The Employment Security Commission reform bill is on its way, passing the House 108-1 on Wednesday. The agency’s performance has been under fire over the past year, considering the massive deficits that had to be covered by the state, twice. The three commissioners were cited by the Legislative Audit Council for not providing due diligence in going to the General Assembly in time to ameliorate some of the problems facing the ESC. To head off that problem in the future, the bill, H. 3422, moves the ESC under the governor as a cabinet-level agency.
“The gross mismanagement, total lack of oversight and complete failures in accountability at the ESC will come to an end under the reform laws that the House overwhelmingly passed today,” said Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell in a statement. “It is our goal to change the ESC from a check writing agency to the job placement agency our state needs. For far too long, job placement has taken a backseat to simply throwing more money at our employment problems — today that changes.”
Other reforms go to who can receive unemployment benefits, and under what circumstances. For instance, between 2006 and 2009, the ESC cut checks in the amount of 10 percent of its entire outlay, to people who were fired for cause. We didn’t even know it was possible to collect money if you get canned. That won’t be possible anymore.
House Majority Leader Kenny Bingham, who shepherded the bill through the chamber, said in a statement, “The problems in the ESC were astounding and the only solution was a complete overhaul of the agency. Over the last eight years, we have seen dramatic changes in the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Department of Transportation after they were moved under the control of the governor. I hope we see the same improvements in the ESC.”
The bill made a quick transition to the Senate, where it’s been hung up for the past two days. The sticking point is an amendment that requires drug tests for people receiving unemployment benefits. The proposal by Sen. David Thomas has thrown a wrench in the works so far. Other contentious issues have been who should appoint a director of the new Department of the Workforce and if the appointee should be confirmed by the legislature, and whether severance pay should be delayed while a person is taking unemployment checks.
The SC-04 race is one of the stranger Republican primary battles this year. U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis was considered by many a hardcore conservative when he was the GOP nominee in former U.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings‘ last run for office. In subsequent years, his environmental views have put a huge target on his back, leading to this year’s very crowded primary. Sen. David Thomas and Tea Party candidate Christina Jeffrey are two of the candidates in that race to post their money numbers the earliest.
DAVID THOMAS
Contributions: $30,739
Expenditures: $27,789.32
Cash-on-hand: $91,173.66
Significant contributions
Bill Amick, $1,000
CEO, Amick Company
Joel Bieber, $1,000
Attorney
Hunter Howard, $250
CPA, Scott McElveen
Ron Walters, $750
State delegate, West Virginia
Significant expenditures
Black Label Strategy (fundraising), $9,983.50
Rod Shealy (polling expenses), $2,122
CHRISTINA JEFFREY
Contributions: $10,391
Expenditures: $17,907.33
Cash-on-hand: $16,261.28
Significant contributions
None.
Significant expenditures
Sewell Consultancy (Voter base, consulting), $3,500, $4,253.18
Guess what? Remember when members of the House put out a number of bills going after “distracted drivers” dealing with their Blackberrys, iPhones and whatsis? The Senate says, “Hello!” Or, maybe a more appropriate greeting would be, “Can you hear me ticketing you now?”
Again, please some committee chairman combine these bills. There are some minor differences, but it’s basically all the same — don’t drive and talk on your mobile phone or being text messaging your pals or you’ll be in violation of the law.
S. 954: (Sen. Luke Rankin) A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 5, TITLE 56 OF THE 1976 CODE, BY ADDING ARTICLE 49, TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR A DRIVER OVER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN TO USE A WIRELESS TELEPHONE OR WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE WITHOUT A HANDS-FREE DEVICE, TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR A DRIVER AGE EIGHTEEN OR YOUNGER TO USE A WIRELESS TELEPHONE OR WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE, TO PROVIDE THAT A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION MAY NOT BE THE SOLE OR PRIMARY BASIS FOR A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TO STOP A VEHICLE, TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS, TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE PENALTIES AND DEFINITIONS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR AN EDUCATION PROGRAM.
S. 970: (Sen. Kevin Bryant) A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 50 TO CHAPTER 5, TITLE 56, TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR DRIVERS TO SEND OR READ TEXT MESSAGES OR E-MAILS, TO PROVIDE THAT A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION MAY NOT BE THE SOLE OR PRIMARY BASIS FOR A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TO STOP A VEHICLE, TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS, TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE PENALTIES AND DEFINITIONS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR AN EDUCATION PROGRAM.
