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The State House Gavel shares updates about the South Carolina General Assembly, including legislative actions, debates and discussions. Featuring news and interviews, so you have access to the latest developments in policy and decisions that shape South Carolina’s future.

The State House Gavel: State of the State recap, SC treasurer rejects calls to resign

S.C. Treasurer Curtis Loftis testifies Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, before a S.C. House Ways and Means Constitutional Subcommittee about the $1.8 billion accounting error.
GAVIN JACKSON
S.C. Treasurer Curtis Loftis testifies Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, before a S.C. House Ways and Means Constitutional Subcommittee about the $1.8 billion accounting error.

Statehouse reporters Gavin Jackson, Russ McKinney and Maayan Schechter are back at the Capitol reporting what you need to know when lawmakers are in Columbia. They'll post news, important schedules, photos/videos and behind-the-scenes interviews with policymakers.

Welcome to Thursday, the "Friday" of the Legislature's week.

And it's the end of Week 3 — though it feels like Week 400.

Gov. Henry McMaster, now South Carolina's longest-serving governor in state history, gave his penultimate and eighth total State of the State address Wednesday night.

McMaster repeated some of his greatest hits: He talked about the booming economy, economic development and called for the state's income tax rate to be cut — all issues he's talked about in his executive budget.

Were there surprises, like when he said last year that he would fight unions to the "gates of hell?" Keep reading!

Both chambers had a pretty late night Wednesday, but the House gavels in at 10 a.m. after passing through a new rules package after the State of the State ended. And the Senate returns at 11 a.m. to hold an expected final vote on the private school voucher bill that uses Education Lottery dollars.

This is The State House Gavel, a new daily reporter notebook by reporters Gavin JacksonRuss McKinney and Maayan Schechter that will preview and capture what goes on at the South Carolina Statehouse this year while lawmakers are in session.

Notebook highlights:

  • Gov. McMaster's State of the State marks his longest-serving tenure as CEO of the state by calling on lawmakers to pass energy capacity reform, spend more money on conservation efforts and school resource officers, among other priorities for the Republican governor. And state Sen. Margie Bright Matthews, D-Colleton, one of two women in the Senate, gives the Democratic response.
  • Treasurer Curtis Loftis calls legislative hearings into the $1.8 billion accounting error a "political witch hunt" and rebuffs calls that he resign from office in a heated meeting with lawmakers.
  • As one of the fastest-growing, if not the fastest, growing state, South Carolina's economy is having a pretty good year so far.
  • House Republicans push through rules in final hours of the day, angering the House Freedom Caucus.
  • Gov. McMaster's Cabinet appointee to head the Department of Natural Resources sails through confirmation hearing.
Russ McKinney, Maayan Schechter and Gavin Jackson
SCETV
Russ McKinney, Maayan Schechter and Gavin Jackson

McMaster goes big on nuclear

Gov. McMaster used his eighth State of the State to call on the Legislature to further reduce the income tax rate, spend more money on school resource officers and teachers and conservation.

But he also put his thumb on the scale over whether the Legislature should restart construction of two nuclear reactors at the V.C. Summer nuclear site in Fairfield County — a $9 billion mess that utility customers are still footing the bill for.

"I believe that restarting these two reactors will not only help fuel our state’s future power needs, but will also usher in a nuclear power renaissance across the country, one that will spur nationwide investment and construction of new nuclear power generation. This will provide America with ample, clean, resilient energy for the future and deter challenges to our national security," he said.

Since last year, legislators have held meetings over the state's energy capacity.

And state Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, has largely led the charge over reviving construction of the nuclear reactors.

What we noticed was missing in this Wednesday address?

To start, we *did* hear the governor talk about health care policy, namely that he wants lawmakers to pass the health care department consolidation bill that the hardline House Freedom Caucus killed on the last day of session last year using a procedural move.

He also again endorsed private school vouchers, but also noted later on that the state Education Lottery account (which the Senate bill would use to cover tuition grants) is down in revenue, by almost $32 million.

OK, so what was missing in the speech?

No mention about the $1.8 billion accounting error or any issues surrounding it, and no mention about red meat conservative issues, like abortion.

He did, however, call for civility at the end.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, center, gives his State of the State speech Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)
Jeffrey Collins/AP
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AP
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, center, gives his State of the State speech Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)

Speaking of the economy, a new report out Wednesday is putting some muscle behind McMaster's yearly address.

The state Department of Employment and Workforce reported Wednesday that December's unemployment rate dipped slightly to 4.7%, down a tenth of a percent from November.

DEW's director William Floyd said the state ended last year by "achieving the largest labor force in the state’s history, a record number of people working, and a record number of jobs. More specifically, December’s labor force was 2,536,654, an increase of more than 66,000 individuals year-over-year.” 

Where were the biggest job gains? Construction, finance and insurance, private education services

Where were the losses? Manufacturing, leisure and hospitality and government.

File
Josh Olalde
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Unsplash
File

Loftis calls $1.8B questioning a 'political witch hunt'

We write, yet again, that the state's $1.8 billion accounting error problem is not going anywhere.

And the latest back-and-forth between the state treasurer and a House budget-writing subcommittee on Wednesday resulted in even more questions than lawmakers had before.

Back up: A couple of years ago, it was publicly disclosed that there was a $3.5 billion accounting error that occurred when the state moved from one accounting system to another. It led to the resignation of then-Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom. (Gov. McMaster appointed Brian Gaines in his place). Then, not far after, news breaks about a mysterious $1.8 billion that lawmakers aren't sure if it's actual cash. They spend $3 million to hire an outside audit firm, which says $1.6 billion of that money is not real. Last week, state Auditor George Kennedy resigns. The whole ordeal is also under federal investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

So, that leaves the third person involved: Republican Treasurer Curtis Loftis, who on Wednesday called the legislative pressure into his office and him a "political witch hunt."

