Joseph Bustos

Columbia

State Government Politics Reporter at The State

State Gov, Politics reporter @thestate, previous: @bellevillenewsd, et al @MedillSchool alum. Miami, FL native. [email protected]. Not State Rep @JoeBustos19

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Articles

Key issues shaping South Carolina's $14.5B budget debate

6 days ago | thestate.com | Joseph Bustos

South Carolina’s $14.5 billion state budget debate features stark proposals and tough decisions on spending and tax priorities. Lawmakers are weighing large disaster relief funding after Hurricane Helene, as shown by Gov. McMaster’s $240 million request to cover storm costs and bolster resilience programs.
SC House speaker says its up to voters on whether Treasurer Loftis keeps job

1 week ago | thestate.com | Joseph Bustos

South Carolina Treasurer Curtis Loftis and treasurer’s office attorney Shawn Eubanks prepare to answer questions from a Senate Finance Committee panel on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. Tracy Glantz [email protected] COLUMBIA, S.C.Treasurer Curtis Loftis’ fate about whether he will keep his job will be up to voters as House Speaker Murrell Smith said the South Carolina House does not have the appetite to take up a resolution to remove the statewide officer.
State health plan insurance rates set with latest SC House budget proposal

1 week ago | thestate.com | Joseph Bustos

The South Carolina State House in Columbia, S.C., is seen after sunset on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. (Travis Bell/STATEHOUSE CAROLINA) COLUMBIA, S.C.Those on the state health insurance program won’t see an increase in their premiums now that the South Carolina House has agreed with the Senate plan to fully cover the cost of the rate hikes for the upcoming budget year. The House previously planned to cover only 85% of the increase, which would have led to an increase in rates.
Deal struck to help SC bars, restaurants cope with rising liquor liability costs

1 week ago | thestate.com | Joseph Bustos

A beer being poured at Keg Cowboy in Lexington, SC. Tracy Glantz [email protected] COLUMBIA, S.C.A compromise to address liquor liability concerns to help bars and restaurants cope with rising insurance costs has been reached. The House approved the deal Tuesday. The Senate expects to take up the compromise Wednesday and negotiators say they could not guarantee passage, but said they would advocate for the upper chamber to agree and send the bill to the governor.
Here’s what issues remain in the final week of SC’s 2025 legislative session

1 week ago | thestate.com | Joseph Bustos

The legislative session in 2025 for the South Carolina General Assembly ends on Thursday, May 8. Tracy Glantz [email protected] COLUMBIA, S.C.Three legislative days remain before the end of most of this year’s General Assembly work, and South Carolina lawmakers are in their annual sprint to see what can cross the finish line by 5 p.m., May 8. “We’re going to have stuff flying back and forth.
USDA appoints Gov. McMaster staffer to lead South Carolina farm service agency

1 week ago | thestate.com | Joseph Bustos

Cody Simpson Provided photo COLUMBIA, S.C.Cody Simpson, who has served as an assistant to Gov. Henry McMaster, has a new job in the Trump administration. Simpson, who has worked in the governor’s office since 2018, has been named as the state executive director for the South Carolina Farm Service Agency under the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Loftis’ office under SC inspector general investigation. Here’s the scope

1 week ago | myrtlebeachonline.com | Joseph Bustos

South Carolina Treasurer Curtis Loftis’ office is now under investigation by the state’s inspector general. This follows a House decision not to take up a Senate resolution to remove the treasurer this year over a $1.8 billion accounting error. The House is researching how to best move forward with the resolution after this year’s legislative work. The Senate last month voted 33-8 to remove Loftis for willful neglect of duty.
Senate approves SC environment chief, despite complaints by property rights advocates

2 weeks ago | heraldonline.com | Sammy Fretwell |Joseph Bustos

The state Senate on Wednesday confirmed Myra Reece as director of South Carolina’s environmental protection agency, overriding efforts by property rights advocates to derail the nomination. Reece, 66, is a career environmental regulator who Gov. Henry McMaster chose to run the recently formed S.C. Department of Environmental Services. The Senate voted 29-9 to approve her nomination, making her chief of the agency she has run on an interim basis since last summer.
New SC tax reform plan could lower rates, but 24% of filers would pay more money

2 weeks ago | myrtlebeachonline.com | Joseph Bustos

A new plan of how to reform the state’s income tax system is now on the table. And proponents say it gives the state a pathway to having zero income tax, which some lawmakers have called for. The gradual reduction of the state income tax, however, will be based on enough revenue coming into state coffers, and shifts where the state starts tax calculations to adjusted gross income instead of the lower federal taxable income.
SC State University leader to get $80K raise. Winthrop president to get $30K hike

2 weeks ago | myrtlebeachonline.com | Joseph Bustos

The leader of the state’s only four-year public historically black college is getting an $80,000 raise. The state’s Agency Head Salary Commission approved raising S.C. State University President Alexander Conyers to $340,919, which is up from $260,475 a year, according to a state database. Conyers’ pay was among the eight agency directors salaries approved by the commission Tuesday. Winthrop University’s President Edward Serna will get a raise to $309,588 from $279,442, according to the university.