By Andy Brack, a news analysis | State lawmakers will be in Columbia today to put final touches on new state House, Senate and congressional maps that will be used for the next 10 years for elections. While the state Senate map has been viewed as pretty good, the maps for House and Congress have been widely panned by observers who say incumbents are just protecting incumbents. Here’s an excerpted version of what we learned last week.
IN THIS EDITION
FOCUS: State senator warns of potential “shell game” on education funding
COMMENTARY, Brack: Unite to protect America’s democracy
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Charleston RiverDogs
NEWS BRIEFS: 5 things we learned about S.C.’s redistricting
FEEDBACK: Send us your thoughts
MYSTERY PHOTO: Pointy
CALENDAR: Reception for new McAbee show to be Dec. 10
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | The fix has been in by members of the S.C. House for a long time. For months, they’ve been actors in a theatrical drama of their own creation to make it look like newly redrawn voting districts are fair. They’re not. In fact, their laughable work will make South Carolina’s noisy partisan divides worse.
Staff reports | Look for another education battle in 2022 as key Republican leaders push a bill that would siphon public education dollars to private schools under the guise of “education freedom.”
According to Statehouse Report, S.C. Rep. Shannon Erickson, R-Beaufort, recently sent an email through the Palmetto Promise Institute to push H. 3976, a bill she introduced in February to create “education scholarship accounts” for tens of thousands of early reading program or special needs students. Anyone in the proposed program would get about $5,000 a year in an online savings account to use for a student’s education.
IN THIS EDITION
FOCUS: South Carolina’s long ties with Barbados, a new republic
COMMENTARY, Brack: Henhouse redistricting abuses democratic principles
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: S.C. Clips
NEWS BRIEFS: Look for new battle over vouchers, public education dollars
FEEDBACK: Two write about McMaster’s attempt to censor a book
MYSTERY PHOTO: A pretty old thingamajig
CALENDAR: Chanukah in the Square to be celebrated Nov. 28
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | When the fox guards the henhouse, the fox pretty much can do as it pleases.
That’s what is bothersome about state lawmakers redrawing the lines of the districts they represent. Despite what’s ahead — months of tedious meetings, court challenges and complicated processes — the results are already rigged to favor the very people who are managing the whole shooting match. They don’t want the chickens in control.
IN THIS EDITION
FOCUS: James Island woman, 95, honored for years of nonprofit service
COMMENTARY, Brack: Henhouse politics must change on redistricting
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
NEWS BRIEFS: Red Cross needs volunteers, blood donors for hurricane season
FEEDBACK: Send us your thoughts
MYSTERY PHOTO: Brick and glass building
CALENDAR: From parties to contests and more
IN THIS EDITION
FOCUS: Group plans to plant 3.3 million trees on Earth Day
COMMENTARY, Brack: Redistricting delay is a public shame
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: S.C. Ports Authority
FEEDBACK: Special funds being hijacked for regular responsibilities
MYSTERY PHOTO: In the distance
CALENDAR: Marsalis, septet to bring jazz to Gaillard April 23, 24
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | The S.C. General Assembly now has a license to steal your vote, courtesy of the U.S. Supreme Court.
In a late June decision that surprised many students of representative democracy, the high court ruled it was perfectly fine for state legislatures to draw election district lines for partisan purposes.
IN THIS EDITION OF CHARLESTON CURRENTS
FOCUS, Matheny: Gen Xers are driving trend of multi-generational housing
COMMENTARY, Brack: Redrawing districts as usual could cripple democracy
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Charleston RiverDogs
PHOTO ESSAY: Lights for Liberty provides powerful, thought-provoking night
GOOD NEWS: RiverDogs among leaders in licensed merchandise sales
FEEDBACK: Send us your letters
MYSTERY PHOTO: Old, brick church
S.C. ENCYCLOPEDIA: Dixie Hummingbirds
CALENDAR: Lowcountry Jazz Festival to return over Labor Day weekend
We Can Do Better, South Carolina! (2019) by editor and publisher Andy Brack offers incisive commentaries on the American South, politics, the common good and interesting South Carolina leaders. Available exclusively for Kindle for $7.99. A paperback version will be ready soon. Learn more.
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