By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | South Carolina senators voted 44-1 Thursday to reform, not sell, Santee Cooper, the state’s utility. Its plan contrasts with a House proposal to set up a panel to consider selling all or part of the generator, which has been mired in controversy since the $9 billion debacle in 2017 of a project to build nuclear reactors in Fairfield County.
“We recognize and appreciate the considerable time and effort that legislators have spent getting to this point, and we are hopeful this will lead to a resolution that brings the most benefit to our customers and the state,” said Santee Cooper spokeswoman Mollie Gore today.
The House, which now will get the Senate’s revision of a House bill, is expected to disagree, which will force the issue into a conference committee for lawmakers to develop a compromise. It’s unclear whether there’s enough time in the session to hammer out a House-Senate deal on the issue that’s been contentious for years and led Santee Cooper’s private partner in the nuclear deal, SCE&G, to be sold to Dominion Energy.
In recent months, NextEra Energy has been spending big on television ads to showcase its offerings even though it currently doesn’t operate in the state. The Florida-based utility has been clear it wants to purchase Santee Cooper, which was reiterated in a letter last week in which it essentially sought to meet privately with lawmakers to work out a deal. The push may have backfired this week as senators voted 38-6 during the Santee Cooper debate to reject addition of a provision for a legislative committee to take offers on the state utility.
In related news, Gov. Henry McMaster has nominated former state House representative and former U.S. attorney Peter McCoy of Charleston for a seven-year post as board chair of Santee Cooper.
In other recent news:
Senators ask S.C. prosecutor to probe DJJ audit. A South Carolina Senate panel looking into an audit of the state agency that houses and educates juvenile offenders has now asked S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson to probe the same report to decide whether anyone may have acted “improperly or criminally.” More: The State
McMaster sets aside $12.5M for expanding juvenile programs. McMaster announced Wednesday that he is investing $12.05 million to expand juvenile delinquency prevention programs. The money comes from his discretionary use of federal coronavirus relief funds. More: Florence Morning News
Hate crime bill backers rush against session end in S.C. Supporters of making South Carolina the next-to-last state in the U.S. to pass a hate crime law acknowledged Wednesday they are running out of time in this year’s legislative session. The bill passed the House and is now in the full Senate Judiciary Committee. Senators are already saying it will be hard to get it to the floor before the session ends May 13. More: AP/South Carolina Public Radio
Moore introduces 911-abuse bill. Hanahan Democratic Rep. J.A. Moore has introduced a bill named the “Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies” act — or the CAREN Act. It seeks to curb racially motivated calls to 911. The bill seems to be a reference to the internet meme of being a “Karen,” a fictional woman who, among other things, calls the police on Black people who are simply doing human things. More: Charleston City Paper
S.C. Senate OKs raises for teachers, state workers. The Senate Finance Committee set aside money for a 2 percent raise for state employees and a $1,000 raise for all teachers after a budget draft found the economic downturn in the wake of the pandemic was not as bad as feared. More: AP News
McMaster signs five-day learning bill into law. The governor has signed a bill into law that requires all school districts in the state to offer five days of in-person learning every week starting April 26. More: WIS TV
Scott to deliver GOP rebuttal to Biden address. U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-South Carolina, will deliver Republicans’ rebuttal to President Joe Biden’s joint address to Congress next week. More: AP News
Chauvin verdict renews Scott’s fight for police reform. U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-South Carolina, has led Republicans in crafting a police reform bill in the wake of the George Floyd killing by police in Minneapolis. Now that one of those officers has been convicted of murder — Derek Chauvin — Scott is among those in Washington looking to tweak police policies on the federal level. More: The Washington Post
Cunningham eyes governor’s seat. Former Democratic Congressman Joe Cunningham of Charleston upset the Republican grip on a congressional seat for only one term. Now, he’s looking at another Republican stronghold in the state: governor. He filed preliminary paperwork for a run recently. More: The Charlotte Observer
We Can Do Better, South Carolina!