Harvey Peeler

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control is likely about to change. It’s one of the state agencies slated for restructuring, under a proposal recently put forth by a handful of state lawmakers.

Richland County Senator John Courson, a Republican, is on the bi-partisan committee. He says the restructuring is part of an ongoing effort begun by Governor Carroll Campbell designed to give the governor more power.

Courson says, to start with, the bill would separate the huge agency into two parts, led by one cabinet officer.”We’re only one of four states which has a structure similar to this,” said Courson. “In every other state such agencies have be bifurcated.”   Listen to Courson comments MP3 3:36

The proposal would allow the governor to appoint a cabinet position who would then appoint two deputies. One would lead the health section and the other, the environmental section. [...]

We hope you are having a fun and safe Labor Day weekend.

Just in case you’ve taken a break from the grill to surf the web, we’ve posted this snippet from Senator Peeler’s interview with the South Carolina Radio Network on state restructuring.

Sen Peeler on subcommittee

Gov. Mark Sanford made it one step closer Thursday to the type of government he envisioned nearly seven years ago when he took over as chief executive.

A Senate subcommittee will begin work this fall to consolidate, restructure and redefine five health agencies, a priority the two-term Republican has pushed without much success for his entire tenure.

Sanford said he thinks that will change during the upcoming session, and he may be right.

Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler, a Gaffney Republican, called on the Medical Affairs subcommittee to consider whether to split up the Department of Health and Environmental Control into two agencies with a secretary who reports directly to the governor. [...]

South Carolina Senate Majority Leader and Medical Affairs Committee Chairman Harvey Peeler (R-Cherokee) today announced his plan to move three big restructuring bills aimed at improving the efficiency of state government. Senator Peeler has appointed Senate Majority Whip Danny Verdin (R-Laurens) to chair a subcommittee examining restructuring of five health agencies. [...]

Cross-county groups will more effectively represent our region

The Upstate grows or declines as a region. Spartanburg’s future is not independent of Greenville’s and vice versa. That’s why it makes so much sense for leaders in the region to work together to represent the entire Upstate.

Business leaders took that direction this week when they announced the Upstate Chamber Coalition, an alliance of 10 chambers of commerce in the region. The group will work together to lobby state officials and the General Assembly on behalf of the region.

Such an effort is crucial, particularly to Spartanburg, which lost much influence in Columbia in last year’s elections.

Spartanburg has not had a great deal of clout in Columbia in decades, and Spartanburg institutions have suffered, getting less than their fair shares of state revenues. [...]

Coalition will lobby General Assembly on pro-business agenda

A new group is hoping to help Upstate businesses gain more clout in Columbia.

The Upstate Chamber Coalition, an alliance of 10 chambers of commerce from across the area, announced its start-up Monday during a news conference at the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce.

The coalition’s purpose will be to generate a legislative agenda for its member-chambers, which represent more than 8,000 companies and almost 300,000 employees, and present it to the South Carolina General Assembly before the new session in January.

“It’s a collaborative world, and we need to have business leaders with a common agenda,” said David Cordeau, president and CEO of the Spartanburg Chamber. “We are excited about this opportunity to partner with other chambers across the Upstate to bring a brighter future to the area.”

In addition to the Spartanburg Chamber, coalition members include Greenville, Greer, Anderson, Greenwood, Cherokee, Laurens, Clemson, Walhalla and Westminster.

The coalition will be funded by the chambers, each paying an amount determined by its size and number of members.

It will not be affiliated with Upstate Alliance, a Greenville-based economic development organization that focuses on marketing the Upstate to the rest of the world.

John DeWorken and Sunnie Harmon, lobbyists for the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, will serve as the coalition’s representatives and will lead the development agenda.

DeWorken said the coalition will pool the resources of the Upstate chambers to encourage members of the General Assembly to pass pro-business legislation that will create better jobs, lower unemployment rates, raise per capita income and support economic development.

“If you look at the makeup of the state, it is separated into divisions in terms of what drives the economy,” he said. “The coastal economy is driven by tourism, the Midlands — particularly Columbia — is driven by government and business, but in our economy, business is our business. Jobs drive our economy.”

DeWorken said the coalition has already gained support from a number of members from legislative delegations across the region. About one-third of state legislators are from the Upstate, he said.

“There’s strength in numbers,” said Jim Thomas, incoming chairman of the Spartanburg Chamber. “For far too long, other areas of the state have had much more clout than we have had. The Upstate is a region, we have common issues and we now have a common voice.”

Reps. Rita Allison and Steve Parker and Sen. Harvey Peeler attended the coalition’s unveiling.

Peeler offered up a bristling account of why it has been difficult for the Upstate to compete for its fair share of funding from the state in past years.

He said the Lowcountry and Midlands have enjoyed a feast of what he called the “filling of the pie,” while the Upstate has been consigned to “nibbling on the crust” even though it is the area that “fills the pie.”

