A state senator is suing his fellow lawmakers in the South Carolina General Assembly saying they are illegally giving themselves what is effectively an $18,000-a-year raise for all members.The increase in the “in-district compensation” — money set aside for legislative duties that has few limits on how it can be spent — is set to go from $1,

The lawsuit says the raise violates the state constitution, which bans the legislature from increasing their per diem during their term.

A state senator is asking the state’s highest court to halt a $2,500-monthly raise that legislators voted for themselves. Sen. Wes Climer, a Rock Hill Republican, filed the request Monday. He and his attorney,