Summerville Legislators ID Important Issues

If you're a politician, seven minutes might not be enough time — especially with election season around the corner — but state representatives and senators made use of that time to discuss important 2012 topics during 's legislative luncheon on Thursday.

The roster included Summerville legislators Sen. Mike Rose (R-District 38), Sen. Paul Campbell (R-District 44), Rep. Jenny Horne (R-District 94), Rep. Joe Daning (R-District 92) and Rep. Chris Murphy (R-District 98).

Sen. Larry Grooms (R-District 37) was invited and accepted the invitation but did not show up during the event.

Daning, a Berkeley County legislator, now represents part of Summerville due to the 2011 state redistricting. 

State representatives are elected every two years and state senators are elected every four years. All five who spoke on Thursday are up for reelection in 2012. 

Here is a brief synopsis of each legislator's address:

Sen. Mike Rose

 Rose said the federally mandated health care act will cause businesses to cut back full-time employees to part-time, and cause small businesses to hemorrhage money, which could worsen the economy.

Rose was appointed to the Governor's Health Planning Committee in the senate to address these issues in 2012.

"By the end of this month we're coming up with recommendations on how our state should respond to these federal requirements," Rose said. 

Sen. Paul Campbell

Campbell, who now represents the town of Summerville through Hutchinson Square due to 2011 state redistricting, urged for a state constitutional amendment to limit how much it can grow its budget. 

He identified Medicaid and its associated unemployed costs to the state.

"If your unemployed, you're making the equivalent of $12 an hour through all these program," Campbell said. 

Campbell said the unemployed should be forced to take jobs they are qualified to do. 

The senator also said the state's crumbling infrastructure needs to be addressed.

Campbell said high mileage vehicles have cut into the state's gas tax collection and took a quick survey on who in the room would be in favor of a increasing the gas tax by six cents to help make up for the difference. Many raised their hands in the room. 

Rep. Joe Daning

Daning is the chairman on the Transportation Subcommittee, and he said the state needs to create more secure identification cards and possibly look into electronic title transfers.

Rep. Jenny Horne

Horne, described by fellow representative Murphy as a great education advocate, said a statewide education millage rate versus a county-set millage rate may be coming and it would decrease the current millage in many districts, such as Dorchester County School District Two. 

Rep. Chris Murphy

Murphy identified four items that need continued work in 2012: streamlining government, moving forward with education funding formula, providing regulatory relief on infrastructure and repaying the billion dollar loan the state took from the federal government for unemployment.