AN INSIDE LOOK AT HOW REPUBLICAN LEADERS ARE BOWING TO LIBERAL SPECIAL INTERESTS
FITSNews – February 15, 2008 – You would think that the Republican Chairman of a key business committee in a fiscally conservative state like South Carolina would be – oh, we don’t know – at least somewhat fiscally conservative. Not to mention somewhat pro-business, particularly at a time when unemployment is through the roof, income levels are flat, capital investment is lagging and the small business community which forms the backbone of economic activity in our state is pretty much sucking wind.
Yet like so much of state government in South Carolina (the so-called “reddest state in America”), the truth is that all the pro-small business and individual taxpayer rhetoric that politicians love to spew on the campaign trail is just that … talk. Sadly, there’s just too much personal gain to be had by abandoning those ideals and bowing to a set of liberal special interests that has become increasingly adept at turning our so-called Republican leaders into left-wing puppets.
In yet another example of how deeply-rooted this trend has become, the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee chaired by Upstate “Republican” David Thomas has reportedly become a de facto branch of the Appleseed Legal Justice Center, an organization with ties to some of the most liberal, anti-business advocacy groups in the country.
“The Senator from Greenville has turned this committee into a rubber stamp for Appleseed,” said one of Thomas’ colleagues in the Senate who spoke with FITSNews on the condition of anonymity. “Whatever Appleseed desires, Appleseed receives in abundance from Chairman Thomas.”
A staffer who works for Thomas’ committee confirmed to FITSNews that it has adopted legislation in the past which was literally “cut and pasted” from documents prepared by Sue Berkowitz, the Appleseed Legal Justice Center’s lead lobbyist in Columbia.
“We do as we are told,” the staffer said. “If (Berkowitz) wants something in a bill, we put it in the bill.”
Appleseed, whose mission is ostensibly “advocacy for low income people in South Carolina,” has recently received hundreds of thousands of dollars from two liberal special interest icons, the Ford Foundation and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.
From 2005-2007, for example, the Ford Foundation has given over $300,000 to Appleseed (here and here) in an effort to “increase access to work supports for employees of small businesses in Nebraska, Washington, Alabama and South Carolina,” among other things.
While that may sound innocent enough, it’s misleading at best. The truth is that Appleseed remains incredibly active against the best interests of small businesses (and on behalf of personal injury lawyers) in the ongoing workers’ comp debate in South Carolina. Specifically, Appleseed joined forces with Senator Thomas and several other ethically-conflicted lawyer-legislators in fighting reforms to the state’s current workers’ comp system – which put $128,299 in Thomas’ pocket from 2004-2006 (part of a $6 million legislative payday) yet cost South Carolina businesses nearly a quarter of a billion dollars in premium increases over roughly that same time period.
Appleseed is also leading the charge on behalf of another for-profit legislative scam – an attempted ban on the payday lending industry currently being sought by Thomas and a dozen other lawyer-legislators, all of whom personally stand to make to fortune from pending class action lawsuits against the lending industry.
Two issues. Dozens of elected officials. The same basic abuse of the public trust.
Of course, not only have Thomas and his cronies repeatedly refused to resolve their blatant conflicts of interests in both the workers’ comp and payday lending debates, they have remained bound and determined to do Appleseed’s bidding – secure in the knowledge that it will mean huge personal paydays and additional business for their law practices. Not to mention additional business for Appleseed’s South Carolina board of directors, which is comprised almost exclusively of wealthy, liberal attorneys.
So how did we get here? How did a state as conservative as South Carolina find itself under the thumb of left-wing groups like Appleseed?
There are several reasons, but three major ones stand out.
First of all, we have incredibly lax ethical standards in South Carolina that routinely permit our elected officials to sacrifice their positions of public responsibility (and public trust) on the altar of personal greed and ambition. Does this sword occasionally cut both ways ideologically? Sure, but it’s wrong no matter which way you slice it, and the lack of tough anti-corruption laws in South Carolina invites the sort systemic abuse we’re witnessing in these two cases.
Second, we have an ideologically-bankrupt State Republican Party that continues to permit liberals like Sen. Thomas, Sen. Luke Rankin, Sen. Hugh Leatherman, Sen. John Hawkins and dozens of others to infest its ranks. And often lead its ranks.
