Your SC politics briefing

Welcome to your weekly South Carolina politics briefing, a newsletter curated by The State’s politics and government team.

The federal trial over whether South Carolina’s new congressional map discriminates against Black voters got underway Monday in Charleston federal court. The map, passed back in January, firmed up GOP control in six of South Carolina’s seven congressional districts by turning the competitive 1st District, represented by Republican Rep. Nancy Mace, into a solidly red district.

The trial, expected to last about two weeks, pits the SC NAACP against House and Senate Republican leaders.

The plaintiffs argue the US House map unconstitutionally dilutes the power of Black voters and should be redrawn. Lawyers for the defense counter that there is no direct evidence of racial discrimination and that political considerations and other traditional redistricting principles, such as preserving the cores of existing congressional districts and respecting communities of interest, drove line-drawing decisions, not racial animus.

Non-compliant charities get earmarks

In the latest evidence that South Carolina’s earmark process is ripe for reform, an analysis by The State Media Co. found at least 32 charities awarded earmarks over the past two years were out of compliance with state law and should not have been soliciting donations.

The state has granted a combined $11.3 million to such charities, some of which had never registered with the secretary of state or submitted financial reports, as is required by law, during the past two budget cycles, the analysis found.

Under the Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act, any charity that intends to solicit donations must register annually with the secretary of state’s office, unless it meets criteria for an exemption.

When House and Senate budget leaders were made aware of the issue, both said they were open to reforming the earmark process to ensure greater transparency and accountability going forward.

It remains to be seen how or even if such reform occurs, but one possibility is requiring legislative sponsors to complete forms with basic information about earmark recipients and their plans for spending public dollars.

Cunningham releases tax returns

Democratic nominee for governor Joe Cunningham saw his income, and the amount of taxes he paid, jump after he was elected to Congress in 2018, according to five years of tax returns reviewed by The State.

In 2018, Cunningham and his ex-wife, Amanda, reported just under $70,000 in income on their federal return. The amount jumped to $177,000 in 2019 after Cunningham’s first year in Congress. The couple also went from paying nearly $9,900 in income taxes to nearly $31,500 in state and federal income taxes.

The couple divorced earlier this year and filed separate returns for 2021.

Cunningham still reported $172,000 in total income. About $112,000 that amount was net income after expenses from running his law firm, Joe Cunningham Law.

Read more: Why is Cunningham holding a chicken? Democrat running for SC governor jabs McMaster

Buzz Bites

▪ The SC Supreme Court ruled in a unanimous decision that the North Charleston police came up with flimsy reasons to prolong an ordinary traffic stop for a broken brake light and ultimately use it to search the car Michael Frasier was riding in in 2013.

▪ NBC News reports that a SuperPAC connected to US Sen. Tim Scott is donating $5 million to the Senate Leadership Fund as the Republican Party tries to regain control in November.

▪ Jennifer DeCasper, Sen. Tim Scott’s chief of staff, is leaving the office to start her own consulting firm and guide the potential 2024 presidential candidate’s political activities, Politico reports.

▪ South Carolina adds more than 165,000 new registered voters in 2022, the Charleston Post and Courier reports.

▪ A Citadel cadet who participated in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot may plead guilty instead of going to trial and contesting the charges, according to a court record in his case.

▪ The South Carolina Democratic Party in a new TV ad is calling out one of its own members for voting to pass a stricter abortion ban.

▪ Republican 1st District Congresswoman Nancy Mace and her Democratic challenger Annie Andrews will face off in a debate on Oct. 19 on WCBD in Charleston.

▪ Republican Congressman Joe Wilson and his Democratic challenger Judd Larkins will face off in a debate at 7 p.m. Oct. 24 at Riverbluff High School.

▪ A Furman University professor has been placed on leave for attending the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, where protesters gathered to oppose the proposed removal of a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee.

▪ A hemp farmer has filed a federal lawsuit against the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the South Carolina Department of Agriculture and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, saying they were involved in a conspiracy to violate his civil rights and illegally destroy his crops.

Mark your calendar

Oct. 11

SC lieutenant governor televised debate, 8 p.m.

Oct. 18

Senate returns to Columbia to discuss abortion legislation, 1 p.m.

Oct. 19

Oral arguments in SC Supreme Court challenge to fetal heartbeat law

SC-1 Debate between Nancy Mace and Annie Andrews, 8 p.m.

Oct. 24

Early voting for SC’s general election starts

SC-2 Debate between Joe Wilson and Judd Larkins

Oct. 26

SC governor’s race televised debate, 7 p.m.

Nov. 2

SC superintendent candidate televised debate, 7 p.m.

Nov. 8

SC’s general election

Before we adjourn

At the start of the COVID pandemic, nearly 200,000 South Carolina homes didn’t have access to high-speed internet, an issue that is key for say a telehealth appointment, remote learning or work from home.

But in just over a year, about 100,000 homes have been connected to broadband, state leaders announced.

“Our rural areas are loaded with talent, and it is vital to our future prosperity that our rural areas and everyone in our state has broadband access,” Gov. Henry McMaster said earlier this week.

Now, the Office of Regulatory Staff is set to begin awarding up to $180 million in grants to internet service providers to continue build of broadband projects. The $180 million is the first tranche of $400 million of American Rescue Plan Act money the General Assembly allocated for broadband expansion.

“Through the State Broadband office and its leadership, South Carolina has created a model that other states are now following. When it comes to education, health, or anything else — broadband will make it all more accessible and affordable,” House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, D-Columbia, said.

Pulling the newsletter together this week was Joseph Bustos, reporter on the The State’s politics and state government team.

You can keep up with him on Twitter and send him tips on Twitter at @JoeBReporter or by email jbustos@thestate.com. To stay on top of South Carolina politics and election news, you can chat with us on Facebook, email us tips and follow our stories at scpolitics.com.