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South Carolina Supreme Court Puts State Lawmaker Pay Raise on Hold
SOUTH CAROLINA, JUN 25 – The South Carolina Supreme Court blocked a $18,000 annual pay raise for lawmakers pending a lawsuit citing a constitutional ban on raises during current terms, with 40 members refusing the increase.
- On Wednesday, South Carolina's highest court issued a temporary order to halt an $18,000 increase in lawmakers’ in-district expense reimbursements that was scheduled to begin July 1.
- State Sen. Wes Climer and former teacher Carol Herring filed a lawsuit arguing the raise violates the state constitution, which prohibits legislators from increasing their pay during their term.
- The raise was enacted through Proviso 91.13 in the state's budget, increasing monthly in-district compensation from $1,000 to $2,500 and affecting all 170 General Assembly members.
- Legal representatives for the leaders of the South Carolina House and Senate contended that the pay increase is lawful and argued that the plaintiffs lack the necessary standing, with the Senate leader's response highlighting that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate the "irreparable harm" required for an injunction.
- The court’s injunction blocks the pay raise pending resolution and underscores tensions over constitutional limits and legislative transparency regarding self-approved compensation hikes.
20 Articles
20 Articles
State supreme court puts lawmaker pay raise on hold
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) - A planned pay raise for South Carolina lawmakers is on hold for now by the state's supreme court. The pay raise would be considered as a "in-district expense." An in-district expense is the money lawmakers can use to pay for their legislative obligations when they are away from the State house. The South Carolina Supreme Court has stepped in to pause the increase after a lawsuit challenged its legality. As a result, lawma…
Associated Press News
South Carolina lawmakers won't get paid while justices determine whether their raise was legal
South Carolina lawmakers won't get paid for their expenses while they aren’t in session as the state Supreme Court sorts through a lawsuit from one of their members that legislators improperly gave themselves an $18,000-a-year raise.
South Carolina Supreme Court puts state lawmaker pay raise on hold
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD) -- A state budget provision that would have given lawmakers a pay raise has been put on hold by the South Carolina Supreme Court. Lawmakers voted to raise their monthly stipend for in-district expenses from $1,000 to $2,500. That money is allocated to lawmakers on top of their $10,400 annual salary and per diems for expenses like travel to Columbia, lodging, and food. The pay raise was set to go into effect July 1, alongsid…
scdailygazette.com
SC Supreme Court presses pause on legislative pay raise pending final decision
Sen. Wes Climer, R-Rock Hill, attorney Dick Harpootlian and Rock Hill resident Carol Herring talk about legislative pay raises, which the state Supreme Court paused, outside Harpootlian's Columbia office on Monday, June 9, 2025. (Photo by Skylar Laird/SC Daily Gazette)COLUMBIA — An $18,000 annual pay increase for legislators will go on pause while the state Supreme Court decides whether its approval was constitutional, the high court ordered Wed…
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