Speaker Lucas Responds to Report on Santee Cooper
Ad-Hoc Committee & Meetings Announced
(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – House Speaker Jay Lucas (District 65-Darlington) issued the
following statement after the House received the Department of Administration’s
report regarding the future of Santee Cooper.
“Today, the General Assembly begins the process of debating the ultimate
disposition of Santee Cooper. The results of months of work, led by Director
Marcia Adams and the Department of Administration, have been released to the
General Assembly and the public for consideration.
The House will be led
by the facts contained in this document and will push for the solution that is
the most advantageous to the ratepayers and taxpayers of this state. The goal
of the House is to reach the most fiscally prudent disposition for Santee
Cooper and to protect those whose dollars are at stake in this decision.
The House remains committed to maintaining a thorough, comprehensive and
transparent process on this matter. All decisions will be made in a set of
extensive public hearings and after ample debate at every level.
The actions taken in
the coming weeks and months are of significant consequence, and we will not
take them lightly. I am hopeful we can determine the best outcome that will
protect our citizens as well as the momentum of our economy.”
In response to the report, the following Ways and Means Ad-Hoc Committee has
been appointed by Ways and Means Committee Chairman G. Murrell Smith, Jr.:
Rep. G. Murrell Smith, Jr. (Chm)
Rep. J. Gary Simrill
Rep. Jackie Hayes
Rep. Leon Stavrinakis
Rep. Alan D. Clemmons
Rep. Nathan Ballentine
Rep. J. Todd Rutherford
Rep. J. David Weeks
Rep. Bruce W. Bannister
Rep. Joseph S. Daning
“Even with our 30-day time constraint, and the budget
process picking up in committee, I am confident this ad-hoc committee will work
with diligence and vigilance,” said Chairman Smith. “I look forward to leading
the next step forward on this incredibly important issue.”
The following meeting dates and times have
been announced regarding consideration of the report:
Thursday, February 13
- 12:00 PM — Blatt Room 110 — Joint House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees with Department of Administration leadership
Monday, February 24
- 1:00 PM — Blatt Room 110 — House Ways and Means Ad Hoc Committee on Department of Administration Report
Tuesday, February 25
- 9:00 AM — Blatt Room 110 — House Ways and Means Ad Hoc Committee on sale proposal
Wednesday, February 26
- 1:00 PM — Blatt Room 110 — House Ways and Means Ad Hoc Committee on management proposal
Thursday, February 27
- 1:00 PM — Blatt Room 110 — House Ways and Means Ad Hoc Committee on Santee Cooper reform proposal
Monday, March 2
- 2:00 PM — Blatt Room 110 — House Ways and Means Ad Hoc Committee Public Testimony Hearing
Tuesday, March 3 – Wednesday, March 4
- TBA — Blatt Room 110 — House Ways and Means Ad Hoc Committee deliberations
Thursday, March 5
- TBA — Blatt Room 110 — Full House Ways and Means Committee deliberations
###
[…] Read the Speaker’s full statement here. […]