January 7, 2013
THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA
The 120th session of the General Assembly will convene on Tuesday, January 8th.
This is the first year of a two-year session. Each legislative session is held from the second Tuesday in January until the first Thursday in June.
Governor Haley Releases FY 2013-14 Executive Budget
On Thursday, December 20, Governor Nikki Haley (Clemson ’94) released her FY13-14 Executive Budget proposal. The Governor’s budget makes the following recommendations for Clemson University and Clemson PSA:
- $3 million in recurring funding for the Center for Energy Systems at the Clemson University Restoration Institute (CURI)
- $3.4 million in nonrecurring funding for deferred maintenance
- $300,000 in funding for Livestock and Poultry Health for food safety and inspection services (Clemson PSA)
In addition to these specific recommendations for Clemson University and Clemson PSA, the Executive Budget also recommended the implementation of Accountability Based Funding for higher education. This funding model proposes funding public colleges and universities based on four categories of performance measures:
- Completion
- Access & Affordability
- Educational Quality
- Economic Development & Institutional Mission
The State Budget Process
The House Ways and Means Committee (where the appropriations bill originates) will begin agency budget subcommittee hearings this week and will continue this process through January.
President Barker is scheduled to give Clemson’s Education and General (E&G) budget presentation to the Ways and Means Higher Education Subcommittee on Wednesday, January 16th. Clemson PSA’s budget hearing is also set for January 16th before the Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee.
House Ways and Means Budget Subcommittees that will hear Clemson’s budget requests:
Higher Education Subcommittee:
Representative Chip Limehouse, Chairman (R-Charleston)
Representative Bill Clyburn (D-Aiken)
Representative B.R. Skelton (R-Pickens)
Representative Garry Smith (R-Greenville)
Staff: Blythe Bundrick
Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee:
Representative Gary Simrill, Chairman (R-York)
Representative Dwight Loftis (R-Greenville)
Representative Leon Stavrinakis (D-Charleston)
Staff: Daniel Boan
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 Services Activities (PSA) division that receives a state appropriation to support agriculture, forestry and natural resource Extension, research and regulatory programs.
Detailed information on Clemson’s 2013 state legislative and budget priorities for FY 2013-14 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.
WASHINGTON UPDATE
Fiscal Cliff
Following tumultuous deliberations, the U.S. House and Senate passed last minute legislation to avoid the looming fiscal cliff scenario which would have resulted in a combination of significant domestic spending cuts and the expiration of a series of tax cuts originally put in place under President Bush’s administration. The American Tax Relief Act of 2012 was passed by the Senate on New Year’s Eve and subsequently passed by the House late on New Year’s Day. The legislation allows for a permanent extension of the current tax rates for those individuals with income up to $400,000 and for couples up to $450,000. In addition, the legislation extends the wind production tax credits and allows for a one year extension of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (The Farm Bill). The legislation also delays the spending sequester for two months, fully offset by a reduction in discretionary spending caps for 2013 and 2014 and by expanding the eligibility for Roth IRA conversions.
The South Carolina Delegation
Senator Jim DeMint announced on December 6, 2012 that he would resign from the U.S. Senate to become President of the Heritage Foundation. In a historic move, Governor Nikki Haley announced on December 17th that she would appoint U.S. Representative Tim Scott to fill the vacancy created by Senator Jim DeMint’s retirement. On January 3rd, Tim Scott was sworn into the United States Senate, becoming the first black Republican Senator since 1979.
Additionally, on January 3rd, Tom Rice was sworn into the United States House of Representatives to become the newest Member of the South Carolina delegation representing the 7th Congressional district.
For more information on Clemson’s Federal initiatives, please contact Katy Bayless (Bayless@clemson.edu).
FYI
