senate Archives - SC Senate Republican Caucus

South Carolina Senate Republicans Win Big on Election Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NOVEMBER 6, 2024

SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE REPUBLICANS WIN BIG ON ELECTION DAY

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Senate Republicans are poised to return to Columbia with an even greater majority following election day successes.

Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey issued the following statement:

“On Tuesday, Palmetto State residents voted to send four new Republican Senators to Columbia, affirming that the values of safe communities, fiscal responsibility, family integrity, and educational freedom resonate with South Carolinians.

“The Senate Republican Caucus strategically invested in strong candidates and succeeded in creating competitive races, even in traditionally Democratic districts. I look forward to working alongside these new Senators to champion conservative victories that make South Carolina an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.”

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PRESS RELEASE: South Carolina Supreme Court Upholds Rule of Law

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 31, 2024

SOUTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS RULE OF LAW

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Today, the South Carolina Supreme Court affirmed the constitutionality of the State’s methods of execution, paving the way for swift and warranted justice.

Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey issued the following statement:

“Today’s Supreme Court decision is a win for the rule of law.

“Senate Republicans stood up for victims’ families and crafted this law to ensure that, while justice may have been delayed, it will not be denied.”

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PRESS RELEASE: Senate Republicans Win In United States Supreme Court

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 23, 2024

SENATE REPUBLICANS WIN IN UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Today, the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of South Carolina Senate Republicans, rejecting attempts to find the 1st Congressional District map unconstitutional.

South Carolina Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey said:

“Last year, I said that Republicans would not redraw South Carolina’s Congressional maps until directed by a majority of the United States Supreme Court. It was clear then what the Court confirmed today: the 1st Congressional District map is consistent with the US Constitution.

Republican Senators will not be deterred by the efforts of progressive activists who consistently run to the courts in the hope of overcoming their losses at the ballot box.”

Senate President Thomas Alexander issued the following statement:

“I commend today’s Supreme Court decision upholding South Carolina’s congressional redistricting plan. As I have said throughout this process, our plan was meticulously crafted to comply with statutory and constitutional requirements, and I was completely confident we would prevail. With its decision today, the Supreme Court affirmed the hard work of South Carolina Senators and the product they produced as constitutional.”

Senator Chip Campsen, who spearheaded the mapmaking process, added:

“I am pleased that the United States Supreme Court agreed with what we have said all along: the First Congressional District map was not racially gerrymandered.”

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PRESS RELEASE: Senate Republicans Vote to Help Not Harm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 2, 2024

SENATE REPUBLICANS VOTE TO HELP NOT HARM

COLUMBIA, S.C. — On Thursday, Senate Republicans passed H. 4624, the “Help, Not Harm” bill, ensuring children in South Carolina will not be harmed by experimental, life-altering gender-transition procedures. South Carolina is poised to become the 25th state to enact such protections.

“Children must be left to experience childhood undeterred by the predations of radical gender ideology,” said Senator Danny Verdin, Chairman of the Senate Medical Affairs Committee and author of the Senate version of the bill.

This common-sense legislation protects minors from dangerous puberty blocking drugs and hormones, as well as sex-reassignment surgeries, and ensures parents are not left in the dark about a child’s transition at school.

“After reviewing the evidence, it’s clear that the gender-affirming model is based on weak research and is not helpful for children experiencing gender dysphoria,” said Senator Richard Cash, who spearheaded the Republican effort.

With today’s vote, Senate Republicans chose to help, not harm.

H. 4624 returns to the House before heading to the Governor’s desk.

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PRESS RELEASE: Senate Republicans Deliver Fiscal Leadership

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 24, 2024

SENATE REPUBLICANS DELIVER FISCAL LEADERSHIP

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Today, the Senate passed the annual appropriations act. Thanks to Republican leadership in the Senate, this balanced budget features substantial tax relief combined with critical investments in public education, law enforcement, and infrastructure.

“The people expect us to be good stewards of their tax dollars,” said Senate Finance Chairman Harvey Peeler. “By putting more money in the pockets of South Carolinians, increasing teacher salaries, prioritizing the needs of law enforcement, and fixing our roads, Senators are putting South Carolina first.”

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PRESS RELEASE: Senate Republicans Close the Door on Squatters

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 4, 2024

SENATE REPUBLICANS CLOSE THE DOOR ON SQUATTERS

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Senate passed a bill Thursday to ensure South Carolinians do not fall victim to squatters.

“While other states have failed to protect the private property rights of citizens, Republicans in the South Carolina Senate voted to close the door on squatters,” said Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey.

Senate Bill 723 heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.

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PRESS RELEASE: The Senate Delivers on Judicial Selection Reform

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 14, 2024

THE SENATE DELIVERS ON JUDICIAL SELECTION REFORM

COLUMBIA, S.C. — On Thursday, the South Carolina Senate approved bipartisan judicial selection reform measures to increase public confidence and prioritize transparency in the selection of state judges.

