South Carolina Daily Gazette

The League of Women Voters recognizes that South Carolina badly needs expanded sources of energy. This is extremely important. We just don’t want to get there by going down a path similar to past mistakes.

H. 5118 parallels that past because in many ways it depends on utilities to speak and act in the public interest without adequate guardrails. Utility regulation exists because acting in self-interest is an unavoidable temptation of monopolies. It takes a fair but strong regulatory system to ensure that the interests of both the public and utility shareholders and executives are protected. Let South Carolina’s very competent regulatory agencies do their work, informed by diverse sources of input and by the expertise for which they were appointed.

The Post & Courier
A part-time legislator keeps his job and, in his role, occasionally votes on bills that benefit members of his advocacy organization. Unethical? Potentially disqualifying? "There are questions of legitimate interest for the public such as conflict of interest, like Bobby Cox sponsoring and lobbying for bills to benefit Sig Sauer,”wrote Lynn Teague, a lobbyist for the League of Women Voters who often works on ethics issues in the legislature. “That should be illegal but isn’t."

The State newspaper

An unprecedented array of Democratic and Republican female candidates are challenging incumbents for seats in the General Assembly, Women makeup more than 50 percent of the state’s population. Currently, just over six percent of women serve in the House, and only seven percent in the Senate.

“If you’re not at the table then you’re on the menu,” said Lynn Teague, vice president of issues and actions for the League of Women Voters in South Carolina. “Women are underrepresented in South Carolina state government, virtually more than in any other state.”

This study is to determine whether LWVSC should take a position on the selection process for each of the seven state constitutional officers, and if so, what method of selection would be preferable for a given office (e.g. election vs. appointment. )

CoverSC, the new statewide coalition advocating for Medicaid Expansion, rolled out their website in February: coversc.org. Closing the health insurance gap would cover over 200,000 South Carolinians.

Affordable healthcare will reduce medical debt and improve financial independence for families. Expanding coverage contributes 30,000 new jobs in South Carolina, bringing employment and healthcare to rural communities.