NEWS BRIEFS: Charleston’s Scott draws two Democratic challengers

Staff reports  |  U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, a Charleston County Republican, now has two Democrats running to snare his seat — second-term state Rep. Krystle Matthews and Spartanburg County Democratic Party chair Angela Geter.

Matthews

Scott

Matthews, a Ladson Democrat who announced her bid last month, told the Charleston City Paper in a Q&A interview last week that she viewed Scott as an opportunist who didn’t represent the interests of South Carolina’s Black community.  

When asked for her thoughts on Scott’s recent national response to President Biden’s address to Congress, she said, “His response was just horribly staining. It’s wildly ironic that while delivering an extremely contrasting speech of his own, he would call the president divisive. But, this is typical behavior of what we’ve seen, and so people are tired of it.

She added that she took issue with Scott’s claim the United States wasn’t a racist country.  

“Do you know how many white people have inboxed me in the last 24 hours saying, ‘I’m white, and I know America is racist.’ And the god-awful pandering of the line, ‘cotton field to Congress,’ I mean … Because Black people are not smart enough to know that he’s pandering, right? We’re smarter than that.”

Geter

Meanwhile, Geter said she would focus on economic development, infrastructure and education during a May 6 announcement, according to the Spartanburg Herald-Journal. 

“I’m young enough for today’s issues. I’m old enough to distinguish between fact and fiction,” she said.  “And humble enough to know when I am uncertain about that distinction and take steps to make it clear. … I believe in federalism. I do not see the federal government as a problem. Instead it is essential to ensure we all share in the promise in public goods produced by democracy.”

In other recent news:

Fate of Santee Cooper reform, hate crimes unclear.  With just three legislative days left in this year’s regular session of the General Assembly, the fate of measures to make hate crimes illegal and to reform Santee Cooper without selling the utility are up in the air, according to legislative insiders.  That won’t be the case with measures to allow gun owners to carry pistols in the open, as long as there are permits, or with authorization of firing squads as a choice for state executions. Both versions of the House and Senate measures are close enough that compromise is expected in the week ahead.  Gov. Henry McMaster also is expected to sign both. 

Senate passes open carry gun measure.  South Carolina senators on Thursday approved a bill 28-16 allowing people with concealed weapons permits to carry their guns in the open so long as they have required training and permit.  The bill now goes back to the S.C. House.  More:  Associated Press  |   SC Public Radio.

S.C. House OKs firing squads for executions. The last state-held execution was 10 years ago today. Executions were halted due to a lack of lethal injection drugs. While inmates could still choose the electric chair in the state, none opted to do so in that time period. Now after the House on Wednesday approved a bill to require inmates to choose between the electric chair or firing squad, the General Assembly is poised to send a bill soon to the governor, who is expected to sign it. More: AP News  |  The Post and Courier.

Hate crimes proposal survives Senate committee challenge.  Some Republican senators questioned the necessity of a hate crimes bill for South Carolina during a Senate committee hearing yesterday, but the bill passed 13-10 to head to the Senate floor. South Carolina remains one of just two states without a hate crimes law.  More: AP News  |  WTGS.

New state agencies extend reach of government in S.C.  Under Gov. Henry McMaster’s leadership, there has been the creation of three stand-alone agencies: departments of Veterans’ Affairs and Children’s Advocacy, and the Office of Resilience. The new agencies have a combined budget of $173 million.  More: The Nerve.

McMaster signs bill allowing S.C. athletes to profit from likeness.  South Carolina college athletes will soon be able to profit from their own brands, joining more than 20 states with similar measures.  More: The Post and Courier.