THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA On Wednesday, January 14th, Nikki Haley, a 1994 graduate of Clemson University, was inaugurated for her second term as Governor of South Carolina. Also sworn into office were Lt. Governor Henry McMaster and the state's constitutional officers.
The first session of the 120th General Assembly convened on Tuesday, January 13th. This is the first year of a two year session which means those bills introduced during this legislative session will carry over until next year as well. Each legislative session is held from the second Tuesday in January until the first Thursday in June.
The House of Representatives held their organizational session December 2-3, 2014. During that session, Rep. Jay Lucas (R-Darlington) was elected Speaker of the House. The House also received committee assignments, and met as standing committees to elect officers.
Five new committee members were named to the House Ways and Means Committee. Those new members include Rep. Nelson Hardwick, Clemson '73, M '77 (R-Horry), Rep. Alan Clemmons (R-Horry), Rep. Shannon Erickson (R-Beaufort), Rep. Philip Lowe (R-Florence) and Rep. Derham Cole (R-Spartanburg).
Representative Rita Allison (R-Spartanburg) was elected as Chair of the House Education Committee. Representative Bill Taylor was elected chair of the Higher Education Subcommittee. Members of the subcommittee include Rep. Gary Clary Clemson '70 (R-Pickens), Rep. Wayne George (D-Marion), Rep. Harold Mitchell (D-Spartanburg), Rep. Jeff Bradley (R-Beaufort) and Rep. Don Wells (R-Aiken). The House pre-filed legislation on December 11 and 18, 2014.
The Senate organized on Tuesday, January 13th, and elected Senator Hugh Leatherman as President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Senator Vincent Sheheen Clemson '93 (D-Kershaw) was appointed to the Senate Finance Committee, filling the seat left vacant by former Lt. Governor Yancey McGill. The Senate pre-filed legislation on December 3 and 10, 2014.
BUDGET Governor Haley Releases FY 2015-16 Executive Budget On Monday, January 12, Governor Nikki Haley (Clemson '94) released her Executive Budget proposal for 2015-16.
The Governor's budget makes the following recommendations for Clemson University: - $4,824,077 in one-time dollars to maintain campus infrastructure at Clemson University (E&G)
The State Budget Process The House Ways and Means Committee (where the appropriations bill originates) began agency budget subcommittee hearings last week and will continue this process through January.
President Jim Clements is scheduled to give Clemson's Education and General (E&G) budget presentation to the Ways and Means Higher Education Subcommittee on Tuesday, January 20th.
Clemson PSA's budget hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, January 21st before the Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee. President Clements, along with Dr. George Askew (Vice President for PSA) will be presenting before the Subcommittee.
House Ways and Means Subcommittees that will hear Clemson's budget requests:
Higher Education Subcommittee: Representative Jim Merrill, Chairman (R-Charleston) Representative Garry Smith (R-Greenville) Representative Philip Lowe (R-Florence) Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D-Orangeburg) Staff: Kara Brurok
Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee: Representative Gary Simrill, Chairman (R-York) Representative Dwight Loftis (R-Greenville) Representative Leon Stavrinakis (D-Charleston) Staff: AJ Newton
From a state budgeting standpoint, Clemson is considered two separate state agencies: a research university that receives an educational and general (E&G) state appropriation for teaching and student support, and a land-grant Public Service and Agriculture (PSA) division that receives a state appropriation to support agriculture, forestry and natural resource Extension, research and regulatory programs.
The university also has auxiliary operations, such as athletics, student housing and dining services, which receive no state funding and must generate all of their own revenue.
Detailed information on Clemson's 2015 state legislative and budget priorities for FY 2015-16 may be found at these links:
BILLS OF INTEREST The Clemson University Governmental Affairs office is monitoring several bills that have potential impact on Clemson. A complete listing of these bills may be found here. Click on the bill number for a description of the legislation, along with the bill's current status.
CLEMSON ON CAPITOL HILL Senators Introduce to Expand H-1B Visas for High Skilled Immigrants A bipartisan group of Senators introduced the Immigration Innovation ("I-Squared") Act of 2015. This legislation is aimed at expanding the ability of high-skilled workers to live and work in the United States by uncapping the exemption from the annual H-1B visa limit for advanced degree graduates of U.S. universities and exempting advanced degree graduates with STEM degrees from the employment-based green card cap.
Financial Aid Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) introduced the Financial Aid Simplification and Transparency Act (FAST Act, S.108), legislation aimed at simplifying several aspects of the financial aid system. More details on the legislation can be found on the Senate HELP Committee's website here.
Senator Angus King (I-ME) introduced the REPAY Act of 2015 (S.85). This legislation would reform the current federal student loan repayment programs by combining them into two plans: a fixed repayment plan, based on a 10-year time span, and a single income-driven repayment option. Further information can be found on Senator King's website here.
President Obama Calls for Tuition-Free Community College President Obama has announced a new proposal to offer 2 years of tuition-free community college for students who maintain a 2.5 GPA and are pursuing a four-year degree. Under the proposal, the federal government would provide 75 percent of the average cost of community college and also would create a new American Technical Training Fund to expand innovative, high-quality technical training programs. Terrorism Risk Insurance Act The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) is a program that provides back-up insurance for losses resulting from a terrorist attack. The higher education community has strongly supported the reauthorization bill (H.R. 26). TRIA, enacted in 2002, created a public-private risk-sharing mechanism that has enabled colleges and universities to purchase sufficient affordable insurance coverage to protect against losses resulting from a terrorist attack.
State of the Union Address President Obama will deliver his annual State of the Union (SOTU) Address on Tuesday, January 20 at 9 p.m. It is expected that he will mention the importance of biomedical research, the upcoming 50 year anniversaries of the Higher Education Act and Special Education Act and the need for patent reform. In addition, it is expected that the President's annual executive budget request to Congress will be released on February 2. FYI
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