South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster expressed his satisfaction with the outcomes of the 2024 regular session of the General Assembly. The session saw the raising of teacher salaries and tax cuts. However, McMaster believes that more work needs to be done before the legislators can conclude their responsibilities and go home for good. One of the key issues that McMaster wants the lawmakers to address is the reform of the commission responsible for determining the qualifications of candidates for judgeships. Currently, differences in the House and Senate bills are being ironed out by a conference committee comprising three House members and three senators.
In addition, McMaster emphasized the importance of reviving a bill that would consolidate six healthcare agencies in South Carolina into one department. The proposed Executive Office of Health and Policy would oversee various programs, including Medicaid, assistance for the elderly, mental health services, public health, and substance abuse programs. McMaster stressed the urgency of streamlining these agencies to better serve the people of South Carolina and prevent avoidable issues like suicides and inadequate care for individuals in need of mental health services.
While McMaster expressed overall satisfaction with the session, he refrained from committing to signing any of the 50 bills currently on his desk from the final week of the session until he has thoroughly reviewed them. These bills encompass a range of topics, including revisions to laws on compensating college athletes and the ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors. McMaster stressed the importance of parents being informed about medical procedures involving their children and raised concerns about the irreversible nature of certain surgeries.
One of the key aspects of the state budget includes tax cuts, with the Senate proposing to reduce the income tax rate for most people from 6.4% to 6.2% using extra money from a sales tax fund. On the other hand, the House is advocating for property tax relief with the same funds. McMaster urged lawmakers to prioritize tax cuts and ensure that the budget benefits residents. The budget also allocates $200 million to enable teachers to receive yearly raises for their first 28 years and sets a minimum starting salary of $47,000 for teachers, with a goal to increase it to $50,000 by 2026.
McMaster is calling for a compromise between the House and Senate versions of a bill aimed at overhauling the state’s energy policy. While the House version is comprehensive, the Senate’s version significantly diluted the proposed changes. McMaster advocated for finding common ground and conducting further studies on the issue in the future. He also addressed the internal tensions within the Republican Party in the state, urging unity and adherence to the principle of not speaking ill of fellow party members, citing former President Ronald Reagan’s “11th commandment.” As a staunch Republican, McMaster emphasized the importance of maintaining party unity and respect among members.
