Skelton Introduces Ticket Scalping Bill

I’m as serious as the shine on his head.

This morning, Representative B. R. Skelton introduced a bill to legalize ticket scalping in South Carolina.

His bill, H.4739, repeals the sections in the SC Code that 1) make it illegal to purchase tickets with the intention of scalping and 2) make it illegal to sell tickets for more than $1 above face value.

As a noted scholar and Professor Emeritus of Economics at Clemson University, perhaps Dr. Skelton plans a new career facilitating attendance at university sporting events.

– Wilson Charles

Quotes-o-the-Day: Lt. Governor Andre Bauer, Sen. Brad Hutto, Sen. Glenn McConnell

The Senate was actually entertaining today,

Today’s first quote-o-the-day comes from Lt. Governor Andre Bauer.

This morning while Speaker Harrell was across the hall in the Senate chamber returning bills, Bauer looked at Harrell as he was leaving, and referring to the Mace of the House, said, “You can leave that here.”

Today’s second quote-o-the-day comes from Senator Brad Hutto (D-Orangeburg).

Exchanging barbs against the communications office of the House Republican Caucus (referred to during the discussion as “the propaganda pump”), President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell (R-Charleston) joked that maybe there were changes in Mason’s or Jefferson’s (the rules of order that govern the House and Senate) that nobody knew about.

Hutto replied, “You know, they may be operating under Merrill’s.”

An unexpected third quote-o-the-day comes from Senator McConnell joking with Senator Kevin Bryant (R-Anderson). “If it’s a Thursday, you’d better stay away from the escalators between 10:45 and 11:00,” he said implying a mass exodus by House members on the last legislative day of the week.

 – Bo Burdette

UPDATE: Senator Bryant said he was working on a blog post for KevinBryant.com. I’m sure he’ll give some of the “inside baseball” views on this morning’s Senate stage show.

A Plug for Someone Else

The crew at The Palmetto Scoop has a good thing going with their “Sunday Guest Post Series.” It’s a good concept, and I hope they keep it alive.

It’s not so much that there’s a light being shown on the political process, and we’re suddenly getting an inside view. Let’s be honest. Everybody knows that Speaker Bobby Harrell is running for governor.

What makes the series concept so good — and I hope to see other sites have similar successes — is that there is now a realization that the Internet isn’t a fad. It’s not going the way of the Pet Rock, 8 Track tapes, and Mr. Belvedere. It’s as close to a living thing as a non-living thing can be.

The web is growing. It’s evolving. It’s not the untamed wild west show it was 10 years ago, and it’s not what it will be one day, but it plays a vital role in how we gather information, exchange ideas, and entertain ourselves.

That’s especially true with politics and current events, and I’m glad to see political officials finally give in. They resisted for a long time but now realize that for the public, more is better.

Give ‘em content and keep ‘em coming back for more.

– Mary Claire Forrester