Posted by Talbert Black Jr on 02/25/11

Dear Friend of South Carolina,

Are you as frustrated with party politics in South Carolina as I am? 

Would you like to be able to do something about it?

Are you interested in who gets nominated as a presidential candidate? 

Did you know that in order to be a delegate or to vote for a delegate to the nominating national convention in 2012, you must sign up to be a delegate to your county convention this March?

Now is your chance to be involved!

The good thing is that it is really simple!  In March, all you need to do is show up!

If you want to be on your county executive committee, the decision making body for your county party, then all you need to go is bring a couple of friends with you in March and have them vote for you.  95% of the time that is all it takes.

You see, every two years the political parties in South Carolina are required to reorganize from the ground up.  The only requirement to participate is that you be a registered voter.

The thing that most folks don't know is that very few people show up for re-organization.  Many precincts have no one show up.  They are wide open!

The good thing about this is that activists like us can show up with a few friends and out number the establishment types.

We can have the majority and become part of the leadership of the party simply by showing up!

Activists like you from all over South Carolina are learning that we can make our influence felt.  We can control the way the Republican Party does its business.  I expect we will have a controlling majority in many counties this time!

It is simple and it is fun!  And best of all, it puts you in a leadership position in the party.

The details for each county are being gathered to a central website.  Check the SCGOP website and if the info you need is not there you can check www.Conservative.sc/GOP to see what is going on in your county.  Check back often because information is being added as soon as it is available.

So, contact your county chairman and other activists in  your county and get involved.  If you have any questions, you can contact me at talbert@talbertblack.com.  Please use the subject line "GOP Reorg".

Here is a quick explanation of how it works with a short 4 minute video.  Thanks to video genius Dave Wilson for putting this video together!  Enjoy!

For those who prefer a print explanation, here is a summary of what happens over the next three months:

REPUBLICAN PARTY REORGANIZATION IN THREE EASY STEPS

There are three meetings that make up the party reorganization.  At each meeting there are positions of influence to which you can be elected.  Here is a short summary:

1. PRECINCT REORGANIZATION - if you can't make any other meeting, this is the one you can't miss.

*        When? - March.  Each county will be different so go to www.conservative.sc/GOP to get the specifics. You may also find information at this link for the state GOP or contact your County Chairman using info at this link.

*        Where? - Contact your County Chairman.

*        Who can participate? - any registered voter who lives in the precinct.

*        What happens that is important? - Each precinct will vote for the following:

­       One Precinct Executive Committeeman

­       Several Delegates to the County Convention

­       One Precinct President

­       Resolutions to forward to the county convention

*        What do you need to do?

­       Bring as many as possible registered voter friends who live in your precinct to the meeting.  (get them registered if they are not)

­       Ask all to vote for you as Precinct Executive Committeeman.

­       Sign up to be a Delegate to the County Convention and ask your friends to do the same.

­       Select one of your friends to be the Precinct President and get all of your friends to vote for him.

­       Submit resolutions that you wish to forward to the county convention

2. COUNTY CONVENTION

*        When? - April. Each county will be different so go to www.conservative.sc/GOP to get the specifics. You may also find information at this link for the state GOP or contact your County Chairman using info at this link.

*        Where? - Contact your County Chairman.

*        Who can participate? - Only those who sign up as delegates at each precinct reorganization

*        What happens that is important? - The county convention will vote for:

­       Chairman, Vice Chairmen, State Committeeman

­       Delegates to the state convention

­       Resolutions to forward to the state party

*        What do you need to do at the county convention?

­       Run and/or vote for Chairman, Vice Chairmen, State Executive Committeeman, etc.

­       Run and/or vote for conservative delegates to the state convention.

­       Vote for resolutions to forward to the state convention

3. STATE CONVENTION

*        When? - May 7^TH

*        Where? - Probably the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.

*        Who can participate? - Those selected as delegates at each county convention

*        What happens that is important? - The state convention will vote for:

­       Chairman and Vice Chairmen of the state party

­       Resolutions and state party rules

*        What do you need to do at the county convention?

­       Run and/or vote for Chairman and Vice Chairmen

­       Vote for resolutions and rules

Remember, get involved!  Don't just sit back and complain... do something about it.

Contact your county chairman today.  You can find out who he is and his contact information using this link.

In 2012, there will be state and congressional district conventions to elect delegates to the national presidential nominating convention. 

The only people eligible to vote or run for delegate to the national convention are those who are delegates to the county conventions in April of this year.

For Liberty,

Talbert Black Jr
Interim State Coordinator
South Carolina Campaign for Liberty

Posted by Talbert Black Jr on 02/16/11

Friends of South Carolina,

This is a good news - bad news kind of report.

First, the good news... Haley represented the power and will of the people well Tuesday night!  Your calls and e-mails left her with no doubt that the people want the Roll Call bill "effective upon approval of the Governor".

