This Year’s Constitutional Amendments

Dear Friends:

With the General Election drawing close, November 4th, I wanted to contact you regarding the various Constitutional Amendments that will be on the ballot for your consideration. One of the most common comments I hear on Election Day is that, I wish there was more information ahead of time on the Constitutional questions on the ballot.

The enclosed information is included for you to do just that - provide information ahead of time. You will find attached the statewide questions, as they will appear on the ballot with the approved explanation of each that will also be on the ballot.

It is my sincere hope that you will find this helpful and useful. However, if you would like further information on any of these Constitutional Amendments or have questions I might answer, please feel free to contact me.

As always, please contact me if I can be of service to you. It is an honor and privilege to serve as your State Senator.

With warmest regards,

THOMAS C. ALEXANDER

2008 Constitutional Amendment Questions

Amendment 1

Must Section 33, Article III of the Constitution of this State be amended so as to delete the provision that no unmarried woman shall legally consent to sexual intercourse who shall not have attained the age of fourteen years?

Yes or  No

Explanation of Above:

This amendment deletes the section of the Constitution which says an unmarried woman must be fourteen years old or older in order to consent to sexual intercourse. Deleting this section would allow the state legislature to set the age of consent. Currently, the state legislature has the age of consent set at sixteen for most cases.

A “yes” vote would delete the section from the Constitution and let the state legislature set the age of consent.

A “no” vote would leave the section of the Constitution in place.

Amendment 2

Must Section 16, Article X of the Constitution of this State relating to benefits and funding of public employee pension plans in this State and the investments allowed for funds of the various state-operated retirement systems be amended so as to provide that the funds of any trust fund established by law for the funding of post-employment benefits for state employees and public school teachers may be invested and reinvested in equity securities subject to the same limitations on such investments applicable for the funds of the various state-operated retirement systems?

Yes or No

Explanation of Above:

“Post-employment benefits” are benefits, mainly health insurance, provided to eligible state government and school district retirees.

To comply with a change in accounting standards, the state has created trust funds to pay for these post-employment benefits. This amendment relates to how the money in these trust funds may be invested.

A “yes” vote would give the state government the option to invest these funds in equity securities (stocks).

A “no” vote would mean that state government is not allowed to invest these funds in any kind of equity securities (stocks).

Sanford pushes reform during Seneca visit

Gov. Mark Sanford, Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom and S.C. Policy Council President Ashley Landess huddled together inside Kroeger’s Marine Construction in Seneca on Wednesday while Eckstrom and Sanford painted a bleak picture.

“It’s very appropriate that we’re at Kroeger Marine Construction,” Eckstrom said. “Because the ship of state in Columbia is fixing to sail into a treacherous sea of red ink.”

So went the rest of the presentation, as Sanford, Eckstrom, Landess and Rep. Nathan Ballentine warned of the dire consequences of what they’ve labeled runaway spending and lack of government transparency. Read more

Experience, money pitched as deciders in Oconee election races

Who has the best experience and who best handles money were the key topics Monday as candidates for the South Carolina Senate District 1 seat and the School District of Oconee County Board of Trustees made pitches to voters.

Incumbent state senator Thomas Alexander, R-Walhalla, said his years of experience have brought him positions on legislative committees that permit him a tremendous opportunity to serve the public.

As chair of the subcommittee on health issues of the Senate Finance Committee, Alexander said, he is able to “see the needs are taken care of for some of our most vulnerable citizens.” Read more

Locals talk water at public forum

Conservation groups, politicians and concerned residents of the Upstate filled the Strom Thurmond Institute at Clemson University on Tuesday for an open forum hosted by the state Senate’s Agriculture and Resources Committee, and the Golden Corner was well represented.

Several speakers at the forum from Oconee and Pickens counties voiced their concerns of both water availability and quality in the state, most of whom urged the lawmakers to consider and adopt a comprehensive statewide water plan when they go back into session in January.

Mike Massey, former president of the Lake Hartwell Association, was one of many emphasizing the needed urgency to adopt a uniform statewide water policy. Read more