House, Senate tries to reach deal to fire SC State trustees

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Three senators and three House members are meeting to try to find a compromise to fire the South Carolina State University Board of Trustees.

Bills to get rid of the board received widespread support, but the disagreement on who should appoint the new trustees continued into Tuesday’s conference committee meeting.

Senators and House members agreed the governor should appoint a member, and each chamber should have control over its appointments. But the House wants the treasurer and comptroller general to appoint a board member each and senators say they can’t accept that.

After more than an hour of discussion, each side took a break to talk things over.

Lawmakers are angry that SC State is expected to owe more than $23 million in debt by this summer.