3/4: SC legislators may cut all services for disabled

Times & Democrat: S.C. legislators consider cutting all services to those with disabilities

The nearly 26,000 people in South Carolina with disabilities may soon no longer have access to state services, as legislators struggle over the budget. Parents say the proposed cuts to day care programs and other services would force them to give up much-needed jobs to stay home and care for their young and adult children.

Andrew J. Imparato, chief executive of the American Association of People with Disabilities, said he is hearing horror stories about budget cuts around the country, but South Carolina is the most extreme example. Shutting down everything but federally required residential care is “the most draconian kind of thing I’ve heard,” he said.

Other states have raised taxes to deal with similar problems, but that’s unlikely in South Carolina.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State Senate won't allow state vote on e-bingo

ARKANSAS: Thousands of FEMA trailers to head out of state despite legislators' protests

FLORIDA: Another tomato crisis looms for the state, nation

GEORGIA: State's jobless rate is at all-time high of 10.7%

KENTUCKY: Gov. Beshear wants workers' compensation insurer to cut its rate

LOUISIANA: Pre-K program in the state is safe from budget cuts for now

MISSISSIPPI: Michelle Obama's visit to nation's fattest state (transcript)

NORTH CAROLINA: Think tank releases list of 10 worst stimulus projects in the state

TENNESSEE: State ranked 5th for economic development performance

VIRGINIA: One-gun-a-month law to be considered by Senate

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2/5: Senate likely to be less diverse after elections

Washington Post: Senate likely to be less diverse after elections

In contests in Florida, Texas and North Carolina, black candidates face daunting challenges to joining the Senate, from difficulty raising cash to lack of name recognition to formidable rivals.\\

By next year, the number of black Senators could be zero, despite the fact that 12.2% of the population is black. David Bositis, a senior political analyst with the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, noted that blacks don't make up the majority population in any state and in states where there are large numbers of blacks, as in the South, there are racial divisions that make getting elected difficult.

Florida is more likely to produce the next Hispanic senator than it is the next black senator.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Legislation on using Alabama Trust Fund for roads and bridges is withdrawn

ARKANSAS: FEMA to provide federal funding to state for flood damage

FLORIDA: 7.5% drop in property taxes over three years hurts state's budget

GEORGIA: State gets a "D" from voter rights group

KENTUCKY: House approves ban on texting while driving

LOUISIANA: Sen. Landrieu defends $400 million Medicaid deal

MISSISSIPPI: State stops prison growth by releasing more nonviolent offenders

NORTH CAROLINA: Sen. Larry Shaw says he won't seek re-election

SOUTH CAROLINA: Conference to draw 200 to discuss future of state's land use

TENNESSEE: Sen. Alexander introduces bill to reduce mercury emissions

VIRGINIA: Bill to end ban on radar detectors advances

If you have a news story about public policy to suggest, send an email to info@bettersouth.org