McMaster summarizes accomplishments, looks to the future in final State of the State address

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Republican South Carolina Gov. McMaster held his ninth and final State of the State address Wednesday evening.

McMaster began serving as governor in 2017 after former governor Nikki Haley stepped down to become the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during President Donald Trump’s first term.

He was then elected to two full terms in 2018 and 2022.

McMaster is the only South Carolina governor to serve for more than eight years.

In his address, McMaster summarized his past accomplishments and focused on the state’s future in several different areas, including education, economy, infrastructure, judicial reform and conservation

Education

McMaster noted several of the state’s educational accomplishments since 2017, including raising teacher pay.

Starting teacher pay has risen 67% from $30,113 to $50,500 since 2017. The average teacher salary has also risen to $64,050.

The state also started expanding its full-day 4K program in 2021, resulting in 18,411 students being enrolled this year, an increase of 30% since the expansion started.

“From experience, we know that 4K works. Children who succeed in kindergarten are better prepared to succeed in first grade, then second grade, then third grade. And we know if third graders are proficient in reading and mathematics, they are likely to be successful high school graduates,” he said.

McMaster also urged the General Assembly to fund universal full-day 4K for all South Carolina children, regardless of income.

On the higher education side, McMaster noted that the state continued to freeze tuition for in-state students for the seventh consecutive year and that more than 120,000 South Carolinians received full-ride scholarships to any of the state’s technical colleges.

McMaster has also called for a review of the state’s 33 public colleges and universities to ensure they meet the state’s workforce goals.

“I believe we must commission a serious systemic review of our state’s 33 public institutions of higher education. Will they be accessible and affordable? Are they responsive and innovative? Are they well run? Should we consolidate schools, programs, certificates, and degrees? And will enrollment grow, plateau, or shrink?” he said.

Economy

McMaster said that South Carolina’s economy is “strong” and is “creating large budget surpluses – year after year."

He noted that over the past year, the state generated $9.1 billion in new capital investment and created more than 8,000 jobs across rural and urban areas.

McMaster credited the state’s achievements across multiple areas with its economic success.

“Our state government is in superior fiscal shape, our laws and policies are business-friendly, our income tax is shrinking every year, and our population continues to grow,“ he said. ”We are investing in education, public safety and workforce training. We are preserving and protecting our lands, natural resources and cultural heritage. And our infrastructure and energy demands are being met with planning, foresight, and commitment."

Infrastructure

The primary infrastructure concern McMaster addressed in his speech was the state’s roads.

He said in his speech that the state has set aside funds across multiple budgets over the years to repair South Carolina’s crumbling roads and bridges, but that the General Assembly must provide more funding in this year’s budget for repairs and for a study to assess whether or not the state’s infrastructure can keep up with its projected growth.

“Inflationary construction and labor costs threaten to create crippling delays and busted budgets. It’s critical that this year’s budget invest an additional $1.1 billion in new surplus money to keep them moving and on schedule, he said. ”I submit to you that the time has come – and reality requires – that we assess whether our state’s infrastructure and government services will be able to catch up if this unrestrained out-of-state population growth continues."

Judicial Reform

While noting that progress has been made in South Carolina toward allowing the governor to appoint the state’s judges rather than the legislature, McMaster called on the state legislature to continue to further reform the state’s judicial selection process.

“Gubernatorial appointment of all judges, with the advice and consent of the state Senate, requires no ‘re-invention of the wheel.’ It will inspire the confidence of our people and will encourage more excellent attorneys to seek public service,” he said.

He also called for reform of South Carolina’s Summary Court system, noting financial disparities because each county is responsible for funding the salaries and facilities of these courts.

South Carolina Magistrate Judges are not required to hold law degrees or be practicing attorneys, a practice McMaster is seeking to change.

“I propose a better way. Magistrate judges should be compensated by the State in the same manner that circuit and appellate court judges are. The law should be changed to require them to be attorneys. They should be screened in a transparent manner, and county residency requirements should be eliminated. And the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court should determine how magistrate courts operate to ensure consistency in all 46 counties,” he said.

To close his final address, McMaster asked the audience what South Carolina would look like in 100 years and offered his thoughts.

“Our towns and schools will be full of happy, healthy children, eagerly soaking up knowledge and inspiration from their dedicated and innovative teachers. Our young people will be energized with the talents, confidence, and education necessary to pursue their dreams. Parents will be confident, building futures for their families in a bustling economy of innovative diversity: from manufacturers to medicine, from agriculture to aeronautics, from art to astronomy, from military to music. And the treasures of our lands and waters, from the Blue Ridge to the salt marshes, fields, streams and forests, will be thriving and preserved forever.”

Gov. Henry McMaster

You can watch the governor’s full address in the video below.

State House Rep. and Democratic candidate for governor Jermaine Johnson delivered the Democrats’ response.

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