COLUMBIA, SC — Despite absolute refusal to raise the state minimum wage, South Carolina Republicans appointed by Governor McMaster doled out raises to the tune of several hundred thousand in taxpayer dollars to the leaders of five state agencies.
“How can Henry McMaster and the Republicans justify massive raises for government bureaucrats, when the South Carolinians they serve are denied an increase in the minimum wage?” said SCDP Chair Trav Robertson, Jr. “I have to agree with Gary Simrill when he says that we are ‘behind the curve in South Carolina on wages’ – but it isn’t government officials I am concerned about. Hardworking South Carolinians have barely survived on a $7.25 minimum wage for decades, but there have been no complaints from the SCGOP about attracting and retaining top talent. Henry McMaster needs to explain to South Carolinians why his appointees deserve such substantial raises.
One of these administrators is having their pay raised by 48%. The legislature this year only raised teacher and state worker salaries by 2%, still leaving us as one of the worst states for teacher salaries. Republicans should apply their suddenly generous compensation philosophy to their constituents, rather than their friends in Columbia.”
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