S. 991: (Sen. Mike Rose) A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 5, TITLE 56 OF THE 1976 CODE, BY ADDING SECTION 56-5-3895, TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON MAY NOT OPERATE A MOTOR VEHICLE WHILE TEXT MESSAGING WITH A CELL PHONE OR OTHER WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE, AND TO PROVIDE FOR PENALTIES AND EXCEPTIONS.
On the continuing hypocrisy watch of those opposing mandated health insurance, we’ve got another winner. Come on down, Sen. David Thomas. What about all those hippie yay-hoos and their scooters going hither and yon? Make those long-hairs get insurance!
S. 922: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 56-1-1715 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE OWNERS OF A MOPED TO OBTAIN LIABILITY INSURANCE AS IS REQUIRED OF MOTOR VEHICLES; AND TO AMEND SECTION 38-77-30, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS USED IN THE REGULATION OF AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE, SO AS TO DELETE THE EXCEPTION OF A MOPED FROM THE DEFINITION OF “MOTOR VEHICLES”.
And let’s not leave out the seniors tooling around Sun City in their golf carts, Sen. Larry Martin.
S. 930: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-115 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO GOLF CARTS, TO REQUIRE PERMITTED GOLF CARTS TO OPERATE ONLY WITHIN TWO MILES OF THE ADDRESS ON THE REGISTRATION AND TO REQUIRE PERMITS BE REPLACED EVERY FIVE YEARS OR AT TIME OF ADDRESS CHANGE.
You may not take your tricked-out golf cart to Bluffton, Bubba. We’re watching you.
ADDENDUM: You may have noticed that in the number of Senate prefiled bills posts, there was a paucity of Democrats called out. That’s because there were damn few bills prefiled by Senate Democrats. Why? Don’t know. Everybody and their mom was waiting for something wild from Sen. Robert Ford, but he didn’t have one bill in the hopper. Maybe the Dems are coordinated and have something up their sleeves, but, we, ah, hahahahaha. Coordinated Democrats? That’s a contradiction in terms.
Every time there is a contentious primary race in South Carolina, there’s accusations and cross-accusations of people from the opposing party voting in the primary to cause problems. That didn’t seem to be a problem in Virginia in 2000, when U.S. Sen. John McCain‘s primary campaign was ready and eager to get every Democrat it could inside the polls in Richmond, Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia. It didn’t work out, though. But, hand to God, the polling place we were at (Temple Beth-El, West of the Boulevard in Richmond) was chock-a-block full of middle class liberals voting for McCain. Politics and governance are all about control, though, so there’s some bills to change that dynamic here.
It’s a move to go to closed primaries, where, like in neighboring North Carolina, you have to register for a party to vote in that party’s primaries. If you’re an independent, that could be a problem. If one of these bills passes, it could get fixed, but in the Tar Heel State, if you’re an independent, you can’t vote in a primary. Other states have it different. We’ll see how it goes.
Before we get into the bills, first we have to say this: Maybe you’ve noticed, but there’s a lot of duplicate bills in the Senate prefiles. Why these guys didn’t just collaborate and all put their names on the same bill is beyond us, but that’s how it went. So, Sens. David Thomas, Mike Fair and Kevin Bryant all put in the same damn thing, from all appearances. Good job, fellas.
S. 923: (Thomas) A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 7-5-110, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT OF REGISTRATION IN ORDER TO VOTE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON IS NOT ALLOWED TO VOTE IN A PARTISAN PRIMARY ELECTION OR PARTISAN ADVISORY REFERENDUM UNLESS THE PERSON HAS REGISTERED AS BEING A MEMBER OF THAT PARTY; TO AMEND SECTION 7-5-170, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENTS FOR VOTER REGISTRATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE REQUIREMENT OF STATING POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION, IF ANY, ON THE FORM AND INCLUDING IT IN THE OATH; AND REQUIRE THE STATE ELECTION COMMISSION TO ASSIST IN CAPTURING THIS DATA; AND TO AMEND SECTION 7-9-20, RELATING TO THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR VOTING IN PRIMARY ELECTIONS, SO AS TO INCLUDE, AS A REQUIREMENT, REGISTERING AS A MEMBER OF THE PARTY AND TO PROVIDE A PROCEDURE FOR CHANGING POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION OR NONAFFILIATION AFTER A SELECTION HAS BEEN MADE.
