Latest news with #ColumbiaS.C
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SC income tax bill is discussed for first time
Columbia S.C. (WSPA) – South Carolina state leaders introduced a bill last week which could affect the amount of income tax you pay. The income tax in South Carolina currently ranges from 0 – 6.2%. The new bill would change that to a flat rate of 3.99% for everyone. If passed, Democrats said that tax rate would be an increase for 60% of South Carolinians. 'I don't want to see working people winding up paying for tax relief. That will simply reduce it from our income tax credit,' said Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D – Orangeburg). Currently the top 10% of earners pay the majority of the state income tax, but main sponsor Representative Bruce Bannister (R – Greenville) said it's important for everyone to pay their fair share. 'We have people earning $1 million in earned income, that are paying 0 income tax, and then we have people at the lowest level, $10,000, in income who are paying more than their fair share,' Bannister said. Representative Brandon Newton (R – Kershaw) said it's important South Carolina is competitive in the southeast, and this bill would do exactly that. 'North Carolina did a lot of tax swaps. They were raising taxes in other areas to pay for a significant amount of the cuts you're making. This plan is not, this plan is an exact tax cut for the payers of South Carolina.' Cobb-Hunter said she is worried because she says there is no definitive timeline. 'I'm not convinced that it is in the best interest of working people in this state, given the chaos at the federal level, given the uncertainty.' Republican supporters said they hope when the income tax growth is 5% or greater they will phase down the percentage rate by $200 million. Newton said the bill is a top priority this legislative season and he said it will be debated on the house floor next week. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New bill aims to keep gun owners' information private
Columbia S.C. (WSPA) – A bill in the House aims to keep gun owner's information private. This new bill would limit banks from having what some supporters call 'financial surveillance.' 19 states have passed a bill called the Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act. It would ban banks from tracking purchases of firearms and ammunition. 'Make sure that gun owners have their rights or fully stored and that, retailers also aren't being punished, or that credit card companies aren't offering incentives to flag these kinds of purchases,' said Representative Case Brittain (R – Horry). Supporters of the bill said they are worried banks could interfere because of their ability to keep track of gun purchases. 'It prevents Government entities that aren't doing the regular course of business and recordkeeping and criminal logs, ones that are already in existence, from creating their own list. It protects the data for the individual gun owners' rights,' Brittain added. Neil Rashley, General Counsel for South Carolina Bankers Association, said that his office is not in opposition, but is worried about the wording of the bill. 'I'm concerned because it creates a cause of action on our industry should this occur. However, we do feel fairly confident that at least banks are not doing this in the state or really anywhere right now. And right now, the card networks aren't.' Representative Jason Luck (D – Chesterfield) showed concern about the section which said 'The Attorney General shall investigate reasonable allegations.' Luck added, 'does that language give you any concern in terms of vagueness or mandatory investigation?' Rashley added, 'No, sir, I mean, we're very accustomed to similar language, and, with the Attorney General's Office and how they assess looking into allegations.' As it stands, the language in the bill did not change and the Attorney General's Office would be in charge of investigating violations of the bill. California has adopted the opposite language where credit card companies are required to track firearm purchases. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
SCDPH could be getting a permanent head
Columbia S.C. (WSPA) – Governor Henry McMaster's latest cabinet nomination is getting some pushback from legislators. Dr. Edward Simmer is currently the Interim Head of the Department of Public Health and is the Governor's pick to lead the agency. 'Since I was confirmed a little over four years ago, what I envision to accomplish things moving forward, to help South Carolina to become the healthiest state in the nation, is the goal I have set for our agency. ' Several state agencies leaders were in attendance to show support for Simmer at the statehouse, while some South Carolinians wore stickers to show their opposition. 