Senate vote to Elect the President Pro-Temp

Before his election to the post of Senate President pro-tempore, Senator Hugh Leatherman sent his fellow Senators a written declaration that if elected to that post he would not accept the constitutional responsibility to serve as Lt. Governor under any conditions.  Yet, 37 senators shamefully refused to oppose him anyway.

When Nikki Haley is confirmed by the US Senate as Secretary to the United Nations, Lt. Gov. Henry McMaster will become Governor leaving the Lt. Gov. position vacant.  Despite the current questions regarding the General Assembly’s faulty immediate implementation of the 2014 ballot initiative that changes to the line of succession to allow the Governor to appoint the Lt. Governor when that position is vacated, the language of the initiative itself clearly stated that the changes don’t take effect until 2018.  Assuming this gets corrected by the SC Supreme Court, Leatherman would then be required to assume the role of Lt. Governor moving him out of a position where he does harm to South Carolina as the most powerful politician in the state, to one where he could do virtually no harm as the least powerful politician in the state.

Leatherman clearly indicated he doesn’t care how the ballot initiative debacle is settled, he will refuse to fulfill his responsibility to be Lt. Governor should he be required to do so. Senators who voted for a man who wants the power that comes with being President pro-tempore, but refuses the responsibility that goes with it, should be ashamed AND held accountable by their constituents.  Not only that, it shows their own disregard for the rule of law and the constitutional foundation of our state.  If your Senator refused to vote against Hugh Leatherman, please contact him or her and demand and explanation!

Following are Senators who refused to vote against Leatherman.  (Note: Senator Katrina Shealy was too weak to vote for or against Leatherman and simply vote “Present”.)