South Carolina Politics & News
The Daily Signal covers South Carolina politics with reporting on state leadership, education policy, economic development, and the Palmetto State’s role in presidential primaries and conservative policymaking.
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news
South Carolina Supreme Court Rules State’s ‘Heartbeat’ Abortion Law Constitutional
South Carolina’s “heartbeat” abortion law is constitutional, the state Supreme Court ruled Wednesday, vacating a preliminary injunction that had barred the measure from taking effect. In May, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican, signed into law the Fetal Heartbeat and Protection From Abortion Act. The measure restricted abortions in the state once a fetal heartbeat is… -
opinion
South Carolina Supreme Court Strikes Down State’s ‘Heartbeat’ Abortion Law
The South Carolina Supreme Court on Thursday narrowly decided that the state’s ban on most abortions after six weeks violated the state constitution. Since the U.S. Supreme Court in June correctly held that the U.S. Constitution “does not confer a right to abortion,” attacks on legal protection for the unborn have shifted to state courts… -
news
Over Democrats’ Opposition, South Carolina Passes Bill to Keep Males Out of Women’s Sports
South Carolina’s Republican-dominated House passed legislation Tuesday banning males from women’s sports despite Democrats’ stall tactics. Democrats attempted to delay the vote by proposing an estimated 1,000 amendments, according to The Associated Press. Debate on the amendments Tuesday lasted eight hours, with Democrats proposing measures such as renaming the bill the Discrimination Capital of the United States… -
opinion
South Carolina Lawsuit Challenges State’s Blaine Amendment Bias Against Religious, Private Schools
With American education turned upside down during the pandemic, the South Carolina Supreme Court barred Gov. Henry McMaster from distributing any of the funds that the state had received under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to private and religious schools. But private and religious schools and colleges in the state aren’t… -
opinion
Supreme Court Acts to Protect Election Integrity in South Carolina
The U.S. Supreme Court acted in the best interests of the voters of South Carolina on Monday by dissolving a preliminary injunction issued by a lower court. The high court responded to an emergency appeal. The injunction from U.S. District Judge J. Michelle Childs, an Obama appointee, would have prevented South Carolina from applying its… -
opinion
South Carolina Gives Parents Confidence About School This Fall
The COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in months of uncertainty for families with children in K-12 schools, but South Carolina officials on Monday made one thing clear: The state’s families will have more options this academic year. Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican, announced creation of a private school scholarship program for students from low- and middle-income… -
news
South Carolina Democrats Fight Against University Constitution Course
South Carolina Democrats argued for more than an hour to prevent legislation that would require state universities to teach a “Constitution 101” course Tuesday. The Republican-proposed bill would update an existing 1924 requirement to teach the course, which the University of South Carolina has hitherto ignored. The legislation has already passed in the Senate, but Democrats… -
opinion
South Carolina Stands Up to University, Defends Study of Founding Documents
Should college students be required to study America’s founding ideals and the founding documents from which they emanate? Many people in South Carolina believe they should. Last month, the South Carolina Senate passed the Reinforcing College Education on America’s Constitutional Heritage Act (REACH Act), which requires all college students at state colleges to take a three-credit-hour… -
opinion
This K-12 Innovation Would Help Families in South Carolina Customize Learning
Cindie Smith is not one to shy away from a challenge. Having already raised two biological children, she adopted four children with special needs and is determined to help each of them succeed. Smith and her family live in Arizona, one of five states that offer education savings accounts to eligible students. With an account,… -
news
2 Republicans Battle in Razor-Tight Runoff Primary Ahead of South Carolina June Special Election
In South Carolina’s hotly-contested primary runoff for Mick Mulvaney’s old seat, it looks like the Republican candidates are headed for a recount. Two GOP candidates, Ralph Norman and Tommy Pope, were running to fill a seat vacated by Mulvaney, who now serves as director of Office of Management and Budget. Norman received 50.3 percent of… -
news
This New Law Ensures South Carolina Students Will Study the Founding Documents
Gov. Nikki Haley, a Republican, signed a South Carolina House bill into law that implements the study of U.S. founding documents into the state’s public high schools. The South Carolina Founding Principles Act requires the study of the United States Constitution, the Federalist Papers, and “the structure of the government and the role of separation… -
news
South Carolina Obamacare Co-Op Flops
An Obamacare trend continues. With an announcement to not offer health insurance in 2016, Consumers’ Choice Health Insurance Company in South Carolina becomes the ninth consumer owned and operated plan (co-op) created under Obamacare to stop operations. It was “an avoidable outcome,” according to a statement from Jerry Burgess, president and CEO of Consumers’ Choice. Approximately 67,000… -
news
2 of 3 Abortion Clinics in South Carolina Suspended for Violations of State Laws and Regulations
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control has suspended two of three abortion clinics in the state—including a Planned Parenthood facility—for violating state law, the agency announced Friday. The clinics—Planned Parenthood of South Atlantic in Columbia and Greenville Women’s Clinic—were found by the DHEC to be in violation of state laws and regulations… -
news
Lindsey Graham: Removing Confederate Flag From South Carolina Capital Was ‘Right Decision’
MANCHESTER, N.H. – During a meet and greet here Friday, Sen. Lindsey Graham said that it has “been a tough three weeks” in his home state of South Carolina. He addressed the controversy surrounding the confederate battle flag that, until today, flew on the South Carolina Statehouse grounds. “The flag came down today, it was… -
news
Heritage Action to Host Presidential Candidate Forum in South Carolina
Heritage Action for America announced today that it will host a forum for presidential candidates in the early primary state of South Carolina this September. According to Heritage Action, during the forum, candidates who are seeking the Republican nomination will partake in a “wide-ranging” policy discussion and outline their platforms. The candidates participating in the… -
news
How a Bystander’s Video of the Deadly South Carolina Police Shooting Reignited Debate Over Body Cameras
The stark visual of watching a white policeman fire eight shots at the back of a fleeing black man in North Charleston, S.C. this weekend would not have been known to America if not for a bystander capturing the scene on video. Those precise details as shown in the video allowed the state to charge… -
news
South Carolina Finds a Way Around Federal Nutrition Standards to Allow Student Bake Sales
South Carolina student groups looking to raise money should get out their baking supplies. Schools in the state will soon be able to apply for waivers to sell food that isn’t in compliance with federal nutrition standards in order to facilitate fundraising. South Carolina’s State Education Superintendent Molly Spearman announced in a statement that the… -
news
How Nikki Haley Plans to Make South Carolina More Competitive
The governor of South Carolina has proposed lowering the state’s income tax rate from 7 percent to 5 percent, accompanied by a 10 cent hike in the state’s gas tax. In her annual State of the State address on Wednesday, Gov. Nikki Haley, R-S.C., said the state’s income tax puts it at a competitive “disadvantage.” “In order… -
news
Lockheed Martin Director Explains Why Ending Export-Import Bank Could Benefit South Carolina
The embattled Export-Import Bank received a nine-month reprieve from Congress last month, but could ending it next year actually be a good thing for some states? When asked about the agency last week, Don Erickson, a site director for defense giant Lockheed Martin in South Carolina, first contended that financing from the Export-Import Bank creates…