Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer’s office has reversed course on a controversial re-certification process that would have required businesses to pay a fee for access to a taxpayer-provided database.
Why “controversial?” Well, the company that would have profited from the “requirement” reportedly has a profit-sharing agreement with Jim Miles’ Senior Shield, a private entity Miles created and funded with taxpayer dollars.
And which also employs Bauer spokesman Frank Adams and has been funneling tax money to incoming SCGOP chairwoman, Karen Floyd.
From an e-mail disseminated by Bauer’s Office on Aging last week:
In our efforts to protect South Carolina seniors from scams and frauds, we had proposed that entities listed for free on the SC Access system operated by the Office on Aging be independently verified as crime free, insured, and bonded with no pattern of regulatory or consumer complaints.
Reaction to this proposal has persuaded us most entities do not support this requirement, so it is accordingly withdrawn effective immediately – as are related offers for free or reduced rate verifications.
Good for Bauer.
This was a for-profit shakedown being perpetrated by some less-than-honorable members of his staff in conjunction with his political fundraiser (Floyd).
Frankly, this sort of crap had no business being a part of the Lt. Governor’s Office on Aging, or any taxpayer-funded entity for that matter.
The wording of this statement is painfully incomplete and evasive, but at least the Lt. Governor’s Office is doing the right thing by ditching this requirement.
By Frank Adams May 4, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Any suggestion about a kick back or profit sharing agreement is as ludicrous as it is absurdly false.
For the truth, please see:
http://www.aging.sc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/7D921DE1-4C6F-4A26-9ACC-8BF812CD0F11/0/SCSeniorShieldAnnualReportwithOpinion.pdf
To hold otherwise invokes a reckless disregard for the truth.
By D.Wilson May 4, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Karen does not raise money for Andre since the first of this year. Nice try to smear her name with poor and unsupported facts.
By fitsnews May 4, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Frank- Give it a rest. We know all about Miles’ referral agreement, and besides, we just gave your boss some nice ink in the headline story. You really wanna pick today to whine? And seriously, be careful before you throw a “reckless disregard” accusation out there. Last time we checked that’s the libel standard according to Times v. Sullivan, which we presume means you are prepared to initiate a libel action against us. If so, lock and load, big boy. We look forward to that particular “show and tell.”
D. Wilson- Smear? Try facts. Floyd’s gotten at least $80K off this scam – and we have it on the best possible authority she was still dialing for Andre dollars this year. In fact, if she’s still getting SS cash she’s probably over $100K by now.
-FITS
By jim miles May 4, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Will, please outline for your readers the referral agreement you allege I have. Put this in definitive terms..don’t use weasel words like purportedly, allegedly, etc, but instead man up and just spell it out. Otherwise you are just hiding out behind mumbo jumbo. jim miles
By Southern Belle May 4, 2009 at 9:14 pm
It only takes one look at a disclosure form to notice that Andre’s funds have significantly dropped since Karen stopped raising money for him.
By Kevin May 4, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Karen simply gave the fundraising to her employee and cousin Sue Long. Sue works for Karen and uses a drop box for the Andre stuff. As far as I know, Sue is still doing Andre Bauer’s fundraising.
By Kevin May 5, 2009 at 4:19 am
Miles required members of SC Access to join Senior Shield or be dropped from SC Access. The membership fees would go to the private organization Miles created and controls, Senior Shield.
The public is watching now, so money is being spent in a certain way. Long after the public stops watching, Miles and Senior Shield will still be there, collecting money and spending it as they see fit. Whatever he promises now is not binding in the future.
By Barbara May 5, 2009 at 4:31 am
Since when can a 501c3 like Senior Shield require people to pay money to it?
Since when can a 501c3 take away another persons privilages or benefits (membership in SC Access), which are granted by the state. Sounds like a shake down to me. How is this legal?
There is not much difference in money going to a man, or to his 501c3.He still decides the fate of the money.
SC Access is a wondeful program, run by dedicated employees. It should be protected.
By Drew Johnson May 6, 2009 at 5:36 pm
In politics we are use to shameless attacks. However, to simply toss someones name around with NO SUPPORTING evidence is not even constructive. Karen Floyd is not raising any money for Lt Gov Bauer or involved in any way,shape or form. Journalists need to present facts and evidence opposed to making blanket statements that they have no intention of backing up! Lets put some honor back in journalism. It starts here in South Carolina.
By fitsnews May 6, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Drew,
How’s about the $80,000+ Floyd’s firm has gotten on a no-bid contract from Senior Shield? Which Floyd has admitted to receiving, mind you …
That sort of evidence?
Or what about Miles registering Senior Shield as a for-profit before he got busted by the Post and Courier – and failing to report any of it on his statement of economic interests.
What about the cut Senior Shield was slated to receive for every business that “verified” its senior-friendliness?
What about Miles past as a pyramid scammer?
“Honor in journalism?”
You’re coming to us with “honor in journalism?”
GTFOH.
-FITS