“In the late 1970s, the richest 1 percent of American families took in about 9 percent of the nation’s total income; by 2007, the top 1 percent took in 23.5 percent of total income.”

Let me repeat:  Only 1 percent receive almost a quarter of U.S. income.

How does this income imbalance affect South Carolina working families?

Less money is spent on products and services.   The rich tend to buy more stocks, invest in businesses … and not necessarily in the United States.  They invest where the profit is the best, which can be anywhere on the globe whether it’s Switzerland or China.

There’s nothing wrong with that in itself, but this does not create jobs.

And, right now, American businesses are sitting on their profits, not hiring our people either.

The income imbalance and American businesses’ reluctance to hire are why today’s infrastructure initiative to fund $50 billion for 15,000 miles of better roads, 4,000 miles of stronger railways, 150 miles of re-built airport runways is so critical to creating new jobs now.

These will be jobs that not only give opportunities for working families in the short term, but also will provide businesses better and more efficient transportation for years and years to come.

Remember President Eisenhower’s initiative in the 50s to build our federal highway system?  We all drive these highways every day!

And, while we might complain about all that truck traffic, can you imagine if I-85 or I-20 didn’t exist?

Investing in infrastructure is a smart plan to give South Carolina’s working families jobs now … and to provide a powerful tool for businesses to build on for the long-term.

A policy that creates thousands of new jobs while freeing us from a dangerous reliance on oil from oppressive Middle Eastern regimes. A policy not written by oil industry executives and lobbyists but one that brings together and empowers our brightest scientists, engineers, innovators and entrepreneurs. A policy that invigorates our economy and ensures we no longer soil our own nest.

The wrong approach is the one championed by my opponent in the South Carolina Legislature, where one of his primary legislative initiatives was to hand over our state’s coastline to Big Oil. While he would endanger our state’s crucial tourism industry and sentence our state and nation to continued reliance on a dangerous and dirty industry, I will fight to lure the jobs of the future to South Carolina. While he is offering nothing but more of the same failed policies that have entangled us in the Middle East, I will push for the kind of change we need to make us safer and ensure we lead the world in the economy of tomorrow.

Providing a quality education requires shared responsibilities … and the shared goal of educating ALL our children.

Responsibility lies with families, teachers and schools, and elected officials who set policies and funding.  Each plays a role.

Clearly, it starts with the family:  parents’ willingness to support their children’s education, preparing them physically and emotionally. Parents are key to a child’s learning success.  Today, families are struggling to make it day to day, and the extra costs of buying new clothes, school supplies, and school fees worsen the strain we feel in this challenging economy.

School administrators and teachers face a disheartening situation:  Teachers must strive to deliver a quality education whether they have 15 or 35 students.  Teachers are constantly challenged to do more with less.

Funding our education system is in crisis.  Currently, because of a terrible decision in Columbia, we are running on empty.

South Carolina legislators took away a large part of consistent funding for education through property taxes on homeowners.  They replaced that share of the property tax–about 30% of the total statewide–with higher sales taxes. Sales taxes are much less dependable than property taxes, so the General Assembly had to dig into the General Fund to pay for property tax relief, leaving less money for all state services, including public education. Funding per student from the Education Finance Act is now at 1995 levels.

The predicament left South Carolina education with no room to maneuver. Cutting teachers and staff is more than just cutting jobs today – it is cutting the jobs of tomorrow, too.

However, some people in our state don’t want to educate all our children; they want to destroy public education.

Since Mark Sanford became governor in 2002, out-of-state interests have pushed private school choice in South Carolina. They have poured untold dollars into the pockets of politicians who support their anti-public education agenda.

School choice is promoted as a way to level the playing field for poor working families. But in 2009, members of the South Carolina legislature proposed a private school choice bill co-sponsored by SC House Rep. Jeff Duncan that would create tax breaks for families who already have their children in private school. The bill did not pass because more level-headed legislators saw the folly of the policy.

But what if it had?  There are roughly 46,000 children in private schools in South Carolina. If the state awarded a tax credit of, say, $2,000 for each of these children, it could cost the state $90 million annually.

No politician backing such a plan, including Rep. Duncan, my opponent in the 3^rd Congressional District race, can be a called a fiscally responsible conservative.

Moreover, one must presume that this $90 million would be taken away from the schools that serve 94 percent of our state’s children, including those who would be too poor to qualify for a tax break under Duncan’s plan.

By pushing the idea of tax breaks for private school students, these politicians seek to reward the rich, subsidizing the education of the approximately 6 percent of South Carolina students who are in private schools, most of which charge tuitions out of reach for all but the wealthy.

Why should we take money away from creating a high quality education for ALL our children to help those who already have the means to send their kids to private schools?

