After our video went live late last night, North Myrtle Beach State Senator Greg Hembree reached out to us regarding the S.C. Senate refusing to fund I-73 yesterday.
Early returns on June 14th will alert voters as to whether residents have finally gained control of Horry County’s agenda.
On the Senate floor Hembree asked Senate Finance Committee Chairman Harvey Peeler for just $1 towards I-73 so that it could go back to the S.C. House for reconciliation.
Peeler refused. With that, all funding options for I-73 died for 2022.
Hembree reached out to us today. He was clearly disappointed with the outcome from Columbia. Said Hembree, “While our efforts to fund I-73 were thwarted, I was able to get some much needed funding for Highway 90.” At Hembree’s request, the state will be funding $900,000 of the projected $500 million necessary to four lane the entire road.
At present, no other funds are available to fund Highway 90. Hembree said the road would need to be improved bit by bit over time.
WHO IS ON THE HOT SEAT?
Tom Rice
Tom Rice will need to explain in upcoming debates why he was unable to get the funding necessary from Washington.
RUSSELL FRY
No candidate for U.S. 7th District is more pro Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce than Russell Fry. Next Thursday, he will likely be asked why he couldn’t deliver on his signature agenda item in Columbia.
Fry is a State House Majority Whip, yet the house budget did not include I-73 funding.
THE WINNERS
Ken Richardson for U.S. 7th District Congress, Representative William Bailey, and House District 61 John Cassidy agree that local road funding must come first.
They listened to the residents. They each told the truth.
All three agree that Horry County needs to fix our local roads first.
Harold Worley, District One County Councilman, was the key voice on Horry County Council stating that local roads must take first priority.