By Lindsay Street, Statehouse correspondent | State lawmakers are rolling back into Columbia beginning Monday for a planned special session.
The first year of the two year session ended May 9, but with several key bills awaiting agreement between the two bodies — including the state spending plan — leaders sought a special session. It is currently scheduled for noon Monday in both bodies, and will address a shortened calendar that should only bring lawmakers to Columbia for a few days
The three top conference priorities are a resolution on how to evaluate bids for public utility Santee Cooper (see today’s top story), the $9.3 billion state budget (see our previous coverage on differences between the House and Senate version), and a $115 million incentive package to the NFL’s Carolina Panthers.
Any gubernatorial veto of the budget or any other bill coming out of the special session would require a second special session or for lawmakers to wait until January to address it.
In other news:
State flooding agency to partner with Nichols. Gov. Henry McMaster and South Carolina Floodwater Commission Chairman Tom Mullikin are partnering with the town of Nichols and Marion County on drainage maintenance. On June 15, the commission will hold its quarterly meeting in the flood-prone town, and host an event focused on improving drainage there.
McMaster vetoes seawall for wealthy. McMaster vetoed a bill this week that sought to allow a wealthy community to build its own seawall, despite the state banning such structures years ago. 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. In the coming days
- Yang. Democratic presidential candidate and businessman Andrew Yang will host a town hall Saturday in Columbia and a meet-and-greet event Sunday in Charleston.
- Sanders. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has two stops planned in South Carolina this weekend. Read more.
- Want more 2020 news? Subscribe to 2020EarlyStateNews.com. It’s free.
Looking ahead
Click below for other items coming up in the Statehouse:
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The General Assembly isn’t in regular session again until January 2020. But you can locate any of thousands of bills that are still viable by clicking the links below.
- Have a comment? Send to: feedback@statehousereport.com
what’s up on the medical Marijuana bill?
Pretty sure it’s stalled and will be on the to-do list for next year. Will ask Lindsay to give an update next week.