Today the League of Women Voters of South Carolina and the ACLU of South Carolina, represented by Burnette Shutt & McDaniel, PA, took a strong stand for the rule of law. 

As you know, our General Assembly is debating mid-decade redistricting.  There were several hundred proposed amendments to the mid-decade redistricting bill.

Last night, the House Rules Committee held posted notice of a meeting at 7:07 pm and held the meeting at 7:15 pm. At that meeting, the Rules Committee changed the rules prohibiting a member from putting forward more than 1 amendment to a bill. 

South Carolina law requires public bodies to give 24 hours notice of a meeting.  This ensures that the public knows what their government is doing and can participate.  Government transparency is one of the central pillars of the rule of law. 8 minutes from the time a public meeting is announced to the time it starts violates the 24 hour transparency requirement.

We are asking the court to tell the House that their attempt to change the rules was unlawful and that the more restrictive rule on amendments cannot be used. 

You can read the lawsuit here.