SC: Out-of-sight state panel rubber stamps $6 million in incentives

By   /  December 7, 2012  /  Featured, News, South Carolina  /  No Comments

IN THE DARK: Operating away from public scrutiny, the S.C. Coordinating Council for Economic Development greases the wheels of economic development through the approval of millions of dollars in grants and other incentives

By Ron Aiken | The Nerve
COLUMBIA — You already may know that South Carolina spends $896 million annually on economic development incentives, according to figures compiled in a recent 10-month study by The New York Times.
What you may not know is that figure, which breaks down to 15 cents of every tax dollar, or $194 per person, [...]

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SC: Incumbent Midlands lawmakers won’t give up ‘subsistence’ payments

By   /  December 5, 2012  /  News, South Carolina  /  No Comments

IT AIN'T EASY: Some South Carolina lawmakers who live near the Capitol won't give up their per diems.

By Rick Brundrett | The Nerve
COLUMBIA — State  Rep. Todd Rutherford lives less than two miles from the statehouse, yet if he attends two days of House organizational sessions this week at the Capitol, he is eligible to receive $262 in expense payments meant to cover hotel and food costs.
The Richland County Democrat on Monday told The Nerve [...]

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SC: Judicial candidates win nomination despite complaints

By   /  December 3, 2012  /  News, South Carolina  /  No Comments

HE'S BACK: Jenkinson was renominated to the bench, despite complaints.

By Rick Brundrett | The Nerve
COLUMBIA — Bill Simpson Jr. and his father say they don’t believe Gordon Jenkinson deserves to be on the bench.
The Manning residents filed sworn, written complaints against Jenkinson, a Williamsburg County Family Court judge based in Kingstree, and testified last week against his re-election to the 3rd Circuit seat.
But their complaints didn’t [...]

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SC: Embattled Richland Co. elections director quietly hired by legislative delegation

By   /  November 30, 2012  /  News, South Carolina  /  1 Comment

WHAT WENT WRONG: Whatever happened, McBride apologized.

By Rick Brundrett | The Nerve
COLUMBIA — Less than a month after Gov. Nikki Haley signed a 2011 law allowing Richland County’s legislative delegation to hire a county elections director, the delegation quietly selected Lillian McBride to oversee the newly combined elections and voter registration offices at a starting salary of $85,000, records show.
Since then, McBride’s annual [...]

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SC: Legislative panel nominating unqualified judicial candidates?

By   /  November 26, 2012  /  Judiciary, News, South Carolina  /  No Comments

ORDER: Are candidates nominated for the bench actually qualified for the job?

By Rick Brundrett | The Nerve
COLUMBIA — A judicial screening committee dominated by state lawmakers has nominated a top court administrator and two other attorneys for family court judgeships, despite a report claiming that the candidates are unqualified for the seats.
The Judicial Qualifications Committee of the S.C. Bar, the state’s professional organization for attorneys, determined that Rosalyn Frierson, [...]

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