“Football is king in the fall, but in the spring, it’s always something I like to call the ACBC, or the annual Charleston Budget Crisis,” Peeler said. “It’s something that if we don’t fund for Charleston, the whole state will come to a screeching halt. They will have some project, something that will take our money down to the Lowcountry to spend. We’re going to compete for our tax dollars. This gives us some direction.”

Allison said about 60 percent of goods that move through the port of Charleston are manufactured in the Upstate. She said the coalition will help legislators “do what needs to be done.”

“Our people are hurting, our businesses are hurting and we need to keep moving forward,” she said.

“We, as representatives and senators, are the ones who make laws,” Parker said. “It’s time that we take responsibility, and quit making excuses. I think with the leadership that we have here today, you’re going to see a lot of changes being made.”

by Trevor Anderson
Go Upstate.com

State Sen. Harvey Peeler Jr. announced Friday the Cherokee County Legislative Delegation recommended Milton B. Edwards of Gaffney for appointment to the Cherokee County Election Commission.

Edwards, a retired Master Sergeant who served in the U.S. Army for 25 years, would replace Cory Reid, who recently resigned from the election commission.

The recommendation of the legislative delegation was sent to Gov. Mark Sanford’s office for final approval.

Edwards is a graduate of Limestone College with a degree in management and accounting. While serving in the U.S. Army, he completed many management and leadership programs including the Army Advanced Non- Commissioned Officers Course.

Good things happen to me on August 8^th.  August 8, 1969 – Donna and I were married.  Today is our 40^th wedding anniversary.  August 8, 1970, 39 years ago today, I graduated from Clemson University.  Today, August 8, 2009 – I am receiving this most prestigious degree.  I am honored and humbled beyond words.

Members of the Board of Trustees, President Barker, Distinguished Faculty, Graduates, Guests,  – and Donna and our children, Brantlee, Smith and Boone –  Thank you.  Thank you for the honor and thank you for allowing me a very few minutes to speak with the new graduates.

Clemson University will always have my support as long as I am in the State Senate because Clemson University is one of South Carolina’s greatest assets.  It produces and molds unmatched economic potential — YOU!

We are counting on you to use what you have learned here — and be the solution to our State’s and our Nation’s problems.

Let me give you a couple of reasons we are counting on you.

First — the automobile industry.  The automotive industry of Michigan is dying because of new innovations from other countries.  In the 1970’s, we suffered because we did not change.  We did not adapt.  It was the same as it always had been.  Bigger cars and bigger gas tanks.  Foreign automakers beat us to the punch then and they have been out front lately.  But now we are working to reverse that trend right here at Clemson University with ICAR.

To be able to affect economic change, we all need to bring something to the table.  With Clemson University, the State of South Carolina and private industry working together –  we now have a genuine economic engine that is bringing jobs to the upstate.  It is also building for the future.

I do not have to tell you that engineering is not the easiest major.  But the ICAR program is so popular that the number of students who want to be a part of the cutting edge far outweigh the space available.  You see – these students — and others like them across the country — are eager to learn.  It is that new knowledge – the products of their imagination – and their hard work which will put American back on top.

Now for a personal reason we are counting on you.

H. Smith Peeler feared no man and very few animals.  A member of our Greatest Generation, he was a military policeman – an MP.  I think Mama and the military shaped his personality as much as anything.

If you asked him, he would give you the shirt off of his back — but if he caught you trying to steal gas out of one of his milk trucks, he would shoot you!

Smith Peeler owned and operated a small dairy in Gaffney.  The dairy was responsible for milk – from the cow to the consumer.  He enjoyed competing with the “big boys” and winning.

He liked everyone he met, but he was partial to the ones who could work with their head and their hands — at the same time.

He could fix anything.  I think if he had enough baling wire he could mend a broken heart.

He was admired for his sense of humor and his sense of fair play.

His advice was sought by Presidents and paper boys.

He could preach you a sermon just by looking at you.

Smith and Sally Peeler raised four Clemson graduates.  I am the oldest.  Twins, Bill and Bob.  Twins?  God figured it would take two to compete with me!  And a daughter, Susan.

Bob –  former two-term South Carolina Lieutenant Governor and current Clemson Board Member.

Bill  –  former Chairman of the Board of Deacons at the Gaffney First Baptist Church and a current member of the Board River Electric Co-Op Board of Directors.  By the way, — to our daddy, Lieutenant Governor and Senator paled in comparison to being elected to the Electric Co-Op Board.

Susan –  two high callings in South Carolina are Mother and Classroom Teacher.  My sister is both.

As my friend and confidant, Nicky McCarter would say –  Smith Peeler was an over-achiever.  Some of you are thinking, “this man had it ‘going on’”.  And you would be right.  But there is one thing he did not have.  Smith Peeler did not have what you are about to receive –  a college degree.

Even so, he recognized and understood that if his children and his grandchildren were going to compete in a growing global marketplace — they needed to be better prepared.  And for him — furthering his children’s and his grandchildren’s education became a top priority.

