South-Carolina
Here’s what South Carolina politicians, parties had to say about passage of spending bill
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a sweeping spending plan that sends more money to the border and military while taking funds away from social programs.
The 1,116-page-long package narrowly passed in a 215-214 vote on May 22. President Donald Trump applauded the bill’s passage, which outlines a major restructuring of federal funds that would affect income tax rates, Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Congressional leaders from South Carolina and Greenville County Democrats and Republicans reacted along party lines to the bill and its potential impacts on South Carolinians.
The bill now heads to the Senate, where it will likely face further amendments. It needs a majority vote to clear the chamber and go to the president’s desk.
Billions in cuts to Medicaid and SNAP benefits
Stacey Mars, the chair of the Greenville County Democratic Party, said the bill’s changes to social services like Medicaid and SNAP will have the biggest impact on Greenville County residents.
“We already have people who are falling through the gap when it comes to healthcare,” Mars said. “Everyone, if you are an American citizen, deserves to have the support from the government.”
Katherine Harvey, the chair of the Spartanburg County Democratic Party, also said she thinks the most concerning part of the bill is the possible Medicaid and SNAP cuts.
“This is a significant impact on a part of our state that is already experiencing health disparities,” Harvey said. “Nobody asked for this. The costs would be devastating.”
The Congressional Budget Office released a preliminary analysis of the effects of the bill on May 20 — which estimates a $698 billion cut to Medicaid and a $267 billion cut to SNAP benefits over the next 10 years.
About 20,800 households in Greenville County, 11,000 in Anderson County, and 17,300 in Spartanburg County receive SNAP benefits as of April, according to the South Carolina Department of Social Services.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said that 95,000 of Greenville County residents are covered by Medicaid.
South Carolina spent $8.9 billion on Medicaid in 2022, according to KFF — which is a nonprofit that conducts health policy research. The federal government covered 75% of that total.
Republican Rep. William Timmons (SC 4th District) called the legislation a “must-pass bill” that will strengthen the economy. He said that this bill will help better confirm the identities of people applying for benefits – while making sure people who are qualified will stay eligible for Medicaid and SNAP.
“We have to pass this bill,” Timmons said prior to the vote. “The American people voted for it this past November.”
The Greenville County Republican Party chairman said his members would much rather see single bills passed than large spending packages like this one, but understands this is the legislative system America has in place.
“The Greenville County Republican Party is in full support of the TRUMP agenda,” said Jeff Davis, in a statement. “We look forward to the scheduled July 4th signing of this landmark legislation.”
Reverting to 2017 tax rates, removing taxes on tips and overtime
The spending bill would also extend the U.S. tax code that was passed in 2017 during the first Trump administration, which was set to expire at the end of 2025.
The measure reduced federal income tax rates for each of the seven brackets except the lowest quintile and the second-highest quintile. A new provision to the legislation would increase the child tax credit to $2,500 through 2028.
“Extending the tax from 2017 is critical,” Timmons said.
Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn (SC 6th District) said the benefits of the 2017 tax code change were felt most by wealthier people, not the people in lower income brackets.
“You got the lower 20%, they get a negative result out of this tax cut and the upper 20% get a fantastic result,” Clyburn said. “Why are we putting taxes in such a way that benefits millionaires and billionaires?”
Clyburn joined every other House Democrat and two Republicans in a vote against the bill.
“I think it’s probably one of the worst pieces of legislation I’ve seen since I’ve been in the Congress,” Clyburn said.
No federal tax on tips and overtime
The 2025 budget reconciliation bill also gets rid of federal income taxes on overtime pay and tips, which are two items Trump campaigned on in 2024.
Just under 10% of Greenville metro area workers are employed in the food preparation and service industry, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Only three other occupational areas had more employees: production, office and administrative support, and sales.
“This bill delivers on the clear mandate voters gave us in 2024 — to restore security, sanity, and sovereignty to this country,” Republican Rep. Sheri Biggs (SC 3rd District) said. “It may not be perfect — few things in Washington are — but it delivers big wins for border security, personal freedom, and fiscal responsibility.
Impact of the longest government shutdown in US history
USA TODAY’s Washington bureau chief lays out of the impact of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
The federal government shutdown ended late on Nov. 12 after President Donald Trump signed a temporary spending plan.
All of South Carolina’s Republican delegation in the House of Representatives voted in favor of the spending plan when it came before their chamber.
This week’s About Politics examines South Carolina representative’s response to the government shutdown, one congresswoman’s increased security push, and why one political candidate says he is running against Lindsey Graham.
House members on government shutdown
The U.S. government is back open after 43 days of shutdown. President Trump signed a temporary spending plan into place late at night on Nov. 12, meaning that furloughed employees will be back at work and crucial government programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will be funded.
The temporary spending plan passed the House in a 222 to 209 vote. All six of South Carolina’s Republican House members voted for the bill. The lone Democrat, 6th-District Rep. James Clyburn, voted against the policy.
Clyburn said on X that he opposes the bill because it fails to extend Obamacare tax credits that have kept healthcare costs down for millions of Americans.
“As a result of this bill, Americans will continue to experience painful sticker shock when they see their new healthcare premiums,” Clyburn said. “The end of this shutdown does not mean the end of Democrats’ fight to ensure that health care in this country is accessible and affordable for all.”
South Carolina’s Republican House members commended the end to the shutdown, while pointing a finger at their Democratic peers for holding out on a spending plan.
