South Carolina Gas-Tax Hike to Become Law After Legislature Overrides Gov. McMaster's Veto

A proposal to raise the South Carolina gas tax will become law after the Legislature overrode Gov. Henry McMaster’s veto May 10.

The proposal, which takes effect July 1, will raise the state’s gas tax by two cents a year for six years, totaling 12 cents. The bill also will hike other driving fees to raise money to repair the state’s crumbling roads.

The South Carolina Senate gave the bill final approval May 9 in a vote of 32-12.

The South Carolina House voted 95-18, to override McMaster’s veto after  House Speaker Jay Lucas, (R-Darlington) and several other House members lambasted the Republican governor.

“He chose to listen, I believe, to campaign consultants, rather than the people of the great state of South Carolina,” Lucas said.

McMaster is a good man, Lucas added. “I know he wants the best for South Carolina, I believe he will become a good governor in time.”

However, during the roads debate, McMaster has “chosen to place politics over policy,” Lucas said. “The governor has failed to offer one single, viable solution to the state’s infrastructure crisis.”

Freshman lawmaker Rep. Micah Caskey, (R-Lexington), said McMaster “chose to remain silent, he chose not to act, he chose not to lead.”

Instead, Caskey said, McMaster focused on next year’s GOP primary — a low-turnout vote, dominated by anti-tax voters — and worried about his own career.

Before taking over for South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who resigned to join the Trump Administration, McMaster was silent on whether he supported a gas-tax hike.

However, as governor, McMaster asked President Donald Trump for $5 billion to pay for road repairs, adding raising the gas tax should be a “last resort.” Later, McMaster urged lawmakers to borrow up to $1 billion to pay for road repairs, instead of repairing state buildings.

In his veto message, however, McMaster said more money was not the solution, a claim that representatives mocked May 9.

After more than two years of debate, senators and House members agreed earlier this week on the plan to raise the state’s gas tax by 12 cents a gallon and increase other driving fees to provide about $630 million a year for road repairs.