TL/DR –
A bill aimed at consolidating six healthcare agencies in South Carolina was halted by Republican Rep. Josiah Magnuson on the final day of the General Assembly session. Magnuson objected to the bill due to concerns it could vest too much power in a “healthcare czar” during pandemic emergencies. Despite this, the bill was broadly supported, including by Republican Gov. Henry McMaster, and passed the Senate and the House with votes of 44-1 and 98-15, respectively.
South Carolina Healthcare Consolidation Bill Collapses on Last Session Day
A health care consolidation bill, meant to restructure six South Carolina health care agencies, has been thwarted on the final day of the General Assembly session. Republican Rep. Josiah Magnuson, an outspoken critic of the bill, has claimed that it would create an unchecked healthcare czar, capable of dictatorial power during pandemic emergencies like COVID-19.
As the bill required unanimous support for consideration minutes before the Thursday deadline, Magnuson voiced his objection and remained defiant, even amidst the heated discussions with fellow Republicans, including bill sponsor Senator Tom Davis. The situation escalated to the point where security sergeants were on alert.
Following the session, Magnuson expressed his resentment, noting that he and his fellow Freedom Caucus members had been ridiculed throughout the week. Magnuson referenced a colleague’s puppet, resembling him and donning a Freedom Caucus sticker, as an example.
New Office of Health and Policy Bill Derailed
Magnuson claimed that Davis and others have been dismissive and insulting towards the Freedom Caucus, an entity known for its obstructing tactics to stall bills and use of ambiguous social media posts to achieve distinct goals.
Proposed as the follow-up to last year’s breakup of the state Department of Health and Environmental Control, the bill intended to establish a new Executive Office of Health and Policy. It planned to combine multiple agencies overseeing South Carolina’s Medicaid program, help for older people and those with mental health issues, public health, and drug and alcohol abuse programs under the governor’s cabinet.
Stalled Bill Supported by Republicans
Republican Governor Henry McMaster had expressed support for the bill, alongside notable Republicans like Senate Finance Committee Chairman Harvey Peeler and House Speaker Murrell Smith. Despite majority support, the bill’s collapse engendered a wave of disappointment, with Davis accusing some House members of failing South Carolina over petty political differences.
Healthcare Bill Victory for Freedom Caucus
Although the bill faced resistance from conservative senators who wanted to add proposals stopping businesses from mandating federally unapproved vaccines, its eventual failure was seen as a Freedom Caucus victory. Caucus Chairman, Rep. Adam Morgan, maintained that it was a flawed proposal from the start. House Speaker Smith, however, cautioned that the Freedom Caucus’s disruptive tendencies might not bode well for their future influence.
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