THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA Last week, the House Higher Education Subcommittee of the House Education Committee gave approval to two bills (H.3034 and H.3035), both introduced by Representative Joe Daning (R-Berkeley), that would expand in-state tuition opportunities for veterans and their dependents.
Governor Nikki Haley (Clemson '94) was in Washington, DC for her Senate confirmation hearing last Wednesday. The Governor has been nominated by President Donald Trump as Ambassador to the United Nations. It is expected that, once confirmed, Governor Haley will resign as Governor and Lt. Governor Henry McMaster will be sworn in as Governor. The South Carolina Supreme Court ruled this week that the Senate President Pro Tempore will ascend to the office of Lt. Governor in the event Governor Haley resigns to become the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
BUDGET The State Budget Process Clemson PSA's budget hearing took place on Wednesday, January 18 before the Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee. President Clements, along with Dr. George Askew (Vice President for PSA) presented Clemson PSA's budget request before the Subcommittee.
The House Ways and Means Committee (where the appropriations bill originates) began agency budget subcommittee hearings this week and will continue this process through January. This week, the Subcommittee heard budget presentations from the South Carolina Technical College System and individual campuses.
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 24.
House Ways and Means Subcommittees that are hearing Clemson's budget requests
Higher Education Subcommittee: Chairman Brian White (serving as Interim Chair) (R-Anderson) Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D-Orangeburg) Representative Mike Sottile (R-Charleston) Staff: Kara Brurok
Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee: Representative Gary Simrill, Chairman (R-York) Representative Chip Huggins (R-Lexington 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 2017 state legislative and budget priorities for FY 2017-18 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 The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) has postponed the vote on President Trump's nominee for Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos. The committee vote, originally scheduled to take place on Tuesday, January 24 has been rescheduled for Jan. 31 at 10 a.m. DeVos is a philanthropist, education activist and former Chairwoman of the Michigan Republican Party.
Ending weeks of speculation, President Trump has asked National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Francis Collins to remain in his position. Collins is a geneticist who has headed the $32 billion NIH for the past eight years.
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