June 28, 2004 By Mark Jones, GSA Business Following the recently completed legislative session in Columbia, some of the state’s biggest advocates for business issues can draw on many successes, but also find a few failures among many of the hot topics addressed this year. As always, the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the SC […]
PSC resolution, tort reform missing from legislative session Read More »
Published June 4, 2004 By Jonathan Maze, Charleston Post & Courier Stephen Weinger spent 90 minutes Thursday with his health insurance agent in what has become a painful annual event: He found out that premiums for employees at his Charleston-based catering and event-planning company will rise again next year, 16 percent this time. Like a
Health insurance premiums squeeze employers, workers Read More »
June 3, 2004 By Staff, Wire Reports | Greenville News Telephone companies no longer will need the approval of state utility regulators to offer so-called “bundled” service under legislation approved Wednesday by the General Assembly. The House agreed with the Senate on the deregulation measure backed by BellSouth Corp. and other former telephone monopolies. Opponents
Bill loosens state control over phone services Read More »
Published June 2, 2004 By Pamela Hamilton-AP, The State A bill that would remove state oversight of some telephone service packages offered by BellSouth and other companies cleared the Senate on Tuesday amid criticism it would drive out competition and drive up prices. The bill would permit telephone companies to offer packages that bundle basic
Senate routes phone bill to House Read More »
by Kyle Stock, Charleston Post & Courier June 2, 2004 By more than a 2-1 margin, the state Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would deregulate rate-setting for telephone service providers and limit the state’s ability to field consumer phone complaints. The approval came over the objections of business-interest groups and the South Carolina Consumer
S.C. Senate OKs phone rate bill Read More »
By Frank Knapp Jr. Columbia, SC– The South Carolina Senate today passed a telephone deregulation bill that could bring increased basic line rates to mostly rural small businesses. The SC Small Business Chamber of Commerce supported three amendments offered by Senator Jake Knotts that would have protected rural small businesses from unjustified rate increases, promoted
Telephone Deregulation Bill Passes Senate Read More »
May 29, 2004 Columbia, SC– As the legislative session ends on June 3rd, the SC Small Business Chamber of Commerce is thanking Senator Jake Knotts for his tireless efforts in support of small business. “Over the last few weeks, Senator Knotts has supported the Small Business Chamber on two important issues in the Senate and
Senator Knotts Thanked by Small Business Chamber Read More »
Published May 21, 2004 Editorial in The Post and Courier The state Senate should be wary of a bill that will enable easier rate hikes for natural gas companies that are regulated by the state Public Service Commission. That will almost certainly make them more frequent and likely to add to their cumulative impact. State
Keeping consumers at forefront Read More »
Editorial in Charleston Post & Courier The state Senate should be wary of a bill that will enable easier rate hikes for natural gas companies that are regulated by the state Public Service Commission. That will almost certainly make them more frequent and likely add to their cumulative impact. State Consumer Advocate Elliot Elam describes
Keep consumers at forefront Read More »
by Forrest Valdiviez, Hilton Head Island Packet Rural South Carolina residents and business owners, including Hargray customers, could see their telephone bills increase this year if a bill to deregulate local phone service gains approval in the state legislature, according to an advocacy group for small businesses. If passed, the bill would allow several small,
Bill would allow rural phone companies to raise rates Read More »
