Posted on Sun, Feb. 04, 2007

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Capitol connection

“This is the Republican caucus? Wow. It’s great to be in South Carolina. This is a Republican convention in Massachusetts.”

— Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican candidate for president, after being introduced to more than 50 S.C. House Republicans last Tuesday

For a searchable list of state employees who earn more than $50,000 a year, visit http://www.thestate.com/.

For the freshest political and legislative news, click on S.C. Politics Today.

CAMPAIGN TRAIL

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a 2008 GOP presidential hopeful, attends Horry County Republican Ball at 7 p.m. Saturday, Myrtle Beach.

BUZZ LOVES MERRILL (WINK-WINK)

House Majority Leader Jim Merrill, R-Charleston, surprised The Buzz last week when he presented two yet-to-be-filed bills and walked away.

Upon closer inspection, the bills would strip two state sales tax exemptions given to the me-dia: one exempts newspapers from sales taxes while the other exempts newsprint.

Merrill — one of the House’s best pranksters and a new addition to the House Ways and Means committee that debates all state taxes — wondered why newspapers should be granted a tax break when they frequently criticize state government and promote political positions.

The bills would exempt weekly newspapers, and Merrill did not know how much the tax breaks cost the state.

Merrill decided against filing the bills Thursday.

But The Buzz remains vigilant.

ANOTHER CAMPBELL TAKES ON CAPITOL

Another Campbell has set his sights on the State House, only in a slightly different manner.

Carroll Campbell III announced last week that he has set up his own lobbying firm, Carroll Campbell & Associates.

Campbell is the son of former Gov. Carroll Campbell Jr. and the brother of Mike Campbell, who unsuccessfully sought the GOP nomination for lieutenant governor in 2006.

Joining Campbell in the firm are veteran lobbyists Russell Munn and Nikki Hutchinson.

MAYBE COLOMBIA WILL BE NEXT

In the continuing quest for the first 100 news releases, U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., announced last week he would be appearing on “The Lars Larson Show.”

The Buzz was not familiar with Larson, which prompted a quick Google search.

Turns out Larson’s radio show is broadcast across the country — except for one noticeably void space that runs from South Carolina’s Midlands along the Georgia line to Hilton Head Island, or roughly Wilson’s 2nd Congressional District.

The good news is, according to http://www.larslarson.com/, you can pick up the show in “Greensville” and “Spartenburg.”

THE CLAMPETT CAUCUS

The S.C. House Rural Caucus did some reorganizing last week and elected new co-chairmen, Reps. Nelson Hardwick, R-Horry, and Doug Jennings, D-Marlboro.

The bipartisan group represents rural parts of the state and will work on issues that affect those areas.

More than 30 members attended the meeting, and The Buzz has learned that 30 more are interested in joining.

That’s nearly half of the 124-member body and could become a force to be reckoned with. Big-city lawmakers better form their own caucus, lest they be left off the “cement pond party” invitation list.