By The Associated Press
South Carolina’s most powerful politician says he has no intention of stepping down as the chamber’s leader.
Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler opened Tuesday’s special session with a bomb, asking Sen. Hugh Leatherman to immediately resign as Senate president pro tem. Peeler says his Republican colleague is capable of leading the Senate and being Senate Finance chairman, but not of occupying both roles simultaneously.
Leatherman says he has no other comment to Peeler’s request other than refusing to step aside.
Senators voted Leatherman as their leader last June. The Florence Republican has chaired the Senate’s budget-writing committee for 15 years.
The Legislature worked Tuesday on bills to help them meet their main special session responsibility to pass a state budget for the fiscal year that starts in just two weeks.
