The Buzz on SC Politics
Welcome to your weekly South Carolina politics briefing, a newsletter curated by The State’s politics and government team.
Democrats on Thursday wrapped up their national convention, albeit virtually, in Milwaukee, where Joe Biden and Kamala Harris accepted their nominations to be the Democratic presidential and vice presidential nominees, respectively.
Two South Carolinians got primetime roles.
U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn and state Sen. Marlon Kimpson gave remarks this week, offering their belief about why the former vice president and the former U.S. senator from Delaware is the best man to take the White House in 2021.
Speaking from Charleston, Clyburn spoke about the history of racial injustice in the country, and how he believes Biden can unite the country.
And Kimpson, in pre-recorded remarks, spoke about why leadership matters.
“When unemployment has hit its highest rate since the Great Depression, when millions of people have seen their hours and pay slashed — Joe knows it’s not enough to rebuild the economy the way it was before. We’ve got to build back better.”
Democratic Senate candidate Jaime Harrison, meanwhile, represented South Carolina in the roll call vote.
He spoke from the state’s only public four-year historically black college, S.C. State University in Orangeburg, where Clyburn and his late wife, Emily England Clyburn, graduated. Harrison spoke next to portrait of Clyburn, who died in September.
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Now that Biden and Harris are official nominees, how will that ticket play in South Carolina?
Specifically, can Harris drive turnout among non-white voters in a state where the majority Democratic voting bloc is Black?
Democratic party officials are hoping to gain the same high turnout among Black voters as the state saw back in 2008 and 2012, when Barack Obama was on the ballot.
Up next: Republicans
Next week, Republicans get their turn.
The Republican National Convention kicks off Monday, based in Charlotte. Most of the prime-time speeches will be virtual.
South Carolina’s Republican Gov. Henry McMaster will chair South Carolina’s six-person delegation. He told The State Tuesday he’s not scheduled to speak. But he did share what he believes should be the response to the Democrats.
“I think the president will continue to say he wants to keep America strong, he’s demonstrated that,” McMaster said. “The world is a dangerous place. He’s stood up to tyrants, stood up to people not doing their share. He’s for business and he wants people to make money and be able to keep it and spend it on their families. I think he’s done an excellent job.”
Though McMaster may not speak, other South Carolinians plan to, according to media reports.
Former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and former Gov. Nikki Haley and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-North Charleston are among those scheduled to speak next week.
But how will we vote?
The Senate is coming back earlier than originally planned as calls are getting loud to expand absentee voting amid COVID-19.
Senators will return quickly on Sept. 2. The House opted not come back early and will keep its scheduled return for Sept. 15.
A lawsuit is pending that asks a federal judge to widen absentee balloting in the state. Senate President Harvey Peeler and House Speaker Jay Lucas have asked the judge not to weigh in, saying it should be a decision made by state legislators.
Clyburn on Tuesday promised there would be organized tailgates to organize absentee voting in the upcoming election. He made the comments at a news conference to highlight the importance of the postal service, especially during the pandemic.
A bill becomes a law
McMaster on Tuesday signed the Lactation Support Act, which requires employers to make a “reasonable” effort to provide a private space and an unpaid break for mothers to pump breast milk.
“Getting this bill signed into law is a big win for South Carolina and for women in South Carolina,” said state Rep. Rosalyn Henderson-Myers, D-Spartanburg, who sponsored the legislation. “This is a common sense solution to a problem that women have experienced in the workplace.”
And we can’t forget the coronavirus
State health officials confirmed last week that there are fewer COVID-19 tests being performed across the state. DHEC’s Dr. Brannon Traxler later said that could mean that there are more people with the virus going undiagnosed in the community.
Testing at DHEC sponsored events is 100% free. Mobile and permanent testing sites can be found on DHEC’s website:
And because of the economic slow down, and the subsequent drop in state revenues, caused by the pandemic, McMaster asked cabinet agencies Thursday not to ask for additional money from legislators and prepare contingency plans for budget cuts in the 2021-22 fiscal year.