We are experiencing tough times.  However, we must not trade the future of our children just to reward the elite special interests. Public education is a cornerstone of democracy, teaching us the importance of hard work, knowledge and how to get along with each other.

Education fundamentally is a local responsibility, but we need people in Congress willing to work hard to make sure that our educators have the resources to enable our students to succeed from K5 to universities, community colleges or technical schools – wherever their talents and dreams take them.

We do NOT need career politicians who pick up and promote wacky ideas-of-the-moment from outside ideologues and backers.

We need thoughtful representatives who will listen to state and local leaders and ensure that common-sense policies are in place.

At the state level and the federal level, we must support our students, our teachers, and our families to educate all our children well so they will be prepared for the demanding jobs to come.

Shared goals and responsibilities are the only way our state can provide a quality education for all its students.

But according to a recent CNBC study,* South Carolina is only #31 for Top States for Business.  Our neighbors fared a good deal better:  North Carolina is #4; Georgia is #10.

Being #31 is not a goal to aspire to.

South Carolina leaders are missing the big picture, the picture our neighbors have not missed.

Businesses move to places for more than non-union workers and tax breaks.  They go where quality of life and education are prominently supported and strong.   Both North Carolina and Georgia outdid us on technology and innovation and access to capital.  And, they even outshone us on business friendliness – that is, easier environments for litigation and regulation.

South Carolina must look beyond one ideology to improve its standing with business.  We must create a balanced approach to promote our state and to increase opportunities for its citizens.

Balancing the current business-only-driven philosophy is why I’m fighting for working families.  By creating jobs, improving education and supporting our veterans, I will help provide balance for future success.

Rankings by state

CNBC, July 2010*

http://www.cnbc.com/id/37875431

Note: Order changed in this graphic for comparison between these specific states.

Through the years it has become more and more apparent that John and I are the exception … we are really happily married.

Mutual respect, mutual support, and mutual interests have made it work.  John is beyond exceptional.

When we got married, he said that his life-long goal was to be a single- seat fighter pilot in the Air Force, and he had lived out that dream.  He then said that he would support me in whatever goals I had.

This was back in the early eighties, and there were still many men who thought women should not be in the Air Force, much less be a pilot.  He supported me then, he supports me in my career at FedEx, and he supports me (and is the biggest supporter) in my quest to serve the people of my district in the US Congress.

Not only has he been the best husband, he is an unbelievable father to his children John and Amy and to our youngest sons Bill and Tony.

Twenty-five years later, I still consider myself to be the luckiest woman on earth, and thank John for all of his support: past, present and future.

Many people do.  An intense disdain for compromise is growing rapidly in our country today.

Thank goodness, members of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 felt differently.  So do I.

How can you survive this world without compromise?  In marriage, work, church, sports teams, and even among political parties, compromise is a necessity.  However, the loud, “my way or the highway” voice is getting louder every day.

Back to 1787.  The supporters of the Virginia Plan, the larger states, wanted representation to be based on population.  The New Jersey Plan, on the other hand, would allocate the same number of representatives from each state.  The smaller states really liked this plan.

Lo and behold came the Great Compromise of 1787. This compromise, the foundation of our current government, would call for two houses.  One, the upper house, would allow representation equally from each state.  The lower house would have representatives based on population.  A stroke of genius … a compromise.

Tough issues face us today:  two wars, terrorist threats, millions unemployed, struggling education, mounting debt, healthcare crises. For our country to move forward, we must be able to sit down and listen to one another.  Hear out ideas different than our own.  Share our ideas with others.  Work together for real solutions.  Some call it compromise, I call it problem solving.

We owe our great success as a nation to the Great Compromise of 1787. This Fourth of July, the best way to honor our founding fathers is to reignite that tradition of compromise.  Greatness happens with this hard work.

As I see the devastating effects of the BP Gulf oil disaster, I cringe at the possibility of tar balls rolling up on the shores of our beautiful beaches.

When we continue depending on oil and remaining on the path to possible drilling off of the East Coast, we are putting one of South Carolina’s greatest natural resource, our beaches, at risk.

The answer is energy independence.  Being “free” of oil would not only protect the beauty of our places, it would also help our national security and our state’s economy.

Obviously, our tourism industry depends on how we protect our natural assets.  And, that impact is huge.

According to the Palmetto Institute, “Last year (2006), the tourism industry contributed $16.7 billion to the state’s direct and indirect revenues. It employs more than 200,000 people – approximately 10 percent of South Carolina’s workforce.”

However, tourism isn’t the only reason for energy independence:  National security also relies on our ability to embrace renewable energy solutions.

Having been a pilot in the Air Force, I am aware of the risk to our national security as we continue to be dependent on foreign oil.  We must pursue the use of next generation biofuels to power our aircraft, tanks, Humvees, jeeps and trucks.

