Senate panel approves Christy Hall to head Transportation Department

State senators on a transportation panel unanimously approved Christy Hall to lead the S.C. Department of Transportation Wednesday.

The full Senate likely will consider Hall’s appointment next week, said panel chairman state Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Berkeley.

Senators praised Hall.

In his more than 30 years in the Senate, Senate President Pro Tempore Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence, said he has not seen the Transportation Department perform as well as it did during the October flooding under Hall’s leadership.

Senators also approved a resolution to allow the governor to continue to appoint the Transportation Department secretary. That power was set to expire last year, but lawmakers extended it. That extension, done through the state budget, is being challenged in court, Grooms said.

This story was originally published January 20, 2016 at 12:34 PM with the headline "Senate panel approves Christy Hall to head Transportation Department."