CLOSED-DOOR STATE HOUSE CONFAB DRAWS SCRUTINY …
S.C. governor Nikki Haley demanded – and got – a brief, “intense” private meeting with lieutenant governor Henry McMaster inside the office of State Senate’s sergeant-at-arms James Melton on Thursday.
What did the two “Republican” statewide officials discuss behind closed doors?
Good question …
Haley and a political advisor showed up outside the Senate chamber at around 11:00 a.m. on Thursday morning while McMaster was presiding over deliberations inside. The governor proceeded to “verbally harangue” a member of McMaster’s staff – according to multiple individuals who witnessed the exchange.
“He had his hands up in the air – frustrated,” one witness told us, referring to the McMaster staffer’s response to Haley.
Unsatisfied, sources say Haley angrily jotted down a brief handwritten note to McMaster – a message which was promptly taken into the Senate chamber and handed over to the lieutenant governor.
Upon reading the message, McMaster yielded control of the Senate’s deliberations to S.C. Senator Ronnie Cromer and proceeded to Melton’s office – where he met privately with Haley for “several minutes” we’re told.
Hmmm …
Were the two discussing pending legislation? Or perhaps … other issues?
Haley effectively missed the first half of the current legislative session engaging in national politics – but in recent weeks she has reengaged in the hopes of scoring a “win” on the issue of infrastructure funding.
How’s that effort going?
Meanwhile McMaster is neck deep in a major scandal involving his political ally Alan Wilson, the state’s attorney general.
Lots for the two of them to discuss, right?
UPDATE: Looks like we have our answer courtesy of reporter Cynthia Roldan of The (Charleston, S.C.) Post and Courier. Apparently the two politicians were discussing the “Nikki Haley Do-As-I-Say-Not-As-I-Do” bill.
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RAPID REACTION >>>
@fitsnews @henrymcmaster @nikkihaley THURSDAY THURSDAY THURSDAY TWO WILL ENTER ONE WILL LEAVE
— Edvard Ovaltine (@eddyapplesauce) April 7, 2016
Still not sure why the Lt. Governor has staff. Also, still not sure what the Lt. Governor does. https://t.co/LJ1TtKUDRb
— Tyler Jones (@TylerMJones) April 7, 2016
The timing of @NikkiHaley's summons of @HenryMcMaster is curious … 10:30 am? Little early for a nooner ….
— Will Folks aka Sic (@fitsnews) April 7, 2016