South Carolina, with its historic agricultural expertise, has the potential to lead in biofuel technology and production.

But we have an even stronger resource in our District:  Our nuclear expertise and facilities.  Anchored on the northern end by the Oconee Nuclear Station and on the southern end by the Savannah River Site (SRS), we have the potential to be a real leader in nuclear energy development.

“Oconee has safely and reliably generated more than 500 million megawatt-hours of electricity—the first nuclear station in the United States to achieve this milestone.”  (Per Duke Energy)

SRS has the potential for still another valuable aspect of nuclear power, that is, turning surplus plutonium into fuel for commercial nuclear power generation.  Already under construction, this Mixed Oxide Fuel facility not only creates usable fuel, but also “is part of the nation’s effort to make sure plutonium can no longer be used for nuclear weapons.”

South Carolina can lead the country in nuclear technology and with this achievement, create good jobs for its citizens.

There’s even more we can do by working together.

Take this example.  Toledo, Ohio is embracing solar production.  A unique collaboration between its research university, technical schools, economic development teams, community leaders and government officials has put Toledo on the path of turning its loss of manufacturing jobs to the future of producing solar panels.

We can do that right here in South Carolina.  We have the people to make this happen; we need the leadership to put us on the path to energy independence.

Now is the time to act.

Future generations must have the same national security assurances, job opportunities, and ability to experience South Carolina’s beauty as I did as a little girl, mesmerized by the sight of the pristine beaches of Fripp Island, South Carolina.

“Whichever man wins on Tuesday, my focus will remain the same:  working hard for working families on issues that affect their daily lives — jobs, education and military veterans.”

My 1995 Saturn’s air conditioner broke down, and it is HOT in Memphis in June.  I’m flying at night from Laredo, TX, back to Memphis.  From Laredo, I call ahead to see if the repair shop could take my car that next morning.

My plan:  I would land at midnight in Memphis and leave on my next flight that afternoon.  I had from early that morning to 1:00 pm for my car to be fixed.

After going to sleep at 1:00 am, I drove over and stood in line for the place to open at 7:30 am.  I made it clear that I had to pick up my car at 1:00 pm so that I would be at work on time.

At 12:45, I borrowed a bike and pedaled the couple of miles to the auto repair place.  Surprise, surprise, the car was in the middle of getting fixed, and if they had to move it at the time, it would destroy the engine.

Then, I pedaled back, and got ready for work (I never quit sweating in the 96 degree heat). The repair shop guy came and picked me up in the nick of time to get to work before take off.

The bottom line, when you are “on your own,” life stinks.  I like my life in South Carolina, where you can count on your family, friends, and neighbors.

I am a big believer that we are all in this together, and life is much better when we can rely on each other instead of going it alone.

Last Tuesday night, I celebrated our primary win with my phenomenal staff and tremendous volunteers, all committed to the success of our district.

Barely a day later, I was flying an AirBus 300 to Appleton, WS, for FedEx.  Still working, I am now in the middle of a week of night flights.

Two very different lives, but connected by a powerful common thread … a commitment to a better future for my family, my friends, and for all the people in our district, our state and our country.

Even though it is exhausting at times, campaigning and working as a full-time airline captain give me a concrete idea of what all working families face.

It’s hard to balance job and family in good times.  With the current economic crisis, the challenge is even harder — how to keep paying the bills with reduced incomes, and in some cases no incomes at all.

That must change.  We must bring good jobs to our district, improve our public education, and support our returning veterans.

As we continue on the path of this campaign, the challenges will continue to mount.  But the importance of winning this race should not be understated.  To bring jobs, good public education, and veteran support, we must have a loud and clear voice for working families in Congress.

Please join me in making sure that happens.

When We Work Together, We Can Accomplish Anything from Jane Dyer on Vimeo.

Color guard photo: Clemson University

Of course, those were interspersed with a few episodes of not turning homework in, not answering all the questions on an exam, and an occasional exclamation of how irrelevant the material is to real life.

So, when our son walked across the stage to receive his Bachelors of Science Degree in Anthropology with a minor in French, I felt the pride any parent would feel.  What an accomplishment!

Education in South Carolina sees thousands of success stories every year at college graduations.  Our job is to make sure that all of our children have the confidence and encouragement to reach their full potential.

We must make sure that kids believe in themselves and their abilities from day one.  Teachers, especially in the midst of South Carolina’s gutting of school funding, desperately need the resources to teach our children.  And finally, parents must believe that their involvement is vital to their children’s success.

Every child in South Carolina can be a winner when it comes to education.  It just depends on how committed the adults are to making success happen.

Let’s make sure that every parent has a moment to be proud of their child as they graduate from high school, technical schools, college, graduate school and more.  It all depends on us.

But wait! You might ask … What about jobs? Many people think being environmentally friendly means lost jobs.

