Grant Jackson, Lanier Jones and Bob Coble at the ADCO table. (That's part of Brad Warthen's face in the foreground.)
ADCO had a table at the Columbia Regional Business Report’s “Legislative Lowdown” breakfast at Embassy Suites. It was a good table. Lanier and Brad were joined by Alan Kahn, Jay Moskowitz, Bob Coble, Butch Bowers, Cameron Runyan and Grant Jackson.
We were there to hear a discussion by a panel featuring Otis Rawl from the state Chamber, Rep. James Smith, Sen. Joel Lourie, Rep. Nathan Ballentine and Rep. Chip Huggins. Sen. Lourie was a few minutes late, and Rep. Huggins had to leave just as Sen. Lourie arrived, but it was still a good discussion.
Here’s CRPR’s description of the event, in part:
By Mike Fitts
mfitts@scbiznews.com
Published Dec. 2, 2010Lawmakers speaking at the Business Report’s Power Breakfast this morning said they see major difficulties ahead in the new budget year, but they also said there are new opportunities for bipartisanship.
The event, hosted at the Embassy Suites, featured Reps. Nathan Ballentine, R-Chapin, Chip Huggins, R-Columbia, and James Smith, D-Columbia; Sen. Joel Laurie, D-Columbia; and Otis Rawl, president and CEO of the S.C. Chamber of Commerce.
With a new Legislature and new governor coming to Columbia in January, much of the discussion focused on the budget crisis that will greet them.
Ballentine, a member of Gov.-elect Nikki Haley’s fiscal crisis task force, drew a stark picture of the challenges facing lawmakers. Ballentine compared the situation to a lifeboat with a limited number of seats. There won’t be enough dollars to take care of students, the elderly, the disabled and law enforcement, Ballentine said.
“Somebody’s going to get left out, and that’s going to hurt,” he said…
For commentary on the event, check out bradwarthen.com.
Dan Mann, executive director of Columbia Metropolitan Airport, listens to Rep. James Smith, Sen. Joel Lourie and Rep. Nathan Ballentine.
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