WHEREAS, because of the negative impact of the national economy upon our state's economy, the State of South Carolina is facing a $348 million revenue shortfall in the current fiscal year; and

WHEREAS, to rationally address this serious budget situation, it is imperative to take immediate action to reduce state government expenditures and maximize existing resources in a manner that responsibly prioritizes and protects critical programs such as education and health care; and

WHEREAS, without legislative action to address the current budget shortfall, the State will have to resort to indiscriminate across-the-board budget cuts, applied blindly to all state agencies without regard to the needs, resources, size, scope, or mission of individual agencies; and

WHEREAS, across-the-board cuts would reverse the recent progress made in public education and other key areas and seriously jeopardize the ability of some agencies to provide basic services to our state's citizens; and

WHEREAS, Article IV, Section 19 of the South Carolina Constitution states in pertinent part that: "The Governor may on extraordinary occasions convene the General Assembly in extra session[;]" and

WHEREAS, being mindful of the duties and responsibilities placed upon me by the Constitution and laws of this State, I have determined that there exists an extraordinary occasion requiring me to convene the General Assembly in extra session prior to the next regular session of the General Assembly.

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the powers conferred upon me by the Constitution and Statutes of the State of South Carolina, and by the power vested in me by Article IV, Section 19 of the Constitution of the State of South Carolina, I hereby call an extra session of the General Assembly of South Carolina to convene at the State House in Columbia on Monday, December 9, 2002, at noon.

GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND THE GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, THIS 26th DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2002.

JIM HODGES
Governor

Last Updated: Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at 11:12 A.M.