It appears almost certain that lawmakers won’t be able to push through the government restructuring legislation wanted by Gov. Nikki Haley, as Democrats have vowed to block it unless Republicans compromise on early voting.
That’s an issue that Republicans generally are dead-set against. GOP lawmakers won’t be able to pass a resolution that allows them to consider Haley’s proposal without the support of at least some Democrats. Haley had hoped the House and Senate could get her legislation approved when they return to the Statehouse today for wrap-up on the budget and redrawing election district lines.
Haley’s agenda includes: creating a Department of Administration to handle much of the state’s bureaucracy, merging the state’s prisons and probation agencies, jointly electing the governor and lieutenant governor and letting the governor appoint the state’s education superintendent.
While Republicans have controlled both chambers for years, Democrats control whether Haley’s agenda is heard this year. And they’re stewing over House Republicans twice killing early voting legislation this year.
Republicans need two-thirds votes of House and Senate members to pass a resolution to take up Haley’s legislation, which has cleared the House, but not the Senate. Republicans can’t get that without the help of Democrats – and they’re insisting Republicans have to give in on early voting.
Full Article: GOP’s early voting opposition may nix Haley agenda – The Item: AP State News.