S. 938: (Fair) A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 7-5-110 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT OF REGISTRATION IN ORDER TO VOTE, TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON IS NOT ALLOWED TO VOTE IN A PARTISAN PRIMARY ELECTION OR PARTISAN ADVISORY REFERENDUM UNLESS THE PERSON HAS REGISTERED AS BEING A MEMBER OF THAT PARTY; TO AMEND SECTION 7-5-170, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENTS FOR VOTER REGISTRATION, TO PROVIDE THE REQUIREMENT OF STATING POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION, IF ANY, ON THE FORM AND INCLUDING IT IN THE OATH AND TO REQUIRE THE STATE ELECTION COMMISSION TO ASSIST IN MAINTAINING A LIST OF ALL ELECTORS REGISTERED BY PARTY AFFILIATION; AND TO AMEND SECTION 7-9-20, RELATING TO THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR VOTING IN PRIMARY ELECTIONS, TO INCLUDE, AS A REQUIREMENT, REGISTERING AS A MEMBER OF THE PARTY AND TO PROVIDE A PROCEDURE FOR CHANGING POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION OR NONAFFILIATION AFTER A SELECTION HAS BEEN MADE.
S. 971: (Bryant) A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 7-5-110 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT OF REGISTRATION IN ORDER TO VOTE, TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON IS NOT ALLOWED TO VOTE IN A PARTISAN PRIMARY ELECTION OR PARTISAN ADVISORY REFERENDUM UNLESS THE PERSON HAS REGISTERED AS BEING A MEMBER OF THAT PARTY; TO AMEND SECTION 7-5-170, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENTS FOR VOTER REGISTRATION, TO PROVIDE THE REQUIREMENT OF STATING POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION, IF ANY, ON THE FORM AND INCLUDING IT IN THE OATH, AND TO REQUIRE THE STATE ELECTION COMMISSION TO ASSIST IN MAINTAINING A LIST OF ALL ELECTORS REGISTERED BY PARTY AFFILIATION; AND TO AMEND SECTION 7-9-20, RELATING TO THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR VOTING IN PRIMARY ELECTIONS, TO INCLUDE, AS A REQUIREMENT, REGISTERING AS A MEMBER OF THE PARTY, AND TO PROVIDE A PROCEDURE FOR CHANGING POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION OR NONAFFILIATION AFTER A SELECTION HAS BEEN MADE.
As the House and Senate reconvened for the second day of the extended session on Wednesday, everything calmed down until the Boeing announcement came down.
johnroconnor: Spotted: House reading clerk Bubba Cromer wearing an alien mask at the desk.
ZacherMediaPR: John O’Connor, reporting the real news… RT @johnroconnor: Spotted: House reading clerk Bubba Cromer wearing an alien mask at the desk.
johnroconnor: @ZacherMediaPR well if the House isn’t going to make any news, someone has to
yvonnewenger: Statehouse is in a holding pattern … Boeing news could come at any time.
NathanBallentin: patience is a virtue
johnroconnor: Speaker Harrell, Sens. McConnell and Leatherman and Nexsen Pruett attys meeting in McConnell’s office now
RepAlanClemmons: Private meeting in State House. Attending: Speaker Harrell, Sen McConnell, Sen Leatherman, Billy Wilkins, and unknown others. #sctweets
RepAlanClemmons: RT @JenniferDale: RT @WMBFmegmiller: Reports: Boeing calls emergency meeting for 787 employees in Everett
RepAlanClemmons: Two unknown gentlemen just left the private statehouse meeting and went to Gov Sanford’s office.
dphamilton: SC House now considering economic development incentive package for “major economic development.” Passes by a vote of 106-0.
sendavidthomas: BREAKING NEWS via WYFF 4: Boeing to locate plant in North Charleston. Bringing 12,000 jobs
senatortomdavis: Official BEA state revenue impact of Boeing incentive package: http://bit.ly/2uFQu7 Voting on final passage of bill in about ten minutes.
