Remarks by Governor David M. Beasley

Education License Plate News Conference

April 16, 1996

(Click on photo to download 180dpi photo)

It's great to be here at Springdale Elementary this morning. Thank you, Principal Smith, for letting us invade your campus today!

Springdale is just one South Carolina school that could see a tremendous benefit from what we're about to show you.

We're here to unveil an innovative new campaign for meeting the educational needs of our children.

It's a campaign that demands no additional taxpayer dollars...

One that addresses our schools' technology needs, and...

One that demonstrates in living color our state's commitment to public education.

I'm proud to announce that starting in August, we will begin issuing a special commemorative license plate...like the ones we already have for colleges and conservation. But this one will be specially designed to promote public education.

About the time school starts, SC drivers will be able to buy one of these plates at the DMV for about $54.

And all the proceeds will go toward computers for the classroom.

It's an idea that came from the grass roots...from Debbie Elmore out at Sumter School District 17...who's here with us today.

Rep. Bobby Harrell and Speaker Wilkins have voiced their commitment to sponsoring a bill for this fund. And they're joined by a couple of our education leaders...Sen. Nikki Setzler and Rep. Ronald Townsend...who will also work to this see project through.

At this time, I'd like to ask Dr. Nielsen and Mrs. Elmore to join me for a moment. We'd like to present to all of you the big picture, so to speak.

(UNVEIL PLATE)

This is a prototype of the billboard that will soon be plasteredlaced in the Tuition Grants fund.

The remaining 70 percent will be used to pay for new schools where they're needed in every district in the state. We'll create a bond pool for construction, and use the interest to develop a strong technological infrastructure for the statewide system.

As soon as North Carolina opens its facility, Barnwell will close. But in the meantime, the potential one-point-four billion dollars generated until it reaches capacity in ten years will help us address problems in our public schools and in higher education.

We have a broad base of support in the House and Senate for this action because those you see with us today, and many others who couldn't be with us, recognize that this is a public safety issue above any other consideration.

If, in the course of protecting the health and safety of all South Carolinians we can generate revenue from sources outside the state, then I propose using the money for specific non-recurring expenditures in education.

I have written all of the governors of Southeast Compact States and have asked them to join me in sanctions against North Carolina, which will include denying access to the Barnwell facility, and I have made it clear we will not expand the Barnwell site beyond its current capacity.

Each of the governors in the Southeast Compact states are facing the same public safety and health issues we are facing if we don't have a safe and proven facility in which to store low-level waste.

As I said earlier, this is an issue that must be resolved immediately. We can't wait until the General Assembly convenes next January. At that point, it becomes a public safety crisis.