Loftis testified for more than an hour Wednesday, which included his rejection of calls to resign.

Here's a snippet of his back-and-forth with subcommittee member, state Rep. Micah Caskey, R-Lexington.

Treasurer Curtis Loftis testifies before S.C. House subcommittee 1/29/25

"I am pointing my blame at all of you," Caskey told Loftis after multiple questions about why his office, the comptroller's office and auditor's office did not tell the Legislature for years about the accounting error and ask for help.

Editor's Note: This section will be updated Thursday.

South Carolina Treasurer Curtis Loftis asks a question of his staff during a Statehouse hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)
Jeffrey Collins/AP
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AP
South Carolina Treasurer Curtis Loftis asks a question of his staff during a Statehouse hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)

RIP April crossover deadline

Cue sad/happy/moody music.

The April crossover deadline is, well, officially dead.

On Wednesday, the House mirrored the Senate and passed a rather large rules package that targeted a number of procedural matters and included the elimination of the hated/loved by some April crossover deadline.

"Crossover week," as it was affectionately known, is the week in the early part of April when lawmakers hurry — sometimes sprint — to pass a flurry of bills before the week's end that if not met could ultimately kill their legislation.

Lawmakers have always loved to complain about the deadline.

Many have called it arbitrary and useless.

Now, it's no longer.

The rules package, H.3815, passed the lower chamber 63-38.

In addition to the April deadline, the rules package struck the motion period and committee of the whole, largely to work around lawmakers pulling bills out of the committee process. And it explicitly forbids political commentary by the clerk, reading clerk, chaplain and sergeant at arms — all positions in the House that are elected by the members.

Democrats, who right now hold only 34 of the 124 seats in the House, opposed the measure. So did members of the House Freedom Caucus, a group of 16 to 17 legislators who are not members of the traditional House GOP Caucus.

Gov's DNR Cabinet pick sails to final vote

Gov. McMaster’s nominee to be the new director of the Department of Natural Resources appears headed for a smooth confirmation by the Senate.

Tom Mullikin, a Camden attorney, won unanimous approval Wednesday from the Senate’s Fish, Game, and Forestry Committee.

The full Senate is expected to consider Mullikin’s nomination within the next couple of weeks.

South Carolina Floodwater Commission Chairman Tom Mullikin talks to reporters on the grounds of the Governor's Mansion in Columbia, S.C., on Thursday, April 22, 2021. Officials gathered to commemorate the planting of more than three million tree seeds across the state on Earth Day this year. (AP Photo/Michelle Liu)
Michelle Liu/AP
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AP
South Carolina Floodwater Commission Chairman Tom Mullikin talks to reporters on the grounds of the Governor's Mansion in Columbia, S.C., on Thursday, April 22, 2021. Officials gathered to commemorate the planting of more than three million tree seeds across the state on Earth Day this year. (AP Photo/Michelle Liu)

Daily planner (1/30)

SC House

SC Senate

The first year of the legislative session is set to end May 11, which is less than a month away. Crossover Day was April 10 which is a time when bills have to clear one chamber to another in order to have a higher chance of making it to the governor’s desk before Sine Die this year.
Gavin Jackson
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SCETV/SC Public Radio

Freshman spotlight: Tiny mic edition

There are a whopping 32 new lawmakers in the General Assembly.

And 19 of them are in the House. The Senate has 13.

It's time you to get to know them, so welcome to our freshman spotlight where we introduce every day a new member of their respective chamber. (We edit for clarity.)

Next up: State Rep. Adam Duncan, who represents House District 2, covering parts of Oconee and Pickens counties.

What restaurant would you recommend to any visitor in your district: I'm a little biased, but we have a lot of great restaurants. We have Seneca Family Restaurant, we have Vangeli's if you're looking for something a little bit more upscale. And we also have some great Mexican restaurants, Puerto Nuevo, Papa Julio's. If you're looking for a cocktail, you got to stop by The Spot. They're the best wings in town.

Last TV show you watched: I usually have The Office just playing. I can watch that one over and over. (Dwight tops his favorite character list.)

Gamecock or Tiger: Sorry Columbia, but go Tigers!

What was your song of 2024, or artist you have on repeat: I like Shane Smith and the Saints, so "All the Way" is probably what I've been listening to the most. It's country, it's that fiddle country.

Where is your go-to vacation spot: I love Hilton Head. I've got some friends down there. But, really, it's hard to beat Lake Keowee in Oconee County.

S.C. Rep. Adam Duncan, R-Oconee
MAAYAN SCHECHTER
S.C. Rep. Adam Duncan, R-Oconee

Statehouse clips from around the state

Maayan Schechter (My-yahn Schek-ter) is a news reporter with South Carolina Public Radio and ETV. She worked at South Carolina newspapers for a decade, previously working as a reporter and then editor of The State’s S.C. State House and politics team, and as a reporter at the Aiken Standard and the Greenville News. She grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, and graduated from the University of North Carolina-Asheville in 2013.
Gavin Jackson graduated with a visual journalism degree from Kent State University in 2008 and has been in the news industry ever since. He has worked at newspapers in Ohio, Louisiana and most recently in South Carolina at the Florence Morning News and Charleston Post and Courier.
Russ McKinney has 30 years of experience in radio news and public affairs. He is a former broadcast news reporter in Spartanburg, Columbia and Atlanta. He served as Press Secretary to former S.C. Governor Dick Riley for two terms, and for 20 years was the chief public affairs officer for the University of South Carolina.