Female lawmakers in South Carolina

Aaron Sheinin's piece in The State on Monday about the retirement of state Sen. Linda Short of Chester County includes this comment from the Senator:

“It’s harder for women to make the decision to run,” Short said, “because of hearth and home kinds of things. For younger women who have young children, it’s especially difficult.
“The initial decision to run is the hardest.”

The General Asssembly in South Carolina, if it wanted, could shorten the January-to-June legislative session. That would make it a great deal easier on any person, male or female, to consider running. A part-time Legislature should really be part-time.

It's not a new idea. But it's nearly always a dead one. Elected officials rarely like to encourage competition.