senator John C. Land, III struck a nerve today. And the nation took notice.

CNN

FORBES

USA Today

All published some home grown South Carolina truth today.

UPDATE - Editor's note: CNN is the best.

March 16, 2009

SC Senate Democratic Leader Praises Obama's Decision on SC Recovery Dollars

Columbia, SC - South Carolina Senate Democratic Leader John C. Land, III (D-Manning) today praised President Barack Obama's decision to deny Governor Mark Sanford's waiver request to divert $700 million away from job-creating programs. Senator Land issued the following statement:

"Thank you, President Obama."

"Our state has the nation's second highest unemployment rate, 35 of our 46 counties have double-digit unemployment. It's unfortunate that Mark Sanford has been playing political games while our state suffers. By playing these games, the only thing being stimulated is Sanford's profile with the radical right-wingers in Washington. It amounts to nothing more than political Viagra for him.

"It's time to get to work and get South Carolina moving forward. Mark Sanford needs to get out of the way."

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Click Here to Listen

UNeed2Know's Frank Knapp interviews Phil Bailey, SC Senate Democratic Caucus Political Director.

March 12, 2009

SC Senate Gets Measure to Bypass Sanford on Recovery Money

Columbia,SC - A resolution was introduced in the South Carolina Senate today to bypass Governor Mark Sanford and accept federal stimulus dollars. The move comes in response to Gov. Sanford's decision to ask for a waiver to use $700 million from the state's portion of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to pay off state debt.

"The Governor's plan does not create one job," said Senate Democratic Leader John C. Land, III. "We have the nation's second highest unemployment rate. We need to put this money to use as soon as we can."

Under the recovery act, state legislatures can bypass governors with a concurrent resolution.

"It is unfortunate that our governor is playing politics with this issue. If he continues playing this game, the only thing that will be stimulated is Mark Sanford's profile with the right-wingers in Washington," said Land.

The concurrent resolution was referred to the state Senate Finance committee.

click here to read S.577

Click Here to Listen

UNeed2Know's Frank Knapp interviews Senator John Land of Manning

March 5, 2009

SC Senate Democratic Leaders Introduce Advance-Apology Resolution for Limbaugh

Senators Land and Hutto call for Pre-Emptive Apology before the fad ends

Columbia, SC - South Carolina's two leading Senate Democrats introduced a resolution in the state Senate today offering advance apologies to conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh. Senator John C. Land, III (D-Manning) and Senator Brad Hutto (D-Orangeburg) said if the Palmetto State does not pass this resolution, politicians who criticize Limbaugh in the future will miss out on the fad that is sweeping the nation - to openly grovel before the out-spoken radio host.

"If we wait much longer, apologizing to Rush Limbaugh will go the way of rapper Vanilla Ice and the Chia Pet," said Sen. Hutto. "We need to be pro-active on this Rush-apology fad. We need to be out in front on this."

The resolution follows South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford's comments last week referring to Rush Limbaugh as an "idiot" for Limbaugh's declaration hoping President Barack Obama, and his administration, 'fail'.

"Anybody who wants [Obama] to fail is an idiot." Sanford said in an interview with Real Clear Politics on February 25. Sanford did not apologize for the remark that was directed at Limbaugh but was rebuked by the radio host.

Sanford's remark was followed by newly-elected Republican National Committee Chairman, Michael Steele calling Limbaugh's talk show "incendiary" and "ugly" last Saturday on CNN. Steele did apologize for his remarks.

“With all these Republicans groveling before their Party's new standard-barer, I think everyone needs to go ahead and get the apologies out of the way so we can finally have a real dialogue about moving our state and country forward. Besides, I may want to quote lines from Al Franken's book, Rush Limbaugh Is A Big Fat Idiot, and I don't want to be burdened by the need to say 'I'm sorry'. I may even feel the need to quote the title of the book one day," said Sen. Land.

The resolution was pulled following objections by GOP members of the state Senate.

(copy of resolution below)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO APOLOGIZE TO RUSH LIMBAUGH FOR ALL PAST TRANSGRESSIONS WHICH HAVE ORIGINATED FROM ANY PERSON IN, OR ASSOCIATED WITH, THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND TO PREEMPTIVELY APOLOGIZE FOR ANY FUTURE TRANSGRESSION.

Whereas, Rush Limbaugh clearly speaks for the common man of America with wisdom that has developed through the firsthand experience of flying across our fine country and looking down from his private jet; and

Whereas, Rush Limbaugh has employed the principles championed by the Republican Party in his personal life to pull himself through an addiction to prescription medication by his own bootstraps; and

Whereas, Rush Limbaugh is the preeminent political talk radio host and de facto leading voice of the national Republican Party and conservative movement; and

Whereas, Rush Limbaugh, on multiple occasions, has publicly wished failure upon President Obama and his administration and, in response, was tacitly called an "idiot" by Governor Mark Sanford, and admonished by Michael Steele, Chairman of the Republican National Committee; and

Whereas, Chairman Steele, who has apologized on multiple occasions, has been at the forefront of a massive wave of apologies to Rush Limbaugh. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly, by this resolution, in recognition of the statements from Governor Sanford and Chairman Steele and in an attempt to prevent the State of South Carolina from having to take a position in the rear of the ever growing line of those wishing to apologize to Rush Limbaugh, hereby apologize to Rush Limbaugh for all past transgressions which have originated from any person in, or associated with, the State of South Carolina and to preemptively apologize for any future transgression.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Mr. Rush Limbaugh.

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