Senator

The Latest: Controversial Bathroom Bill Senator Defeated

Sen. Lee Bright has been defeated in GOP primary runoff

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Controversial Sen. Lee Bright who sponsored a transgender bathroom bill that failed in South Carolina has been defeated in a GOP primary runoff. The Roebuck Republican was the only incumbent publicly opposed by the state Chamber of Commerce’s political committee, which ran several radio ads against him. The ads criticized Bright’s bill as a time-wasting political…

Senators seek 5 percent raises for state employees

(Photo: Rich Wandover) COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ A bi-partisan group of South Carolina senators is advocating a 5 percent cost-of-living raise for state employees. Republican Sen. John Courson of Columbia said Thursday it’s time to say `thank you’ by passing a budget that increases paychecks starting in July. Senate Minority Leader Nikki Setzler says many employees’ take-home pay has actually…