Third, the mainstream media in South Carolina is only interested in covering the “cancer” of out-of-state influence if it involves groups sympathetic to conservative causes. Liberal groups get a hall pass because they’re supposedly “for the poor,” or “for the children,” a premise which conveniently ignores the fact that South Carolina has remained among the poorest, least-educated states in the nation under their “leadership.”
And of course the end result of all of this is more spending, more government regulation and more self-serving corruption … all while the citizens who are supposed to be served by this ever-expanding bureaucracy continue to fall by the wayside.
But hey, we’re the bad guys, right? Right …
By Gal Leo February 15, 2008 at 12:43 pm
You suggest that “we have incredibly lax ethical standards in South Carolina that routinely permit our elected officials to sacrifice their positions of public responsibility (and public trust) on the altar of personal greed and ambition.”
While I am philosophically inclined to agree, what parts of the standards are failing? After all, the standards as they exist permitted you to easily confirm how much Thomas was getting from Appleseed.
You aren’t promoting a prohibition on contributions from these sorts of organizations, are you?
By Gillon February 15, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Here’s my question; Even without the prodding influence of the “liberal” Appleseed Legal Justice Center, wouldn’t Sen. Thomas still be doing the same thing. After all, you state that he and his fellow lawyers have or will enrich themselves at the expense of payday lenders or the workers comp system. Maybe the question here is not of liberal or conservative. Maybe it’s more one of just plain greed. Neither liberals or conservatives have a monopoly on it.
By Nom day Ploom February 15, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Perhaps the reason is that for every “liberal” legislator who earns a fee from an industry regulated by him or her, there is a “conservative ” who’s drawing a retainer from, or drafting legislation to help his financial contributors. Many of which are regulated again by the legislature. Of course, this seems to escape both your notice and your criticism. The reason – one crowd carries water for your daddy Sanford – the other opposes him.
By baked February 15, 2008 at 2:23 pm
wow. thanks again for all you do.
By Barf me an overgeneralization February 15, 2008 at 2:24 pm
So, what you’re saying is that legislators have realized that there is too much to personally gain by being anti-business. Bullshit.
By jeff February 15, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Get em Willie! Don’t forget Sue’s conservative eeforts for the Republicans on ID theft, mortage reform, medicaid reform, heck she probably writes the budget for them too these days.
By Mattheus Mei February 15, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Is it not ironic that both the Ford Foundation and the RBF were both founded by the families of rabid capitalists who supported “business”
By Smithy February 15, 2008 at 4:07 pm
This is some of the best news I’ve read in ages. I’m ecstatic that an organization that works on behalf of South Carolina’s poor has found a receptive ear in the State House. About freaking time.
By Gal Leo February 15, 2008 at 4:33 pm
All very nice..but I’m still waiting to hear how the “lax ethical standards” contribute to this sort of stuff.
Matt: your point is a good one, and the perversion of the Ford Foundation and others is not uncommon. As these non-profits take on a life of their own (some of them in the billions of dollars) they tend to lose touch with reality (as in, they don’t actually have to do work that would attract new donations.) At some point they are usually taken over by “professional” non-profit managers, and then the conversion to lefty politics is pretty much complete.
There’s a very strong argument that foundations shouldn’t be able to be permanent.
By Byron February 15, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Maybe someone should buy a few cases of applesauce and send them to David Thomas!!!
He will definitely get the 2008 Appleseed Award for RINO-ism!!
Can’t we get some legislators to just do their jobs and stop trying to make a buck off their positions?
By Carrie February 15, 2008 at 6:09 pm
We have some of the weakest ethics laws in the country. And they are enforced in a manner which demonstrates that the laws are that way for a reason.
Low ethics standards cut accross party lines…the capital building is full of crooks! Being crooks is the one thing they all have in common.
By Believe It Not (a.k.a. Sic Willie's Stalker) February 15, 2008 at 11:14 pm
sic(k) willie is unoriginal. Look at his rhetoric. Try this.
Read his trash again and ignore the canned political rhetoric like “key business,” “fiscally conservative,” “reddest state,” “spew on,” “pro-business,” “pro-small business,” “liberal special interests,” “left-wing puppets,” “anti-business,” “liberal,” “liberal special interest,” bla, bla, bla.
