March 2003

First in the nation
South Carolina to hold Democratic presidential debate

MARCH 2003 -- Alex Sanders, the retired College of Charleston president who was the party's nominee for U.S. Senate in 2002, will moderate the nation's first Democratic presidential debate in South Carolina on May 3.

The debate coincides with the party's annual state convention in Columbia. Already, several presidential candidates have agreed to participate, including U.S. Sens. John Kerry, Joe Lieberman and John Edwards, U.S. Rep. Dick Gephardt and Vermont Gov. Howard Dean. Commitments haven't yet come from the Rev. Al Sharpton or U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, who is expected to enter the race in April.

Feagin, Erwin seek state Democratic top spot

While national attention will be on South Carolina Democrats on May 3, there's some serious business for party leaders to do to -- to pick a new state chair.

Current Chair Dick Harpootlian has announced he will not run.

Candidates for chair include Georgetown County's Margaret Feagin and Greenville businessman Joe Erwin.

Miller: Public Service Commission reform moves forward

FEB. 27, 2003 -- The full House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee gave a report of favorable with amendment to H.3530, The Public Service Commission reform bill. This week the House gave approval to H.3530. This bill establishes new provisions regarding qualifications, screening, and terms of membership for the Public Service Commission.

The bill provides that for an election for a term beginning after June 30, 2004, the elected members shall have a high school degree or equivalent. In screening persons for election to the Public Service Commission for a term beginning after June 30, 2004, the joint committee shall consider the knowledge and experience of the appointees in the following fields: (1) energy issues; (2) telecommunication issues; (3) consumer protection and advocacy issues; (4) water and wastewater issues; (5) finance and economics; or (6) business operation or administration. The legislation provides for the election of commissioners in staggered terms beginning in 2003.

The bill revises provisions relating to persons ineligible to serve on the Public Service Commission, so as to allow a member of the General Assembly to serve as a commissioner one year after he has not filed for reelection to the General Assembly or has ceased to be a member. The bill revises provisions relating to seeking or offering pledges of votes in Public Service Commission elections, so as to prohibit the direct or indirect seeking of a pledge or the offering of such a pledge until after the joint committee has formally released its report as to the qualifications of its nominees to the General Assembly. The bill prohibits membership on and restricts employment by the Public Service Commission of a person associated with a regulated business. The bill provides for that commissioners are bound by the Code of Judicial Conduct and the State Ethics Act and provides for yearly training for commissioners and their employees on ethics and the Administrative Procedures Act.

The bill establishes an advisory staff and an advocacy staff for the commission and provides for their responsibilities. The advisory staff shall provide research and technical support to the commission and advice and recommendations to the commission on all matters. The advocacy staff shall: (a) provide legal representation of the public interest before the Public Service Commission; (b) monitor existing regulations, rate structures, and policies of special interest to consumers and report to the public through the news media proposed changes under consideration and the effect of those changes on the lives of the citizens of the State; and, (c) evaluate and act upon requests from consumers. The bill prohibits ex parte communications with and by a commissioner or advisory staff in connection with a pending proceeding.

The South Carolina House Democratic Caucus endorsed minimum education standards, nepotism prohibitions and maintaining the current responsibilities and role of the Consumer Advocate in commission proceedings. We fought hard and led debate on the floor in these areas but in the end the amendments to increase

Candidates continue to visit

FEB. 16, 2003 -- Over the last month, major presidential candidate have visited Democrats across the state to build their machines to try to win the presidential primaries that are a year off.

In recent weeks, visits have been by U.S. Sens. John Kerry and John Edwards, the Rev. Al Sharpton, Vermont Gov. Howard Dean and U.S. Rep. Dick Gephardt.

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