January 14, 2013
THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA
The 120th session of the General Assembly convened 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.
The Senate Judiciary Committee began deliberations on two state government restructuring bills, S.22 and S.28. No action was taken on either of the bills. They will continue to debate the bills this week.
Governor Nikki Haley (Clemson ’94) will deliver her third annual State of the State address on Wednesday evening, January 16th. We will recap the State of the State as it relates to higher education, Clemson University, and Clemson PSA and provide the prepared text of her remarks in next week’s update.
BUDGET
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 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 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:
Clemson Education and General Priorities
Clemson Public Service Activities (PSA) Priorities
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
This week, the city of Washington is gearing up for the presidential inauguration, scheduled to take place a week from today. The Senate is in recess until the inauguration. The House is in session this week but most of the work will take place behind the scenes as they prepare for the 113th session.
President Obama’s second term Cabinet is in transition. Senator John Kerry (D-MA) has been nominated to replace current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) has been nominated to replace current Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta. Secretary Kathleen Sebelius of the Department of Health and Human Services, which includes the NIH, will remain for President Obama’s second term, along with Secretary Shinseki of the Veteran’s Administration. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson announced she will step down in the next few months, but a replacement has not been identified. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner will step down before the end of January, and President Obama has nominated his current Chief of Staff, Jack Lew, to replace him.
For more information on Clemson’s Federal initiatives, please contact Katy Bayless (Bayless@clemson.edu).
FYI
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