When you ignore all that canned political cr@p he includes, all that’s left is: I, we, they, the, be, but, then, “anonymous sources,” and similar useless phrases that mean nothing.
sic(k) willie, you’re a scam. And it shows. You and vouchers are the biggest scams around. Your best line is “…more spending, more government regulation and more self-serving corruption…”
All brought to SC by the republic’rat party. The demo’publicans sure can’t do any worse.
By Dan Akkheroid February 16, 2008 at 9:20 am
Will – Looks like this you missed outrage, or perhaps since Smith and Ritchie are conservative, you chose to overlook it. If you want to do a post, check the Savannah Morning News (10-20-08) for this item:
“A state legislator with connections to Republic Services Inc., along with eight other members of the Spartanburg County Legislative Delegation, signed a resolution Monday, imploring County Council to decline all offers to construct another regional landfill in the county.
House Speaker Pro Tem Doug Smith, R-Spartanburg, a local attorney, has represented Republic Services for many years and his firm, Johnson, Smith, Hibbard & Wildman Law Firm, continues to represent the company.
Republic Services, owner of a regional landfill in northern Union County, was one of four companies seeking a business relationship with Spartanburg County on Monday.
Waste Management Inc. proposed building a new regional landfill south of Enoree. Republic Services and Santek Environmental Inc. sought to take over operations of the county-run Wellford Landfill. And Allied Waste simply said that it was interested in talking further about a partnership.
With the next closest regional landfill, Republic Services could presumably benefit if Waste Management were unable to build a facility to replace the Palmetto Landfill, which could reach capacity in about three years.
In addition to asking that no other regional landfill be approved, the delegation’s resolution points out, “a regional landfill is currently operating in Union County, about eight miles from the proposed site of the landfill to be built by Waste Management –” Later, the resolution urges County Council to consider, “– that Spartanburg County waste be taken to the regional landfill which is nearby in Union County.” Rep. Phil Sinclair, R-Woodruff, drafted the resolution and said he spoke with Smith about signing on.
On Wednesday, Smith said he is fundamentally opposed to a new landfill and didn’t see his relationship with Republic as a conflict of interest.
“Many times I have to separate my responsibility as a practicing lawyer and as a representative,” said Smith, chairman of the local delegation. He said he felt compelled to sign the resolution, adding, “And I would take that position whether I represented them or not.
“I’m just not for another landfill in our community.” Betty Glad, a political science professor at the University of South Carolina and expert in the ethics of political leaders, said it’s not uncommon, especially in South Carolina, for elected officials to be involved in these situations.
“All of us can make our own personal judgments about whether this is bona fide conflict of interest or not,” Glad said, adding that there is “potential for conflict of interest.”
This isn’t the only time cries of “conflict of interest” have been launched against public officials in this round of waste disposal talks. At several community meetings in Enoree, residents voiced their disapproval with state Sen. Jim Ritchie, R-Spartanburg, for representing Waste Management Inc. during a similar discussion with county leaders in 2003. A Waste Management district manager confirmed Wednesday that Ritchie, an attorney, is no longer under the employ of the company.
Ritchie did not sign Monday’s resolution and said later that he never saw the document.”
By fitsnews February 16, 2008 at 9:50 am
Dan-
Good tip. We’re seldom fans of Senator Ritchie, in fact we’ve got a story coming next week that addresses another problem we have with him, but this certainly looks like something we’ll want to incorporate into that article.
Thanks for the heads up,
-FITSNews
By Gal Leo February 16, 2008 at 10:06 am
OK, one last try…
According to Carrie (#11): We have some of the weakest ethics laws in the country. And they are enforced in a manner which demonstrates that the laws are that way for a reason.
So, one last time I will ask what I thought was a reasonable question many posts ago: can anybody identify actual weaknesses in the ethics laws that encourage or permit the sort of behavior lamented here?
Or do we all just want to complain without offering any possible solutions to what certainly appears to be a problem?
