On Wednesday, the S.C. House of Representatives passed a resolution asking Congress to amend the U.S. Constitution to allow for the display of the Ten Commandments in public buildings.

The resolution, which passed by a vote of 89-19, carries no legal weight. It does, however, give people an idea of where the House stands on the issue.

The resolution came a day after a press conference was called outlining two bills seeking to deny benefits for gay couples married outside the state.

South Carolina banned gay marriages in 1996, but a recent court ruling in Massachusetts has state lawmakers scrambling to shore up loopholes in the law.

During Tuesday's press conference, one of the bills' chief sponsors, state Rep. Gloria Haskins, R-Greenville, paraphrased author George Orwell to explain why the measure was needed now.

"There comes a point when the primary duty of an honest man is to restate the obvious," she said.

Orwell, or course, is most famous for his novel "1984," which tells the story of a totalitarian regime where even certain thoughts are considered crimes. A recurring theme in the book is the slogan "War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength."

A few other quotes from Orwell:

-- "Orthodoxy means not thinking -- not needing to think."

-- "Political language ... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind."

And of course perhaps Orwell's most famous quote, from his book "Animal Farm:"

-- "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."

RETURN TO SENDER

Not everything going on in the House this week dealt with religion.

On Wednesday, state Rep. Jim Merrill, R-Daniel Island, asked Speaker of the House David Wilkins, R-Greenville, to rescind an invitation to S.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Jean Toal. Toal visits the General Assembly every year to discuss the state of the judicial system.

Merrill was not happy with the chief justice's recent hiring of a lobbyist. Toal hired Columbia's Tompkins, Kinard & Associates this year to lobby for issues related to the state's clerks of court, primarily for budget issues.

"We give the floor to maybe two or three people a year," Merrill said. "She is one of the most high-profile people in the state. And for her to hire a $30,000-a-year lobbyist because she feels her department's needs aren't being addressed, I just think that's wrong."

Three years ago, Merrill introduced a bill that would ban state agencies from hiring contract lobbyists. Merrill reintroduced the bill again this year. It is currently in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

His motion to rescind Toal's invitation was ruled out of order by Wilkins.

Merrill said he plans to continue pursuing this issue by writing a proviso that would attempt to reduce Toal's budget by $30,000. "Evidently she has it to spend," he said.

Toal said she understands Merrill's position and does not take it personally.

But, she added, "I am stretched as thin as I can be. My budget is $12 million less than it was and I'm doing all I can. I hired the Tompkins firm, and frankly the small amount of money I am paying them is money well-spent."

E-SERVICES OFFERED

Businesses now can file sales taxes, renew liquor and beverage licenses and even register as a business online, thanks to two new electronic programs at the state Department of Revenue.

DOR Director Burnet Maybank announced the programs Tuesday during the governor's monthly cabinet meeting.

"Difficult times can lead to innovative thinking, and I think we have been able to introduce some innovative ideas that will be of great benefit to taxpayers," Maybank said.

The programs include:

-- eSales, which allows retailers to file sales tax returns and pay the tax over the department's Web site.

-- South Carolina Business One Stop, a Web-based registration program that links DOR to 13 other governmental agencies. The program will allow new business owners to meet registration requirements of all necessary agencies at one time.

ADOPTION INITIATIVE

The box titled "Children's Trust Fund" on your income tax form allows taxpayers to donate money toward programs for the prevention of child abuse and neglect. But according to state Department of Social Services Director Kim Aydlette, a bill in the House Judiciary Committee, if passed, also would allow a portion of that money to go toward speeding up the state's adoption process.

In South Carolina it takes about four years for a foster child to be adopted. The proposed bill would allow the Children's Trust Fund charity to do two new things:

-- Make grants to programs that would benefit special needs children in state custody whose plan is for adoption.

-- Make grants to state agencies if they have programs that meet grant requirements.

SAY WHAT?

Senate President Pro-Tem Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, is known for many things at the Statehouse. But while others are impressed with his mastery of Senate rules and keen political intellect, his secretary, Beckie Gunter, is impressed with his gift for gab.

Gunter, known as "Miss Beckie" to those she frequently chases out of the senator's office, started working for McConnell in 1995. Shortly thereafter, she began keeping a list of the colorful sayings the senator employs when making a point.

"That's just him," she said. "Everybody just thinks it's a hoot and stitch."

I have no idea what that means, but here are just a few things that have made the list over the years:

-- "They're scurrying around like rats in a hot tin barrel."

-- "Now they're getting in my bowl of soup."

-- "Stick to you like bubblegum to a boot."

-- "Same old rotten candy bar, except with a new wrapper."

Click here to return to story:
http://www.charleston.net/stories/021504/sta_15ftsh.shtml