Staff reports | The state Senate Judiciary Committee has a just-passed House bill on its calendar after House members on Thursday sent over a measure that would let voters decide on Sunday liquor sales.
The House voted 68-44 Wednesday to approve the bill, which received a perfunctory third reading Thursday and went to the Senate. The proposal would allow local governments to hold referendums on whether to allow Sunday sales.
Supporters say the state’s liquor laws are antiquated and based on a religious value that Sundays should be a day of rest. But with tourists spending more than $20 billion a year in the state, lawmakers say updating the law will help the state’s businesses.
According to the Associated Press, the Sunday sales bill “would join another bill which would allow customers to pick up alcohol when they get their groceries or food order brought out to them in the parking lot.”
Also in recent headlines:
Poll shows 2/3 of likely S.C. voters in GOP primary back Trump over Haley. A new Winthrop Poll released this morning shows likely voters in Saturday’s GOP presidential preference primary will pick former President Donald Trump over former S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley. While Trump has a 36% lead over Haley among all likely voters, likely independent voters are more evenly split with 42.6 supporting Trump and 42.3% backing Haley. Link to poll below.
S.C.’s open gun carry proposal on the ropes. A proposal to allow anyone who can legally own a gun in South Carolina to carry their weapon in public is struggling to pass through the General Assembly as RepuAssociated Press
ILA rallies against McMaster’s anti-union remarks in State of State. Members of the International Longshoremen’s Association gathered at the State House Thursday to protest anti-union statements made by Gov. Henry McMaster.
Clyburn to step down from House Democratic leadership. Long-serving U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-Columbia, will seek a 17th term in Congress while also stepping down from Democratic leadership, he said in a statement Feb. 14.
Ott announces bid for S.C. Senate seat. State Rep. Russell Ott, D-St. Matthews, officially announced a bid Feb. 13 to take on state Sen. Dick Harpootlian, D-Columbia, in Senate District 26, which runs from the heart of downtown Columbia to rural Calhoun County.
We Can Do Better, South Carolina!