By Katie February 16, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Wow, I am appalled at this attack on Appleseed and Sue Berkowitz! I interned there for a year and was amazed at how hard Sue and her team work for low income South Carolinians who otherwize would have no voice in the legislature. You “happen” to have ignored the Domestic Violence Act that was passed because of Sue’s efforts. You also forgot about the 40,000 individuals that were allowed to regain medicaid benefits because Appleseed demanded that the state Department of Health and Human Services follow federal medicaid laws. How dare Sue help those without health benefits! I could go on and on, but I don’t think I’d have the room to list all of their accomplishments. In the future, you should try to focus on the real threats in the legislature and not non-profit groups advocating for our needy communities.
By Oh, you're kidding, right? February 16, 2008 at 6:53 pm
The poor shouldn’t have any organizations devoted to their aid and education, especially not ones with any political clout. What an evil liberal special interest –Appleseed must be crooked, especially if there’s national funding involved. (Btw, exactly what legislation are we talking about that the great-unwashed-aiding Appleseeders are behind, since no specific reference is made? I want to call my RINO legislator and oppose it, whatever it is.)
Further, the problems with workers’ comp in SC have NOTHING to do with the rising cost of the medical care it takes to treat these faked injuries sustained in perfectly good working conditions. It’s ALL because of the greedy lawyer-legislators; these Appleseed people must be in their pocket.
And lastly, we need better ethics regulation when it comes to the activities of these organizations and politicians who help groups like the poor and children. But, we need to oppose bills like S. 714, because that might regulate some of the good groups who have bought and paid for their right to free speech with their own money, and who deserve the privilege of purchasing it anonymously.
In all seriousness, what did this post actually have to do with promoting transparency and financial responsibility in government? It was just a baseless smear on Appleseed and any social welfare groups, feeding the stereotype that conservatives must be hypocritical and heartless. It did nothing to advance the cause of true fiscal conservatism.
By Beverly Moore-Rowe February 25, 2008 at 2:40 pm
I am having difficulty finding a Medicaid Bed for long term care for my mother. My mother is currently in a Skilled nursing home for Rehab. which is being financed by her Medicare. Her 100 days of Medicare for Rehab are rapidly being used up. The nursing home has said that my mother really should not come home and that she needs skilled care.
I am a disabled adult with a spine injury myself and am on crutches. I ambulate slowly and have degeritive hips as well as asthma and Diabetes. I have health problems and physical limitations which will make it difficult if not impossible for me to provide for the care my mother needs. I am only child and I have no support system for providing care for my mother in my home. Mother has been approved for Medicaid for long term care. I have sought assistance and am hitting a brick wall and am told that there are no Medicaid beds in the Charleston area or anywhere else in SC. I was told that the system could seek a bed for my mother anywhere fifty miles in any direction outside SC in surrounding states. I want my mother in a nursing home in Charleston where I visit her and monitor her treatment and care.
If she is anywhere else I would have limitations on how frequently I could visit her and I would be unable to make sure that she is actually cared for in a nursing home.
I have been told many things which make me feel that there is a huge problem with how the Medicaid system works. Multiple social workers have said that the only thing that makes a patient appealing to a Nursing home is if the person has the 100 Medicare Days for Rehab. I am also told that Nursing homes can pick who ever that want to admit and that admissions are not always based on medical
need due to the disability or illness. I was also told that Nursing homes that have Medicaid slots (Beds) don’t always fill those beds with Medicaid patients and that frequently they opt to admit Private pay Patients into those slots. Furthermore I was told that Nursing homes role private pay patients into exsisting Medicaid slots when their money begins to run out and that they assist the patient in applying for Medicaid for Long term continued care in there facility.
My mother is on waiting lists for all the Nursing Homes in the Charleston area and the waiting lists are long. I am told that the waiting lists are two -three years long for geeting a bed.
What is someone in my situation to do?
Is there any type of appeal process. I nee answere and all I am getting is that I should bring my mother home with a hospital bed and a bedside comode and three hours of services in the home each week. There is twenty four hours in a day and three hours will help little with the problems and care that are truly needed. My mother is in a wheelchair and is assisted to ambulate with a walker in the Rehab facility but is unable to walk without someone holding on to her.
Is there any appeal process?
I have called everyone I have been given as a contact and can’t find any solution.
I there any way that a Private Pay facility that does not have Medicaid slots could take mother and be paid by Medicaid for the Long term care at least until a Medicaid bed opens up in a facility that does have Medicaid slots?
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I can be contacted at excommunicated@comcast.net
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