By james art 
Happy WednesdayS
Several Quick notes lead us in the middle of the week.
- The first South Carolina lawyer Brooke Andrew Now the US lawyer is acting after now the US lawyer form Adair Ford Boroughseavesdropped by Former President Joe Bidenwas essentially fired because of the vacancies reform law (otherwise known as President Donald Trump It’s now in the White House). Now it is up to Trump to name Borose’s heir. Last term he indicated a lawyer and a former country Rep. Peter McCoyS Among those considered now? Brian SterlingDirector of the State Department for correction. Boro talks Gavin Jackson last month of This week in South CarolinaS
- Thehe The house Version of A $ 14 billion government’s government plan plan Will not hit the floor to March 10S But for now what are these linear it seems and what provisions (Annual laws attached to the budget) Get or deleted is for debate in Committee of ways and meansWhich plans to finalize these decisions this week.
- Governor Henry McMaster Tuesday appointed Brigadier General Robin Styluel In order to be the next South Carolina Adjutant General, managing to leave Major General van McCarthyS Stiilwell is currently director of joint staff for SC National GuardS McCarthy will remain in the position up to Senate Confirm Stiilwell.
Notebook accents:
- A Senate Financing Committee of SC grilled Cashier Curtis Loftis Chief of Staff, Clarissa adamsFor more than three hours for the external audit and her knowledge of accountS
- Break up House and Senate Judicial action.
- Large consumers of industrial energy and several state senators insist “A limited choice of retail“As the legislature debates energy capacityS
The Senate puts the cashier’s employees in a hot place
The fall over the not -so -mystery of South Carolina $ 1.8 billion accounting error It is not close to it anywhere.
For nearly four controversial hours on Tuesday, a Senate Financing Committee Grilled Panel State Chief of Cabinet, Head of staff, Clarissa adamsFor her knowledge of Error and $ 3 million Alixpartners out of audit This showed that $ 1.6 billion This account didn’t really exist.
Cashier Curtis Loftis not attending the meeting on Tuesday, despite this chairman of the committee Senator Larry YoungsR-Berkeley, he told last Thursday that he was told that Loftis would be present.
Loftis posted on Facebook on February 15 that he was camping.
Adams, senatorialStated in their introductory remarks that the state’s accounts and investment is being correctly reported and that there is no “mysterious” bank account and there is no money stolen. She said the office is committed to complying with the audit’s recommendations.
Bridegroom He said his problem was not a mistake, but asked why he was “hidden”. And Adams replied, saying the mistake had never been hidden and said that there was nothing malicious and there was no abuse.
Senators were striving to settle their questions in several areas:
- When did Adams know about the mistake?
- Why didn’t Adams help with the attention of the legislature?
- Why did the cashier’s office hired a crisis management company and who pays for it?
- Why did the cashier told the senators last year that he would release sensitive financial data that set up security concerns?
- What can an investigation mean, similar to continuing investigations by the US and Exchange Securities Commission, for the state?
You can Watch The full (blockbuster) hearing on the Statehouse website hereS
What’s next: The Senate Financing Subcommittee will meet again after session on Thursday to hear Controller General Brian Gaines (Which took after the then kmcroller Richard Extrom Resignation in 2023 for a larger, related error of $ 3.5 billion). The panel then plans to hold a meeting next week and call Loftis to testifyS
Calling this meeting in an order
Tuesday there was more than a House and Senate action.
Here’s what came out of the chamber the relevant court committeeswhich they both met entirely on Tuesday:
- Thehe Judiciary approved H. 3654 and Z. 3048which deals with Guardian Ad Litem Access to children’s well -being. and adds background checks and fingerprints to Coronor qualificationrespectively. Both bills now go to the floor of the house for a future debate.
- Until next time: Thehe Judiciary also worn Z. 3127which would increase penalties and make it a crime for aggravated failure to Stop for blue lightSuch as over 100 miles / h and transferred over H. 3276, a proposal to drive free hands. Both bills will be part of the agenda next week.
- Thehe The Senate Committee on Judiciary approved S. 12, S. 51, S. 136, S. 156, S. 157, S. 159, S. 183 – Bills dealing with energy., Recovery Damage from Storm and medicine., gun and retailS The organized bill for retail crimes, S. 159mirror version of the house, H. 3523This was just appointed to the committee. Members will use the bill for the house. The bill to reject all allegations in anticipation of illegally possessing a gun that was invalidated by the expansion of weapons rights with 2024 Constitutional Carrying Act It was also approved. The bill, C. 136He had previously accepted the legislature, but vetoed the governor. The Senate canceled it, but the time has expired.
The price of “limited selection of retail”
Group of Large consumers of industrial energy He says there is a “perfect solution” to the problem of energy deficiency in the country.
It is known as “Restricted retail choice,” And is allowed in 19 States.
What seeks to do: This would allow many large energy users (manufacturing plants, data centers, etc.) to buy their power in the open market and not be limited to one, local energy supplier – which is current legislation.
Who is behind the pressure: Thehe “Palm’s Industrial Energy Association” Calls the Senate to include a “restricted retail choice” in every energy bill adopted this session. Republican State Sens. Wes Creyerof York County, and Tom FernandezDorchester County Senator Senator announced a survey on Tuesday, saying that not forcing big consumers to buy power from a supplier would allow them to be the freedom to shop for the best deal and therefore will help them economically by taking advantage of the state S
But utility and electric cooperatives Indicate other studies that say that when a “limited choice of retail” is allowed, residential rates suffer.
“Our job is to advocate for energy policies that are beneficial for all our customers, including hundreds of thousands of families in South Carolina and small companies that depend on us for electricity,” said Avery WilksSpokesman for South Carolina’s electric cooperatives.
Daily planning (2/19)
SC house
SC Senate