So let me back up and quickly recap where we are and what you can do to help.

H3004 is the House authored bill by Nathan Ballentine that will create a law to require each legislator's vote to be recorded on every new law that is passed.  We call it the "Roll Call" law.

The House passed it unanimously on the first day of session this year with the customary language stating that the bill will be "effective upon approval of the Governor".

Last week, those who argue the bill is unconstitutional won a Senate Judiciary subcommittee vote to amend the bill.  The amendment delayed enactment of the law until after a constitutional amendment might be passed by saying it will be effective upon ratification of a constitutional amendment. 

In other words, after the next election cycle!

This smells a lot like "political cover" for Senators who don't want this law passed at all.

Tuesday February 15^th, was the full Judiciary hearing on the bill.  And who walks in?  Your Governor. 

Thanks to all your calls and emails, she was able to testify to the committee that the people are not forgetting about this law.  We want it now!  Not after the next election cycle!

She represented your calls and e-mails well!

Thanks for giving her the ammunition to do so!

The bad news is that the committee, LEAD BY GLENN MCCONNELL, CHIP CAMPSEN, BRAD HUTTO AND GERALD MALLOY, ignored all your contacts and the testimony of the Governor and voted to accept the amendment delaying implementation of the law until after a constitutional amendment might be passed.

But don't despair, there is still a chance to fix this bill.

But first, here is a list of all those who voted to accept this bad amendment:

Campsen, George E. "Chip", III

(803) 212-6016

ChipCampsen@scsenate.gov

Coleman, Creighton B.

(803) 212-6180

CreightonColeman@scsenate.gov

Ford, Robert

(803) 212-6124

RobertFord@scsenate.gov

Hutto, C. Bradley

(803) 212-6140

BradHutto@scsenate.gov

Knotts, John M. "Jake", Jr.

(803) 212-6350

JakeKnotts@scsenate.gov

Lourie, Joel

(803) 212-6116

JoelLourie@scsenate.gov

Malloy, Gerald

(803) 212-6148

GeraldMalloy@scsenate.gov

McConnell, Glenn F.

(803) 212-6610

GlennMcConnell@scsenate.gov

Nicholson, Floyd

(803) 212-6040

FloydNicholson@scsenate.gov

Rankin, Luke A

(803) 212-6132

LukeRankin@scsenate.gov

Scott, John L., Jr.

(803) 212-6048

JohnScott@scsenate.gov

Sheheen, Vincent A.

(803) 212-6124

VincentSheheen@scsenate.gov

Williams, Kent M.

(803) 212-6008

KentWilliams@scsenate.gov

But like I said, we still have a chance to fix this bill.

SO, I PROPOSE A CONTEST.

Pickens County has already jumped into the lead! Their pressure has moved Larry Martin away from being an outspoken opponent of the bill.  Tonight, he voted the right way.  Keep up the pressure!

How 'bout a little friendly competition to see which counties can move their obstinate Senator to vote the right way?

Pickens County has moved Larry Martin to vote the right way tonight.  Horry County and Lexington County have some work to do to move Luke Rankin and Jake Knotts. 

What about your Senator?  Can you and your friends create enough constituent contact to move him from opposition to support?    

Is Horry and Lexington up for the challenge?

How about the other counties?

I spoke with a few Senators tonight after the committee meeting.  I think we have some of them committed to offering an amendment on the floor of the Senate to put H3004 back the way it was before this Senate Judiciary Committee messed it up.

We still want it "effective upon approval of the Governor".  Not in the future after a constitutional amendment might get passed.

Lets see if we can't get Knotts and Rankin... and our other so called conservative members of the Senate to vote with us on this common sense piece of legislation and restore it to the way the House sent it to the Senate.

You can find your Senator and his contact information by following this link.

READY... SET... GO make your contacts and see which county is best!

Thanks for all you do!

Talbert Black, Jr.

Interim State Coordinator

Campaign for Liberty

P.S.  After you have contacted your Senator, could you chip in $10 to allow South Carolina's Campaign for Liberty to continue to reach out to activists in order to make South Carolina's government accountable to the people?  Together, we can make a difference and restore transparency to Columbia.  Please chip in.

Posted by Talbert Black Jr on 02/12/11

Friends of South Carolina,

On Wednesday, February 9^th, a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee passed S288 and passed an amended version of H3004.

S288 is a bill that proposes an amendment to the South Carolina constitution that would say a law may be used to require certain roll call votes in the General Assembly.  This amendment, in and of itself, is harmless.

Unfortunately, H3004 was modified to be dependent on this constitutional amendment.

That is a problem. 

This modification must be reversed.

There will be a meeting of the full Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, February 15^th at 3:00 PM in Room 105 of the Gressette building.  The modified H3004 will be considered at this meeting of the full committee.  We want them to restore H3004 to its original wording so that it "takes effect upon approval by the Governor."

