Capital leaders to reorganize

Oconee’s two re-elected members of the State House of Representatives are to join their colleagues from across the state tomorrow in Columbia to organize for the 120th General Assembly that starts in January. Both District One’’s Bill Whitmire and District Two’s Bill Sandifer are returning members of the legislature. But tomorrow and Wednesday, the days to re-organize, will be a lot like the first day of school, as it must be decided where each will sit for the next two years. And, though Whitmire and Sandifer are veteran members, they and the rest of their colleagues will have to get used to basically starting over. The state constitution holds that each newly-elected General Assembly cannot bind another. So, every two years the legislative branch begins anew. According to Greg Foster, deputy chief of staff and director of communications for the Office of Speaker, enrolled legislative actions of the previous session stand as enacted but all pending bills, questions, as well as standing Rules, Officers and Committees do not carry over to the next General Assembly.