Gov. Henry McMaster was in Lexington County — but not Lexington — as he addressed the Lexington Chamber’s Business Over Lunch event at the DoubleTree in Columbia on June 1.

During his remarks, he emphasized what he sees as some of the strengths of South Carolina — such as its long history, Judeo-Christian tradition, environmental beauty and eight military bases. 

He repeated his catchphrase that “South Carolina’s business is business” and affirmed his commitment to making the state business-friendly — including keeping it open during the COVID-19 pandemic, which he said was supported by the U.S. Constitution: “It says that if you take somebody’s property, the government takes your property, it’s got to pay you for it. So ... unless there is a good reason and it’s for a short period of time and shutting down promotes an end that you’re trying to reach and the end is unjustified, if you don’t meet that criteria, then you can’t take somebody’s property without due compensation.”

McMaster also reiterated his opposition to federal vaccine mandates and stated his support for higher teacher pay, laws that keep guns out of the hands of children and lowering South Carolina’s income tax.

“Several states don’t have any income tax, they have a sales tax and some other things,” he said. “We need to take ours down. Georgia and North Carolina keep pushing theirs down. We need to be at least as low as they are, that way you can keep more money. As more money is flowing in the economy, more jobs are built and you end up getting more money coming into the coffers at a lower rate than other places”

Georgia’s top individual income tax rate was recently dropped from 5.75% to 5.49% for 2024 on its way to 4.99% for 2029. North Carolina’s individual income tax rate is 4.99% (down from 5.25%). South Carolina’s top individual income tax rate is 7%.

McMaster, who is seeking election to a second full term as governor, faces one Republican challenger, Greenville GOP Chair Harrison Musselwhite, in the June 14 primary.

Nephron Recalls Millions of Products After Sterility Issues Reported

Major Lexington County employer recalled more than 2 million individual items produced at tis compounding center after a Food and Drug Administration that “raised concerns about Nephron’s process for ensuring the sterility of its products,” The State reports.

The company, based in West Columbia, voluntarily recalled the products.

“Federal inspectors criticized the number of ‘excursions’ by outside organisms found in Nephron’s processing facilities, where high levels of cleanliness are necessary,” Bristow Merchant writes. “The agency noted more than 1,600 such incidents were recorded in 2021 and the first quarter of 2022.”

“Nephron is in the process of updating its procedures, the company told The State. Those changes could lead to changes or pauses in Nephron’s production schedules.”

Anastopoulo Law Firm Announces Downtown Lexington Office

The Anastopoulo Law Firm — which you may know from its TV commercials bidding you, “Don’t Scream, call Akim!” when dealing with insurance companies — announced last week that its second brick-and-mortar office in the Midlands was on its way to downtown Lexington.

The office, to be located at 111 East Main St., “will be staffed by attorneys who are joining the firm from regional insurance defense firms,” according to a press release. “The firm is currently executing a rapid growth plan that will see more offices open across the region in the coming months and more new hires.”

The firm already has South Carolina office in downtown Charleston, North Charleston, Columbia, Florence, Greenville and Myrtle Beach.

“With our new office in Lexington, it will allow us to serve more people across the midlands and all of South Carolina,” firm partner Roy T. Willey IV is quoted.