News Releases

Columbia, SC — In response to the Trump’s administration decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), created by President Obama in 2012 to protect immigrants who came to this country as children, South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman, Trav Robertson, released the following statement:

“Donald Trump’s actions today are unchristian and immoral. Democrats proudly stand by the 6,406 DACA beneficiaries in South Carolina. We believe that America’s biggest strength is our diversity. We will continue to work to fix our broken immigration system and the most important step in doing that is supporting the DREAMers who are contributing to our economy and were brought to this country by no fault of their own.

“By rescinding the DACA program, Trump will cost the state of South Carolina over $245 million annually. That is a loss that will be felt by the entire South Carolina community. We urge South Carolina Republicans to act and support legislation in Congress to protect our DREAMers.”

“Social programs should be reformed and must go to the truly needy, not the greedy…”.
– then-Sen. Kevin Bryant, May 29, 2011, Anderson Independent-Mail

Anderson, SC — Tuesday, South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman called on Attorney General Alan Wilson to investigate the South Carolina Lieutenant Governor for alleged illegal votes as a Senator.

Specifically, then-Senator Kevin Bryant voted repeatedly on budget measures and provisos that dealt with Medicaid expansion, Medicaid payments, Medicaid reimbursements, and PEBA while his pharmacy, Bryant Pharmacy and Supply, directly received payment from these same programs.

By statute, then-Senator Bryant was required to recuse himself from any votes affecting his government contracts. He did not do so.

When asked why his business has been doing so well, Kevin Bryant told the Anderson Independent-Mail that “it is because of the work ethic that Daddy started back in the ’60s of treating your customers with the best service possible.” As cute as that would be, it’s clear it is because then-Senator Kevin Bryant used his status to become the ‘preferred pharmacy’ for Anderson Memorial Hospital System, earning his business millions more in government payments that he publicly argues against.

“If he doesn’t believe in Medicaid, then why would he accept millions of dollars in Medicaid reimbursement funds at his pharmacy and why would the hospital use him as a ‘preferred pharmacy’?” Robertson asked. “It is illegal for an elected official to personally profit from or vote on legislation that would impact his or her business interests. When Bryant voted on any state budget measure or proviso that deals with Medicaid reimbursements, he violated that section of state law.”

“It is the duty of Attorney General Alan Wilson to investigate and prosecute all wrongdoing by our elected officials. Bryant’s misconduct is brazen both in its scope and its simplicity,” said South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Trav Robertson. “The Attorney General clearly has what he needs to begin an investigation, and he should appoint a special prosecutor if he feels that he is too personally connected to Bryant’s misconduct.”

In an op-ed written in the Anderson Independent-Mail in May 2011, Bryant made the point that “social programs should be reformed and must go to the truly needy, not the greedy…” Bryant has made sure that one of the few individuals benefitting from the Medicaid funds being spent in South Carolina today is himself.

COLUMBIA, SC — “The women of South Carolina have already taken it upon themselves to ensure that their essential healthcare services are provided for, no thanks to the Governor or the Republican-controlled General Assembly,” said SCDP Chairman Trav Robertson in a statement Friday.

“In seeking Medicaid and Medicare waivers, the Governor is trying to repeat the mistakes of Nikki Haley by turning down healthcare funds South Carolina’s taxpayers have already paid on behalf of its citizens. There is much room for improvement in our current healthcare infrastructure and Governor McMaster has sent us backward in an attempt to further his campaign prospects. He is attempting to sacrifice the quality of life for many of South Carolina’s citizens for a cheap talking point.”

“McMaster’s decision to protect the director of the ORS continues his summer of corruption…”

 

COLUMBIA, SC — Today, Chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party Trav Robertson called on Henry McMaster or his staff to disclose any knowledge of the relationship between the executive director of the Office of Regulatory Staff Dukes Scott, Richard Quinn, Richard Quinn’s son-in-law, and the Governor’s office.

The Office of Regulatory Staff (“ORS”) at the Public Service Commission has been leading the push for the V.C. Summer plant since the beginning. Our lawmakers trust their expert advice on complicated regulatory and technical matters. They repeatedly recommended rate hikes to the Legislature for approval, which have now totaled over $1.4 billion. Despite a clear call from House Speaker Jay Lucas and other members of the General Assembly for the resignation of ORS Director Dukes Scott, Henry McMaster’s refusal to accept his resignation demonstrates that accountability is not the main objective of the Governor’s office.

