COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - The South Carolina Senate is getting a new majority leader.The Republican Caucus on Thursday unanimously elected Gaffney Senator Harvey Peeler to the leadership role.Peeler's election comes after Florence Senator Hugh Leatherman announced that he would resign as majority leader effective August 1.Leatherman is credited with convincing several Democrats to switch parties and laying the ground work for the Republican takeover of the Senate in 2000.Peeler says he's looking forward to leading the 26-member caucus.Some of Leatherman's Republican colleagues were upset about his support of lifting the sales tax cap on vehicle purchases and raising the gasoline tax by seven cents a gallon.Neither of those changes have become law.
Peeler to Replace Leatherman as Majority Leader
Gaffney Senator Harvey Peeler will replace Florence Senator Hugh Leatherman as majority leader in the S.C. Senate.