RepAlanClemmons: Swarm of ladybugs just landed on the Statehouse. Good luck sign? http://twitpic.com/nazmc
johnroconnor: Seattle, Wash., just sent us e-mail. Boeing is coming to North Charleston. #chsbrkg #sc #chsnews (via @CRBJ)
shanemassey: Boeing announces that it is coming to SC! Huge win for SC!
wesleydonehue: Standing ovation in senate. This is amazing.
shanemassey: Boeing to build 787s in N. Charleston. Expected 4,000 spin off jobs throughout state. Big day for SC.
RepBoydBrown: Boeing bringing thousands of jobs to SC. Harrell: “SC is back in business”
RepAlanClemmons: Rep Jeff Duncan sporting Boeing lapel pin to commorate today’s big announcement. #sctweets
vincentsheheen: Great news from Boeing today … Just a precursor of what we can achieve with a vision and hard work!
Grooms4SCGov: Senator Grooms helps lay groundwork to bring Boeing to Charleston – More SC Jobs: http://bit.ly/1FkACK #sctweets #tcot #scgop
AntonJGunn: Yesterday and today were my two proudest days as a House Member. Helped unemployed South Carolinians and created 3,800 direct jobs! Yay!
votetimscott: Boeing is coming to N Chas!!! I started working on this project as Chair of county council & now seeing it fly in more jobs to our community
SenJohnLand: Great Day for South Carolina.
RepBoydBrown: Governor, Commerce thank General Assembly for landing Boeing in South Carolina
RepAlanClemmons: Senators Leatherman & McConnell, the main negotiators, bask in afterglow of SC Boeing announcement. #sctweets http://twitpic.com/nb63a
SamPJohnson: elated that General Assembly exteneded Unemployment Benefits and played vital role in Boeing to SC! About time they did something! #sctweets
ZacherMediaPR: Seattle Times: “I bet 25 years ago in Detroit, they thought nobody in the South could figure out how to build cars.” http://bit.ly/3hHfar
VoteConnor: thrilled for what Boeing brings to our states economic future!
Then, by way of Rep. James Smith, comes this cell phone picture of the vote board in the House:
Increasingly, it’s looking like the race for the GOP nomination in the Fourth District will come down between incumbent U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis and Seventh Circuit Solicitor Trey Gowdy. In the third quarter of this year, Gowdy raised more cash, but Inglis has more greenbacks on hand. Unlike the Third District race, which was relatively nondescript in its contributions and disbursements, this one was a little more interesting. Also, Sen. David Thomas, who has cultivated many a headline with his investigation into Gov. Mark Sanford‘s naughty ways, doesn’t look like a significant factor. He’s like a baseball team that’s been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.
U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis
Contributions: $101,542.11
Expenditures: $36,218.92
Cash-on-Hand: $245,064.04
Notable contributions
Max Hyde, $250
Former candidate for S.C. Senate
Bo Aughtry, $250
Businessman
Ed Sellers, $1,000
CEO, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
Mike Murphy, $500
Political consultant
Fund for America’s Future, $2,500
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham’s PAC
Notable disbursements
Brains on Fire (radio advertising), $4,358, $2,442, $4,617
Starboard Communications (mail preparation), $2,865.01
Solicitor Trey Gowdy
Contributions: $124,615
Expenditures: $27,292.79
Cash-on-Hand: $180,321
Notable contributions
Vic Bailey Jr., $250
Owner, Vic Bailey Ford
Vic Bailey III, $250
Executive, Vic Bailey Ford
Harris DeLoach Jr., $1,000
CEO, Sonoco
James Dunbar, $1,000
Dunbar Funeral Home
Hamp Lindsey, $1,000
Owner, Wade’s Restaurant
Bill Lowndes, $2,400
Tindall Corp.
Roger Milliken, $2,400
Milliken & Co.
William Webster IV, $1,000
Chairman, Advance America
Notable disbursements
First Tuesday Strategies (bumper stickers), $627
Linning, Smoak and Crawford (public relations), $2,500
George Ramsey (strategic consulting), $2,000, $2,500×3
David Woodard (strategic consulting), $2,900
Sen. David Thomas
Contributions: $84,755
Expenditures: $8,468.24
Cash-on-Hand: $88,223.98
Notable contributions
Tim Brett, $2,400
Brett, Inc.
