UCC Weekly Update 1.15.21

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General Assembly Returns; New Round of PPP Opens

Stat of the week: 101
The number of people signed up Thursday to testify to the Senate Medical Affairs subcommittee about the Fetal Heartbeat bill.
The Legislature Returns

The General Assembly returned to kick off the 124th session this week. (And during the first week, I can’t get this song out of my head.) The biggest action this week dealt with changes to Senate and House rules. The House changed rules to allow remote committee work. The Senate changed rules on cloture to prevent extended filibusters by the minority. We’ll write more about these changes and what they may mean for us, but there are other things to get to:

Governor Outlines Chamber Priorities in State of the State Address

Governor Henry McMaster delivered his State of the State Address Wednesday evening and outlined support for a number of Coalition priorities in the coming year. He gave his support to:

• a new grant program for small businesses impacted by COVID,
• more funding for educational initiatives including more assistance for Pell Grant recipients and those seeking workplace certificates,
• support for higher teacher pay,
• COVID liability reforms,
• funding for expanded access to broadband, and
• closing the state pension system.

We thank the Governor for his endorsement of these pro-business initiatives and we look forward to working with him to make them a reality in 2021.

Senate Committees Set

The Senate announced their committee assignments this week, and there are a number of major changes. Here are where Upstate Senators were assigned.

FINANCE: Harvey Peeler (R-Gaffney), Thomas Alexander (R-Oconee), Verdin, Shane Martin (R-Spartanburg), Karl Allen (D-Greenville), Tom Corbin (R-Greenville), Ross Turner (R-Greenville), Mike Gambrell (R-Anderson)
JUDICIARY: Rex Rice (R-Pickens), Scott Talley (R-Spartanburg), Richard Cash (R-Anderson), Dwight Loftis (R-Greenville), Billy Garrett (R-Greenwood), Josh Kimbrell (R-Spartanburg)
AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES: Verdin, Talley, Loftis, Garrett, Kimbrell
BANKING AND INSURANCE: Alexander, Turner, Gambrell, Loftis, Cash, Garrett, Kimbrell
CORRECTIONS AND PENOLOGY: Martin (Chairman), Allen, Turner, Rice, Garrett, Kimbrell
EDUCATION: Peeler, Turner, Rice, Talley, Massey, Cash, Allen, Loftis
LABOR, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY: Alexander (Chairman), Corbin, Allen, Gambrell, Rice
MEDICAL AFFAIRS: Verdin (Chairman), Peeler, Martin, Alexander, Corbin, Gambrell, Cash, Loftis, Garrett
TRANSPORTATION: Verdin, Peeler Rice

New PPP Round Opens

The Small Business Administration announced that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) re-opened this week for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers. Updated PPP guidance outlining Program changes to enhance its effectiveness and accessibility was released on January 6 in accordance with the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Non-Profits, and Venues Act.

This round of the PPP continues to prioritize millions of Americans employed by small businesses by authorizing up to $284 billion toward job retention and certain other expenses through March 31, 2021, and by allowing certain existing PPP borrowers to apply for a Second Draw PPP Loan. For more information, click here or contact your financial institution.

Welcome Irene and Jill!

This week, we welcomed two new interns to the UCC family. Irene Tate is a junior at the University of South Carolina and will be helping us with the tall task of legislative monitoring and tracking. Jill Johnson is a senior at Furman University and will be working on our educational attainment goals as well as with advocacy. If you have the chance, please welcome them to the Coalition!

ICYMI: Headlines

House want to hear more about selling Santee Cooper
Senate approves rules to prevent filibusters
Nikki Haley starts PAC as 2024 White House bid takes shape
SC expands who can get COVID shots
Senate to juggle impeachment trial, Biden agenda

and in a month of distressing headlines… what could be the most distressing headline of the week:
Capitol Steps to shut down after four decades

If you haven’t seen the Capitol Steps, you really missed out on the best political comedy.

We wish everyone a belated Happy New Year and look forward to working with you this year. Please take a moment to get involved with the advocacy efforts with your local chamber… this month’s meetings are on the left.

Best,
Jason

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