24 Apr Nine Days

South Carolina has a part-time legislature that convenes on Tuesday through Thursday for about 18 weeks out of the year. We are finishing the 15th week and only nine regular days of session now remain under normal circumstances.

My colleagues and I have done our part in the SC House to address education, workforce development, infrastructure, and the public employee retirement system – amongst many other things.

We began the week with approximately 75 House members gathering in the lobby to publicly request that the Senate take action to fix our dangerous roads and dilapidated bridges. In response, just hours later, the Senate finally began debate on the House-passed infrastructure package (a.k.a. the roads bill) an encouraging sign!!

Unfortunately, because of the actions of some, senators have so far not reached consensus on a pathway forward. As it stands now, the Senate is again set to take up the roads bill debate this week and I remain hopeful a compromise will be reached.

In the House, my colleagues and I spent time in committees reviewing Senate bills and vetting additional legislation. This week, we will take up Senate amendments to the budget, evaluating each through a lens of fiscal responsibility. The state budget will likely go to a conference committee where additional differences will be ironed out prior to a final vote being taken.

Thank you for the privilege of serving you in Columbia. If I can ever be of assistance to you, or if you have ideas on issues you want me to share with the rest of the General Assembly, please don’t hesitate to contact me.