SC-2010

As I see emerging threats, they will be highlighted here and/or in the “Alert” section.

February 27th, 2010

Brief and detail-starved media reports are claiming that a 30 cent cigarette tax increase had cleared the House Ways and Means Committee by voice vote on February 24th. I have no other info on this yet, not even a bill number - but as soon as I do, it will be here.

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And, please, start paying attention to the upcoming Primaries in June 2010. Candidates are deciding now whether to run or not. See HERE to see the results of the 2008 election, current officeholder’s positions, and consider finding candidates or running yourself against the Anti candidates.

Below are all the current bills I have found that threaten us. Ban legislation is directly below; tax increase legislation is grouped after that. Within category Bills are largely listed by alphabetical bill number. All that are more than just introduced are highlighted in red.

Clicking on the bill number below will link to the SC Statehouse website and bring up all the details of the bill and its status.

While all of these bills are a threat to individual choice, individual liberty and gross taxation without representation, the ones judged to be the most threatening in terms of anti-backing and representative placation of anti are splashed in red.

See what’s threatening us below, then take action!!! (click here for help in taking action)

Please note: bills starting with S originate from the Senate, H originate from the House

Smoking Bans:

S-23: Ban in car when person less than 10 years old is present.

Sponsors: Jackson

Comment: This attack on driver’s freedoms is moving through the Senate!!!

S-31: Outdoor ban on smoking on public school grounds (showing little respect for teachers and adult visitors)

Sponsors: Jackson

S-38: Ban smoking everywhere (i.e. restaurants, bars, anywhere where people might enjoy themselves)

Sponsors: Ford

H-3023: Ban in car when person less than 18 years old is present.

Sponsors: M.A. Pitts, Merrill, Parker, Brady

H-3082: Ban in car when person present is “preschool age”

Sponsors: Clyburn, King, Parker

H-3091: Ban smoking in restaurants and bars.

Sponsors: King, Gunn

H-3113: Ban smoking everywhere (i.e. restaurants, bars, anywhere where people might enjoy themselves)

Sponsors: Rutherford, King, Gunn, McEachern

H-3317: Ban in car when person present is less than 10 years old.

Sponsors: Bales

H-3445: Ban in car when person present is “preschool age” Mirrors S-23

Sponsors: Clyburn, Sellers, Brantley, Frye, Allen, Allison, Anderson, R.L. Brown, Cobb-Hunter, Daning, Dillard, Hosey, Howard, Hutto, Limehouse, Moss, J.H. Neal, Parker, Rice and Spires

Comment: Given the number of sponsors, this bill is a threat!! Contact your representative ASAP and protest this taking of individual liberty.

H-3523: Ban everywhere, exempting private clubs.

Sponsors: Skelton

Cigarette tax increases:

H-3584: A 50 cent increase per pack; used for used for anti smoking groups, agriculture, medicaid, health care and the funding of collection.

Sponsors: Harrell, Bingham, Cooper, Harrison, Owens, Sandifer, White, Crawford, Bannister, Huggins, Sottile, Spires, Herbkersman, Loftis, Bowen, Erickson, Daning, Hardwick, J.R. Smith, Pinson, Toole, Brady, Clemmons, Edge, Forrester, Frye, Gullick, Hearn, Hiott, Horne, Kelly, Littlejohn, Long, E.H. Pitts, Rice, Skelton, D.C. Smith, G.M. Smith, Whitmire, Wylie, Gunn and Limehouse

Comment: So much for Republicans in the House. This bill has passed the House and is now moving in the Senate. Write your State Senator now and oppose it. If enough oppose it, even if it does pass, it could die by veto.

H-3014: A 37 cent increase per pack; used to fund anti smoking groups, education programs and nursing programs.

Sponsors: M.A. Pitts and Guilliard

H-3119: A 30 cent increase per pack; half is used to reimburse people for use of anti programs, the other half to general revenue.

Sponsors: Hosey

H-3204: A 93 cent increase per pack - then indexed to increase annually as the consumer price index increases (yes, that means automatic yearly increases with no votes on it); used to fund small business health insurance and anti programs.

Sponsors: whipper and Hutto

H-3206: A 25 cent increase per pack; used to expand medicaid.

Sponsors: White

H-3211: A 93 cent increase per pack; used for medicaid and healthcare access.

Sponsors: Gunn

H-3470: A 50 cent increase per pack; used for anti smoking groups, agriculture, medicaid, health care and the funding of collection.

Sponsors: Skelton

H-3471: A 45 cent increase per pack; used for mental health, tax credit for certain health savings accounts, rest to general fund.

Sponsors: Chalk

H-3486: Sets tax on cigarettes to automatically adjust to the “Southeastern” average - yeah, no votes on increases, just automatic; used for anti smoking groups, agriculture, medicaid, health care and the funding of collection.

Sponsors: J.E. Smith