Just the opposite:  Green jobs are our future, and will drive job growth in South Carolina.

With over 11 million jobs needed to get back to pre-recession levels in the US, we need to look at all options to secure our current jobs and create new, family-sustaining and community-supportive jobs.

One sure way to move us in this direction is by creating “green jobs.”  If done right, residents of the 3^rd District stand to benefit.

So, what is a green job?  Think of it as a blue-collar job done for a green purpose.

A supporter of mine recently shared this information with me:

If you’ve ever driven past a wind turbine, you’re looking at over 8,000 parts.  Someone had to manufacture or mine every one of them, as well as assemble and maintain them.

The typical wind turbine includes:

• 250 tons of steel
• Three tons of copper for the generator and power cables
• 250 yards of concrete for anchoring
• Titanium components for the rotator hubs
• Gears and gear boxes
• Bearings and many more components

Workers in the 3^rd Congressional District could make all these parts. This would create clean energy jobs to revive our economy.

South Carolina is already moving into the wind turbine industry. Just last fall, Clemson’s Restoration Institute and its partners received a $45 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, combined with $53 million of matching funds, to create a large-scale wind turbine facility at the institute’s research campus on the coast.

In the short term, the Restoration Institute estimates the initiative will create close to 1,000 jobs.

In the long run? The Department of Energy estimates that South Carolina could gain 10,000 to 20,000 new jobs related to the wind power industry during the next 20 years.  And, these are good jobs.

Clean energy jobs that could be created in the 3rd District are not simply limited to wind turbines. There is a strong need to make glass for solar panels, energy-efficient light bulbs, goods with recycled paper content, production of biofuels, just to mention a few.

This kind of initiative could offset the devastating losses of manufacturing jobs in our District.  When our elected officials focus on positive action, not ideological obstruction, our state will be able to move ahead.  But it will take hard work, commitment and innovative ideas of both the public and private sectors.  My ability to understand and solve complex problems will allow me to lead in these efforts.

Because I believe this simple equation:

Green jobs + SC Workers = Good jobs for a bright SC future

Is it an exercise? Or could it be the real thing, to launch a nuclear attack against the USSR?  These are my memories of serving as a KC-135 copilot in 1983.

Many people today vaguely remember those days of the Cold War, when we had thousands of nuclear warheads aimed at the Soviet Union, and they had thousands aimed at us. Now, when I hear that we have reached yet another step toward nuclear disarmament and accountability, I am relieved.

The 10-year Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) moves us toward our goal of reducing the threat of nuclear war and strengthens our hand when facing the increasing threat of nuclear terrorism from rogue countries.

According to the Washington Post, here’s how these complex discussions have progressed:

On the American side, negotiators were aware that any significant limits on verification or the U.S. missile shield would be unacceptable to Senate Republicans and the Pentagon. The U.S. side appears to have largely won the battle over missile defense, with a mention of it in the treaty’s preamble but no new limits imposed on the American system, officials said.

American officials said President Obama and Medvedev talked 10 times on the phone and five times in person throughout the past year, often at times when the negotiations in Geneva had bogged down.

The White House official said the turning point came in a testy conversation between President Obama and Medvedev in late February.

“The Russians were pushing for constraints on missile defense to be incorporated into the treaty. The president said that was simply unacceptable,” the official said.

President Obama indicated he was willing to walk away from the treaty, the official said, “That was the breaking point.”

He and Medvedev finally agreed on most of the major issues: They would cut deployed warheads to 1,550 per side, down from the current limit of 2,200. They would cut deployed heavy bombers and missiles to 700 each. They would conduct 18 inspections a year, up from 10 originally proposed by Moscow.

This START agreement builds on START I that was passed in the Senate on October 1, 1992, with a huge bipartisan agreement of 93-6.

However, there are already rumors that some members of our U.S. Senate will make this agreement a partisan battle over the national security issue that it is and should be viewed as.

There is way too much partisanship in Washington, but when it comes to national security, we must all work together to ensure the safety of all Americans.

Not only does this treaty continue the combined effort of the United States and Russia to reduce and account for current nuclear weapon arsenals, it sets the world stage for accountability for nuclear weapons development.

We all know the threat that Iran continues to proclaim as far as nuclear weapons development.  We must be on strong ground when we demand the ability to inspect and verify their program.  Our best option is to live by what we expect others to adhere to.  America should always lead by example in the challenging world of nuclear accountability.

A solid front by both the United States and Russia when approaching Iran on these issues will increase our authority.  With the ever-increasing threats of nuclear terrorism, we need to increase our allies and isolate those that may want to harm us.

I proudly served as a copilot on the KC-135 that was instrumental in providing the needed fuel reserves for the nuclear-laden B-52s so that they could reach their targets.  I remember the morning briefings on how few precious minutes we had to launch before the Soviet submarine missiles hit our base.  This is why I demand that on this issue, we put our country ahead of our politics and support this new START treaty.

