Blog
Jun 08 2006
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON -- Today, U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) voted in favor of H.R. 8, The Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act. Unfortunately, the measure failed by a vote of 57-41, as 60 votes were needed to advance the proposal. With the vote so close, Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) has indicated that the Senate may take up the issue again later this week. “The Death Tax destroys family farms and small businesses,” said Graham. “Many people are land rich, but cash poor. These people have to liquidate their business or farm to pay the Death Tax. The Death Tax accounts for less than 1.5 percent of all federal revenue, but it destroys the hopes and dreams of many individuals and families who worked hard to achieve the American Dream. The Death Tax is bad policy and I will continue to work to bring about its permanent demise.” “Americans know it is fundamentally wrong to make death a taxable event,” said Senator DeMint. “The Death Tax only brings in a small amount of revenue, yet it destroys jobs, breaks up family businesses and farms, and costs the economy hundreds of billions in capital investments. If we are serious about making America the best place in the world to do business, we need to kill the Death Tax once and for all.” The Death Tax only brings in under $25 billion per year in revenue to the federal government, but it is estimated that it has cost the U.S. economy over $847 billion in capital investment and is responsible for the loss of at least 100,000 jobs every year. Under current law, the Death Tax will be fully repealed in 2010, but it will immediately be restored in 2011 and beyond at a rate of 55%. H.R. 8 would make the full repeal of the Death Tax permanent. ###Jun 05 2006
Wes Hickman (202) 224-5972 or Kevin Bishop (864) 250-1417
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) will vote this week in support of a constitutional amendment protecting the traditional definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman. The vote is scheduled to occur on Wednesday. “I believe in the traditional definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman,” said Graham. “Traditional marriage is an institution worth protecting and this amendment will accomplish that goal. A constitutional amendment is the only effective way to cut off the growing trend among judges to create a constitutional right to same-sex marriage.” Graham noted nine states – California, Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma and Washington – are facing lawsuits challenging the state’s traditional marriage laws. In four of those (California, Maryland, New York and Washington), courts have found a right to same-sex marriage in state constitutional provisions related to equal protection and due process. In each case, the court relied in part on the historic 2003 Massachusetts Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage in that state. On the federal level, a Nebraska federal district court found a 2005 constitutional amendment passed by 70 percent of the voters to be unconstitutional. The case has been appealed to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. There are also lawsuits challenging the traditional definition of marriage in federal courts currently pending in four states. “There have been a series of court decisions at the state and federal level where judges have held there is a constitutional right for same-sex marriage,” said Graham. “If marriage is ever to be redefined, it needs to be done by the people’s elected representatives, not a handful of activist judges.” #####Jun 01 2006
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced Johnsonville will receive a $949,400 grant and a $3,092,000 loan for water system improvements. The funds will be used to install approximately 28 miles of water line, a well, a 300,000 gallon elevated storage tank, and a SCADA system. In addition, the funds will be used to replace galvanized water lines, valves, and meters. The loan and grant were awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. ####Jun 01 2006
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint today announced more than $24 million dollars for public housing authorities in South Carolina. The Capital Fund formula grants are awarded on an annual basis and may be used for a variety of activities including modernization, development, financing, and management. The grants were awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Recipients include: Charleston County Housing and Redevelopment Authority- $433,575 Housing Authority of Abbeville- $188,954 Housing Authority of Aiken- $507,259 Housing Authority of Anderson- $408,016 Housing Authority of Atlantic Beach- $72,781 Housing Authority of Beaufort- $430,224 Housing Authority of Bennettsville- $208,263 Housing Authority of Charleston- $2,009,420 Housing Authority of Cayce- $57,070 Housing Authority of Cheraw- $326,836 Housing Authority of Chester- $178,322 Housing Authority of Columbia- $3,466,335 Housing Authority of Conway- $396,619 Housing Authority of Darlington- $243,721 Housing Authority of Easley- $148,815 Housing Authority of Florence- $1,179,856 Housing Authority of Fort Mill- $194,897 Housing Authority of Gaffney- $425,022 Housing Authority of Georgetown- $431,460 Housing Authority of Greenville- $1,751,444 Housing Authority of Greenwood- $340,559 Housing Authority of Greer- $233,849 Housing Authority of Hartsville- $157,236 Housing Authority of Kingstree- $200,443 Housing Authority of Lake City- $447,776 Housing Authority of Lancaster- $204,131 Housing Authority of Laurens- $182,087 Housing Authority of Marion- $545,497 Housing Authority of McColl- $45,825 Housing Authority of Mullins- $260,772 Housing Authority of North Charleston- $803,856 Housing Authority of Newberry- $518,767 Housing Authority of Rock Hill- $543, 321 Housing Authority of Spartanburg- $2,023,956 Housing Authority of Sumter- $517,235 Housing Authority of Union- $421,879 Housing Authority of Woodruff- $146,008 Housing Authority of York- $169,656 Marlboro County Housing and Redevelopment Authority- $75,182 South Carolina Regional Housing Authority No. 1- $2,044,679 South Carolina Regional Housing Authority No. 3- $1,254,413 ####Jun 01 2006
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the Western Carolina Higher Education Commission-Salkehatchie Leadership Institute in Allendale will receive a $327,460 grant. The grant will be used to continue a previous grant project, now known as the Salkehatchie Arts Partnership, developing an inventory of artisans and craftspeople in Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Colleton, and Hampton counties. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the project is expected to assist 15 small, rural businesses and potentially create 20 new jobs. The grant was awarded by the USDA. ####May 31 2006
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint today announced South Carolina will receive more than $14.6 million for homeland security initiatives throughout the state. South Carolina will receive:- $10,040,000 from the State Homeland Security Program. These funds support the implementation of activities to build the capability to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism and other catastrophic events.
- $4,100,000 from the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program. These funds support law enforcement and public safety activities to prevent terrorist attacks through activities such as intelligence gathering, information sharing, and target hardening.
- $307,104 from the Citizen Corp Program. These funds are used to support activities that promote citizen preparedness and engage citizens in all-hazards prevention, protection, response, and recovery.
- $232,330 from the Metropolitan Medical Response System. These funds support planning and preparation activities for large-scale medical response for any catastrophic event.
