BRIEFS: On deferred maintenance, Saturday’s vote, Haley’s veep interest
This week's political briefs focus on how the S.C. House is expected to push for bond funding to pay for big ticket repairs at state colleges and universities; a new Clemson poll shows Hillary Clinton...
View ArticleTALLY SHEET: New bills on alimony, prosecution, environment, retirement system
Legislators introduced about 90 new bills in the past week. Of particular importance are measures on alimony, prosecution, environment and the state retirement system.
View ArticleTALLY SHEET: Slow time for new bills
Legislators introduced relatively few bills during the week of March 1, 2016.
View ArticleNEWS BRIEF: Kicking the can towards a pothole
Staff reports | House brass and Senate Democrats were in a tizzy Thursday after Senate GOP members banded together and announced a new roads plan to put $400 million in general tax revenues toward...
View ArticleNEWS BRIEF: Who are the grown-ups now?
For years at the Statehouse, there’s been a running joke that the House of Representatives, fired by a tempestuous desire to do stuff and be relevant, passed bills relatively quickly, sometimes without...
View ArticleTALLY SHEET: From anti-hazing to an animal abuse registry
As the second session of a two-year session starts to head to a June close, fewer bills of significance are introduced. In the past week, lawmakers have introduced about 70 bills. Of note are an...
View ArticleAGENDA: Primary filing opens next week
On the surface of the General Assembly, next week might look kind of dull. But there will be lots of nervous back and forth as filing for legislative seats opens for two weeks at noon on March 16....
View ArticleBRIEFS: Candidate filings, business licenses and beauty queens
In Palmetto Politics: Want to find out who is running for what office? The S.C. Election Commission offers a great candidate tracking tool that you can massage to find out who is running in specific...
View ArticleTALLY SHEET: Alimony reform to free feminine hygiene products
From alimony, state grand jury and architects to anthem, prisoner rights, business licenses and free feminine hygiene products.
View ArticleAGENDA: It’s budget week in the S.C. House
House members on Monday will start long hours of deliberations on the state’s $7.5 billion budget of general tax revenues for the 2016-17 year. Allocations include up to $1.2 billion in surplus...
View ArticleNEWS: On candidate filings, Pinckney’s legacy
Staff reports | As of 9 a.m. today, more than 750 people had filed for state and local offices up for grabs in November (most are local offices). Also: A brief on the Lowcountry Ministries Fund.
View ArticleAGENDA: Legislators take off the next week
Staff reports | After a week spent grappling with and approving a $7.5 billion state budget, House members will take off the next two weeks, meeting again on April 12. The Senate, meanwhile, will be in...
View ArticleTALLY SHEET: Comprehensive drug testing to animal shelters and telemedicine
Staff reports | Of interest this week:House members, who grappled with the budget through Wednesday, waited until then to introduce a little more than two dozen new bills, most of which dealt with...
View ArticleBRIEFS: Williamson to leave S.C. tech colleges for N.C.
Palmetto Politics: Jimmie Williamson, who has spent a career in the S.C. Technical College System and served as its head for the last two years, will be the next president of North Carolina’s community...
View ArticleAGENDA: Long-awaited ethics reform debate ahead?
State senators may resume the seemingly forgotten, long-stalled debate to make major changes to state ethics laws. Most of the rough spots have been smoothed, but the major sticking point still seems...
View ArticleTALLY SHEET: Few bills offered in state Senate
With the state Senate being the only game in town for the past week, lawmakers offered few new bills: On school boards, college boards, bathrooms, energy.
View ArticleAGENDA: Crossover date looms
It’s three weeks until the legislature’s “crossover date” -- the May 1 deadline for bills from one chamber to be approved in time to be considered by the second without the need of a supermajority just...
View ArticleNEWS BRIEFS: Legislature full of activity in recent days; Pastides’ retirement
This week's News Briefs includes updates on the so-called "bathroom bill" by Sen. Lee Bright, ethics reform, a shorter legislative session and road funding. Also: USC President Harris Pastides'...
View ArticleTALLY SHEET: On roads, wheel weights, bonding, abortion
Lawmakers introduced 90 bills as the legislature heads for a close in six weeks. Among those of interest relate to health insurance, roads, wheel weights, transportation, higher education and recycling.
View ArticleBRIEF: School spending drops where people are poor, study shows
If you had an inkling that the recession pummeled public education, now you can point to an analysis by the S.C. Appleseed Legal Justice Center on school spending. It outlines devastating news that’s...
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