So, please, if your Senator is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee (see below), contact him and tell him we want H3004 passed so that it "takes effect upon approval by the Governor."  That is the key phrase.  Remember to tell them that we want it to "take effect upon approval by the Governor."

A listing of all the members of the Judiciary Committee and their contact information is below. 

If you don't know who your Senator is, you can find him and his contact information by following this link.

Constituent contact is critical to achieving fundamental reform in our state's government.

Constituent contact works!

Senator Chip Campsen continues to insist that this bill is unconstitutional.

Please make sure you let him know that we disagree. He can be reached at (803) 212-6016 and ChipCampsen@scsenate.gov.

If your Senator is not a member of the Committee and you are wondering what you can do to help, then make sure you contact Chip Campsen!

Remember, when you contact your Senator, make sure you tell him you are a constituent.

And as always, be polite, but be firm!

We are nearing the finish line... now is not the time to relax and watch.  Now is the time to buckle in, put the pedal to the metal, and sprint for the finish line.

Please, make the contacts!

So just to recap, H3004 was amended so that it will not be effective until after the South Carolina constitutional is amended. 

Because a constitutional amendment must be voted on by two separate sessions of the General Assembly, the soonest it could be amended is 2013.  Moreover, because it requires a 2/3 vote of each General Assembly session to pass... there is no guarantee that H3004 would ever be implemented if it is left dependent on a constitutional  amendment.

Please, contact your Senator if he is a member of the Senate Judiciary committee.  Get your friends and neighbors to contact him as well.

Tell your Senator that you want H3004 to "take effect upon approval by the Governor."  That is they key phrase. Make sure you use it!

You can find your Senator and his contact information by following this link.

Thanks for all you do!

Talbert Black, Jr.

Interim State Coordinator

Campaign for Liberty

MEMBERS OF THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE:

Bright, Lee

(803) 212-6108

LeeBright@scsenate.gov

Campbell, Paul G., Jr.

(803) 212-6016

PaulCampbell@scsenate.gov

Campsen, George E. "Chip", III

(803) 212-6016

ChipCampsen@scsenate.gov

Cleary, Raymond E., III

(803) 212-6100

RayCleary@scsenate.gov

Coleman, Creighton B.

(803) 212-6180

CreightonColeman@scsenate.gov

Davis, Tom

(803) 212-6008

TomDavis@scsenate.gov

Ford, Robert

(803) 212-6124

RobertFord@scsenate.gov

Hutto, C. Bradley

(803) 212-6140

BradHutto@scsenate.gov

Knotts, John M. "Jake", Jr.

(803) 212-6350

JakeKnotts@scsenate.gov

Lourie, Joel

(803) 212-6116

JoelLourie@scsenate.gov

Malloy, Gerald

(803) 212-6148

GeraldMalloy@scsenate.gov

Martin, Larry A.

(803) 212-6340

LarryMartin@scsenate.gov

Martin, Shane R.

(803) 212-66100

ShaneMartin@scsenate.gov

Massey, A. Shane

(803) 212-6000

ShaneMassey@scsenate.gov

McConnell, Glenn F.

(803) 212-6610

GlennMcConnell@scsenate.gov

Nicholson, Floyd

(803) 212-6040

FloydNicholson@scsenate.gov

Rankin, Luke A

(803) 212-6132

LukeRankin@scsenate.gov

Rose, Michael T.

(803) 212-6056

MikeRose@scsenate.gov

Scott, John L., Jr.

(803) 212-6048

JohnScott@scsenate.gov

Sheheen, Vincent A.

(803) 212-6124

VincentSheheen@scsenate.gov

Shoopman, Phillip W.

(803) 212-6032

PhillipShoopman@scsenate.gov

Williams, Kent M.

(803) 212-6008

KentWilliams@scsenate.gov

Posted by Talbert Black Jr on 02/09/11

Dear Friend of South Carolina,

Many of you have heard me speak about how there are times when even our friends need to hear from us to provide them the strength they need to do the right thing.

Now is that time!

Please contact the Governor at NikkiHaley@gov.sc.gov or 803-734-2100.

Tell her that you support her insistance on a law that will require a roll call vote on every new law that is passed AND that the new law needs to be effective immediately after the Governor signs it.

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Why do you need to do this, you ask.

Isn't Governor Haley the hero of transparency?

Remember... even our friends are susceptible to the constantly pounding pressure to compromise.  And I understand that Governor Haley is receiving a tremendous amount of pressure to compromise.  She needs our strength.

You have already been made aware of a Senate subcommittee hearing on Wednesday at 11:00 AM in room 105 of the Gressette building. This hearing will consider a couple of bills that would amend the SC Constitution to require roll call voting on every new law that is passed. 

