By Lindsay Street, Statehouse correspondent | It’s not exactly the homecoming welcome GOP Greenville Rep. Ashley Trantham wants to see after a long day in Columbia: litter piled up on roadways.
So over the last few years,, she said she has done some digging. While she says she’s not one to introduce legislation for the sake of legislation, she is looking at dropping multiple bills to address litter in South Carolina because litter is “not a priority for our state.”
She’s even thought of a catchy slogan: “Don’t be trashy, South Carolina.” Though that hasn’t quite caught on with state agencies she’s spoken with, she said.
Trantham said it’s time for the state to create a “litter game plan.”
Palmetto Pride Executive Director Sarah Lyles said the legislature-created nonprofit that focuses on litter has a plan.
“We are primarily a volunteer-oriented organization and help in the creating and implementing programs across the state to address litter prevention. We do this through enforcement, education, awareness and pickup. Our funding comes from donations, business sponsorships and court fines,” Lyles wrote in an email to Statehouse Report.
Trantham said she will likely begin her litter-control efforts with two bills: making towing companies responsible for wreck cleanup, and addressing huge sheets of plastic debris coming off transportation trucks.
Lyles said that while her group and state agencies work to cleanup main roads, secondary roads get little to no coverage except through local programs.
“The rural areas are in the greatest need for programs and pickup as they often are the most economically challenged,” Lyles said.
In other news:
State pension bill introduced. A House bill that seeks to change the state’s pension plan from a “defined benefit” to a “defined contribution” (think the difference between a guarantee retirement percentage of your salary versus a 401(k) plan) was introduced this week by Bluffton Republican Rep. Jeff Bradley. The bill is co-sponsored by House Speaker Jay Lucas. See the bill here. Why? Because some lawmakers have felt that phase one didn’t go far enough in decreasing the state’s liability with pensions. Read our previous coverage about “phase two” of pension changes looming in South Carolina.
Question of Santee Cooper’s fate continues. As the question of what to do with massive public utility Santee Cooper has become nearly a primary-focus of the state legislature, here’s a roundup of headlines from this week’s coverage of Santee Cooper:
- NextEra purchase of Santee Cooper could shift costs, risks to taxpayers
- Senate panel listens to NextEra’s presentation to buy Santee Cooper
- State senators hold first hearing on Santee Cooper
- Santee Cooper releases reform plan
- Inside NextEra’s bid for utility, a way to charge for incomplete projects
- S.C. lawmakers could decide by mid-March on future of Santee Cooper
The House Ways and Means Committee has announced several Santee Cooper-related meetings for next week:
- 1 p.m. Feb. 24 in room 521 of the Blatt building for public testimony by the S.C. Department of Administration;
- 9 a.m. Feb. 25 in room 521 of the Blatt building for public testimony by NextEra Energy;
- 1 p.m. Feb. 26 in room 521 of the Blatt building for public testimony by Dominion Energy; and,
- 1 p.m. Feb. 27 in room 521 of the Blatt building for public testimony by Santee Cooper.
The Senate Finance Committee has announced these meetings for next week:
- 9 a.m. Feb. 25 in room 105 of the Gressette building for public testimony by Central Electric Cooperative and Santee Cooper; and,
- 9 a.m. Feb. 26 in room 105 of the Gressette building for public testimony by Santee Cooper.
Education bill keeps Senate tied up. A second attempt sought this week to limit debate in the Senate. A bipartisan group of Senators stopped it. Read more.
Ways and Means finalizes its version of the budget. House budget writers didn’t veer too far from Gov. Henry McMaster’s proposed executive budget, which called for $3,000 public teacher raises and $33 million set aside for state employee merit-based raises. House committee members also included a $25 disaster relief fund, and $100 million for rural roads. More. The budget will be printed in the next few days and lie on the desks of House members for two weeks. Members will begin the budget debate on the House floor before mid-March.
2020 candidate calendar
Throughout the campaign season, we have been working to keep South Carolina informed of candidate events in the state. The S.C. Democratic Presidential Preference Primary is Feb. 29.
Warren in North Charleston. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren will talk about the church’s role in politics 1:30 p.m. Feb. 22. More info.
Big Tent Block Party in Georgetown. Candidates have been invited to speak at the Georgetown Democratic Headquarters 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 22 in Georgetown.
Black history celebration and primary kickoff. Democratic presidential candidates have been invited to speak at the African American History Celebration and Democratic Presidential Primary Kickoff 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 23 at Mason Temple Church of God in Christ in Conway.
CNN town halls in Charleston. Here are town halls being hosted by CNN at Memminger Auditorium in Charleston:
- Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg at 8 p.m. Feb. 24;
- Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders at 9 p.m. Feb. 24;
- Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar at 7 p.m. Feb. 26;
- Former Vice President Joe Biden at 8 p.m. Feb. 26;
- Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg at 9 p.m. Feb. 26; and,
- Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren at 10 p.m. Feb. 26.
Steyer’s week in South Carolina. Billionaire Tom Steyer will hold several events next week before the Democratic primary Feb. 29.
- 2:30 p.m. Feb. 23 at 719 Magnolia Street West, Hampton.
- 4:45 p.m. Feb. 23 at 2 Trask Parkway, Yemassee.
- 8 a.m. Feb. 24 in Hilton Head Island Beach and Tennis Resort.
- 12:30 p.m. Feb. 26 in Georgetown. Info.
- 5:30 p.m. Feb. 26 in Myrtle Beach. Info.
- 8 a.m. Feb. 27 in Orangeburg. Info.
- 4:30 p.m. Feb. 27 on Johns Island. Info.
- 8 a.m. Feb. 28 in Sumter. Info.
Presidential candidate’s spouses luncheon. A luncheon with spouses of current Democratic presidential candidates is slated for noon Feb. 25 in the Cedar Room in Charleston. More info.
Final debate before the primary to be held in Charleston. The 10th 2020 Democratic presidential debate is Feb. 25 at the Gaillard Center in Charleston. It will be broadcast by CBS.
First in the South Dinner with candidates. Charleston will host the First in the South Dinner 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Charleston Marriott. More info.
Buttigieg in Columbia. Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg will attend a Get Out the Vote Town Hall 7-9 p.m. Feb. 28 in Columbia. More info.
Trump in North Charleston. Incumbent Republican President Donald Trump will hold a Keep America Great Rally 7 p.m. Feb. 28 at North Charleston Coliseum. More info.
We Can Do Better, South Carolina!