The Friday Five 1.17.20

Here are a few articles you may missed this week. Take a few minutes and get smarter before church coffee hour this Sunday… 

1. The fate of Santee Cooper. Legislators are set to determine if the state-owned public utility company will see its 86^th year of operation under South Carolina’s ownership or if it will be sold to the highest bidder — in another month after an extension was requested.
2. More money, more…rebates? Governor McMaster’s proposed budget includes $430 million in tax relief. The Governor and leaders of the General Assembly have slightly differing opinions on how the money should be returned to tax payers. Official budget discussions to happen within the next few months.
3. Senate begins education debate. With 59 sections to the proposal, the Senate is positioning itself to spend more time analyzing and debating components of the latest education reform bill. Legislators look to prioritize changes to class sizes, spending, and standardized testing.
4. Permanent Daylight Savings? If Congress votes to make daylight savings the new standard time, SC legislatures say they’re on board.
5. Tougher “Hands free” driving penalties. State law makers look to increase the penalty for using a phone while operating a vehicle. The proposed law would increase fines up to $400 and 4 points, with penalties getting more severe as offenses increase.

BONUS: 258 more days until REAL ID mandate goes into effect. Answer a few questions to see if you qualify to get a REAL ID without leaving your house; not everyone is eligible. If you don’t qualify, you should visit your local DMV as soon as possible to avoid above average wait times.