Haley, SC Lawmakers Feud Over Legislative Agenda

Relations between Republican Gov. Nikki Haley and South Carolina’s GOP-dominated Legislature have soured in recent weeks, with lawmakers suing to prevent her from calling an emergency legislative session. Although the state’s Supreme Court ruled 3-2 that Haley had exceeded her authority, the tea party-backed governor can still require the Legislature to take up her agenda again when it reconvenes next week.

The feud over Haley’s legislative proposals to restructure state government has left both sides smarting. Senate President Glenn McConnell, a Republican, called Haley’s bid to force lawmakers back to work “a sledgehammer,” although though the move did have the support of some GOP legislators.

Haley described the court challenge a power play and a case of political gamesmanship. But some in the Statehouse say Haley also is playing games: Last week, she barred several legislators from an annual end-of-session cookout at the governor’s mansion.