Preliminary injunction granted on implementation of “in-district compensation” for legislators
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Supreme Court of South Carolina has issued a preliminary injunction to halt what amounts to a pay raise for legislators in order that a lawsuit brought by a state senator can proceed.
The court order calls for State Treasurer Curtis Loftis to “cease and desist from distributing any funds under the Proviso of the 2025-2026 Appropriations Act, pending further notice.”
Sen. Wes Climer (R-Rock Hill) had brought the suit, claiming that the members of the General Assembly had illegally given themselves an $18,000-a-year raise by raising their “in-district compensation” from $1,000 to $2,500 a month. All 46 senators and 124 House members would have received the raise beginning July 1, at the start of the new fiscal year.
Climer’s argument is that the raise violates South Carolina’s constitution banning the legislature from increasing their per diem during their term. He also stated in an interview with Associated Press that the pay increase should have passed as a stand-alone bill rather than as a proviso inserted late in the budget process.
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