Senate in a bind about seat belt bill

For the second day in a row, Senator Glenn McConnell has managed to keep the seat belt bill from a Senate vote. Surprisingly Senator McConnell is not alone in his fight against this bill.

Senator John Kuhn is also against stricter seat belt laws and hopes the bill will not pass. “Where do we stop with government becoming big brother and entering into every aspect of out lives?” said Senator Kuhn.

Senator Phil Leventis says seatbelts aren’t the reason for high death rates in South Carolina, the roads are. “Our infrastructure is suffering. People are having to pay to repair and cars are not as safe as they should be because of potholes in the road and unsafe intersections. I don’t agree with that.” said Senator Leventis.

Some senators have asked for amendments on the bill hoping that will help it get passed. But Senator Brad Hutto, who supports the bill, thinks amendments are just a way to keep the bill in circulation. “I support some of the supposed amendments, but I think it will have the effect of killing the bill.”

It is not known when this bill will be voted on, but if McConnell has his way it won’t.

Reported by:

Sarah Walker

Sarah is from Ridgeland, South Carolina and graduated from Thomas Heyward Academy in the spring of 99’. She has always been interested in the news. Last summer she worked for ABC Sports and traveled the southeast covering college football games. Sarah is graduating in May of 2004 and is getting married in June. Sarah hopes to be a reporter at a news station in Georgia.