A top Republican strategist tells FITS that newly-drawn districts in the S.C. House of Representatives will expand the party's legislative majority ... in name only, anyway. The GOP - such as it is in this state - currently holds a 76-48 advantage in the S.C. House. However most "Republicans" in the
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In lieu of a federal earmark, a handful of South Carolina lawmakers are trying fund a controversial harbor deepening study for the Port of Charleston with a "state earmark." So far, they're not having much luck ... On Wednesday, a S.C. House Ways and Means budget proviso that would have funded
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When it's not serving as former House Majority Leader Jimmy Merrill's Lobbyist Sky Taxi (or the preferred mode of transportation for the Mark Sanford "Forgiveness Tour"), "Palmetto One" is supposed to be used by South Carolina leaders for important state business. That's why the taxpayers pay for
Read story »By FITSNews || With no accompanying reform and no corresponding tax relief, South Carolina's "Republican-controlled" General Assembly has voted to raise the state's cigarette tax by fifty cents per pack - overriding S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford's veto of the legislation last week. It was a boneheaded move
Read story »By FITSNews || You know how politicians are always saying that "bipartisanship" is a good thing? Yeah ... we're pretty sure that this vote isn't what they had in mind. According to the official journal of the S.C. House of Representatives, dozens of Republicans and Democrats joined forces on Wednesday
Read story »By FITSNews || S.C. House Speaker Bobby Harrell's massive command economic bill - which we've dubbed "The Kremlinator" - was approved overwhelmingly by the S.C. House of Representatives last week, proving conclusively that if you attach a small tax cut to a massive government power grab, Republicans
Read story »By FITSNews || Former S.C. Majority Leader Jimmy Merrill (RINO - Charleston) wants to do away with the S.C. Commission on Higher Education, a move that he says will save taxpayers $2.1 million. Or at least appears to "save" taxpayers $2.1 million ... Like all proposals put forward by South Carolina's
Read story »Former S.C. House Majority Leader Jimmy Merrill confirmed to the Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier on Wednesday that he will indeed not seek the U.S. First Congressional District seat that's being vacated by U.S. Rep. Henry Brown (RINO -Charleston). In explaining his rationale for passing on a race
Read story »After telling numerous financial backers that he was "100 percent in," former S.C. Majority Leader Jimmy Merrill (RINO - Charleston) abruptly bailed on a presumptive bid for South Carolina's First Congressional District on Monday. It's unclear what prompted Merrill's surprise decision, particularly
Read story »S.C. State Senator Chip Campsen (R - Charleston) and former House Majority Leader Jimmy Merrill (RINO - Daniel Island) will both reportedly enter the race to replace U.S. Rep. Henry Brown in the U.S. Congress, sources tell FITS. Both candidates were making calls Monday and Tuesday to line up financial
Read story »With U.S. Representative Henry Brown (RINO- SC 1) announcing that he will not seek reelection to the U.S. House in 2010, an already wide open race for the South Carolina First Congressional District is now even "wide opener." Or "wider open." Hey ... that's just how people talk here in South Cackilacky. Obviously
Read story »When we first published the "Palmetto Power 100" list two years ago, we had no idea that it would so quickly evolve into one of the most important, influential things we do here at FITS. Forget all the legislative scorecards and awards put out by various special interest groups, our list has quickly
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