U.S. Rep. Sheri Biggs, R-District 3, wrote on X that she spent the weeks of the shutdown traveling across her district and connecting with people who were impacted.
“While Democrats were playing political games at risk of American families, we remained focused on doing right for our people and rejecting their radical demands,” Biggs wrote. “Now, it’s time to move forward, and get back to work for South Carolina and continuing in our America First agenda.”
U.S. Rep. Timmons writes op-ed on impacts of shutdown on veterans
U.S. Rep. William Timmons, R-District 4, wrote an op-ed for The Washington Reporter on Nov. 11 about the impacts that the government shutdown was having on veterans and their families. He said that the shutdown caused delays in career counseling, job trainings and adaptive employment support for veterans. The congressman also pointed to weeks of delays for new disability claims and limited communication from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
“These are not just statistics,” Timmons wrote. “They are real people who have served our country and are trying to move forward in civilian life. Every day that services were delayed made reintegration harder for them and their families.”
He said that some Senate Democrats’ decision to switch their votes in support of a spending plan “cannot come soon enough.”
Nancy Mace gets federal security at Lowcountry office
U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace’s office in Charleston now has a full time security detail, according to her staff. The Republican congresswoman who represents South Carolina’s 1st District claims to receive over 1,300 credible threats every year.
U.S. Capitol Police worked with the Charleston Police Department after an incident with the congresswoman’s security detail at the Charleston International Airport in late October, according to her office. The dispute between Mace and the airport started after a mixup involving Mace’s arrival at the airport and the security detail that was supposed to escort her through the facility.
Mace said in a statement that she is grateful for both departments’ work to provide security at the office.
“Unfortunately, it took an airport falsifying police reports and retaliating against a Member of Congress to wake everyone up to the reality of the threats we face daily,” Mace stated.
Alan Wilson supports posting Ten Commandments in classrooms
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson and 17 other state attorneys general signed a friend-of-the-court brief in support of a Louisiana law requiring a display of the Ten Commandments in public schools. The brief was filed after an appeals court deemed the law unconstitutional.
Kentucky, Idaho, Mississippi and Utah were among other state attorneys general who signed onto the brief. The group of attorneys general argued that acknowledgements of how the Ten Commandments influenced America’s heritage are common. The commandments displayed in the U.S. Supreme Court building is a representation of their impact on the legal system, the brief stated.
“Our society is healthier and stronger when we have more religion in public life — not less,” Wilson said. “It is time to end the left’s war on religion.”
Paul Dans speaks with Tucker Carlson on Senate race
Author of Project 2025 and Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Paul Dans spoke to conservative political commentator Tucker Carlson on his bid against Incumbent Sen. Lindsey Graham. Tucker introduced Dans and said he is grateful for Dans running “not as a protest candidate,” but as someone who has been involved in policy making.
“My motives are not personal. I’ve always liked Lindsey Graham, but I think he’s very obviously evil and if he is the face of the Republican Party, normal people can’t support it including me,” Carlson said.
Dans said he is running to make sure that the Make America Great Again (MAGA) and America Firm movements survive beyond Trump’s presidency. The candidate said his primary values as a candidate are god, family and country.
“I cannot sit back and watch someone like Lindsey Graham represent our state,” Dans said.
Greenville businessman Mark Lynch is also running in the Republican Senate primary. There are five Democrats in the primary: Charleston pediatrician Dr. Annie Andrews, Greenville business owner Brandon Brown, Columbia preservationist Catherine Fleming Bruce, Columbia logistics professional Kyle Freeman and Myrtle Beach resident Christopher Giracello.
The independent candidates are Jack Ellison of Charleston, Cindy Glaser of Fountain Inn and Paul Sedletsky of North Myrtle Beach. Kasie Whitener, a businessowner and writer residing in Blythewood, is also running as a Libertarian.
Bella Carpentier covers the South Carolina legislature, state, and Greenville County politics. Contact her at bcarpentier@gannett.com
South-Carolina
SC Ports launches annual holiday toy drive to fulfill wish lists for SC foster children
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCIV) — South Carolina Ports is calling on Charleston area businesses and residents to help fulfill the holiday wish lists of SC foster children this holiday season, through their fourth annual toy drive.
This annual event, supported by SC Ports, the International Longshoreman’s Association Locals 1422,1422-A and 1771, Coalition 18 and the Maritime Association of South Carolina, aims to fill a 40-foot shipping container with donations for children across the state.
According to the release from SC Ports, approximately 2,000 donations are collected each year, and from there are distributed statewide by the S.C. Department of Social Services, ensure no child is without a gift this holiday season.
Those who wish to donate and support this cause can deliver unwrapped toys to the SC Ports headquarters, located in Mount Pleasant. Alternatively gifts can be purchased off the following wish lists:
Amazon Gift Wish List
Target Gift Wish List
Walmart Gift Wish List
Anyone who purchases items from an online wish list is urged to ensure that the gift is being shipped to the address linked in the registry.
The deadline for donations is Dec. 12.
COLLETON COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — A Colleton County man has been charged for allegedly striking a 4-year-old, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
31-year-old Garrett Scott Biering was arrested on Nov. 5 and faces a charge of unlawfully placing a child at risk of harm, SLED announced Wednesday. Biering allegedly struck a 4-year-old with an open palm on the thigh “three or more times,” causing the child to bruise, according to an affidavit.
READ MORE | “North Charleston police charge two with attempted murder after shots fired during dispute”
Biering was booked at the Colleton County Detention Center, and the case will be prosecuted by the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
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