WASHINGTON — It’s unusual for all of a state’s congressmen and congresswomen to join a new caucus, but all six of South Carolina’s representatives joined the Congressional Stop DUI Caucus at its founding Wednesday.

“South Carolinians should be proud that they are the only state with 100 percent of their U.S. congressmen as members of the Congressional Stop DUI Caucus,” said Harold D. Watson, director of programs and development for the National Commission Against Drunk Driving.

He attributed the strong S.C. support to a sad fact: South Carolina has the second-highest rate of alcohol-related fatalities in the nation — 52 percent.

U.S. Rep. Jim DeMint, a Republican from Greenville, is one of the caucus’ three co-chairs.

The group, founded with 20 representatives and three senators — none of the senators is from South Carolina — calls drunk driving “the most frequently committed violent crime in the nation.”

Deaths resulting from driving while intoxicated have risen in the past three years. The caucus aims to find ways to reverse this trend.

FIGHTING ANTI-SEMITISM

A South Carolina pro-Israel group went national this week. The “American Christian Reserve Israeli Defense Force” was founded by Earl Cox of the Isle of Palms.

Cox, a former Washington press secretary and frequent visitor to Israel, says he feels called to combat anti-Semitism and support the Jewish state. He has founded a radio network in Jerusalem and funds projects to aid victims of terrorism in Israel, said his spokeswoman, Arlene Samuels.

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., arranged for the group to kick off its national effort this week in the Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill.

“Our home state South Carolina is ready to take us national,” said Cliff Heath, the group’s executive director. “The Israelis know we are bringing comfort and we’re going to continue.”

Some American rabbis and Israeli groups have expressed skepticism over evangelical Christians’ support for Israel, in that evangelicals often oppose Israeli efforts to compromise with the Palestinians over land.

Cox has expressed opposition to “land for peace” deals between Israel and the Palestinians.

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“We need to deal with the deficit now, and this budget resolution doesn’t do it.”

— U.S. Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C., on the $2.4 trillion budget for 2005 that passed the House on Wednesday

Reach Markoe at (202) 383-6023 or lmarkoe@krwashington.com