COLUMBIA - A majority of the Republicans in the Lowcountry delegation say they believe they should be able to meet privately to discuss political and legislative matters.

A dozen of the 18 House and Senate Republicans that represent Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties back an effort to exempt legislative caucus meetings from the Freedom of Information Act.

The closed-door caucus meetings have been a topic of much debate at the Statehouse. Democrats and Republicans in both chambers hold the meetings to discuss legislative and political strategy.

But as the Republican majorities in the Senate and House have grown, so has apprehension that major policy decisions are being made out of the public's view. Lawmakers say they don't make decisions in the caucus meetings.

Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler of Gaffney and House Majority Leader Jim Merrill of Daniel Island said they are drafting legislation to clarify the law. The law currently states that a quorum of public officials constitutes a public body.

"I truly believe that the way the law is written today, they have to be open to the public," said Rep. Shirley Hinson, R-Goose Creek. "We constitute a majority of the (House), and we have to let the public in."

The area's Republican lawmakers agree a clarification is needed to give caucuses some privacy.

"I think it's appropriate to meet from time to time in private," said Rep. Ben Hagood, R-Charleston. "We are not a public body."

"It's not a secrecy matter as much as a matter of allowing caucus members to caucus," echoed Rep. Chip Limehouse, the Charleston delegation chairman. "Some things, like a member's campaign strategy, don't need to be public."

Sen. Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, and Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Bonneau, were the only area lawmakers to express major concerns about closing the meetings. Four members of the local Republican delegation could not be reached Friday.

"I think we ought to be careful about what we should do in caucus meetings," Grooms said.

McConnell, the Senate leader, said all types of legislative caucuses should be open to the public. But he carves out a number of exemptions, such as legislative strategy and legal advice, that would keep the bulk of the meetings off-limits.

"You can't negotiate and let the other side know every card in your hand," he said.

Reach John Frank at (803) 799-9051 or jbfrank@postandcourier.com.