Harvey Peeler

Gaffney, SC – June 19, 2009 – South Carolina Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler released the following statement today in response to South Carolina’s new unemployment figures:

“Understanding the dire circumstances many families across the state are facing, the State Senate passed my bi-partisan jobs plan with a unanimous vote nearly two months ago. South Carolina’s economy has been cut and we are bleeding more jobs everyday. My plan was the only one introduced in the General Assembly this year to help stop the bleeding. Today I call on the House to take up my plan as soon as their rules allow.”

Senator Peeler’s Jump Start Plan creates jobs by getting government out of the way, not by growing government with more spending:
Any employer who hires an unemployed South Carolinian will receive a $100 per month tax credit per employee beginning July 1, 2009.

• The tax credit is available for 24 months – maximum of $2,400 per employee in tax credit over a 2-year time.
• Defines an unemployed South Carolinian as:

Someone who gets a job between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010
Has been receiving unemployment benefits in SC for at least 4 weeks
Remains in this position with the employer for at least 4 weeks – working a minimum of 35 hours per week
Has no return to work date or promise of future employment
Provides a notarized affidavit that the individual is a US citizen or has a green card
Was unemployed immediately prior to being employed

• The employer becomes eligible for the tax credit when the employee has completed four consecutive weeks of work. A workweek consists of a minimum of 35 hours.

• The amount of tax credit cannot exceed the amount of taxes the employer pays in a year, but any amount in excess may be carried over to the succeeding year.

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South Carolina’s Republican Senators today pushed a bill out of Judiciary Committee that protects workers from union intimidation. H.3305, introduced by Rep. Eric Bedingfield, is a constitutional amendment that would guarantee a worker’s right to voting by secret ballot during union organization.

The legislation is a reaction to the deceptively named federal “Employee Free Choice Act,” which US Senator Jim DeMint has more appropriately dubbed the “Secret Ballot Elimination Act.” The federal legislation would strip workers of their right to vote for unionization by secret ballot, opening them up to intimidation and harassment by unions.

Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler (R-Cherokee) is the lead sponsor of a Senate companion bill. “The fundamental right to a secret ballot vote is essential to a free nation. Our Senators will not let liberal Washington insiders take that right from South Carolina’s workers,” said Senator Peeler.

“We’ve seen what happens when unions control the economy. It’s called Detroit. And we’ve seen what happens when unions fail. Congress bails them out on the backs of hardworking taxpayers. South Carolina must continue to be a right-to-work state and we must protect our workers’ right during this tough economic crisis,” Peeler said.

The legislation protects workers’ rights through an amendment to the SC Constitution stating “To preserve and protect the fundamental right of individuals to vote by secret ballot, where local, state, or federal law requires elections for public office or ballot measures, or requires designations or authorizations for employee representation, the right of individuals to vote by secret ballot is guaranteed.”

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Majority Leader’s Job Plan Will Give Tax Credits To Businesses That Hire Unemployed South Carolina Workers

Columbia, SC – April 28, 2009 – A jobs plan introduced just two weeks ago by South Carolina Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler has already passed the State Senate. Peeler’s “Jumpstart Plan” provides tax credits for businesses that hire unemployed state workers and grows our economy by promoting the private sector, not growing government. It was approved on second reading yesterday by a vote of 39-0. It was passed out of the Senate on third reading today.

Under Peeler’s plan any employer who hires an unemployed South Carolinian will receive a $100 per month tax credit for each employee hired beginning July 1, 2009. The tax credit is available for 24 months, a maximum of $2,400 per employee over two years.

Senator Peeler said, “Today the State Senate approved our jobs plan on a unanimous vote because we understand the dire circumstances too many families are facing. We’ve spent weeks talking about skyrocketing unemployment numbers and declining state revenues. We’ve talked about laying off teachers and closing prisons. Now we are moving past the problems and laying out a common-sense solution that can put South Carolina back to work.”

Peeler continued, “We can’t grow South Carolina’s economy with increased spending and big government projects on the backs of our state’s businesses and working families. Government isn’t the solution. Government is the problem. The solution must come from the private sector and the only thing government can do to help right now is to empower businesses and working families.”

Details of the “Jumpstart Plan:”

• Any employer who hires an unemployed South Carolinian will receive a $100 per month tax credit per employee beginning July 1, 2009.

• The tax credit is available for 24 months – maximum of $2,400 per employee in tax credit over a 2 year time.

• Defines an unemployed South Carolinian as:

o Someone who gets a job between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010

o Has been receiving unemployment benefits in SC for at least 4 weeks

o Remains in this position with the employer for at least 4 weeks – working a minimum of 35 hours per week

o Has no return to work date or promise of future employment

o Provides a notarized affidavit that the individual is a US citizen or has a green card

o Was unemployed immediately prior to being employed

• The employer becomes eligible for the tax credit when the employee has completed four consecutive weeks of work. A workweek consists of a minimum of 35 hours.

• The amount of tax credit cannot exceed the amount of taxes the employer pays in a year, but any amount in excess may be carried over to the succeeding year.