You have earned this degree — with all of its rights and privileges.  By accepting this diploma, you are also accepting a responsibility.  You are responsible for making this a value-added product.  You are responsible for keeping this piece of paper so valuable that some great men die wishing that they had it in their possession.

So I ask you, my fellow Tigers — will you increase its value?

Roughly 5,000 people watched 700 Clemson University students receive degrees Saturday at a ceremony in Littlejohn Coliseum.

Students from places such as Limpopo, South Africa, Bogota, Columbia and Ankara, Turkey, walked the stage to receive hard-earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from Clemson University President James Barker.

South Carolina Sen. Harvey Peeler Jr. of Gaffney received an honorary Doctorate of Humanities. Peeler, who earned a Bachelor of Dairy Science degree from the university in 1970, said in his acceptance speech that he was “humbled” by the honor he received Saturday. Peeler also said he considered Clemson one of South Carolina’s “greatest assets.”

Officials with the university said Peeler had been “instrumental … in offering support to Clemson’s agriculture and public service mission.”

“By earning your diploma, you are accepting the responsibility of increasing its value,” Peeler said to the graduating students. “Will you increase its value?”

“Yes,” came the reply from the floor of Littlejohn on the Clemson campus, where the students were seated.

“Good. Now let’s get this party started!” Peeler said before Barker took the podium to begin the commencement service.

Candidates for doctorates were the first to be recognized by receiving their doctoral hoods. They were followed by those receiving master’s degrees and then by bachelor’s degree recipients.

Nearly 20 of the students receiving degrees were Clemson student-athletes, including 10 football players.

Cynthia Diane Smith, the mother of football player Jacquez M. “Jock” McKissic, a three-year defensive letterman, made the drive from Opelika, Ala., to attend the ceremony.

“We’re all so excited and thankful for this day,” Smith said on behalf of the crowd of friends and family seated around her in one of the upper sections of Littlejohn

McKissic, who was recruited in 2005 by then-assitant coach Dabo Swinney, hugged Barker and several other faculty members as his size 17 feet carried him across the stage Saturday.

His mother said such gentleness was typical of the 6-foot-7-inch, 315-pound giant.

“I wanted Jock to come to Clemson because it’d get him away from home and give him a chance to grow up. He’s become the man I prayed for him to become,” she said.

“My favorite memory from his football career here was the touchdown he scored against South Carolina a couple of years ago, but nothing compares to seeing him walk that stage today. Of all the moments, this is by far my favorite,” she added, brushing back tears.

Smith credited athletic department Chaplin Tony Eubanks and former Clemson football standout Jeff Davis with “helping keep Jock grounded all these years. They’re like family, and today is the result of a lot family effort. Anyone in this coliseum today with a child graduating knows what I mean when I say it is always a family effort.”

To close the nearly two-hour long ceremony, Barker quoted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in issuing his final charge to the new graduates.

“Dr. King once said, ‘If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.’”

Barker said, “It may not be your destiny to be famous or world-renowned in your chosen fields. But if you follow Dr. King’s advice, opportunities will open for you one door at a time.”

Rick Spruill

Independentmail.com

Peeler: “During this time of economic pain, we need someone who deals with working families and small businesses on a daily basis.”

Gaffney, SC – South Carolina Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler today announced his intention to appoint local accountant Ben Kochenower to the South Carolina Tax Realignment Commission (TRAC). Kochenower is the CEO of Cline Brandt Kochenower & Company, an accounting firm with offices in Boiling Springs and Gaffney, South Carolina. He has spent his career helping families, small businesses, and non-profit organizations maneuver through our state’s complicated tax code.

While South Carolina’s unemployment rate remains one of the highest in the nation, many are blaming our state’s antiquated and piecemealed tax structure as the primary cause of our woes. Called “loophole-riddled” and a “special-interest driven tax system” by The State newspaper, the tax code is an obstruction to economic growth in South Carolina.

The TRAC Commission is modeled after the federal BRACC program. In an attempt to overhaul the tax code while removing the political pressures from the process, an independent commission of financial and economic experts was created to assess the effectiveness of the current tax system structure and to provide recommendations for changes to the General Assembly.

Ben Kochenower has been a CPA in Gaffney and Spartanburg since 1975. He has extensive experience working with governmental, non-profit and commercial clients. He is a member of the Government Finance Officers Association of South Carolina and holds licenses in Michigan, Maryland, Indiana, Tennessee and Massachusetts as well as North and South Carolina, and he is also a Certified Fraud Examiner and a Certified Valuation Analyst.

“Ben hasn’t spent his career in Columbia surrounded by politics. He’s been working in small town South Carolina giving financial advice to working families and small businessmen facing too much government red tape and an outdated tax structure. I’m appointing Ben because he’ll bring a much needed common sense approach to the commission,” Senator Peeler said in making the appointment.

Peeler continued “during this time of economic pain, we need someone who deals with working families and small businesses on a daily basis.”