I also got word today that they will be considering H3004, which the House has already passed.  H3004 would create a law that would require all votes to be on the record.  H3004 is the bill that we want passed.

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The Senate may try to amend H3004 so that it is effective only after the SC Constitution is amended.  This cannot be allowed to happen!  Haley needs our calls to help strengthen her resolve to not accept this as a solution.

Let me explain the danger we are in...  and why the only acceptable solution is a law that is effective immediately after the Governor signs it.

The House passed H3004 on the first day of session this year.

Instead of acting quickly on H3004, the Senate passed another bill that changed the Senate rules so that they require each Senator's vote be recorded on every new law that is passed.  It is a step in the right direction, but the Senate rule change has a serious flaw.  It is not an iron clad protection of our right to know how each Senator votes on every new law that is passed.

What is the flaw?

A Senate rule can be ignored without consequence, either intentionally or accidentally. 

Most commonly, Senate rules are intentionally ignored by "unanimous consent" of the Senate.  In other words, if a Senator wants to do something that violates Senate rules, all he needs to do is ask for the "unanimous consent" of the Senate to do so... as long as no one objects, then the rule is broken... no objection... no problem!  Senator Larry Martin, chairman of the Senate rules committee, told me that the Senate "can do anything with unanimous consent!"

It happens nearly daily!  Just sit in the balcony one day and count the number of times you hear a Senator ask for "unanimous consent" to do something.  You'll likely need more than your fingers and toes to do the counting.

So why not a constitutional amendment?

In and of itself, the amendment is not a problem.  It would silence all the objections about the roll call requirement being unconstitutional.  However, it is an effective delaying tactic if the law is passed with the effectively date being "upon the amendment of the South Carolina Constitution".

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To get the SC Constitution amended, 2/3 of the House and Senate would need to approve it.  Then it would go to a vote of the people in the next general election in 2012.  Then it would have to go back to the General Assembly to be approved by 2/3 of the newly elected House and Senate in 2013.  Only then can the SC Constitution be amended.

So you see, even if the amendment successfully passed all those required hurdles, it would be 2013 before our new law would actually require each vote to be on the record.

Another more likely scenario is that the amendment would never get the required 2/3 votes and would never pass.  Then our shiny new law would never become effective. 

But it would buy our legislators enough time to get through another election cycle without being held accountable by their constituents.

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So please, give our Governor the strength she needs to be uncompromising.  Let her know that the people will never accept anything but a law, effective immediately upon the signature of the Governor.  No constitutional amendment can be allowed to delay the implementation of the law. 

Contact the Governor today at NikkiHaley@gov.sc.gov or 803-734-2100.

She needs our strength. I understand that she is under a lot of pressure to compromise.

Let her know that we stand behind the demand she made in her State of the State address that a law be passed quickly to implement roll call voting.  Tell her we support the passage of H3004 and that we want it effective when the she signs it.  Not at some later date.

             &n
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We will accept nothing less.

Sincerely,

Talbert Black, Jr.

Interim State Coordinator

Campaign for Liberty

Posted by Talbert Black Jr on 02/02/11

Most of the real decisions on what goes into the budget happens in subcommittee meetings.

The subcommittees are not automatically filmed and the votes aren't recorded.

I'm looking for volunteers to help monitor these meetings.

In order to alert the public when money is being allocated to non-essential government functions, we need volunteers to monitor these meetings.  They are open to the public and they can be filmed...  its just that we must be the ones to do it.

How else will we know when they are slipping in a half million dollars for a green bean museum?  Or giving out corporate welfare with tax incentives to private businesses?

And we can't wait until they are voting on the full budget on the floor of the House... because by then I am sure Bobby Harrell will ask, "Where were you when this was being debated in subcommittee?  We've already heard all the arguments on this item and the decision has been made.  We don't have time to rehash all the old arguments."

I don't want to give him a chance to say that.  Lets monitor these subcommittee hearings and as Deputy Barney Fife was fond of saying, "Nip it in the bud!"

The subcommittees normally meet once a week.  Some meet on Tuesday and some meet on Wednesday.  I'd like to have each committee covered by at least two volunteers, so that you can work together and back each other up in case one can't make it.

If you are interested, and think you might be able to commit to spending a couple of hours at the State House one day a week until the end of March (or even if you can only do it occasionally) please let me know.  I'll provide more details and answer your questions.

I can be reached by e-mail at talbert@talbertblack.com or by phone at 803-767-1152.  Leave a message if I don't pick up.

Remember, we need volunteers who can help cover the budget subcommittee hearings one day a week from now until the end of March. 

There will be training provided so that you know what to look for.  There is also an opportunity to be given a video camera on loan for recording the committee meetings.

So contact me for more details!

Thanks for all you do!

Talbert Black, Jr.

Interim State Coordinator

Campaign for Liberty