America’s New Day
Dear Friends:
This week, all eyes are on Washington, D.C., the center of attention for the world, our nation, and South Carolina. Trump 2.0 is a whirlwind of change — for the better.
America’s New Day
America has an energetic, bold President who is authentic, transparent, and available. A few hours after his inauguration, he sits at his Oval Office desk, signing a stack of Executive Orders reversing Biden’s disastrous progressive Executive Orders that have crippled our economy and poured cultural rot across our lands. It did all that while fielding an array of questions from reporters.
Yesterday, a vigorous President Trump beamed in on a big screen, towering over the world elites in Davos, telling them America is back and their WOKE world vision has been kicked to the curb. He put them on notice that they are no longer in charge and their one-world-nation notions have been shelved. He also invited them to bring their businesses to America and create jobs and products here; otherwise, they would have to pay the price of higher tariffs.
It took only a day for ICE agents to start rounding up the criminal, illegal invaders being harbored in Democrat-run sanctuary cities. These invaders are killers, rapists, and robbers who will be shipped back to their home countries, making all of us safer.
President Trump’s capacity to multitask is unmatched in the political realm. His first few days in office and the remodeling of the federal government are underway. He aims to corral the behemoth by eliminating waste, increasing efficiency, and reducing the stranglehold of federal regulations on American businesses and citizens.
Today, President Trump is in hurricane-ravaged Western North Carolina, visiting those who suffered mightily from Helene, which killed more than 100 people. Helping them is one of his top priorities. His visit is welcome news for the thousands of families seeking assistance securing housing after FEMA failed to respond adequately in September. From there, he heads to the fire-ravaged Los Angeles area where they need a “Re-builder-in-Chief,” as one Senator described him.
Promises Made, Promises Kept!
Writing in American Thinker today, Erik and Todd Gregory asked, “What do Democrats fear in Donald Trump? Their answer – “They fear his potential for greatness.”
STATE HOUSE BRIEFS
State House Pause
Because of this week’s winter storm that swept through parts of SC, the House of Representatives did not convene in general session. However, several committees continued with hearings.
I serve on the House Ways & Means Committee. Our Higher Education subcommittee heard budget requests from the USC system, S.C. State, Lander, Francis Marion, and the Technical College System.
While many colleges and universities nationwide are suffering a decline in enrollment, this is not so with these SC institutions. Their enrollment is growing as they focus on getting students career ready. Lander University reports its enrollment has increased by more than 62% over the past nine years.
USC President Michael Amiridis told us how USC’s specialized certificate program is helping students enter the state’s workforce with critically needed skills. The program launched in the fall of 2023 with 22 students with the Digital Studies Certificate. It is growing by leaps and bounds. Eighteen months later, enrollment in all the certificate programs tops 1,100 students. These certificates provide students with specialized skills employers value.
Fed Money for Student Teachers
Education majors at four SC colleges will be eligible for stipends while completing year-long student teaching stints thanks to a $6 million federal grant aimed at helping recruit and retain great teachers. The U.S. Department of Education money will fund teacher residencies for education majors attending USC, Clemson, Columbia College, or Winthrop. Unlike traditional student teaching, which in SC must be at least 12 weeks, these year-long residencies are designed to get teachers-in-training more deeply involved in the school, where they get hands-on learning in a classroom. Officials say the residencies will better prepare and keep young teachers in the classroom.
State Auditor Resigns
State Auditor George Kennedy III, resigned Thursday. Kennedy wrote in his resignation letter, “I believe that it is in the best interest of the Office of State Auditor that I resign from my position as state auditor effective today.” Kennedy has been Auditor since 2015. He has been in the middle of the state’s accounting issues, including whether a mysterious $1.8 billion existed. Outside forensic auditors reported that Kennedy had long been aware of the existence of the $1.8 billion listing in the state’s financial reporting even though most of it did not exist.
New State Agency Head
Gov. Henry McMaster named Jake Gadsden Jr. the next director of the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services. Gadsden most recently served as the deputy director for Programs, Reentry, and Rehabilitative Services for the SC Department of Corrections.
“His experience in rehabilitation and reentry, coupled with his deep understanding of both the challenges and opportunities within the criminal justice system, make him an ideal leader for SCDPPPS,” McMaster said.
SC Medicaid Request
This week, Gov. Henry McMaster asked federal officials to quickly approve his request to expand Medicaid eligibility for poor parents working or attending school. If the Trump administration agrees, more South Carolina adults will qualify for government-paid health insurance if they can prove they’re working, training for a job, attending school, or volunteering for at least 80 hours each month.
Sen. Setzler Honored
The SC Senate has a new portrait to ne hung from its chamber walls. Former Sen. Nikki Setzler, who served Aiken and Lexington Counties for 48 years, had his portrait unveiled Wednesday. Setzler was the longest-serving state senator in the country before retiring from the legislature last November.
Setzler shared what he hoped people would see during the ceremony when they viewed his portrait. “I hope they look and see respect for this body, ultimate respect for the people of South Carolina and the citizens that we serve, and they see cooperation, they see bipartisanship,” Setzler said.
The State of the State
Governor Henry McMaster will deliver his 2025 State of the State Address at the State House next Wednesday, January 29, at 7:00 PM. The governor’s speech will be streamed live on ETV.
Tune In the ‘Odd Couple’
State Representatives Jeff Bradley and JA Moore are an odd couple. One is a young, liberal African American, and the other is an older, conservative white man. They have different political views and constituencies, but both like to cook and entertain. The Odd Couple debuts in a unique cooking show on SC ETV next Thursday, January 30, at 8:30 p.m. Despite their differences, they believe that people are people and that differences between races and political views can be set aside over a well-prepared meal. Tune in or set your recorder. (FOOD FOR THOUGHT)
Around House District 86
Aiken’s AGY – Critical to Our National Security
AGY, America’s sole manufacturer of specialty glass fiber reinforcements, is rebranding to reflect its position as a critical innovator in Artificial Intelligence, National Security, and Civilian Infrastructure supply chains.
The rebranding underscores AGY’s vital role in developing and manufacturing advanced glass fiber solutions that enable high-performance composites across essential sectors, including aviation, defense, artificial intelligence, electronics, architecture, and telecommunications.
“As America’s singular specialty glass fiber manufacturer, we recognize our distinctive responsibility in securing domestic supply chains for critical technologies,” said Al Ridilla, Chief Executive Officer of AGY.
Ridilla added, “Our new brand identity represents our commitment to innovation, technical excellence, and our role as a trusted partner in civilian and defense applications.”
Ridilla states, “As President Trump is set to deploy his America First trade plan, AGY is already poised at the forefront of reshoring critical manufacturing – we never left the fight. The U.S. once dominated specialty glass manufacturing,” Ridilla continued, “and we’re ready to reclaim what’s been yielded to China. Under President Trump’s economic leadership, AGY will be the standard-bearer for a new generation of U.S. manufacturers.”
AGY’s products are indispensable in technologies and applications integral to everyday life and national security.
Teaching Life Skills
I recently spent a few hours at the Hankinson Boxing Gym on Highway 19, north of Aiken. I saw first-hand how James and Brittany Hankinson teach kids the fundamental skills to become successful adults through amateur boxing. This non-profit organization (501C3) began nearly ten years ago. The young boxers practice after school and have been hugely successful in competitions. On their team they have USA Boxing Junior National Champions and Silver Gloves State Champions. More importantly, the Hankinson boxing students have a 100% high school graduation rate, with many enlisting in the military after graduation. My visit concluded by joining their prayer circle, where we individually thanked God for the good in our lives. (Hankinson Gym Facebook)
PHOTO OF THE WEEK