'I don't want weak men leading the state, because what's coming down the pipeline, the future is probably another pandemic scandal endemic, however you want to call it,' said activist Evan Mulch. When Simmer started at the Department of Health and Environmental Control in 2021, the Covid-19 pandemic was already in full swing. The concerns raised centered not on the future of the Department of Public Health but about how Simmer handled the pandemic. Senator Tom Corbin (R – District Greenville) asked Simmer…'It is my contention that it is wrong for this State to promote the vaccine as being safe and effective when, in my opinion, is not as I like to know what your opinion.' Simmer replied, 'Most of the studies and experts I have read have said that if there is DNA there in some small quantity, it poses no risk.' Simmer said he believes vaccine discussions should be between a patient and their doctor. 'I know is very important to many of you and to me. I strongly support medical freedom and the sanctity and value of the physician-patient relationship.' Simmer said his goal remains to protect the safety and improve the health of South Carolinians. Chairman of the Senate Medical Affairs Committee, Senator Daniel Verdin said they plan to have another meeting to ask more questions and eventually vote to confirm or deny Dr. Simmer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
South Carolina bill will try to end diversity, equity, and inclusion
Columbia S.C. (WSPA) – A push to end 'diversity, equity, and inclusion' practices in South Carolina is gaining ground in among some lawmakers. The new diversity, equity and inclusion bill is almost verbatim to one of President Donald Trump's executive orders, and House Majority Leader, Representative Davey Hiott, said lawmakers must end DEI in South Carolina. 'I believe that what's going on across this country, and to certain extent in South Carolina, it's got out of control,' said Hiott. 'We here tell the agencies that have formed a DEI program or a DEI office, and that's their sole purpose, is to make sure that kind of stuff is done, taken care of. That kind of stuff's got to stop in South Carolina.' The bill is called the 'Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity Act' and it would ban government offices, school districts, and state colleges from taking part in programs and/or promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion practices. Lynn Teague, Vice President of League of Women Voters, said DEI has made South Carolina a better place. 'One of the most important things for South Carolina flourishing is all of its people having a chance to do a good job to moving the state forward,' Teague said. Representative Doug Gilliam is the main sponsor of the bill, and said the biggest issue with DEI is the discrimination. 'People are judged for jobs, employment based on their race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, and I believe that is doing it instead of going by marriage. Who works hard? You know what I mean? That kind of stuff is going by certain characteristics that you can get points on,' Gilliam said. When asked about how gender and minority businesses would be affected by this bill, Hiott said that free speech, federal education and amendments won't be impacted. There was another bill that was previously introduced regarding ending diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education, but Hiott said it shouldn't just stop at higher education; it needs to be stopped all over the state, in every organization and business. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SC bill to allow use of debit cards for lottery purchases
Columbia S.C. (WSPA) – In South Carolina, you can only purchase lottery tickets with cash. However, many state lawmakers, including Governor Henry McMaster, are interested in changing the law to allow South Carolinians to buy lottery tickets using their debit cards. As of now, South Carolina is one of three states that has a cash-only requirement for lotter purchases. Senator and Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, Greg Hembree, believes there are many benefits to allowing debit cards. 'Technology and the way we use it has changed over the decades. We're simply catching our statute up to the modern way people use money,' he said. Not everyone is interested in this bill. Lawyer Sue Berkowitz said it will only increase gambling addictions. 'If they spend that limited resource, and if something happens like a blip and if they do get overcharged, or they do get a hit on it with an overdraft, that could be the difference in rent getting paid or food on the table.' Today, Senator Hembree suggested the removal of lottery courier services from the bill, comparing the concept as 'Uber Eats for lottery tickets.' It would let third party companies be allowed to purchase lottery tickets on the customer's behalf. 'Quite frankly, we have debated and really vetted the debit card statute previously. The courier service is really a brand-new idea that is going to require more study and more effort to figure out where the right answer is there.' When Berkowitz heard about the removal of lottery courier services, she stated 'Why would we allow that, that really is buying into allowing everyone else to make money off of people who might not have a whole lot to spend.' The South Carolina Lottery Commission estimated that the state is losing $50 million in revenue annually by only allowing citizens to buy tickets using cash. The next step for the bill is to be seen in front of the Senate Education Full Committee, and then it could be debated next on the senate floor. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
