“Every South Carolinian should have the right to work and make a living for his or her family without being forced to join a union or pay dues,” Sandifer said. “Union participation should be a matter of choice for each individual in South Carolina. This bill is about protecting this important individual liberty.”

The bill protects workers rights in several ways. First, it clarifies language in South Carolina’s existing Right to Work Act that ensures an employee cannot be fired from his or her job for choosing to join or not to join a union. Second, it ensures that all South Carolina workers who are union members have the right to resign membership and stop paying dues at any time.

Also under the bill, South Carolina employers are required to display a poster containing five specific provisions of state law at the heart of South Carolina’s Right to Work Act. Further, the bill prohibits state and local governments from requiring or prohibiting contractual union worker quotas when awarding government contracts, incentives, or tax credits, ensuring a level playing field for all businesses.

Along with protecting workers’ rights, the bill requires unions in South Carolina to be transparent in how they operate. All unions, regardless of membership size, would have the same new reporting requirements under South Carolina law. The bill also increases penalties for any unions or employers that violate the Right to Work Act, putting teeth to current South Carolina statutes.

South Carolina currently is one of 22 right-to-work states and national statistics show a strong relationship between right-to-work laws and economic growth. From 2000 to 2010, personal incomes grew by an average of 24.3 percent in the 22 right-to-work states, more than double the rate for the other 28 as a group. Further, in-migration of young adults has been significantly higher in right-to-work states. In 2009, there were 20 percent more 25- to 34-year olds in right-to-work states than in 1999. In forced-union states, the increase was only 3.3 percent. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that from 1999 to 2009, states without right-to- work protections lost 1.8 million jobs. During the same decade, right-to-work states added 1.5 million jobs.

“Every South Carolinian should have the right to work and make a living for his or her family without being forced to join a union or pay dues,” Sandifer said. “Union participation should be a matter of choice for each individual in South Carolina. This bill is about protecting this important individual liberty.”

The bill protects workers rights in several ways. First, it clarifies language in South Carolina’s existing Right to Work Act that ensures an employee cannot be fired from his or her job for choosing to join or not to join a union. Second, it ensures that all South Carolina workers who are union members have the right to resign membership and stop paying dues at any time.

Also under the bill, South Carolina employers are required to display a poster containing five specific provisions of state law at the heart of South Carolina’s Right to Work Act. Further, the bill prohibits state and local governments from requiring or prohibiting contractual union worker quotas when awarding government contracts, incentives, or tax credits, ensuring a level playing field for all businesses.

Along with protecting workers’ rights, the bill requires unions in South Carolina to be transparent in how they operate. All unions, regardless of membership size, would have the same new reporting requirements under South Carolina law. The bill also increases penalties for any unions or employers that violate the Right to Work Act, putting teeth to current South Carolina statutes.

South Carolina currently is one of 22 right-to-work states and national statistics show a strong relationship between right-to-work laws and economic growth. From 2000 to 2010, personal incomes grew by an average of 24.3 percent in the 22 right-to-work states, more than double the rate for the other 28 as a group. Further, in-migration of young adults has been significantly higher in right-to-work states. In 2009, there were 20 percent more 25- to 34-year olds in right-to-work states than in 1999. In forced-union states, the increase was only 3.3 percent. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that from 1999 to 2009, states without right-to- work protections lost 1.8 million jobs. During the same decade, right-to-work states added 1.5 million jobs.

NCOIL is an organization composed of legislators from around the nation. The group works to educate state legislators on insurance issues, help state legislators from different states interact with each other, improve the quality of insurance regulation, and speak out on Congressional initiatives that encroach upon states’ rights in overseeing insurance. Many legislators active in NCOIL either chair or are members of the committees responsible for insurance in their respective state houses across the country.

Sandifer was appointed to the chairmanship by New Mexico Senator Carroll Leavell who recently became NCOIL president. Sandifer chairs the S.C. House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee, which reviews all insurance-related legislation in South Carolina.

“I am thrilled to take on this leadership position, which gives South Carolina a seat at the table in creating national insurance policy and protecting states’ rights,” Sandifer said. “From healthcare reform to Dodd-Frank Act’s financial services regulatory overhaul, I believe we are seeing a federal government that’s increasingly intrusive at the expense of state authority. I think legislators must be prepared to address the regulations coming out of Washington and to determine what is best at the state level. I look forward to working with NCOIL to help states know and protect their rights.”

