McMaster/Senate Showdown Over State-Owned Utility

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - South Carolina's governor and leaders of the state Senate appear to be heading over a showdown on who runs the state-owned utility.

Gov. Henry McMaster sent a letter Monday to senators saying he was installing former state Attorney General Charles Condon as Santee Cooper board chairman.

That appointment requires approval of the Senate, but senators ended the session without voting on Condon, a decision some said was an intentional snub.

McMaster says he can now use a state law granting him the power to fill vacancies when the Senate is not in session.

Three Senate leaders signed a letter written by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Luke Rankin, saying the chairman position came open in December so McMaster's power to appoint without Senate approval ended when lawmakers came back in January.