By Lindsay Street, Statehouse correspondent | Prosperity is out of reach for most South Carolina residents, according to a new scorecard that ranks the state 50th out of 51 states and the District of Columbia.
The low prosperity rank from Prosperity Now, is mostly tied to the extreme gaps in affluence indexes between white residents and residents of color.
The rank is based on states’ performance on economic measures for all residents but also accounts for racial disparities in outcomes. Relative to other states, South Carolina’s performance ranks in the bottom 10 for residents overall
Other takeaways from the scorecard:
- The state has not enacted these policy measures that Prosperity Now says are key for helping prosperity: elimination of TANF asset test, implementation of an earned income tax credit that is refundable and at least 15 percent of the federal credit, indexing or raising the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour, and discrimination protections for Section 8 voucher holders.
- 43.2 percent of S.C. households have prime credit.
- 57.8 percent of South Carolina households set aside emergency savings in the past year.
- 50.33 percent of renters in South Carolina are cost burdened.
- 15.2 percent of adults in the state could not see a doctor in the last year due to the cost.
- Read the scorecard here.
In other news:
News coverage shrinks. South Carolina’s Statehouse news coverage has diminished with the unexpected closing of South Carolina Radio Network. The radio news outlet provided online and airwave news coverage for the Statehouse, and also provided general news for the state. A spokesman for Learfield/IMG told The Post and Courier that the outlet had been “underperforming” and that the cancellation is part of a “larger strategy.” Full disclosure: the writer of this brief worked for SCRN in 2013 and 2014.
Child marriage. The House and the Senate have passed bills that will repeal a decades-old law that allows a pregnant child to be wed to an older man. Now the two bodies must reconcile the bills before sending to Gov. Henry McMaster’s desk. Read more.
House poised to make local government funding changes. The House has approved second reading of a bill that will reformulate how the state funds local governments and tie that funding to a percentage of state revenues. H. 3137 is slated for third reading on Tuesday.
Voucher law set to expand. Another bill slated for third reading next week is H. 3136, which will increase scholarship amounts for special needs children of a member of the Armed Forces who is either active duty or was killed in the line of duty. The Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office estimated this would apply to about 20 students statewide and cost an additional $220,000 annually if they were each to receive the maximum scholarship amount.
Hot toddies/topic. House members could soon see legislation on the floor that would let some local municipalities decide if they want alcohol sales on Sundays. H. 3082 advanced to full House Judiciary Committee this week.
Driving under the influence of electronics. On Tuesday, a House subcommittee approved a bill that will fine drivers $200 for using a cellphone or other electronic device in their hands. South Carolina banned texting while driving in 2014, but some say the law is weak. The bill will be heard by the full House Education and Public Works Committee.
Hatchery deal paves way for sale. State-owned utility Santee Cooper has given its fish hatchery to S.C. Department of Natural Resources in a move that could help with the sprawling utility’s sale. Read more.
Weekly update on Palmetto Priorities
Throughout the legislative session, we’ll provide you relevant updates related to our list of Palmetto Priorities, 10 big policy areas where major progress is needed for South Carolina to escape the bottom of lots of lists. Over the last week:
Gun reform: Regulating purchases. Democratic lawmakers are again championing bills to restrict or regulate gun purchases in gun-friendly South Carolina. S.C. Rep. Wendy Brawley, D-Richland, told Statehouse Report this week that she will reintroduce an assault weapons ban and hold a press conference with the Coalition Against Gun Violence on the anniversary of the 2018 deadly Parkland high school shooting. The press conference is 10 a.m. Feb. 14. Charleston Democratic Sen. Marlon Kimpson also reintroduced a bill to close the “Charleston Loophole” this week, allowing for two additional days on background checks for some gun buyers. Read more.
- Previous column: Lawmakers need to add sensible gun reform to 2019 agenda (December 2018).
- Previous coverage: Kimpson’s bill advances in committee (March 2018).
Poverty: Rural revitalization. Two House bills seeking to help rural residents of the state were introduced this week. H. 3780 (White) seeks to facilitate more broadband internet service in rural areas, with several provisions, and H. 3782 (Bamberg) seeks to enact the Rural Revitalization Act with certain individual income tax deductions in rural counties.
Corrections: Bringing back “Old Sparky.” The Senate has passed final reading of a bill that would make the electric chair the de facto method of execution in the state. The state has been unable to execute those on death row since 2011 due to being unable to obtain lethal injection drugs. Orangeburg Democratic Sen. Brad Hutto added a provision to allow inmates to choose a firing squad instead. There is a similar measure in the House.
Looking ahead
Click below for other items coming up in the Statehouse:
- House calendar
- Senate calendar
- Have a comment? Send to: feedback@statehousereport.com
We Can Do Better, South Carolina!