For more information, visit NCOIL.org.

I think it is important for you to know what to do if you disagree with the reassessment of your property. Here are the steps you should take:

1. File an appeal by no later than December 9, 2011. If it is filed one day late, it will not be accepted. You can get the appeal form from the Tax Assessor’s Office. The staff there will even help you fill it out or you can consult a real estate professional who might be willing to help you file your appeal for a reasonable fee.

2. You will have a discussion of your appeal with the Assessor’s Office sometime after you file the appeal. If they do not agree with your appeal, you may accept their opinion OR you may ask to appeal it further.

3. The next step in the appeal process is to present your case before the Board of Assessment Appeals. Fortunately, you will not need an attorney. This board is composed of nine Oconee County citizens who are recommended by the county legislative delegation and appointed by the governor. They are fair minded and knowledgeable.

4. Finally, if you do not agree with the outcome of the Board of Assessment Appeals, you can appeal to the SC Administrative Law Court. This court is located in Columbia. Again, it is important to understand that you are not required to have an attorney.

If your assessment is under appeal at the time that your property taxes are due, you are required to pay 80 percent of the amount of the taxes. If paying 80 percent results in an underpayment, you will be required to pay interest on the difference. However, if you pay 100 percent of the tax bill while it is under appeal and the appeals process determines that you have overpaid, the county must pay you interest on the amount of overpayment.

I can’t stress enough how important it is to file your appeal by December 9, otherwise your appeal is not valid.

I wish you success in getting an assessment that is fair and that accurately reflects the market value of your property.

The first event will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 10. It will be held at Earle’s Grove Baptist Church, located at 398 Cedar Lane Road in Westminster.

The second event will begin at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 22. It will take place at Seneca City Hall, 221 East North First Street in Seneca.

The purpose of the events is to update citizens on topics being debated in the state legislature. In addition, the meetings will provide a forum where residents can ask questions and let their voice be heard on the critical issues facing South Carolina.

Questions can be sent to Sandifer in advance of the meeting via email at bill@sandifer.us or on Facebook.

Both town hall meetings are open to the public.

Located across from Yoder’s Building Supply (500 E Fair Play Boulevard) in Fair Play, SC

For more information, contact:
Glen  McPheeters at (864) 972-1987

575 North Fairplay Street
Seneca, South Carolina 29678

For more information, contact:
American Legion Post 120 Commander Carlton Patterson at  (864) 882-3535

Recall legislation

BIPEC, a politically nonpartisan business and industry organization, has been keeping score and informing South Carolinians about how their legislators are voting on business-related issues since 1985. The organization uses roll call votes and bill sponsorships on business and industry issues to calculate a vote score for each member. Legislators are graded based on how they vote on issues such as property taxes, health care and tort reform, local and state regulatory fees, licenses and corporate income taxes.

Sandifer said receiving such a high score from, “the preeminent business-positive group in the state” was humbling.

“SC BIPEC’s input is highly sought after by business-minded members of the Legislature,” Sandifer added. “In the Legislature, one of my primary goals is making South Carolina a good place to do business, so the private sector can expand and prosper. When we create a business-friendly climate, the end result will be a stronger economy, new jobs and, ultimately, a better standard of living for the families of our state.”

OCONEE COUNTY — For his ongoing support of South Carolina’s home building industry, state Rep. Bill Sandifer has been inducted into the South Carolina Housing Hall of Fame.

Sandifer, a Ware Shoals Republican, was inducted by the organization’s trustees at a ceremony in Myrtle Beach.

“Home builders have had no better friend in the S.C. General Assembly than Bill Sandifer,” said former Home Builders Association of South Carolina president and Seneca-based builder Tom Markovich, who presented a plaque to Sandifer at the induction ceremony. “Sandifer has been an ardent supporter of the home building industry since he was first elected to the House in 1994. He recognizes the tremendous impact our industry has on the state’s economy, and he’s worked tirelessly on legislation to protect it.”

Sandifer was selected for the honor because his efforts have been instrumental in keeping home prices affordable, Markovich said.