Bailing Out Converse Chellis
S.C. Treasurer Converse Chellis spent over $300,000 of your money on TV commercials in the month of February alone, according to documents obtained by FITS using the state’s spending transparency website.
Of course to hear Chellis tell it, they’re not tax dollars – they’re funds that are funneled through the State Treasurer’s office.
Hmmm-k.
The money is part of South Carolina’s “Future Scholars” college savings program, and Chellis says he is contractually bound to spend it on advertising.
So where did the cash come from?
Well, we’re glad you asked.
Chellis’ ad blitz is being funded by a subsidiary of Bank of America – which of course has received $45 billion in federal bailout funds.
Hence, our reference to this being “your money.”
Anyway, from Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom’s searchable transparency homepage, here’s the damage for February:
CABLEVANTAGE LLC – 2/9/2009 – $14,951
CHARTER MEDIA – 2/9/2009 – $15,000
COMCAST SPOTLIGHT INC – 2/11/2009 – $16,950
HARGRAY INC – 2/11/2009 – $14,864
TIME WARNER CABLE – 2/9/2009 – $13,722
WCBD-TV 2 – 2/9/2009 – $38,000
WCIV-TV – 2/9/2009 – $14,930
WCSC-TV INC – 2/12/2009 – $35,050
WIS LLC – 2/9/2009 – $25,000
WLOS-TV – 2/9/2009 – $12,030
WLTX-TV – 2/9/2009 – $24,500
WOLO-TV – 2/9/2009 – $15,000
WPDE TV 15 – 2/9/2009 – $15,000
WSPA-TV – 2/9/2009 – $36,000
WYFF TV – 2/9/2009 – $50,000
Wow.
We’re not great with calculators, but we’re getting a total of $316,497 … and again, that’s for this month only.
Look, we knew that bailout money was going toward a lot of useless crap, but TV commercials for S.C. RINO politicians? Are you kidding us?
And not surprisingly, not a single one of these TV stations has reported on this boondoggle yet.
Go figure.
UPDATE – Looks like Future Scholar is also advertising on the new Palmetto Scoop.
Comments
By Sal on March 23rd, 2009 at 6:24 am
And yet another scam by a SC politician. When will it ever stop?
Say you buy his story, and he “had” to advertise. He could have used an actor. But no, he splashed his mug all over the airwaves.
Keep it up Will. Keep speaking truth to power. Don’t let them back you down!
By Snead on March 23rd, 2009 at 8:50 am
Be sure you don’t mention the Future Scholars program is one of the few things in South Carolina that is receiving positive reviews across the country.
By digg! on March 23rd, 2009 at 9:52 am
Why dont they drop him and put the girl that is in charge of the program on the commercials? she would gain way more attention than him! She is hott!
By Mab on March 23rd, 2009 at 11:06 am
‘Bank’ of ‘America’ is probably bailing out La Socialista too — they have had many full-page P3 ads. Yesterday and quite a bit here lately, it was Rite-Aid pharmacy in the bailout ad spot.
And guess what? Lexington’s Rite-Aid parking lot was a ghost town yesterday…while the Walgreens across the street was humming one busy tune.
Hmmm.
By Philip Branton on March 23rd, 2009 at 11:23 am
Seems like these spots would be run on SC-ETV…!?!?! Aren’t they running a DEFICIT..!@?! …How many workers did they LAYOFF…!?! It seems like if Converse wanted to educate the citizens of this state he would have run adds on SC-ETV…????
My backside….!!!!
By Just Checking on March 23rd, 2009 at 11:40 am
FITS,
While i agree with you from time to time, this story is patently false, or at least the way you you spin it.
By contract of Bank of America being awarded the ability to handle the future scholars program for the state, they…NOT THE STATE OR TAXPAYERS, agree to pay for commercials to be aired informing the public. They have done this for years, pre Converse. Had Ravenel kept his nose clean (pun intended), he too likely would have wound up in these commercials touting a very good program.
As for Bank of America taking 45 billion in government money, they appear poised to have it all paid back by 2009 end or early 2010 (stock tip…buy BofA). And it’s a bit of stretch to suggest that this program recieves “our money” as it was in place and funded, long before the TARP funds.
By fitsnews on March 23rd, 2009 at 11:44 am
JC-
“Patently false?” Are you kidding?
Re-read, dude. We said that a company that got $45 billion in bailout funds is paying $316,497 this month for a S.C. politicians’ TV ads – all of which you acknowledge in your comment.
That’s wonderful that you think BOA will pay back the money – and we may take you up on your stock tip – but please don’t say something we wrote is patently false when your comment confirms the details of what we said!
-FITS
By donny on March 23rd, 2009 at 12:16 pm
That’s funny…Rep. Dan Hamilton proposed a bill (amendment?) a couple weeks ago at the State House to ban this practice. As you can imagine, it was beaten handily.
By Just Checking on March 23rd, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Agreed FITS, the news is true…the spin is false
By lou on March 23rd, 2009 at 6:17 pm
So FITS, find out the returns on our money and investment here how bout it?
That would be fascinating.
By Fred on March 23rd, 2009 at 8:19 pm
Chellis is like the rest of those dead beats is Columbia. spend the taxpayers money first…then your campaign money next, then your own money, as a last resort, last.
It is the Carolina way.
By Ron on March 23rd, 2009 at 11:41 pm
Here’s a prime example of “taxpayer funded politics” and BUSINESS AS USUAL IN COLUMBIA. Does this rino republicrat have any expected opposition next year? THIS “SMELLS REAL BAD”. I got nauseated when i saw the commercials realizing the scam was certainly aimed at increasing his name recognition for next year’s race. They really think the voters are stupid and perhaps…