![]() ![]() ![]() Meanwhile, the General Assembly has met only twice since March 16th but plans to reconvene on May 12th. ![]() Taken together, these two points in the Attorney General’s opinion would lead one to believe that the SC code says that a declared state of emergency can be renewed every fifteen days unless the General Assembly refuses to consent, whereas the law plainly states: “A declared state of emergency shall not continue for a period of more than fifteen days without the consent of the General Assembly.” By issuing consecutive state of emergency orders, the Governor conveniently bypasses the law. This is a rather ironic position since the opinion is careful to note, “Words must be given their plain and ordinary meaning without resort to subtle or forced construction.” This interpretation effectively rewrites the statute, arguing that the General Assembly must take an explicit negative action, (refusal to consent), and that, otherwise, the positive action called for in the statue, (consent), exists implicitly. Second, as to the consent of the General Assembly, the opinion argues that “the absence of a legislative response” implies the consent of the General Assembly to additional “new” state of emergency declarations. First, the opinion argues that, “Nothing in the statute, however, prohibits the Governor, at the end of a fifteen day period, from the declaration of a ‘new’ emergency.” By this reasoning, additional state of emergency declarations could be claimed indefinitely every fifteen days, without the people’s consent, into the foreseeable future. Josiah Magnuson for an opinion on this issue, the Attorney General’s office released an opinion that supports the Governor’s actions with two main points. Although each of these declarations addresses the same crisis – Coronavirus – the Governor claims that a new, separate and distinct emergency exists each time due to evolving circumstances. Is the Governor circumventing the plain meaning of the law? He has issued sequential state of emergency orders every fifteen days, the first on March 13th, then March 28th, April 12th, and April 27th. It also clearly states that, “A declared state of emergency shall not continue for a period of more than fifteen days without the consent of the General Assembly.” (25-1-440 (a)(2)) This important check on executive power is designed to ensure that no Governor can ever continuously use, and potentially abuse, extraordinary powers granted to address extraordinary circumstances without the consent of the people through their elected representatives. South Carolina law allows the Governor to declare a state of emergency in case of a disaster or public health emergency. When and how should South Carolina businesses re-open and people return to work? What should we do about testing, schools, the rapidly shrinking SC unemployment fund, grocery and food supply-line issues, and the remaining budget surplus? We face a long list of challenges, yet one goes largely unmentioned in public. For more information, go to Coronavirus and the economic shutdown have created numerous issues that demand our thoughtful consideration, debate, and action. Ticket packages for the season range from $327-$1,002. “Wicked,” the ever-popular alternate take on life in the Land of Oz, returns for a three-week engagement, Aug. “Six,” a musical about King Henry VIII’s six wives, comes to the Peace Center July 18-23, 2023. “1776,” the musical about the founding of America, will be presented June 13-18, 2023. “Jagged Little Pill” brings to life the blockbuster 1995 album by Alanis Morissette. “To Kill a Mockingbird,” the stage production of Harper Lee’s beloved novel, stars Richard Thomas as upright attorney Atticus Finch. “CATS,” the Broadway classic about a group of musical felines, comes to the Peace Center April 4-9, 2023. “Beetlejuice,” the stage adaptation of the comedy about a ghost haunting a very annoying family, will be presented Feb. “Come From Away” tells the story of a group of airline passengers stranded in Newfoundland in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. “Fiddler on the Roof,” a revival of the classic musical about a Jewish family living in Russia in the early 20th century, will be presented Nov. “Dear Evan Hansen,” which tells the story of a high school student who finds himself entangled in a tragic story, won the 2017 Tony Award for Best Musical. 11 with an encore presentation of the Broadway hit “Dear Evan Hansen,” which last played the Peace Center in 2019. Ten productions will be part of the 2022-’23 season, beginning Oct. Shown: Jennafer Newberry as Glinda and cast in the National Tour of WICKED (Photo by Joan Marcus)įrom Tudor England to post-9/11 America, the upcoming Peace Center Broadway season runs the gamut of time frames, locations, and storytelling. ![]()
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