According to the Energy and Commerce Committee of the US House of Representatives, this new health care reform act in the SC 3rd District will:

·  Improve coverage for 393,000 residents with health insurance.

·  Give tax credits and other assistance to up to 192,000 families and 12,000 small businesses to help them afford coverage.

·  Improve Medicare for 133,000 beneficiaries, including closing the donut hole.

·  Extend coverage to 69,000 uninsured residents.

·  Guarantee that 13,500 residents with pre-existing conditions can obtain coverage.

·  Protect 600 families from bankruptcy due to unaffordable health care costs.

·  Allow 54,000 young adults to obtain coverage on their parents’ insurance plans.

·  Provide millions of dollars in new funding for 16 community health centers.

·  Reduce the cost of uncompensated care for hospitals and other health care providers by $61 million annually.

This is the kind of hard work legislators must accomplish to move our country forward:  Compromise, discussion and coming together for the benefit of all.  The “Just Say No” mentality of our SC elected officials will not cut it.

Please join me in my campaign to tackle the tough issues facing our state.  Together, we can create a brighter future.

Kitchen Table #2: Jobs from Jane Dyer on Vimeo.

I stand humbly on their shoulders.  As a female Air Force Pilot from 1981-1988, I owe my aviation career to these courageous women.  For every road we travel, there are those who cleared the path for us.

“The Women Airforce Service Pilots courageously answered their country’s call in a time of need while blazing a trail for the brave women who have given and continue to give so much in service to this nation since,” President Obama commented. “Every American should be grateful for their service.”

According to ABC News, of the more than 50,000 women who applied, only 1,830 were accepted and 1,074 graduated from the training program. These women were stationed at 120 army air bases around the world. Their duties involved everything from ferrying planes to training fighter pilots to chemical missions, but they were barred from taking part in actual combat.

During my Air Force days at Laughlin Air force Base, TX, we were invited to join the WASP at a reunion luncheon for all the women who flew in West Texas.

The most amazing story I heard was from a pilot who lived in the Northeast.  When her children had grown and were just finishing college, they took a trip to San Antonio.  She gave them the name of a dear old friend of hers to look up.  They were able to locate the woman in the phone book and stopped in to see her.

During the course of the conversation, the old friend referred to their flying days during WWII.  The grown children were sure that their Mother had never flown an airplane. The old friend assured them that their mother had indeed been a WASP.

The children returned home to question their Mother.  She admitted that she had flown during WWII as a WASP but had never mentioned it in deference to her husband’s wishes.

Remarkable women with remarkable stories.  Sixty-six years is a long time to wait, but may each of those still living revel in the pride we have of our Women Airforce Service Pilots.  I personally thank them not only for their service, but also for clearing the path for me.

Kitchen Table: Introduction from Jane Dyer on Vimeo.

My stepson described the procedure when the soldiers are notified of the loss of their fellow servicemen.

At the airfield, the coffins of the fallen are moved across the tarmac to the aircraft that will carry their bodies’ home.

The date and time of this procession along the flight line are posted.  Hundreds of service men and women line the path as they pay their final respects to our brave heroes.

As we carry on our everyday lives, let’s not forget our brave men and women fighting on our behalf.  Let’s remember those that have fallen — the high price they paid, the personal loss to the families, and their commitment to our freedom and security.  It is the very least we can do.

“ One small step for man, one giant step for mankind.”

That statement by Astronaut Neil Armstrong as he became the first human on the moon signified the culmination of an entire decade of American scientific commitment.

Where is our commitment today? What kind of large scientific goal are we pursuing?

Actually, there is none. In fact, our lack of excitement toward science and technology is dragging us down in world competition.

Asia is booming ahead of us with South Korea leading the way in Research and Development.

The following is from the National Science Foundation:

Over the past decade, R&D intensity–how much of a country’s economic activity or gross domestic product is expended on R&D–has grown considerably in Asia, while remaining steady in the U.S. Annual growth of R&D expenditures in the U.S. averaged 5 to 6 percent while in Asia, it has skyrocketed. In some Asian countries, R&D growth rate is two, three, even four, times that of the U.S.

And why does this matter? Investment in R&D is a major driver of innovation, which builds on new knowledge and technologies, contributes to national competitiveness and furthers social welfare.

Unfortunately, there are many Americans who honestly believe that we should just freeze in our current state of scientific advancement. Unfortunately, the rest of the world is pushing full steam ahead. We cannot afford to hesitate.

If we do not re-commit to science and technology, the consequences of continued job loss are too painful.

Our young people today are as bright and innovative as our young people have always been. For the US to regain its lead in science and technology, we must embrace our inventiveness and solve the world’s most pressing problems, be they medical, energy or food production. This is the best path to long-term, stable job creation.