“S. 1046 gives the Governor a meaningful role in the selection of judges, requires all public hearings to be livestreamed, limits Judicial Merit Selection Commission members to nonconsecutive terms, and reduces the ability of the JMSC to manipulate results,” said Senator Wes Climer. “These are wins for South Carolina.”

Also included in the bill is a provision to require candidates to be elected by a majority vote in both the House and the Senate, instead of a simple majority of all legislators. This measure will improve representation and prevent judges from being elected without a single Senate vote.

Senator Luke Rankin, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, added: “Increasing transparency in the selection of judges will instill greater confidence in the process. I am pleased with this bipartisan legislation to fix what is broken and what is perceived to be broken in the screening of judicial candidates.”

Senate Bill 1046 is expected to receive a third reading in the Senate on Tuesday.

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PRESS RELEASE: Senate Republicans Pass Strong Constitutional Carry Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 6, 2024

SENATE REPUBLICANS PASS STRONG CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY BILL

COLUMBIA, S.C. — On Wednesday, Senate Republicans passed a strong Constitutional Carry bill and delivered a major second-amendment victory for South Carolina. This tough-on-crime bill incorporated language adopted by a conference of Senate and House members and supported by Republicans in both chambers.

The Constitutional Carry Act of 2024 ensures law-abiding citizens are able to exercise their second amendment rights, cracks down on criminals in possession of firearms, and makes training more accessible to South Carolinians.

“My decade-long fight to enable responsible gun owners to carry a firearm without asking permission from the government concluded in a resounding victory today,” said Senator Shane Martin from Spartanburg. “Soon, freedom-loving South Carolinians will wake up to a new era of expanded second-amendment rights in the 29th Constitutional Carry state in the nation.”

Despite lies and pressure from out-of-state “gun rights” groups taking aim at Senate Republicans, we stood our ground and delivered results.

The bill heads to the Governor’s desk for his signature.

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PRESS RELEASE: Senate Republicans Pass Landmark Health Agency Reform

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 21, 2024

SENATE REPUBLICANS PASS LANDMARK HEALTH AGENCY REFORM

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Today, the Senate gave third reading to S. 915, a bill to consolidate existing state health agencies into the new, cabinet-level Executive Office of Health and Policy. The legislation by Senate Finance Chairman Harvey Peeler, Senate President Thomas Alexander, and others, enacts sweeping reforms of an ineffective system of health bureaucracy and brings real, tangible benefits to South Carolina taxpayers.

“I am pleased that the healthcare reorganization bill passed the Senate today,” said Senate President Thomas Alexander. “This legislation will give citizens a more accountable, efficient, and cost-effective delivery of medical services. I hope the bill moves quickly to the Governor’s desk so these reforms can become a reality.”

The bill prioritizes accountability by placing the Secretary of Health and Policy under the authority of the Governor instead of unelected board members.

Senator Tom Davis, chairman of the Medical Affairs subcommittee that received testimony on the bill, added: “An analysis of all fifty states revealed that South Carolina has the most fragmented healthcare delivery system in the nation, and predictably, poor health outcomes. Today, however, the South Carolina Senate passed a bill to consolidate six independent, overlapping, and inefficient health agencies and create a delivery system that is responsive, effective, and accountable.”

S. 915 is the culmination of years of hard work and the third major healthcare reform bill to pass out of the upper chamber this legislative session, following landmark bills to repeal Certificate of Need and split DHEC.

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PRESS RELEASE: Senate Republicans Deliver Victory on Constitutional Carry

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 1, 2024

SENATE REPUBLICANS DELIVER VICTORY ON CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Once again, Senate Republicans delivered on their promises and passed H. 3594, the South Carolina Constitutional Carry Act. This pro-second amendment legislation expands gun rights for law abiding citizens and cracks down on criminals while making firearms training more accessible for South Carolinians.

“This is a huge victory for gun rights in South Carolina,” said Senator Shane Martin, author of the Senate version of the bill. “Constitutional Carry has long been a priority of mine, and now, thanks to united, Republican leadership in the Senate, law-abiding citizens will be able to carry a firearm without asking for permission from the government first.”

The days-long debate extended late into the evening on Wednesday and culminated in a final vote on Thursday, with a decisive super-majority of senators voting in favor of the bill.

Senator Wes Climer, Chairman of the Judiciary subcommittee that received testimony on the bill, added: “Once this bill is signed into law, every law-abiding South Carolinian will be able to carry a firearm anywhere it is legal to do so, without the need for a permission slip from the government. It ranks among the most significant expansions of individual liberty in this State in decades.”

The people asked, and Republicans listened. With today’s vote, South Carolina is poised to become the 28th state in the Nation where constitutional carry is law of the land.

The bill returns to the House before heading to the Governor’s desk.

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