Snow creates constitutional dilemma in South Carolina

Snow Statehouse Impact (Added: January 10, 2011)

The snow has delayed the opening of the SC Legislative session and the first inaugural event. (more)

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Snow creates constitutional dilemma in SC

Someone built a snowman on the South side of the Statehouse Monday. State offices were closed because of the storm, which will also delay the opening of the South Carolina House’s legislative session.

By: Robert Kittle | WSPA-TV
Published: January 11, 2011

COLUMBIA --

While schools and businesses across the state, including state government offices, shut down Monday because of the snow and ice, leaders in the South Carolina legislature faced a dilemma. They wanted to postpone Tuesday's start of the legislative session but the state Constitution requires them to start on the second Tuesday in January.

Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, says, "If this wasn't the first day of the session, I would probably just cancel the session day."

Since he can't because of the constitutional requirement, he will delay the start of the session. Instead of starting at noon, the House will go into session at 3:30, giving members more time to get to Columbia.

It will also be what's called a "perfunctory" session. Harrell says, "Just in case some members can't make it down from the Upstate, I don't want us to be taking up substantive business without all citizens in the state being represented."

So no votes will be taken or bills debated. He and the House clerk will just read pre-filed bills across the desk and assign them to committees.

Senators came up with a different solution. A few senators will gavel the body into session at noon, as scheduled, but they'll immediately take a recess until 5 p.m. to give senators more time to get to Columbia safely.

The snow also postponed the first event of Governor-elect Nikki Haley's inauguration--the Family Fun Night that was scheduled for 5:30 Tuesday night at the State Fairgrounds. The event was scheduled to be inside one of the buildings, but the roads will make it dangerous for families to get there.

So the Family Fun Night will now be on Saturday, January 22nd instead, still from 5:30 until 8:00 inside the Cantey building at the State Fair.

Her swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday. Chairs are already in place behind the Statehouse for the ceremony and are now covered in snow, but temperatures are expected to get to around 40 Wednesday and the ceremony is expected to go on as scheduled.