Is Anybody Else Worried About This?
The appointment of Thomas J. Bardin, Jr. as the new director of the S.C. Legislative Audit Council last month was not unlike a fart in the wind, people, in that it “up and vanished” somewhere within the blizzard of advisories, announcements, press releases, statements and other political propaganda that descend upon South Carolina media outlets each and every day.
But a story that followed Bardin’s appointment is continuing to make waves … even if no one is making the connection between the two.
Specifically, we’re referring to the story that broke in the Aiken Standard three days after Bardin’s appointment as the LAC’s new leader.
From that story:
Nine people, including former Department of Social Services Finance Director Paul Timothy Moore, who is the brother of former state Sen. Tommy Moore, and Gwendolyn Robinson, a local high school basketball coach, have been linked to an embezzlement scheme that drained $5.5 million from DSS accounts over the span of four years, according to federal prosecutors.
Moore, 61, of Columbia, and nine others were charged in a federal complaint with theft of federal program funds, mail fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy.
During an interview with state agents, Moore reportedly confessed to a number of the allegations. He said he used the money for his alcohol addiction, gambling debt and at adult dance clubs.
Alright, aside from the fact that Moore’s brother is a former State Senator, and he obviously likes his lap dances, what does any of this have to do with Bardin?
Well, prior to assuming the top job at the LAC, Bardin was … wait for it … the top auditor at DSS.
Specifically, he was the Director of Planning and Quality Assurance, where he managed “agency performance audits and federally mandated quality assurance functions,” according to the LAC website.
So we’ve basically just appointed as the state’s top auditor a guy whose agency just got ripped off of $5.5 million?
Nice …
How’s about trying to keep your eyes peeled this time, dude.
WEB EXTRA:
Thomas J. Bardin, Jr. Appointment Announcement
Comments
By pollyanna on February 5th, 2009 at 3:11 am
no shit! how you like them green apples?
By lou on February 5th, 2009 at 8:58 am
o HAHAHAHA HEHEHEHEH HAHAHAHAHAH
great~
By OhBlindOne on February 5th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Ho hum. Just another day of the blind leading the blind in South Carolina state government.
By Garnet Spy on February 5th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Where was the LAC re the ESC? E I E I O…
http://garnetspy.com/2009/01/28/better-oversight/
By Fed Up. on February 5th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
My husband was having a fit this morning, throwing shreds of his newspaper around the kitchen after reading about Tom Daschle. Meanwhile, I was trying to tell him about this, which may just push him over the edge. Maybe the MSM will tell him for me in their news tomorrow. But — it will be yesterday’s news by then!
I have officially joined the ranks of Glenn Beck Et. Al. and…
HAVE NO FAITH WHATSOEVER IN MY GOVERNMENT. STATE OR FEDERAL.
By Jay Davis on February 5th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
Before a “reputable” site such as fitsnews.com prints a fine story like this, they should get the facts right. Bardin served the LAC for nearly two decades and saved the state of SC millions with his work auditing institutions such as the University of South Carolina in the late 80s, to name one example. In addition, his audits while AT DSS revealed and corrected widespread misuse of state cars and cell phones, saving all taxpayers even more money. The corruption at DSS was due to the greed of the former finance director Paul Moore whose embezzlement scheme avoided detection in audits, which “The State” correctly identified as being done by OUTSIDE auditors. Bardin has served the state of South Carolina for over 30 years, passing on offers from the private sector. Mark Sanford and other state leaders all approved of his appointment. Instead of blaming every civil servant of corruption, perhaps we should tip our hats to the good guys in state government like Bardin. fitsnews should get their facts right instead of relying on flashy file photos and childish leads like “fart in the wind” to attract readers.
By BIN News Editorial Staff on February 5th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
sic(k) willie,
BIN News has a math problem. We have no idea how to judge your credibility on this, although credibility has never ever been your strong suit.
But, just in case there is truth here; help us with this math problem.
($5.5 million divided by Y = X)
Help us solve for “X”.
“X” is the number of lap dances you can get for $5.5 million.
“Y” is the average cost of a lap dance in SC.
Here’s our problem. BIN News does not have any staffers with experience in lap dancing or receiving lap dances. Several staffers offered to research this, but our executive editor had a better idea.
Just ask sic(k) willie and Mandeee. They both have experience.
So, can you two solve the math problem?
BIN News Editorial Staff
Flair and Balanced
By Trevor Jones on February 5th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
I too have no faith in the government…but I don’t see the connection your trying to make with this article? Performance Audits would not detect embezzlement of this sort from within. I’m more worried about the state legislature and the people under Sanford. Hopefully, someone will sniff out the corrupt ones there and fire them all within a year, DUDE.
By James the Foot Soldier on February 5th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Bin – is “Y” during the 2 for 1 time?
By BIN News Editorial Staff on February 6th, 2009 at 12:14 am
James Foot Fungus clearly has experience. And makes an excellent point. BIN News regrets that our lack of experience failed to factor for this variable.
This does complicate the math problem. But we have confidence that sic(k) willie and Mandeee have enough experience to solve for this new variable.
We will await their input before we revise the formula.
Thanks, Foot Fungus. We owe you one.
BIN News Editorial Staff
Flair and Balanced