Tony Denny, $1,000
Lobbyist/consultant
Billy O’Dell, $500
State senator
Ed Sellers, $2,400
CEO, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
William Webster IV, $1,000
Advance America
Advance America, $2,300
Payday lending company
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, $5,000
Insurance company
Cash America International, $2,500
Payday lending company
World Acceptance Corporation, $2,500
Payday lending company
Notable disbursements
Richard Quinn & Associates (polling), $1,500
Rod Shealy (polling), $750
Christina Jeffrey
Contributions: $8,121
Expenditures: $3,980.16
Cash-on-Hand: $23,777.61
Jim Lee
Contributions: $13,032.94
Expenditures: $10,893.48
Cash-on-Hand: 2,139.46
Sen. David Thomas has been in the news a lot lately, from his investigation of Gov. Mark Sanford. Now, he might be popping up again, for robocalls that went out Monday night with him talking about President Barack Obama‘s speech to America’s schoolchildren. From reports we heard, it was a little odd.
According to Upstate sources, the Fourth District congressional candidate ripped Obama, and said he would introduce legislation that would prevent this sort of thing from happening again. We don’t have the call script, so we don’t know the specifics, but trying to pass a bill to make it illegal for the President of the United States to speak to the country’s students is bizarre.
Really — the speech has the President telling kids to do well in school and become good citizens. Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich endorsed it. Yes, there are a lot of crazy people in this state, but catering to them simply looks bad.
But, hey, it could cost a Democrat some money. Maybe.
And no, Nu, you can’t pay in Wyeth’s ham biscuits.
The defense building around Gov. Mark Sanford to protect him from being removed from office now seems to be including one strange thing as a major part of the effort. It’s a handwritten note from 1987, drafted by who was then the director of the State Development Board, J. Mac Holladay, to Comp. Gen. Earle Morris.
All sorts of questions begin to pop up. Who saves a handwritten note for 22 years referring to international travel policy by the Department of Commerce? How does one obtain such documentation?
Regardless, the Sanford legal team points to that note as giving the governor an exception to the 1981 policy requiring state employees to fly economy class. The assumption, it seems, is that the governor is considered a part of the DOC on certain flights. Sen. David Thomas basically said, “Bah!” to that because other governors took trips on the private dime. A fund which was then called the public dime in 2002. Ha, ha, legal minutiae!
Then there’s the political trivia that Morris, who also was lieutenant governor and quite literally signed off on the policy, is serving a three-plus-year sentence in prison. As you’ll recall, he got caught up in the Carolina Investors mess and was chairman of the company, but always said he didn’t profit from one of the biggest company implosions in state history.
CNN is running with an exclusive reporting that Rep. Boyd Brown is saying there is bipartisan support in the S.C. House to begin impeachment proceedings against Gov. Mark Sanford. House Judiciary Committee member Rep. Greg Delleney said he would support it, and Brown expressed that senior Republicans told him there are enough votes on their side to get impeachment measures out of committee and onto the floor.
Brown met with Sanford privately for about 30 minutes on Thursday morning to discuss economic-development issues. During that meeting, Brown said he told the governor he should ask for a grand jury investigation into his use of state finances to clear his name. If not, he told Sanford, Republicans and Democrats in the House are prepared to impeach him.
“He didn’t like the sound of that,” Brown said, “but he understood that would be an option.”
The power of impeachment in South Carolina, according to the state constitution, is reserved for “cases of serious crimes or serious misconduct in office.” Impeachment requires a two-thirds vote in the House followed by a two thirds vote in the Senate.
This announcement comes on the heels of Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell saying that the Senate is the wrong place for an investigation of the Governor, with the report from Sen. David Thomas showing that Sanford broke state law in regards to his upgrades on international travel.
“In plain terms,” McConnell wrote in a letter to Thomas, quoted in The State, “investigative hearings by the Senate open the institution to the charge the jury pool has been compromised.” He then suggested that the House and the State Ethics Commission would be the places to go.
With the renewed interest in Sanford’s use of state planes, the impeachment talk that had died down to a whisper is now back at a gale-force roar.
