On the same day he made statewide (and national) news by publicly disagreeing with his boss, S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Chief Reggie Lloyd also paid a scheduled visit to the Dutch Fork High School classroom of Kelly Payne – telling them bluntly why he did what he did.
Lloyd found himself on the hot seat Thursday after publicly breaking with Gov. Mark Sanford and saying that South Carolina should accept $700 million in federal bureaucratic bailout. Lloyd said that without the money there would be “dire” consequences resulting from cuts to law enforcement agencies.
“State government has chronically underfunded SLED and other agencies,” Lloyd told the kids. “We are ranked as the most violent state in the nation and have been among the most violent even before the budget cuts. My job is to lead this agency and protect the state. It is not be be a friend of the legislature or the governor.”
Wow.
It’s hard to argue with someone who takes that approach to their job, and given Lloyd’s history as an honest broker it’s hard to doubt that he means what he says.
Reggie Lloyd is a stand-up guy and he’s to be commended for doing his job in the face of what must be unbelievable pressure from Sanford’s office – most of it no doubt coming from the governor’s hackneyed, heavy-set political pit bull, Scott English.
Of course, there are several questions of context worth considering here.
For example, do we think millions in unnecessary spending on non-core government functions has forced Lloyd’s agency into this predicament? Absolutely.
That’s why you prioritize spending, people. So that core functions (i.e. roads, bridges, cops) don’t get left out in the lurch.
Not surprisingly, though, these core functions are the very first thing that big government politicians typically throw into the lurch when times are tough.
Why? Well, these politicians want the public to “feel” the impact of budget cuts, because that helps them make the case for more money.
Besides, going through thousands of totally unneeded and wasteful programs would take too long.
Speaking of which, would Lloyd’s budget have looked a lot better had Sen. Hugh Leatherman included $578 million in stimulus funding that the governor has no say over?
Obviously.
Which is precisely why Leatherman tried to keep that money hidden.
Also, do we think that law enforcement functions should be consolidated in South Carolina – or at the very least not further splintered with the addition of a legislatively-controlled police force? Duh.
Still, it’s not Lloyd’s job to appropriate funds or determine the structural composition of state government.
His job is to keep us safe, and the fact that he’s this concerned about law enforcement’s ability to do that only underscores how important it is that we fund “first things first” in South Carolina and get rid of all the excess crap in government.
By Marvin April 4, 2009 at 10:49 am
That’s the real issue. If SLED is underfunded, that has nothing to do with the governor’s office. It is convenient for Harrell and Leatherman to have a scapegoat — helps them convince their colleagues to stand with them, even though most of them know down deep they should’t. But politically, they blame the governor so they don’t have to take the heat for getting the state in this mess. Which they did.
All but eight House members voted with Harrell — even “fiscal conservatives.” If anyone thinks that ain’t political they’re nuts. Good thing the Senate has more guts and is putting up a real fight. Scary, but those few guys are our only hope to get on track to recovery.
Lloyd is a sharp guy, but he should know better. He should hold a press conference to push legislators to cut every cent of crap today instead of spending one-time money to pay SLED officers who will just be screwed in two years. Reggie, dude, we gotta face the music now or it will hurt worse. You’d do better by SLED and taxpayers to call out the real culprits while there is still time to fix this. Do it now and they might listen. Only way your budget will be stable. Otherwise, it all falls apart again in two years.
By TODD April 4, 2009 at 11:39 am
Reggie for Governor. Check the records. My obnoxious butt has been saying this on this site for two years.
By Buster April 4, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Reggie has enough to do in trying to reform SLED. Unlike what most people think…SLED is government at its worst. It is inefficient, wasteful, and largely unaccountable. It bullies people on a regular basis…
Reggie, do your job and you will be my hero. Play politics, and you will be just another reason SC is a third world state
By Scott April 4, 2009 at 12:34 pm
hackneyed, heavy-set political pit bull?? Takes one to know one, I guess?
By BIN News Editorial Staff April 4, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Buster,
Specifics, baby! Facts! Details! But first, you should make your arrest record public so everyone can understand your perspective.
Post it here, baby, along with your juvenile record. Just to be fair.
BIN News Editorial Staff
Flair and Balanced
By reggie April 4, 2009 at 3:58 pm
how i wish i was there…. yet again, biology kept me from going……
By anonymous April 4, 2009 at 5:37 pm
SLED Director Reggie Lloyd is Fuming Mad at Mark Sanford
This is unbelievable!