The Governor and his staff have once again moved to protect an ally of the Quinns. At ORS, Dukes Scott hired Richard Quinn’s son-in-law, who has since moved to Willoughby & Hoefer, a firm closely connected to Attorney General Alan Wilson. These events and relationships do not appear to be a coincidence.

“Henry McMaster has placed the cost of a failed business scheme on the backs of ratepayers to protect the friends of his consultants. This is one of the largest bailouts in the history of South Carolina. As part of their continued hearings on the abandonment of the V.C. Summer plant, I hope the Legislature will demand answers to the questions below. The citizens of South Carolina deserve to know the truth about how they are governed, particularly if they are footing the bill.”

1. When did Dukes Scott hire Richard Quinn’s son-in-law at the ORS?
2. Did the Governor know that Richard Quinn’s son-in-law was, at one time, an employee of the ORS?
3. How much did the utility companies involved in the V.C. Summer project, particularly SCANA, pay Richard Quinn and Associates?
4. Did Richard Quinn and Associates advocate for passage of the Base Load Review Act of 2007 with Richard Quinn’s son-in-law was at ORS?
5. Did Richard Quinn and Associates represent any business interests to the ORS while Quinn’s son-in-law worked at the ORS?
6. Did the Attorney General award any legal work to Willoughby & Hoefer once Richard Quinn’s son-in-law transitioned from the ORS to Willoughby & Hoefer?

 

“Two constitutional officers with direct ties to a company under state and federal investigation, have refused to protect and defend the ratepayers. Instead, they have chosen to continue a summer of corruption.”

COLUMBIA, SC — Thursday, the South Carolina Democratic Party announced the creation of a new Candidate Recruitment Committee to head its 2018 election efforts.

“We win elections by showing up. We have to stand up for Democratic values and provide voters with better choices. We are going to compete in every part of this state again and that begins with having candidates in every race,” said Trav Robertson, SCDP Party Chairman. “We’re working hard to make sure our candidates are put in a position to win.”

The committee includes a variety of elected leaders, operatives, activists, and Party officials from around the state and will be chaired by DNC member Clay Middleton of Charleston.

Middleton added, “It is imperative that we have candidates running for office at every level and challenging the status quo that exists in many parts of our state. We can’t grow our base, have a majority, and increase turnout in targeted areas by playing it safe. We intend to harness the energy that has been on full display to encourage people to run for public office and get involved in the political process. We are right on the issues that keep families up at night and we will not allow others to define who we are.”

The full Committee membership is below (name, county):

Chair Clay Middleton, Charleston
Vice Chair Angela Douglas, Chester
Vice Chair Heyward Harvin, Richland
Alycia Albergottie, Richland
Stuart Andrews, Richland
Ernest Boston, Jr., Florence
Jessica Bright, Colleton
Councilwoman Jeanie Brown-Burrows, Williamsburg
Former State Senator Jim Bryan, Laurens
Jennifer Cangeme, Horry
Dr. Lady June Cole, Richland
Duane Cooper, Richland
Former State Representative Ginger Crocker, Richland
Hannah Cromley, Georgetown
Mayor Terrence Culbreath, Edgefield
Josef Douglas, Richland
Michelle Edgar, Richland
Deloris Edwards-Rozier, Horry
Chris Fedalei, Greenwood
Kate Franch, Greenville
Sh’Kur Francis, Charleston
Teresa Harper, Aiken
Kathy Hensley, Lexington
Jarvis Holmes, Hampton
Rod Jernigan, Florence
Sam Johnson, Richland
Michael Kay, Anderson
John Kraljevich, York
Anne Landires, Chester
Former State Senator Phil Leventis, Sumter
Blaine Lotz, Beaufort
Avery Martin, Greenville
Will Maxey, Greenville
Bryanta Maxwell, Richland
Joey Opperman, Anderson
John Polk, Hampton
SCDP 1st Vice Chair and Councilwoman Lessie Price, Aiken
County Auditor Patricia Pringle, Clarendon
Elliotte Quinn, Charleston
John Rickenbacker, Orangeburg
Mayra Rivera-Vazquez, Beaufort
Jerald Sanders, Lexington
Antjuan Seawright, Richland
Lee Shelton, Georgetown
Bill Walker, Beaufort