“There is concern because of so much uncertainty as to whether we should be spending more money right now,” said Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield.
What direction to go in, whether to pass a budget or stick with the continuing resolution, will depend on the information and revenue projections the Board of Economic Advisors provides ahead of the September session, Massey said.
“Based on the uncertainty we’ve heard so far, I do think it’s good the governor is telling his cabinet to put the brakes on any type of additional spending requests right now,” Massey said.
Buzz Bites
▪ Lindsey Graham, during a visit to the Carolina Pregnancy Center in Spartanburg, spoke about endorsements he received from anti-abortion organizations South Carolina Citizens for Life and the Susan B. Anthony List.
▪ Speaking of Graham, his re-election campaign released a new television ad taking aim at Harrison’s lobbying history in Washington, D.C.
▪ The Columbia City Council on Tuesday voted to make Juneteenth a city holiday and is considering an ordinance aimed at curbing house parties with college students back in town for the academic year.
▪ Democrat Moe Brown, who is challenging Republican Congressman Ralph Norman in the 5th District, is running his first TV ads of the election cycle.
▪ Case Brittain won a special election to be the Republican candidate in the Myrtle Beach-area 107th House District, replacing Alan Clemmons on the ballot. Clemmons resigned from the seat.
▪ Archie Parnell, a twice failed Democratic congressional candidate, tossed his hat into the Sumter mayoral race Monday. Parnell’s second congressional campaign sunk after reports that he beat his wife in the 70s surfaced.
▪ During a forum with the Chamber of Commerce Tuesday, Sens. Graham and Scott urged voters to ensure that Democrats don’t seize control of the Senate in November. Graham also sounded off about his own Senate race against Harrison, which grows tighter by the day.
▪ Of the 16,000 students who didn’t complete school work in the spring or completed very little, state officials have located all but 780, the Department of Social Services reported Wednesday.
Mark your calendar
Aug. 24
Republican National Convention
S.C. Board of Economic Advisors meeting to discuss year-end trends, economic situation due to COVID-19
Aug. 25
S.C. House Sentencing Reform subcommittee, 10 a.m.
S.C. House Law Enforcement Officer Training, Tactics, Standards and Accountability Subcommittee, 1:30 p.m.
Republican National Convention
Aug. 26
S.C. House Criminal Statutory Review Subcommittee, 10 a.m.
S.C. House Ways and Means CARES Act Ad Hoc Committee, 2 p.m.
Republican National Convention
Aug. 27
Republican National Convention
Aug. 31
S.C. Board of Economic Advisors announces new revenue projections
Sept. 2
S.C. Senate returns to State House to take up voting issues related to COVID-19, noon
S.C. House Ways and Means CARES Act Ad Hoc Committee, 2 p.m.
Before We Adjourn
This week, Democratic National Convention viewers met state Sen. Marlon Kimpson — or his accent.
The Charleston Democrat was among 17 identified rising Democratic stars who spoke virtually Tuesday night in a joint speech.
And viewers had some thoughts and a little lighthearted teases.
“Marlon Kimpson was the kid in school who reminded the teacher they forgot to collect the homework,” tweeted Barstool News Network.
The senator with the unique Southern drawl didn’t seem to take it personally.
But, for any students reading this, make sure you turn in your homework. Kimpson might remind the teacher the work was due.
Who pulled together this week’s newsletter?
This week it was reporter Joseph Bustos, who works on The State’s government and politics team. Keep up with him, or his rotating art collection, on Twitter @JoeBReporter or send him story tips at jbustos@thestate.com.
Make sure to sign up for our weekly politics newsletter that will come straight to your inbox each week. Tell your friends to do the same. For even more South Carolina-focused political news, you can chat with us on Facebook at the Buzz on South Carolina Politics, email us tips at thebuzz [at] thestate [dot] com and follow our stories at scpolitics.com.
This story was originally published August 20, 2020 at 5:19 PM.
