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Web posted Monday, May 31,
2004
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Herbkersman: Divide widens between governor,
legislature
By Bill Herbkersman
Special to the Carolina Morning News
From the House
I would like to
start off by wishing you all a happy and safe
Memorial Day.
If you read this early
enough, make sure you head over to Sun City at 10
a.m. today for the Sun City Veterans Club Memorial
Day service. Commander Roger Ram and company
always put on an inspirational program. This year
especially, we need it.
Last week we saw
the House put the veto override into overdrive.
After deliberating and debating the budget for
months, we knew where we were on most things and
took care of business rather quickly. We will see
if the Senate does the same this week.
We
managed, among a great many other things, to save
the funding for the renourishment of Hunting
Island and the maintenance of the Waddell
Mariculture Center in Greater Bluffton.
I
have a great deal of respect for Gov. Sanford, and
on many issues he and I are closely aligned.
However, his reasoning on the bulk of his vetoes
was just not persuasive. In particular, his notion
that because a hurricane could undo the Hunting
Island project, we should not preserve the
integrity of this jewel of the South Carolina
state park system was flawed.
I deeply
regret that the divide between the executive and
the legislative branches of state government
appears to be widening. It is my hope that when we
reconvene, the lines of communication will be
untangled. There is no limit to what we might then
accomplish.
It was my distinct honor and
privilege to be a part of the Beaufort delegation
as we witnessed our friend and colleague Rep.
JoAnne Gilham receiving the Order of the Palmetto
in a moving ceremony last Thursday. As you may
know, the Order of the Palmetto is the highest
honor given in South Carolina, and JoAnne is
certainly a most worthy recipient.
Sen.
Scott Richardson had it right when he said that
she was the only person who could act like a
mother in the House and Senate and get away with
it. Those of us who know JoAnne appreciate the
truth of the statement as well as the fondness
with which it was spoken.
I go into this
last week of the session saddened by the fact that
my confidant, mentor and friend Rep. JoAnne
Gilham, will be with us in the House only three
more days. She will be sorely missed, as will her
knowledge and integrity. If you see her or her
husband, Dr. Ben, this summer, you need to thank
them for all they have done. Godspeed,
JoAnne.
This coming week, we will mostly be
tying up loose ends. For some of us, there will be
preparations for elections and all that that
entails. As for me, I will continue to report to
you weekly how we in the Beaufort delegation
follow through on all the issues that have been
addressed, as well as those that are upcoming. I
will be working less in Columbia and more out of
the Bluffton office. Whether here or there, I am
working for you as your representative. In truth,
that is why we call it the House of
Representatives.
Other state lawmakers
are:
Sen. Scott Richardson,
R
District 46
52 North Calibogue
Cay
Hilton Head Island, S.C.
29928
610 Gressette Bldg.
Columbia,
SC 29202-0142
(803)
212-6040
SR1@scsenate.org
Committee
assignments: banking and insurance, general,
judiciary, rules and
transportation.
Sen. Clementa C.
Pinckney, D
District 45
P.O. Box
300
Ridgeland, S.C. 29936
613
Gressette Bldg.
Columbia, S.C.
29202
(803)
212-6056
CCP@scsenate.org
Committee
assignments: agriculture and natural resources,
corrections and penology, finance, medical affairs
and transportation.
Rep. R. Thayer
Rivers Jr., D
District 122
P.O.
Box 104
Ridgeland, S.C. 29936
532D
Blatt Bldg.
Columbia, S.C.
29211
(803) 734-3073
Committee
assignment: judiciary.
Rep. JoAnne
Gilham, R
District 123
21 Dune
Lane
Hilton Head Island, S.C.
29928
326C Blatt Bldg.
Columbia,
S.C. 29211-1867
(803)
734-2977
JG@scstatehouse.net
Committee
assignment: education and public works and
rules.
Rep. Catherine Ceips,
R
District 124
1207 Bay
St.
Beaufort, S.C. 29902
326A Blatt
Bldg.
Columbia, S.C. 29211
(803)
734-3261
ceipsc@scstatehouse.net
Committee
assignments: medical, military, public and
municipal affairs.
Rep. Walter P. Lloyd,
D
District 121
102 Rearden
Lane
Walterboro, S.C. 29488
(home)
549-5026
(fax) 549-1281
(office)
549-7586
434C Blatt Bldg.
Columbia,
S.C. 29211
(803)
549-5026
WPL@scstatehouse.net
Committee
assignments: education and public
works.
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