News 12 at 6 o'clock, Jan. 12, 2008

COLUMBIA, S.C. --- He's 32 years old, the youngest Senator in South Carolina and he's ready to Shake Up Columbia. We're talking about Edgefield's Shane Massey.

He's only walked through the State House doors for a week, the youngest man in the South Carolina Senate.

"It's been good so far. I'm glad we did it. I think we're gonna be able to make a good difference but it's going to take a lot of hard work. We talked about that a lot in the campaign," says Sen. Massey.

Especially for him. He's sitting in the backrow now.

"They gave me the last seat and that is what I was expecting. But it's going to take a lot of hard work, which is what we expected it to be," says Shane.

News 12 asking, "What is it like being the youngest Senator at 32 years old?"
Massey answering, "You get some extra attention that way! I'm the youngest Senator by about 2 years and there are 3 or 4 of us who are right around the same age. We kind of stick together so we don't get picked on by the older guys."

And so far, so good.

"Even though I'm the youngest in the body, people still treat me as a regular Senator because I am and everybody realizes that. I'm okay if some of the guys up here don't agree with me. That's gonna happen. We're gonna fight for what we believe in and we'll let the chips fall where they may. We've already started to create a few ripples and we're going to continue to move in that direction," says Massey.

One of those ripples, the first bill Massey is pushing: to create earmarks. Simply, have people tell who they are and what they are asking for in bills they introduce.

"I think it's good to introduce new ideas into the system," says Massey.

One week down, and lots to look forward to.

"My biggest asset is my energy. And the fact that I really am willing to work hard at it because it's gonna take that," says Massey.

But of course, there is reality.

"Sure enough they stuck me in the back row. You got to talk louder from the back row. You really got to get involved... one of the biggest challenges for me right now," says Massey.