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It’s time to move past the problems plaguing South Carolina and find real solutions that will put our families back to work.

We all know that we’re facing some serious problems. South Carolina now has 248,600 people drawing unemployment benefits while the state coffers run dry and we rank as the second most unemployed state in the nation. All that means less money coming to our state to fund essential services like education, healthcare, and public safety.

These are serious problems folks, but we can’t harp on them. We have to move past the problems and start finding solutions. Extreme liberals believe that solutions mean raising taxes on businesses, but that will kill economic growth in our region. Solutions won’t come from bigger government and more spending. They will come from common-sense conservative principles.

Senator Jim DeMint has termed President Obama’s spending plan the “porkulus package.” I agree with Senator DeMint’s sentiments. President Obama says that spending more of our hard-earned tax dollars will create jobs. The truth is that it will just increase our debts to foreign nations like China while making us dependent on one time money. Unfortunately our liberal controlled Congress has already passed this wasteful legislation and South Carolina taxpayers will be stuck with the bill regardless if we take the money or not. That’s why I’ve stood firm in my position that we should take OUR money from the feds.

We aren’t going to grow our economy if we keep growing government on the backs of our state’s businesses and working families. Government isn’t the solution. Government is the problem. The solution must come from the private sector and the only thing government can do to help right now is to get out of the way.

We have to relieve the burden on business owners so that they can afford to hire new employees and jumpstart our economy. We must do everything in our power to empower businesses and working families. That’s why I’ve developed a jobs plan based on conservative principles.

My jobs plan is simple. I want to give a $2,400 tax credit to any business that hires an unemployed South Carolinian. Any employer who hires an unemployed South Carolina worker will receive a $100 per month tax credit for each employee hired beginning July 1, 2009.

The tax credit is available for 24 months, a maximum of $2,400 per employee over two years. The unemployed worker must have been receiving unemployment benefits in South Carolina for at least four weeks and they must remain in their new position for at least four weeks before the employer can draw down the state tax credit. In addition, the worker must provide a notarized affidavit proving that he/she is a United States citizen or they must have a green card. We must ensure that only legal South Carolina residents are taking advantage of this new plan.

Critics are already saying that we cannot afford this tax credit during such harsh economic times. That’s simply untrue. Currently weekly unemployment benefits range from $20 to $326 per week for each recipient. The average is $248.08 a week, which equals $992.32 per month. Our tax credit is only $100 per month, meaning the state would save about $892 per worker per month. Also, the newly employed worker will be paying state taxes, which generates new funds for education, healthcare, and public safety.

We are facing tough economic times and so far no one has stepped up and put forth a plan to put our state and region back to work. I don’t have all the solutions, but I do know that our problems won’t be solved if we just sit on our hands. Solutions won’t find themselves. It’s time to get to work and give the private sector the tools they need to create jobs for our state.

NFIB, the nation’s leading small business association, has endorsed Senator Peeler’s jobs tax credit plan. Here’s a release from NFIB:

Small businesses support tax credits for hiring unemployed workers
Legislation would reduce South Carolina’s jobless rate while helping state’s job creators

COLUMBIA, S.C., April 15, 2009—J.J. Darby, South Carolina state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, said today that small business owners support a bill allowing employers to receive tax credits for hiring unemployed workers.

S. 690, sponsored by Sen. Harvey S. Peeler Jr. (Gaffney) and 19 other senators, would help reduce South Carolina’s jobless rate by allowing employers to receive a tax credit worth $100 a month for hiring someone who receives state unemployment benefits. Employers could receive the credit for 24 months—meaning it would be worth as much as $2,400 per employee.

“The bill makes a lot of sense,” Darby said. “I think the senators are taking a very practical, commonsense approach to dealing with the serious unemployment problem in our state. I appreciate Sen. Peeler’s leadership in trying to help both businesses considering hiring and people looking for work here in South Carolina.”

NFIB supported similar legislation that recently passed the Georgia General Assembly.

NFIB/South Carolina is the state’s leading small business association. Small businesses represent 97 percent of all South Carolina employers, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

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NFIB is the nation’s leading small business association, with offices in Washington, D.C. and all 50 state capitals. Founded in 1943 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, NFIB gives small and independent business owners a voice in shaping the public policy issues that affect their business. NFIB’s powerful network of grassroots activists send their views directly to state and federal lawmakers through our unique member-only ballot, thus playing a critical role in supporting America’s free enterprise system. NFIB’s mission is to promote and protect the right of our members to own, operate and grow their businesses. More information about NFIB is available online at www.NFIB.com/newsroom.

Majority Leader’s Plan Will Give Tax Credits To Businesses That Hire Unemployed South Carolinians

Columbia, SC – April 14, 2009 – South Carolina Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler (R – Cherokee) introduced legislation today to help fight South Carolina’s skyrocketing unemployment rate. Peeler’s “Jumpstart Plan” provides tax credits for businesses that hire unemployed workers and grows our economy by promoting the private sector, not growing government.

Under Peeler’s plan any employer who hires an unemployed South Carolinian will receive a $100 per month tax credit for each employee hired beginning July 1, 2009. The tax credit is available for 24 months, a maximum of $2,400 per employee over two years.