More than forty years later, we have made great strides toward his dream, most markedly the election of our first African-American President.  But we still have a long way to go.

While minorities are more respected, prejudice still lingers.  Because of that prejudice, many Americans fight every day against poverty, homelessness, and hunger.

We have much to do to honor Dr. King.  We must develop a true respect for all of our people.   We must eliminate poverty by providing good jobs in manufacturing tomorrow’s energy solutions.  We must fight against the power of money and greed by supporting those who will stand up for what is right.

As we celebrate the memory of Dr. King, let us all start believing in the dream that makes us Americans.  We must not only believe in this dream but work together to create it.

The gift of joy.

Peace is the ability to be calm and understanding at all times. One of my favorite airline captains had a sense of true peace.  Regardless of how frantic things got in the cockpit, or how ugly someone treated him, or how unfair life seemed, he never got upset or angry.  His peace permeated everyone around him.

The gift of peace.

Hope is to know that regardless of how tough things are, tomorrow will be better. The barrage of today’s negativism, anger, and fear leaves many people hopeless.

The true American spirit is the belief that anything is possible, that anyone can achieve any goal, and that we can overcome anything when we work together.  This spirit is what binds us together as Americans.

Tomorrow will be a better day.  We will survive these dark days.  We can achieve anything.

The gift of hope.

My family will celebrate this Christmas together.  We will work to give one another these gifts that cost nothing but reflect the best of the human spirit.

I hope that you and your family, as you open presents around the tree, will have the opportunity to give the gifts that really matter …  joy, peace and hope.

We do wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful Holiday Season.

Jane, John and the gang!

Unfortunately, we as a country have opted to save money by contracting out many of our military responsibilities. But there are no savings.  According to the Congressional Budget Office, the cost of hiring private guards versus using US military units is the same.

The problem with hiring private contractors?  The damage to our country’s reputation.

Remember the guards in Kabul? The ones who created a den of inequity with photos of their disgusting parties?

Then, there are companies like KBR whose contracts allow its employees to rape and discriminate workers with no recourse.

And, now, The New York Times reports that Blackwater private security guards acted as CIA agents in Iraq, blurring the roles between government and private agencies.

The rules of conduct for these contractors are not well-defined.  Accountability is hard to find.

The numbers are large. In Iraq in 2008, there were at least 190,000 contractors working directly for the US Department of Defense.  For every US military man or woman, there is one private contractor.  In the Vietnam War, that ratio was five to one.  

We must stop using contractors who are hurting our reputation and return these jobs to our military.  We must ensure that we are using US military personnel where our reputation is at stake.

We take the high road, and we do the right thing.

Now is the time to put our military where they are needed and remove the contractors who are hurting our reputation and ultimately harming the very values of the United States of America.

December 7, 1941, Roosevelt’s “a day that will live in infamy”…

According to naval history,

The Japanese aircrews achieved complete surprise when they hit American ships and military installations on Oahu shortly before 8:00 a.m. They attacked military airfields at the same time they hit the fleet anchored in Pearl Harbor.

Of the more than 90 ships at anchor in Pearl Harbor, the primary targets were the eight battleships anchored there.  At about 8:10 a.m., the USS Arizona (BB-39) was mortally wounded by an armorpiercing bomb which ignited the ship’s forward ammunition magazine. The resulting explosion and fire killed 1,177 crewmen, the greatest loss of life on any ship that day and about half the total number of Americans killed.

When the attack ended shortly before 10:00 a.m., less than two hours after it began, the American forces have paid a fearful price. Twenty-one ships of the U.S. Pacific Fleet were sunk or damaged.  Aircraft losses were 188 destroyed and 159 damaged, the majority hit before they had a chance to take off. American dead numbered 2,403. There were 1,178 military and civilian wounded.

http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq66-1.htm

Men and women from across the country and throughout South Carolina clamored to respond by joining the military.

My dad, Grady Ballard, was commissioned in the Army Air Corps after graduating from Clemson, and served in the New Guinea and Philippines campaigns.  My aunt, Margaret Ballard Lawhorn, served in the Navy’s medical corps and my uncle, Heyward Ballard, trained to fly aerial combat.  Our family joined alongside the more than 16 million Americans who served in WWII.

Millions more went to work at home to produce record numbers of airplanes, tanks and other equipment to support our troops in combat.  More than 300,000 aircraft, hundreds of ships and 80,000 tanks were produced by our great American work force.  Women entered the work force in droves to ensure that the allied forces were well equipped.

Sacrifice was the common thread among all Americans.  Whether it was the simple sacrifice of doing without metal, rubber or food supplies … or the ultimate sacrifice of 418, 500 Americans who fought and died, everyone did their part.

