SC anti-DEI bill delayed in House as Democrats claim GOP lack support. Here’s what we know By Joseph Bustos March 27, 2025 5:30 AM COLUMBIA, S.C. South Carolina Democrats claimed a temporary victory in stopping an anti-diversity, equity and inclusion bill, but that win may only be six days long. House Republicans aimed to pass an anti-DEI bill Wednesday, but before the House could vote on a strike-and-insert amendment that took out a provision that dealt with private contractors, House Education and Public Works Committee Chairwoman Shannon Erickson called for the debate to be put on hold until Tuesday. Shortly after the move to pause the debate, House Democrats told members of the news media that Republicans were unable to pass the bill and the South Carolina Democratic Party sent out a news release touting efforts to delay the bill. But Erickson said she and committee staff needed time to review proposed amendments. As the day went on, more than 20 amendments had been proposed and Erickson, a Beaufort Republican, told reporters she wanted a few days to review amendments to see if they could be worked into the bill. No amendments were brought to her attention before Wednesday’s debate, even though she asked for them in the week leading up to the debate. Some amendments probably deserve serious consideration, she said. “I’m pretty collaborative. It is very odd for me to get no response from stakeholders, and it concerned me last week,” Erickson said. “I need some time to look at those amendments on the desk. I need to look and see what holds merit, what’s actually workable, what’s just, pie in the sky, and what’s actually something that could be constructive.” Erickson pointed to amendments proposed by state Rep. Rosalyn Henderson-Myers, D-Spartanburg, dealing with science, technology, engineering and math that may be worth considering. “I don’t want to leave a good idea on a table,” Erickson said. “Now, if it’s something that I don’t think we can integrate into what the plan is, then I’ll be back at square one. But if, if I’m going to be the person who says it’s collaborative and wants to work to the best product we can get, then I’m going to take a minute and do that.” House members spent about two hours debating the proposed committee amendment, but they didn’t vote on it. The number of House members who wanted to speak, and the number of other amendments, kept growing. Democrats argued the pushing for this bill is not popular, and Republicans who hold a supermajority in the House, aren’t united on the issue. “The mere fact that this caused division in the Republican Party, not just with the Freedom Caucus, but within the Republican Party itself, says that there is no place in South Carolina for anyone to tamper with diversity, equity and inclusion,” said state Rep. Annie McDaniel, D-Fairfield, who leads the Legislative Black Caucus. Before Wednesday’s debate, the Legislative Black Caucus and other Democrats held a news conference to discuss their opposition to the bill. They also coordinated their outfits to wear black suits, and black ties like they were attending a funeral in an effort to show they were unified on the issue. “We are mourning the death of humanity as we know it here in South Carolina, the efforts that this bill is bringing to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion is worth mourning,” said state Rep. Hamilton Grant, D-Richland. State Rep. Carl Anderson, D-Georgetown, pointed to the nearly two-hour break, when the South Carolina State Firefighters Association was hosting lunch, as evidence that Republicans weren’t ready to pass the bill. But as Democrats tried adjourn for the day, send the bill back to committee and even delay the bill for the day early in the debate, the moves were easily defeated by Republicans. Despite those votes, Erickson lowered the expectation that Republicans would all be on board. “I don’t expect everybody to be rank and file. I think that would be foolish,” Erickson said. “Very few things around here are unanimous on any group or front.”
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