How to watch SC Gov. McMaster’s State of the State address and the Democratic response
S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster will deliver his annual State of the State address Wednesday night, laying out his 2020 priorities for every member of the General Assembly and the viewing public.
The speech, which will air live on S.C. ETV at 7 p.m., is an opportunity for McMaster to share specifics from his agenda as well as set the tone for the state in 2020.
The governor likely will touch on priorities he’s laid out in his executive budget. He also has said he would push lawmakers to shed light on a secret system of sending millions in taxpayer dollars on projects in lawmakers’ districts, a pledge he made after a State newspaper investigation on the topic.
Banning abortion at about six weeks of pregnancy, giving teachers pay raises and expanding the state’s free 4-year-old kindergarten program for children living in poverty also are priorities McMaster already has announced.
To offer a rebuttal to the Richland Republican’s speech, State House Democrats have tapped a Richland County lawmaker.
S.C. House Minority Leader Todd Rutherford will deliver the response, Rutherford told The State on Tuesday. Its the first time he has been tapped for the job.
Rutherford, a Columbia attorney, has served in the S.C. House since 1999.
Similar to the minority party’s response to the president’s State of the Union address, the S.C. rebuttal traditionally involves up-and-coming lawmakers who may be mulling higher office.
In 2018, the party picked then state Rep. James Smith, D-Richland, who ran for governor that year, to give the response. In 2017, the party had Sen. Thomas McElveen of Sumter answer the governor’s address. And in 2016, state Rep. Mandy Powers Norrell, D-Lancaster, who two years later became Smith’s running mate, gave the response.
Rutherford was elected minority leader in the House in 2013.
Following McMaster’s address Wednesday night, Rutherford’s response will be aired on S.C. ETV.
This story was originally published January 21, 2020 at 3:00 PM.
