By Lindsay Street, Statehouse correspondent | Gov. Henry McMaster will make an announcement before the Jan. 21 federal deadline on whether South Carolina will continue to accept refugees, according to spokesman Brian Symmes.
He said the decision could be made public as soon as today. In 2019, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that mandated states decide whether to continue allowing refugees by Jan. 21, 2020. So far, 37 states have consented and Texas is the only state to have said no to refugees.
“The governor is very deliberative,” Symmes said, adding that McMaster has been “studying and analyzing” the executive order.
However, it is unclear at the time of publication whether a Jan. 15 U.S. District Court preliminary injunction against the executive order will affect McMaster’s announcement.
South Carolina engaged in a public debate over Syrian refugees in 2015 when then-Gov. Nikki Haley and state lawmakers sought to restrict accepting them. Trump’s 2019 executive order is being billed as a way to prevent terrorism.
“State and local governments are best positioned to know the resources and capacities they may or may not have available to devote to sustainable resettlement, which maximizes the likelihood refugees placed in the area will become self-sufficient and free from long-term dependence on public assistance,” the order states.
Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin and Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg both signed a Nov. 25 letter urging Trump to rescind the order.
“Refugees contribute meaningfully to our economy as earners and taxpayers. While they receive initial assistance upon arriving in the United States, they see significant income increases in subsequent years,” the letter stated.
In other news:
Santee Cooper report delayed. The S.C. Department of Administration sent a letter to lawmakers Jan. 10 to tell them it needed an extension to finish its report on evaluating bids for the sale, reformation or management of public utility Santee Cooper. By law, the agency can have up to 60 days past the Jan. 15 extension, but many in Columbia do not expect it to take the full 60 days to complete the report. See our coverage from last week about the coming debate and the process after the report is submitted.
House adds human trafficking penalties to prostitution bill. While S.C. House members addressed Thursday Senate Bill 194, which aims to increase penalties for solicitation of prostitution, S.C. Reps. Mandy Powers Norrell, D-Lancaster, and Russell Fry, R-Surfside Beach, amended the bill Thursday to include “more teeth” for the state’s human trafficking laws as they relate to minors, Norrell told Statehouse Report. The bill received second reading and unanimous consent for third reading on Tuesday. The amended bill will go to the Senate for approval and conference.
Senate panel OKs Department of Aging nominee. The Senate Family and Veterans’ Services Committee has unanimously endorsed Connie Munn for the job of leading the S.C. Department on Aging. The vote came a year after senators rejected Gov. Henry McMaster’s first pick. The vote now heads to the Senate floor.
‘Heartbeat’ bill backers call on Senate Republicans. Two weeks after Statehouse Report reported that Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey of Edgefield doubted all Republicans would vote lockstep to pass stricter abortion regulations, supporters for House Bill 3020 flooded the lobby of the Statehouse Wednesday. Read more about the event here.
Daylight Saving Time. S.C. lawmakers have passed their first bill of the year after the House passed a resolution that says South Carolina would adhere to making daylight saving time permanent should Congress allow states to choose. Read more.
2020 candidate calendar
Throughout the campaign season, we are working to keep South Carolina informed of candidate events in the state. Have an event you want us to know about? Email us at 2020news@statehousereport.com.
Steyer to attend 12 S.C. events. Billionaire Democratic presidential hopeful Tom Steyer will attend a dozen events in South Carolina Jan. 18-20. Here are the events:
- Meet and greet 3 p.m. Jan. 18 at Jerusalem Baptist Church in Hartsville;
- Press conference 6 p.m. Jan. 18 at Seminar Brewing in Florence;
- Town hall 6:30 p.m. Jan. 18 at Seminar Brewing in Florence;
- Speech 8:40 a.m. Jan. 19 at New Ebenezer Baptist Church in Florence;
- Speech 11 a.m. Jan. 19 at Savannah Grove Church in Effingham;
- Brunch 1 p.m. Jan. 19 at Thunderbird Inn in Florence;
- Speech 3:30 p.m. Jan. 19 at NAACP rally at Premier in Orangeburg;
- Climate conversation with S.C. voters, Jan. 19 at 911 Lady St., Columbia;
- Speech 7:45 a.m. Jan. 20 at 24th annual Urban League MLK Breakfast at Brookland Baptist Church in Columbia;
- Speech 10:30 a.m. Jan. 20 at King Day Rally at the Dome at the Statehouse in Columbia;
- Criminal justice reform event 1 p.m. Jan. 20 at 1908 Wilkinson St. in Cayce; and,
- Meet and greet 5:30 p.m. Jan. 20 at Quays in Winnsboro.
Biden swings into S.C. for MLK Day. Former Vice President Joe Biden will come to South Carolina for the following events:
- Church service 11 a.m. Jan. 19 at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Columbia;
- Oyster roast 6 p.m. Jan. 19 at Orangeburg County Fairgrounds in Orangeburg (RSVP required);
- MLK breakfast 8 a.m. Jan. 20 at Brookland Baptist Church in West Columbia (RSVP required); and,
- King Day at the Dome 10 a.m. Jan. 20 at the Statehouse in Columbia.
Sanders comes for MLK Day. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders will attend the 2020 King Day at the Dome 10 a.m. Jan. 20 at the Statehouse in Columbia. He will also attend a prayer service 8:30 a.m. Jan. 20 at Zion Baptist Church in Columbia;
Debate to be held in Charleston. Democratic candidates will convene in Charleston on Feb. 25 for a nationally-televised debate that is four days before the state’s primary.
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We Can Do Better, South Carolina!
Do not bring these refugees to SC we do not want them taking over like they have in other parts of the world! SC will regret with the rest of the world , think about our citizens instead of how much money you get because your blood thirsty money grabbers, all the money in the world we ant help you when these illegals start raping and spreading deseases and killing someone in your family or someone’s family you know. Read your bible do the right thing. NO REFUGEES!