MORNING BUZZ: Senators tackle school equity + young Dems wax ‘millennial’ issues

Senate panel takes up school-funding lawsuit

A five-member state Senate panel meets to discuss last year’s S.C. Supreme Court ruling that declared the state's K-12 public education system unconstitutional.

The senators, led by Democrat Nikki Setzler of Lexington and Republican Wes Hayes of York, will hear from S.C. Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman and Ken Moffitt, the assistant clerk of the Senate. (1 p.m. or after the Senate adjourns / Gressette 308)

The Supreme Court also ordered state lawmakers to work with the poor, rural school districts that sued the state to come up with ways to address inequality in the state’s public-school system. The court did not provide any guidelines or deadlines for completing that work.

Gov. Nikki Haley and state legislators in both chambers asked the court to rehear the case, but the court denied that request.

The House also formed a panel to address the lawsuit that includes members of the business community and representatives of the plaintiff school districts. That panel is tasked with completing a report by January.

Young Dems weigh in on economy, poverty

Young Democrats will discuss the impact of the S.C. economy on the millennial generation. Democratic state Reps. Mary Tinkler of Charleston and Justin Bamberg of Bamberg will join Young Democrats of South Carolina president Michael Glymph and other lawmakers and young activists to discuss the Palmetto State’s high poverty rate, jobs situation and the S.C. State University crisis. (11 a.m. / State House, first floor lobby)

State House today

The S.C. House meets at 10 a.m. (Calendar / Watch)

The S.C. Senate meets at 11 a.m. (Calendar / Watch)

This story was originally published April 23, 2015 at 7:13 AM with the headline "MORNING BUZZ: Senators tackle school equity + young Dems wax ‘millennial’ issues."