| Harrell to be Next S.C. House Speaker |
| COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Charleston
Representative Bobby Harrell will be the next speaker of the South
Carolina House. Harrell says he has wanted to be speaker since the beginning. The Republican has been serving in the House since 1993. House Judiciary chairman Jim Harrison of Columbia dropped out of the race Thursday morning. Harrison says with pressing issues such as education, health care and taxes facing the state, the House needs to unite behind Harrell. Harrell replaces House Speaker David Wilkins. Wilkins stepped down after President Bush appointed him ambassador to Canada. Wilkins had been speaker since 1994. Harrell says he won't take the speaker's gavel officially until June 21st. That means House Speaker Pro Tem Doug Smith will preside for a two-day veto session that begins June 14th. |