The Statehouse Brief: Top Three Things You Need to Know
January 18, 2015
New on LowcountryBizSC. Each week during the 121st Legislative Session of the South Carolina General Assembly, Ashley Hunter of McKay Public Affairs will report on the top three things you need to know about issues affecting you as a business person and citizen. Are you interested in politics? Does infrastructure funding affect your business? Ethics reform?
By Ashley Hunter
1. The 121st Legislative Session is officially underway. Every year, on the second Tuesday in January, the 170 members of the South Carolina General Assembly return to Columbia for the beginning of a new Legislative Session. This year, we have 13 newly-elected House members, as well as a mostly re-elected slate of Constitutional Officers. The SC Senate is made up of 46 members. Currently, there are 28 Republicans and 18 Democrats. The SC House is made up of 124 members. Currently, there are 77 Republicans, 46 Democrats and 1 vacant seat. (Rep. Kris Crawford, R-Florence, resigned in December shortly after being elected to his fifth term.) Not only do we have new members in the House, we have new leadership in both the House and Senate. Former Attorney General, Henry McMaster, has been elected to the position of Lt. Governor and has replace former Senator Yancey McGill at the head of the SC Senate.
2. The House Transportation Infrastructure Management Ad Hoc Committee met for several hours this past Monday. This committee is charged with proposing solutions to state road and infrastructure funding. Chairman Gary Simrill (R-Rock Hill) told the committee members that his goal is to have a bill to introduce in the House by the end of January. Simrill has stated that his main goals are to fix the highway system first, fund it second; and before raising fees or taxes, seek ways to make the Department of Transportation (DOT) more effective. Members of the committee offered their suggestions. Representative Mac Toole (R-Lexington) suggested sending the DOT the unclaimed prize money from the Education Lottery Fund, increasing vehicle registration and combining the DOT with the State Infrastructure Bank.
Representative Phyllis Henderson (R-Greenville) suggested eliminating certain sales tax deductions and asked if counties could levy an impact fee if they were given control of certain state roads. Representative Rita Allison (R-Duncan) expressed the need for more checks and balances within the DOT. Representative Lonnie Hosey (D-Barnwell) stated he was currently opposed to turning the state roads back over to counties to fund and manage. Representative Joe Neal (D-Columbia) offered 21 potential funding options. Chairman Simrill discussed cutting the gas tax and applying more of the sales tax revenue for roads. Speaker Lucas noted that over 18,000 miles in the state are local roads. The committee will continue meeting to discuss various solutions for this major legislative issue.
3. Another major legislative undertaking for this year is Ethics Reform. On Tuesday, a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee unanimously voted to give a favorable report to Senate Bill 1. This sweeping reform bill addresses everything from lobbyist filings, judicial screenings and elections to campaign finance disclosures. Several amendments were offered and adopted at this week’s subcommittee meeting. The bill will now move forward for debate in the full Senate Judiciary Committee, Chaired by Senator Larry Martin (R-Pickens).
For more information about legislative issues, you can contact Ashley Hunter, Vice President of McKay Public Affairs at [email protected].
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