The attack on Pearl Harbor taught us many lessons.  Perhaps the number one lesson is that with personal commitment, hard work, and shared sacrifice, the spark of the American spirit can become a steady flame.

• According to Associated Press, South Carolina’s unemployment is a record 12.1%.
• The number of South Carolinians losing their homes is increasing. “One out of every 268 homes in the Palmetto State was listed as being in distress,” according to the Columbia Regional Business Report.
• The most startling new finding is the number of Americans who are actually going hungry. A recent front-page story in the Philadelphia Inquirer reports US Department of Agriculture numbers that “America is hungry and getting hungrier, with 49 million people – 17 million of them children – last year unable to consistently get enough food to eat.”

  With one in six of households experiencing hunger, the South has the highest numbers in the country. “Experts attributed the harsh statistics to the recent recession and to an American poverty that has persisted despite economic growth earlier in the decade.”

These tragedies — lost jobs, lost homes and increasing hunger — are attributable to a lack of leadership by both parties in Washington. This disaster culminated with the crash of Wall Street and the continuing impact of that disaster on our every day lives.

The sad result is that after a drastic measure to save Wall Street at taxpayers’ expense, Wall Street has not learned a thing. Just recently, we learned that Wall Street executives would receive excessive bonuses. Bloomberg reports, “The firms — the three biggest banks to exit the Troubled Asset Relief Program — will hand out $29.7 billion in bonuses.”

The entire income of the 3rd Congressional District is less than $20 billion. That number is based on per capita income of $28,285 with approximately 700,000 citizens.

$29.7 billion for Wall Street bonuses.

$20 billion for the entire income of our District.

Think about that.

Apparently, Wall Street speculators have no intention of limiting their incomes while Americans are in distress.

Washington, both Democrats and Republicans, must address this outrageous greed and provide the necessary resources to put Americans back to work.

We must ensure that we never get in this situation again. At the same time, we must jump start our small businesses. Interest from the repayment of Wall Street bailout funds needs to be streamlined to our small businesses.

The biggest prospect of bringing jobs to our district is a long- term plan to invest in clean tech jobs. We need leaders in Washington, not politicians, to make these initiatives happen.

We have a lot to be thankful for. We also have a lot to learn. Our country will not remain the world’s leader until we provide good jobs for all of our hard-working citizens. To make the next holiday season better for all of us, we must make putting people back to work our top priority.

Back then, the Savannah River Site (SRS) played an instrumental role in developing high-energy nuclear material needed for those weapons.

Nuclear power was important then, and it’s important now, especially in the Third District.

Optimizing this resource facility is a cornerstone of our district’s economy.

Today, not only is SRS the biggest employer in our District, but it plays a unique role in creating new technologies, putting our people to work.

With an annual budget of $2 billion, SRS employs 11,000 people at its facility.  These employees and their families fuel additional businesses and industries throughout the region.  According to the SRS website, its “economic impact ripples across a two-state area at a rate of about $2.6 billion per year.”

Last week, Congressman James Clyburn spoke about SRS and its critical role in our future at the 18^th Edward Teller Lecture and Banquet of the Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness.

As he described it, the SRS is reprocessing the high level nuclear material driving our power plants, which provide electricity throughout our area.

Also, SRS scientists are continuously perfecting methods to more safely store nuclear waste and to create more ways to use this vital resource, such as powering satellites.

Not only do we have one of the country’s premier nuclear facilities in our own District, but also SRS has spawned new nuclear engineering programs in South Carolina.

Nurturing this facility is the responsibility of our Congressional delegation, lead by Congressman Clyburn.  SRS effectiveness depends on adequate Congressional funding and support for its technology innovations and educational efforts.

We must continue to optimize the potential of the Savannah River Site as it employs more of our citizens and offers new avenues of higher learning in South Carolina.

-Jane

Veterans Deserve Our Best

One of my favorite traditions of the U.S. military is the lowering of the flag at 5:00 pm on all our bases. Patriotic music is played; military personnel stop where they are, salute and stand at attention with pride as the flag of the United States of America is slowly lowered, folded and retired until the next day.

As a pilot in the U.S. Air Force, I was one of those proud, young officers who participated in this ceremony. It was an honor to pause and remember … as it is today for us all to pause and remember.

Honoring our veterans involves more than special ceremonies. It obliges us to remember that they need our support during and after their service. Regrettably, meeting the needs of our veterans tends to happen only when Congress is prodded to action.

Sad to say, our leaders do not always show the care and concern needed to help those who gave so much.

There were the horror stories of our wounded service men and women returning to despicable conditions at Walter Reed Army Hospital. We heard the tragedies of how they were not transported to much needed care and therapy. There were long delays in the transition from active duty to veterans’ benefits.

That is changing.