Senator Peeler said, “We aren’t going to grow our economy if we keep growing government on the backs of our state’s businesses and working families. We have to relieve the burden on business owners so that they can afford to hire new employees and jumpstart our economy.”

Peeler also called for renewed leadership during this tough economic crisis. “All we hear about are the problems plaguing our state. We hear about our second in the nation unemployment rate. We hear about our inability to fund schools and prisons. Very seldom do we hear about solutions. It’s time to move past the problems and find the solutions that will grow our economy and put families back to work.”

“I don’t have all the solutions, but I do know that our problems won’t be solved if we just sit on our hands. It’s time to get to work and give the private sector the tools they need to create jobs for our state,” Peeler continued.

Details of the Jumpstart Plan:

• Any employer who hires an unemployed South Carolinian will receive a $100 per month tax credit per employee beginning July 1, 2009.

• The tax credit is available for 24 months – maximum of $2,400 per employee in tax credit over a 2-year time.

• Defines an unemployed South Carolinian as:

- Someone who gets a job between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010

- Has been receiving unemployment benefits in SC for at least 4 weeks

- Remains in this position with the employer for at least 4 weeks – working a minimum of 35 hours per week

- Has no return to work date or promise of future employment

- Provides a notarized affidavit that the individual is a US citizen or has a green card

- Was unemployed immediately prior to being employed

• The employer becomes eligible for the tax credit when the employee has completed four consecutive weeks of work.  A workweek consists of a minimum of 35 hours.

• The amount of tax credit cannot exceed the amount of taxes the employer pays in a year, but any amount in excess may be carried over to the succeeding year.

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Waiting Period Gives Mothers More Time To Reflect

Columbia, SC – April 2, 2009 – The South Carolina Senate Medical Affairs Committee chaired by Senator Harvey Peeler (R-Cherokee) today passed a new proposal that extends the waiting period for abortions from just one hour to twenty-four hours.

South Carolina is currently the only nation in the country to have a one-hour waiting period for abortions – the shortest waiting period of all states with a waiting period. The proposed law would require a 24-hour waiting period upon the completion of an ultrasound or the giving of materials about abortion to the patient.

The extended period would give women a full day of reflection before making one of the biggest decisions of their lives. It is the hope of bill sponsors that the additional time to reflect on the risks of and alternatives to abortion will lower the number of abortions in South Carolina, help protect more unborn children and give mothers more time to consider the health risks.

“South Carolina should serve as an example to the nation on this issue, not lag behind more liberal states,” Senator Mike Fair (R-Greenville) said. “No one knows how many babies will be saved if we extend the waiting period to 24 hours. All we know is that some mothers will decide to deliver their baby. That’s enough for me and it should be enough for the General Assembly. “

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Senate Majority Leader: “Government reform breeds economic growth.”

Columbia, SC – January 13, 2009 – Facing the toughest economic climate in recent years, South Carolina’s Republican Senators are demanding government accountability to reduce state spending and promote economic growth. Today the South Carolina Senate passed an accountability plan that demands more “on the record” voting and reforms practices that breed excessive government spending.

“Economic growth and job creation require low taxes, workforce education, a strong infrastructure, and healthy employees.  We will not be able to fulfill those needs and create jobs until we make government more accountable to the taxpayers,” said Majority Leader Harvey Peeler.

Peeler continued “government reform breeds economic growth.  This is just the first of many steps we will take in 2009 to change the way South Carolina government operates.”

Showing they are serious about commonsense government reform, the Senate’s Republican Majority passed a rule overhaul on the very first day of session that requires a recorded vote on:

• All contested bills
• All uncontested bills with a fiscal impact over $10,000
• All bills or resolutions authorizing the expenditure of funds
• All bills or resolutions that contain provisions that would create a fee or tax, raise the amount of an existing fee or tax, or reduce an existing fee or tax
• The state budget
• All bills or resolutions that impact the pay, benefits or retirement of members of the General Assembly, the Executive Branch, the Judicial Branch or the provisions of the Ethics Act or the Campaign Finance Act.
• Amendments to the South Carolina Constitution
• Any state or congressional reapportionment plan
• Conference and free conference reports
• Any vote to override the Governor’s veto
• Any amended bill returned by the State House

Senator Glenn McConnell, President Pro Tempore of the Senate said “during this tough economic crisis it is essential that our elected officials are spending every tax dollar wisely and in a way that will build our economy. Our new rules change will make the Senate transparent and it will show that taxpayers how hard we are working to get South Carolina back on track.”

The requirement for a roll call vote was also lowered from a request by five Senators down to three Senators. However, any one Senator can demand a roll call by placing it on the contested calendar.

Senator Larry Martin, Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee commented, “The rule will require a roll call vote on practically every bill that is considered in the Senate.  We’ve also make it easier for members to demand a roll call on amendments and on the limited number of bills not covered by the rule with three versus five members asking for a vote.  The rule is a win for those of us that have advocated more transparency and for the public to have a record of how its senators voted on legislation.””

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