UPDATE: The House Republican Caucus has issued a statement on the recent events.
“Now that new allegations have surfaced related to the Governor’s commercial travel and his use of state airplanes, a thorough investigation needs to be conducted to determine whether any laws have been broken,” House Majority Leader Kenny Bingham said in the statement. “The State Ethics Commission, rather than the House or the Senate, is the appropriate place to deal with potential violations of ethics law, and Atty. Gen. McMaster made the right decision in calling on the Ethics Commission to conduct this investigation.
He continued, “Gov. Sanford’s inappropriate behavior has prompted the need for special attention to be paid to his use of state funds and state resources to support his travel. And it is very important for all the facts to be on the table. No one is above the law.”
Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell has also addressed the issue:
Until very recently, Governor Sanford’s disappointing actions have been just that, disappointing. But now, real tangible evidence has come to light that suggests that several serious ethical – and possibly illegal – acts may have been committed by Governor Sanford.
These are serious claims, and we must handle them in the most professional manner possible. We must not allow grandstanding or politically motivated maneuvers.
Instead of multiple separate investigations taking place, one report issued by an impartial body – such as the State Ethics Commission – should be the basis the House uses to take appropriate actions. That is why I support Attorney General McMaster, and the many others, in their call for a full investigation into this matter by the State Ethics Commission.
After an Ethics Commission investigation, the House can determine the appropriate course of action. This action might include censuring the governor, accepting an impeachment resolution or determining that no further action is necessary. In the impeachment process, the House decides only if there is sufficient evidence that serious crimes or misconduct has occurred, and by a two thirds vote, can only issue charges. It would then be the Senate’s responsibility to try the case.
This is a difficult time for our state, and it is important that this matter be handled appropriately.
You would have thought they planned it. Earlier Monday, Sen. Vince Sheheen and Rep. Boyd Brown announced, separately, they would like further investigation of Gov. Mark Sanford‘s travel issues and use of state money for travel that may have been illegal according to state law. That afternoon, Sen. David Thomas said Sanford’s travel upgrades weren’t kosher.
Sheheen, who is running for the Democratic nomination for governor, was first out of the gate with a 10 a.m. release calling for an investigation of Sanford’s use of state planes by the Senate Transportation Committee. According to an Associated Press analysis of records the Governor’s Office was forced to give up, Sanford flew on state planes more than former Govs. David Beasley or Jim Hodges. Also, it appeared that he might have violated state law by using the planes for a number of flights related to personal and political events.
“I’ve spent much of my time in public office working to reform the way our state government conducts business,” Sheheen said in a statement. “Blatant abuse of the system and waste of taxpayer dollars should never be allowed to go unchecked -– particularly at a time when our public schools are desperate for every dollar they can get. As a member of the Senate Transportation Committee, I am calling for an immediate investigation into this serious issue. If Gov. Sanford is found to have indeed used state aircraft for personal and political travel, I will seek to ensure that he repays every penny owed to the taxpayers of this state.”
Sheheen had called for Sanford’s resignation after the late June-early July daily series of self-destruction that was heard from the Governor’s Mansion. Rep. Boyd Brown, who had twice previously issued letters to gubernatorial candidate Atty. Gen. Henry McMaster to look into Sanford’s behavior, prodded McMaster again.
In the letter, Brown admonished McMaster for not doing his due diligence in his office — obviously the A.G. had water to complain about or naughty Internet ads to worry about — and said that if McMaster couldn’t do his job he should resign in order to concentrate on his gubernatorial effort.
But, at the end of the business day the biggest news came from Sen. David Thomas, who held a hearing on Sanford’s travel before. Thomas said that as a result of that hearing, he’s going to provide evidence to other legislators proving that Sanford broke state law by opting for high-class travel to international destinations instead of trying to save taxpayer dollars by opting for the least expensive option available.
Thomas, who is running for the GOP nomination for S.C.’s Fourth Congressional District, will probably have something to say about the latest revelations, as well.
UPDATE: And he did, to CNN.
“If I were in the House, the answer would be yes, I would be involved in the beginning of the impeachment process,” Thomas said. “I think there is enough data right now to take seriously a move toward impeachment. Is that sufficient for impeachment? That I don’t know.”
