House Members Request to be Removed From Senator Davis’ Petition

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO)- Two Legislative Council members asked to be removed from a petition issued by Senator Tom Davis last week regarding confusion over how the next Lieutenant Governor will be picked; should Nikki Haley be confirmed as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.

“I’m very disappointed in Legislators that aren’t being supportive in that regard,” Davis said.

On Tuesday Davis got a response from three house members.

South Carolina House Speaker, Jay Lucas and Representative Greg Delleney requested to be removed from Davis’ petition.

“I really don’t have any patience for any law maker that’s going to delay a court resolution of that matter, slow down a court resolution of that matter, or try to muddy the waters,” Davis said.

In his petition, Davis explained that the Governor cannot appoint a Lieutenant Governor until after the 2018 election. The Beaufort County Senator said the next person in line should stick to the status quo.

“If there is a vacancy coming up in the next few months in that Lieutenant Governors office, then the President of the Senate will rise up and become Lieutenant Governor,” Davis said. “That’s what the constitution provides, that’s what Lt. Governor Glenn McConnell did back when he had to take that office, and that’s the way we should be operating now.”

All of the respondents on the petition have a 20 day window to respond.

Although two are not in favor of this petition, Legislative Council Member, Mark Hammond said he will accept whatever the Supreme Court decides.

“Any responsible legislator should be joining in this prayer for relief, because right now that is what the people decided,” Davis said. “What the people declared has not been carried out by legislators and it’s a moral responsibility on our part to do whatever we can, as quickly as possible to clean up that mistake.”

While Davis waits for others to respond, he said it’s a no brainier to what their decision should be.

“The will of the people have not been carried out,” Davis said. “This is a black and white matter, there is no grey here. There is a right act and the right way to act is to have the supreme court declare that those constitutional amendments are effective exactly when the people said they were going to be effective in 2018.”

If Davis’ petition holds true then Senate President Pro Tem will take on  Lt. Governor, that’s if Haley is confirmed as the U.S. Ambassador tot he United State. The current Lt. Governor, Henry McMaster would become the Governor.