The second installment of the State House Dispatch includes events, updates, ways to take action, and resources for learning more about the issues being considered in the legislature.
Upcoming Events
We will talk more in depth about the bills filed at the State House that affect our civil liberties, and talk through some of the ways that you can get involved.
Beaufort, SC
Saturday, February 25
11 a.m.
Saint Helena Library- St. Helena, SC
Virtual Legislative Update
Monday, February 27th
6 p.m.
Register and attend via Zoom
Eviction Right to Counsel
This bill would guarantee that renters in eviction proceedings who make less than 125% of the federal poverty line would be provided legal counsel. Without counsel, families are left to face the life-altering process of eviction on their own.
Right now: This bill was filed recently which means its next stop is a subcommittee hearing—but only if it is granted one. Did you know that bills are not guaranteed a subcommittee hearing? It's up to us to let lawmakers know that this issue matters to voters across the state.
What to do next: To learn more about the economic impact of eviction right to counsel, take a look at the full report here. Spoiler: For every dollar this program would cost the state, it would save about $3 in social safety net spending. Now tell the House Judicary Committee to give this bill a hearing, because we all stand to benefit from implementing eviction right to counsel.
Secrecy for Lethal Injection Drug Makers
For the record—capital punishment in America is a broken process, period. We know it, lawmakers know it, and drug manufacturers do too—hence why they only want to sell the drugs to the state confidentially.
Currently, the bill is waiting move to the Senate floor or debate.
In the news: Post & Courier editorial: Don't Hide Execution Information From the Public. "The moral ambiguities of the death penalty make it particularly important that executions be undertaken in the full light of day, where the public realizes what's being done in our name and fully supports it." (Because it bears repeating: capital punishment in America is a broken process from start to finish. While we don't agree on the existence of moral ambiguity here, we do agree that the state has an obligation to its citizens to disclose its activities, especially in matters like capital punishment.)
Abortion Is Healthcare
Presently, abortion remains legal until 20 weeks. In fact, just last month the SC Supreme Court ruled in the case brought by Planned Parenthood South Atlantic that the 6-week abortion ban was unconstitutional. Last week, the court denied the state's petition to rehear the case. SC Attorney General Alan Wilson said, "This issue is now in the legislature's hands." The General Assembly got the memo, and they're taking H. 3774, a radical ban on abortions, to the House floor.
What to do about it: Our partners at WREN have made it easy for you to contact your legislator and tell them you don't want abortion bans in South Carolina.
Classroom Censorship In The House
Right now: On Wednesday of last week, this bill went to the House floor for debate. After many, many hours of debate and squashed attempts at making the bill less harmful, the House passed it. It wasn't easy watching the debate unfold. We saw Amendments proposed for the purpose of bringing clarity to "prohibited concepts" and allowing for the teaching of the history of some US Constitution amendments to be tabled (which means not added to the bill). We acknowledge the specific hurt that is inflicted by intentional efforts to erase our history, and we want you to know that we aren't giving up on this issue.
What to do about it: Tell your Representative how you feel about classroom censorship, burdening overworked teachers with often unfounded complaints, and their efforts to discourage the teaching of our whole histories, particularly as it relates to Black history (and during Black History Month, no less).
Some Good News:
A Resolution to Honor Robert Smalls
The House honored Robert Smalls, a native South Carolinian for his contributions to the state. He is most well known for commandeering a ship leased by Confederate forces, successfully bypassing blockades, and sailing with 16 family members to freedom. Read about Robert Smalls here, and remember: these are the stories that SC students may never learn if we allow classroom censorship bills to stifle the teaching of Black history.