Senate Finance Chairman Hugh Leatherman – arguably the most powerful elected official in the state of South Carolina – fainted in his Columbia office today and has been hospitalized, sources tell FITS.
Leatherman, 77, had been on the Senate floor earlier in the day working to pass an amended version of the state budget, and is said to have collapsed shortly after returning to his office on the State House grounds.
Leatherman’s collapse is apparently the reason behind the abrupt cancellation of a State Budget and Control Board meeting, which had been scheduled for this afternoon.
Developing …
By bryan October 23, 2008 at 8:21 pm
At least he did not have far to fall.
By James October 23, 2008 at 11:18 pm
My prayers go out to Mr. Leatherman and his family – love him or loathe him, he’s simply tried to do what he has thought best for S.C. Let’s hope he regains full capacity.
That said: why do prehistoric politicians such as Strom, Byrd, Kennedy, and all the other low-wattage gurglers insist on clinging to power? Granted, power is a head-rush, but past the age of say, 60, one would think these folks would be more concerned with keeping their trousers dry than with trying to impress some gal with the size of their…..office?
By Fiscal Watchdog October 24, 2008 at 12:00 pm
He probably fainted because of the shock that he agreed to cut spending!