Thumbs up
Haley. Perhaps last week’s Statehouse Report column on Gov. Nikki Haley was prescient because the GOP response she gave to the State of the Union address was pure establishment, a moderate speech that could steer people into the political middle. The governor gets further accolades for an executive budget that tries to improve education in rural areas.
Pay increase. Hats off to lawmakers for considering use of some of new recurring state money to pay state workers 5 percent more. Now about all of those other workers out there …
S.C. Trucking Association. Thumbs up to the trade group for reasserting its support for a gas tax increase sought by many in the state. More.
Harbor deepening. It didn’t make huge headlines this week, but it’s a big deal that the federal government’s Office of Management and Budget has given the go-ahead to harbor deepening in Charleston. More.
Clemson. A huge congratulations to the Clemson Tigers for an outstanding football season. We wish you had won the national title — and we bet if the game were replayed, you would win.
Thumbs down
Haley. To say that “we’ve never in the history of this country passed any laws or done anything based on race or religion,” is just plain wrong. Read a little more history, governor.
Save Southern Heritage. Earth to new heritage group that flew the Confederate battle flag over the Lowcountry Thursday: Get a life. What you claim as heritage is seen by way more people as hate.
Corley. Thumbs down to Rep. Chris Corley, R-Graniteville, for his continuing Neanderthalic proposals, such as four bills to require more eligibility standards for residents receiving government benefits. More.
Cheraw Chronicle. It’s sad to know that the Cheraw Chronicle, in publication for 128 years, closed its doors at the end of 2015. More.
Number: $200 million
That’s how much Gov. Nikki Haley says she wants to spend on fixing dilapidated school buildings or build new ones across the state. She’s also proposing spending $15 million to recruit teachers to rural areas with high turnover. More.
Quote: Positive signs for 2016
“Overall, the economic outlook here is upbeat for 2016. I see South Carolina and the Upstate exceeding the anticipated national economic growth of 2.5 to 3 percent and unemployment here may be under 5 percent by year-end.”
— Clemson economist Scott Baier on the state’s 2016 economic outlook, Winnsboro Herald Independent, Jan. 8, 2016
We Can Do Better, South Carolina!