WATCH VIDEO:
http://www.wistv.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?ClipID1=3614274&h1=SLED%20director%3A%20%27We%27re%20at%20a%20very%20dire%20point%20in%20time%27&vt1=v&at1=News&d1=119000&LaunchPageAdTag=Political&activePane=info&rnd=1967928
By Silence Dogood April 4, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Why is it a “bureaucratic bailout,” I know bureacrat is supposed to be another bad word/buzz word, and tere are millions of reason to argue against the bailout, but what does this mean? Keep the insertion of talking point vocabulary words at least relevant please.
By Frank April 4, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Creating a capital police force is the biggest waste of all. I read the bill that passed. Can someone tell me why in the hell has our legislators allow Chief Justice Jean Troll to have the power to appoint 3 members on the capital police committee that will have the power to hire and fire the chief of police if this wastful agency allowed to be formed. What happen to separation of powers? It is bad enough that Jean Troll is part of the Judicial branch but now she will be indirectly part of the Executive branch. Not only does she think that the Rules of the Court don’t apply to her but now our U.S. and State Constitution don’t apply either.
By anonymous April 4, 2009 at 8:45 pm
The FBI and Secret Service Concerned About Gov. Mark Sanford’s Handling of Security at the Statehouse
COLUMBIA, S.C.– South Carolina legislators have advanced a bill that would create a new Capitol Police force.
Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell’s bill won approval in a Senate Judiciary Committee subcommittee Wednesday and now heads to the full committee for debate. McConnell chairs that committee.
The legislation is a response to security concerns at the Statehouse raised by the FBI and Secret Service and a reaction to Gov. Mark Sanford pulling the Bureau of Protective Services from checkpoints leading into the complex last fall.
Sanford questioned spending on a security system restricting access to a garage beneath the office complex.
http://www.thesunnews.com/575/story/825377.ht...
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“Lawmakers approved installation of gates, secured doors and a card system to State House buildings, but Sanford ordered the Department of Public Safety to turn off the system and leave guard posts unmanned. DPS is a cabinet agency the governor controls”.
http://thestatecom.typepad.com/ygatoday/2009/...
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in December Mark Sanford pulled some of the grounds’ security officers from checkpoints at the Statehouse, including the underground garage, irritating some senators who believe safety is being compromised.
“This ought to be a good lesson for some of you about putting too much power in one place.”
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20090...
By TODD April 4, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Somebody tell Reggie to go on down to Richland School Dist 1′s offices at Pickens and Richland Streets and arrest the idiots who want to fire classroom teachers while leaving the army of consultants, coordinators, managers, administrative assistants, liasons and assistants to all of the above in place. This is criminal.
By Frank April 5, 2009 at 11:10 am
Well then let the FBI and the Secret Service come and protect the State House. We as tax payers can not continue to bear these types of personal projects that our legislators wants just to get one over on the Governor. B.P.S can still patrol the grounds. Better yet why dont the legistlators get garage door openers instead of having to creat a capital police agency to have a police officer with state wide authority to sit at each entrance to the garage and left the gate arm to let these idiots in and out.
By For real April 5, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Frank,
The police force that they speak of already exists. It is actually under Bureau of Protective Services (under gov currently) and the Senate and House Security (under the GA). This would merge that for the Capital Police Force so that you have just one body that is in charge of the complex. It does not hire any new people or create new offices. In the long run, it may save money.
By That's what I'm Sayin April 5, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Your career has been a rapid rise from local government to Judge to US Attorney without a stop in the House or Senate. You have prosecuted the Treasurer of South Carolina, a man from a politically powerful family. Now you are the Director of SLED and have to go back to the legislature to ask for funding for your agency. How have you been treated and do you think that you are slighted since you have not been a member of “the club”? Go Reggie Llyod! It is time for a REAL CHANGE and real reform in SC.
By Erika Stanley April 13, 2009 at 9:42 pm
well having Reggie Lloyd come and talk to our class was amazing, not only was he humorous, but he was very intelligent. I enjoyed his speech a lot and i’m very glad he was able to take time off and come visit us!!
you’re awesome! thats me in green by the way! haha
By Dominique Blasingame April 16, 2009 at 7:01 pm
Reggie Lloyd has a bright brain on his shoulders. He knows what he is talking about. I am very impressed with his ability to speak his mind and let Ms. Payne’s class no how it is important to accept the stimulus money. It is time that South Carolina has a change in office and someone that is willing to take action for the people of the great state of South Carolina.
By Outsider May 22, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Okay.. Look here mister BIN. What is your obsession with anything Kelly Payne is involved with. You sit at your computer and think of critical things to say about a blogger and a teacher. What fun that must be! It also says something about what type of person you are by the fact that you have to use a false website to hide yourself within. I think that if you sat back for a minute and really looked at what your doing with your life, you would probably see how pathetic it all really is. So what I am trying to get across is the fact that your comments are pathetic and wasteful… did you know that no body cares what you think! I do. So get over your obsession with common day people and go make something of your life.