In the past two years, our government finally responded to the needs of all of our veterans. Congress passed two pieces of landmark veterans’ legislation.

The VA Advance Appropriations bill, passed just last month, puts funding for our military veterans as top priority instead of leaving it at the bottom of the list. It removes partisanship and politics from the veterans’ funding process. This allows our veterans’ programs to always be funded instead of getting the leftovers — if there were any.

Last year, the new GI Bill began offering education benefits that we have not seen since WWII. These benefits allow our military men and women the opportunity to improve their education. Higher education combined with their tremendous military experience allows them to achieve their hopes and dreams.

Our veterans clearly deserve the best we can offer. These are our heroes, whether they are WWII, Korean War, Vietnam or Gulf War vets or those fighting today in Iraq and Afghanistan.

As a female vet, I want to speak on behalf of the women who have served. There have been many … more than 2.5 million since the Revolutionary War.

According to Senator Linda Murkowski (R-AK), “Women make up 14 percent of our current active duty, guard and reserves. It is projected that the number of female veterans who use the VA system will double in the next five years, making women veterans one of the fastest growing subgroups of veterans.”

For our military men and women alike, we must go the extra mile for them and their families, all who have sacrificed so much.

So, as you honor them today with a salute or a few moments of reflection, please remember that our support must not be only ceremonial but also depends on Congress to give them the best.

Our veterans deserve no less.

11/9/09

Think back through the past year or two, if you haven’t had one here is why you need to schedule a mammogram today.

Additional Evidence Regarding the Benefit of Regular Mammograms
www.KomenUpstateSC.org

According to the results of a study presented at the ASCO 2009 Breast Cancer Symposium, nearly three-quarters of breast cancer deaths occur among the women who do not get regular screening mammograms. These results highlight the important role of regular screening mammography in reducing the risk of death from breast cancer.

Although breast cancer remains the second-leading cause of cancer death in U.S. women, breast cancer mortality rates have been declining for the last 20 years. The decline in mortality is thought to be due to improvements in both treatment and early detection.

The American Cancer Society recommends that women at average risk of breast cancer receive annual mammograms starting at the age of 40. Women at higher risk of breast cancer may need to begin screening at a younger age, and may be screened with breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in addition to mammography.

I just got off the phone to schedule an appointment.  How about you?

Take care of yourself.  Your family depends on it.

Jane

P.S. Take a friend.

Her life has been simple and amazing at the same. She was the fifth of twelve children growing up on a farm in White Plains, SC. Picking cotton, milking cows, chasing goats, and putting up all kinds of vegetables for the winter months were normal activities of her entire childhood.

Education was the purpose of her life. She taught hundreds of children and served as a principal, inspiring many. Her husband died at a young age, so she raised her two children on her own. When her grandchildren came along, she was always there to lend a helping hand.

Curiosity led her to travel the world and to experience many cultures. She brought back tales of her adventures to China and beyond to share with all of us back here in South Carolina.

As I reflect on her many accomplishments, I have to ponder … if I make it to 100, will I have made a difference? If you make it to 100, will you have made a difference?

When our children, grandchildren, and yes, maybe our great-grandchildren ask us about the decisions we made what will we say?

Did we work together to make the US the leader in solving the worlds energy problems? Did we move the country toward the best education in the world? Were we part of a remarkable solution to the tough health care situation facing our country in the 21st century?

I have tremendous respect and admiration for my aunt. As we face numerous challenges, let’s make sure that our legacy is one that we can be proud of when, and if, we are fortunate enough to celebrate our 100th birthdays!

This Labor Day we appreciate our jobs more than ever before. Many of our friends and families are suffering from losing their jobs and are still struggling to find any job just to pay the bills.

The heart of America is you, the worker. People who show up everyday, put in long hours, do the very best you can, take pay cuts, end up doing two peoples jobs…that is who we are…today’s American worker.

How are we going to bring good paying jobs back to our area? Have you thought about how corporations must be looking at South Carolina with the shenanigans of our governor and the commitment of our state to a continuous leadership void? Would you invest billions in SC?

Now is the time for a congresswoman who is committed to bringing every new energy production job imaginable to our state. We have to maximize the future of agri-business, manufacturing and tourism in our area. It will take hard work and I am committed to succeeding in making South Carolina the state it has the potential to be.

We must all work together because our future as workers is tied to the future of new manufacturing jobs in South Carolina. Together we can do it but I need your help. Please get involved with my campaign today. We have a lot of work to do to change the course of do nothing politicians.

Our jobs are precious and we certainly do appreciate them this Labor Day. But we must forge ahead to make sure that our friends and family find those jobs they are so desperately seeking. We all need to work together to ensure that our kids have great opportunities for excellent jobs in South Carolina.

Will you join me as we bring jobs to South Carolina?

Happy Labor Day!

Jane