GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) – Days before election night, the candidates for the governorship of South Carolina laid out their visions for South Carolina to more than 200 people Thursday night at a debate at Greenville Technical College.
Incumbent Governor Henry McMaster touted South Carolina’s economy under his nearly two years of leadership.
“Since I’ve been in office I’ve announced 23,000 new jobs…over $8 billion in new investments, and things are getting better,” McMaster said. “We’ve had more people working than we ever had before.
His Democratic challenger James Smith, who has served in the state house for more than two decades, said he disagreed.
“Right now South Carolina is in the bottom fifth of about every list that we want to be on the top of,” Smith said. “If South Carolina were a football team, and you were our head coach, you’d be fired,” he said of McMaster.
The debate was moderated by the Columbia, S.C. bureau chief of The Post and Courier and the former dean of the University of South Carolina College of Information and Communications.
The candidates answered questions about issues including medical marijuana, SCANA’s nuclear debacle, tariffs, higher education, and Planned Parenthood.
Healthcare was a recurring issue.
Moderator Andy Shain asked about McMaster’s decision to veto of $16 million to prevent about $80,000 of that from going to Planned Parenthood. Shain noted that a lawsuit filed in response to McMaster’s decision will likely cost the state more in legal fees than the annual contribution planned parenthood would receive.
McMaster defended his actions.
“This is a matter of life,” he said. “We have to stand up and say what we stand for.”
“I want to stop abortions in South Carolina,” McMaster said.
Smith suggested McMaster’s decision was a political stunt.
“Henry, this is quite possibly one of the most despicable acts you’ve done in office,” Smith said.
The economy was another hot topic.
“I want to reduce taxes,” McMaster said. “I want to reduce regulations.”
He said if South Carolina raises taxes and adds regulation, growth will stop.
Smith noted he is not proposing increasing taxes.
“I have never, not once, in this entire campaign proposed a single tax increase,” Smith said.
Gov. McMaster also announced a $52 million tax cut from the unemployment tax.
The moderators also asked about tariffs.
Smith called tariffs “job killing.” McMaster said he is supportive of “what the president is doing,” but is he concerned about the impact to South Carolina jobs. He said he is in contact with President Trump about tariffs.