News Releases

Press releases and other information from the South Carolina Democratic Party

Jan 09 2019

Statement on Rep. Joe Wilson’s approval of misuse of emergency funds

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 9, 2019

Columbia, SC – SCDP Chairman Trav Robertson released the below statement regarding reporting from the Aiken Standard in which Republican Congressman Joe Wilson expressed his support for Donald Trump’s plan to declare a national emergency in order to fund a border wall.

“Thousands of folks in South Carolina aren’t sure when their next paycheck is going to come thanks to Donald Trump’s government shutdown. They aren’t sure how they’re going to make rent or pay their electric bill, but their Congressman is more concerned with a make-believe wall than he is about their well-being.

“Declaring a state of emergency for a border wall is just plain irresponsible. The people of South Carolina elected Joe Wilson to solve the real problems they face every day… not fool around with their tax dollars. He ought to be more concerned with our state’s struggling schools and crumbling infrastructure.

“The bottom line is that Joe Wilson is in Washington to work for South Carolinians, not Donald Trump’s ego. Concocting a fake emergency to fund a vanity project shouldn’t even be on his radar while the people of his state are struggling to make ends meet. How out of touch can you get, Joe?”

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Dec 06 2018

Statement on Republican Promise for Push on Stricter Abortion Laws

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 6, 2018

Statement on Republican Promise for Push on Stricter Abortion Laws

Columbia, SC – SCDP Chairman Trav Robertson released the below statement regarding this week’s reporting from The State detailing Republican plans to introduce stricter abortion laws:

“Republicans in the state legislature are pandering to a far right wing of their party with these bills. The fact of the matter is that the majority of these sponsors are men who never have, or never will, become pregnant and have no place policing women’s bodies.

“To effectively ban all abortion in our state is an attack on women and the important decision in Roe v. Wade. Republicans know their legislation will be taken to the courts, and hope they’ll play a role in watching Roe v. Wade be overturned. South Carolina is ground-zero for the war on women’s rights.

“The South Carolina Democratic Party will be working tirelessly with our members in the state legislature to ensure this anti-choice agenda does not come to fruition. We stand with the women of South Carolina and their right to make choices about their own bodies.”

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Nov 28 2018

Senator Tim Scott Deciding Vote to Advance Racist Judge

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 28, 2018

Senator Tim Scott Deciding Vote to Advance Racist Judge

Columbia, SC – Just moments ago, in a disgraceful act of Party loyalty, Senator Tim Scott voted YES to advance the nomination of Thomas Farr. Thomas Farr is responsible for crafting and defending what the NAACP calls “the worst voter suppression law in the country.” Thomas Farr has a long career of working to disenfranchise any person of color, or anyone that disagrees with him, from voting. In the 1990 NC gubernatorial election, Farr was even responsible for mailing postcards to intimidate black voters, claiming they would be arrested if they showed up to the polls. Thomas Farr promotes racially discriminatory policies, and has no place serving on the federal bench.

This is simply another example of South Carolina Republicans choosing loyalty to Donald Trump over justice and morality. Senator Scott had a distinct opportunity to change this outcome, and yet chose to be a deciding vote on a judicial nominee who will work to suppress millions of voters across the nation.

“Tim Scott should be ashamed,” said SCDP Chairman Trav Robertson. “He is choosing to hurt communities of color across the country by nominating someone who believes African Americans shouldn’t be able to exercise their right to vote. If this is what Tim Scott believes in, he has no place representing the people of South Carolina. With the problems people of color faced while trying to cast their ballots on November 6th, the last thing we need is a judge who supports voter suppression.”

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Nov 20 2018

Republican Lawmakers Continue to Fail Our Educators and Children

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 19, 2018

Republican Lawmakers Continue to Fail Our Educators and Children

Henry McMaster and State Rep. Raye Felder Should be Held Accountable

Columbia, SC – Extensive reporting from the Post and Courier this week detailed South Carolina’s broken public education system. Highlighted in the report is the state legislature’s negligence. While our state’s children have been repeatedly failed and left to fall behind, the Republican-majority state legislature has done nothing to fix it.

The State House subcommittee on K-12 Education consists of seven Representatives, five of which are Republicans. The subcommittee Chair, Republican Raye Felder (HD-26), was just re-elected to her fourth consecutive term, and has done no substantial work to improve education in South Carolina. The Republican stronghold on this subcommittee has resulted in years of inaction, leaving our public schools crumbling, understaffed, and underfunded. Governor McMaster has been no friend to public education either; offering no substantial plan to fund education, and originally including no money for teacher pay raises in his version of the state budget.

“The Republican lawmakers in this state have done our children a grave injustice,” said SCDP Chairman Trav Robertson. “This investigation into our education system is proof that Henry McMaster as Governor, and Rep. Raye Felder as leader of this subcommittee either don’t believe in public education or don’t care about public education— and they certainly don’t tell the truth. Their lack of action completely contradicts the lip service they’ve been giving for years. It’s time the Republicans are held accountable for what they’ve done to our schools.”

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Oct 25 2018

HAS GOVERNOR’S CHIEF OF STAFF, TREY WALKER, BEEN GIVEN IMMUNITY TO TESTIFY IN CRIMINAL PROBE?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 25, 2018

HAS GOVERNOR’S CHIEF OF STAFF, TREY WALKER, BEEN GIVEN IMMUNITY TO TESTIFY IN CRIMINAL PROBE?
Trey Walker has had Evidence Related to Every Single Criminal Act during this Investigation

Columbia, S.C. – Governor Henry McMaster’s Chief of Staff, once again, has been called to testify during the latest criminal trial of former Republican Representative Jim Harrison.

SCDP Chairman, Trav Robertson stated:

“Trey Walker is the common denominator in every investigation. He was called to testify before the state grand jury. He just testified in the Harrison corruption trial. The Governor’s Chief of Staff seems to have first-hand knowledge of criminal activity. This begs the question: Was Trey Walker given immunity – because of his knowledge of criminal acts – to cooperate with the prosecutors. How has the person who kept Rick Quinn connected to the Attorney General’s office and the Governor’s office, the person who made sure that Rick Quinn was always being paid, and the person who was Rick Quinn’s most important acolyte avoided being indicted? Was Trey Walker on Richard Quinn & Associates payroll when he worked at the Attorney General’s Office, Lieutenant Governor’s office, the Governor’s office, or at the University of South Carolina?

“It’s time for Henry McMaster to explain his Chief of Staff’s role in the state’s largest criminal corruption probe. Most importantly, why is he still working for the Governor? Did Trey Walker make a deal with the special prosecutor to avoid prosecution? How is it that the Governor continues to employ somebody who is the common denominator of the state’s largest criminal corruption probe?”

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