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Article published Mar 15, 2005
Radio show for blind has funds restored
The state
House on Monday restored funding for a program for the blind that Gov. Mark
Sanford had killed off in his executive budget.House members gave the state
Commission for the Blind's Radio Reading program $104,900 -- the same amount it
received this year -- as they began debating the state's $5.8 billion budget.The
House originally followed Sanford's recommendation to pull the plug on the
program. But Rep. Harry Ott, D-St. Matthews, said a public outcry led the House
to restore funding."Democrats and Republicans alike heard from their
constituents," Ott said. "In the grand scheme of things it wasn't that much
money, and it is a worthwhile program for the blind."Volunteers with the Radio
Reading program read newspapers, books and magazine articles for blind listeners
across the state. The state money -- the program's only source of funding --
pays for two salaries, equipment and broadcasting fees.About 4,600 blind South
Carolinians take advantage of the program. Sanford wanted to cut funding because
he contends that the Radio Reading program duplicates the State Library's
Talking Book Services program and "other readily available radio and television
news outlets that can provide similar information."We said all along that it's a
program that has merit and is something that ought to be funded," Sanford
spokesman Will Folks said. "The question is, given its close similarities to
existing programs, were there not efficiencies to be found? Obviously, after
initially seeing it the governor's way, the House now sees it the other way."But
Beth Jones, director of the Radio Reading program, and Jim Johnson, director of
the state Library, both said it was inaccurate to say the programs are
similar.The House also authorized courts and the State Law Enforcement Division
to spend up to $1 million each on security. Rep. John Graham Altman,
R-Charleston, sponsored the amendments in response to Friday's courthouse
killings in Atlanta.Most of the buzz Monday was about the speed with which the
House plowed through the budget. Like a sprinter on steroids, representatives
ripped through the few amendments offered with blazing speed."It's on a roll,"
said Rep. Bob Walker, R-Landrum. "I felt it would move swiftly. Most of the
issues were settled in the Ways and Means Committee and it come out
unanimously."Rep. Scott Talley, R-Spartanburg, said a big reason for the rapid
progress was the fact that for the first time in several years there was new
money to spend."This is the first debate I've been involved in with new money,"
Talley said. "The fact that more money was put on the line to increase the base
student cost curtailed a lot of the debate."When the House adjourned for the day
at about 7 p.m., only about 40 amendments remained on the desk and members were
hopeful that they could give the budget second reading today.One of the few
amendments that sparked a contentious debate Monday was a proposal by House
Speaker Pro Tem Doug Smith, R-Spartanburg, to take $315 million in new education
money and use it increase teacher pay.Smith's plan would have allowed principals
to decide how to allocate the raises. If every teacher received the same amount,
it would average about $5,500."Principals could give across the board raises,
they could get merit increases, they could divide it however they wanted," Smith
said. "Teachers are the ones who deserve it. They're the ones who've got to
teach our children."The motion was tabled, however, because some Democrats
questioned Smith's motives. Smith is the primary sponsor of Gov. Sanford's "Put
Parents in Charge" plan to give families tax credits to send their children to
private schools."Why is he pulling money out of the base student cost and
putting it into a line item that says schools and not public education?" said
Rep. Kenneth Kennedy, D-Greeleyville. "Of course my antenna goes up. 'Put
Parents in Charge' was exactly where he was heading."Smith said the opponents
were seeing a conspiracy where there was none."This has nothing to do with 'Put
Parents in Charge,'" Smith said. "Clearly it's an effort to make sure teachers
are paid more and to get more money to the classroom."Rep. James Smith,
D-Columbia, offered an amendment to fund and implement Palmetto Stars, a rating
system for the state's childcare centers. The Ways and Means Committee put off
starting the program for a year because legislators wanted more people to have
input about the program."We shouldn't put a proviso in the budget that shuts it
down. A lot of hard work went into it and it should be implemented," Smith
said.Rep. Ralph Davenport, R-Boiling Springs, led a successful charge to table
the amendment. Davenport said that care would cost parents $20 to $40 more per
child if the program were implemented, and that he was bothered that supporters
tried to go around the Legislature to get the system started."They went around
the process and tried to go through a back door," Davenport said.Representatives
return at 9:30 this morning to resume negotiations.Robert W. Dalton can be
reached at 562-7274 or bob.dalton@shj.com.