For those of you who haven’t been following our ongoing coverage here at FITS, there’s an excellent bit of investigative journalism in this week’s Columbia S.C. Free Times that chronicles the rampant shadiness of “Senior Scam,” a highly-questionable enterprise that’s being run with taxpayer dollars by two confidants of S.C. Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer.
At the heart of this scandal are Bauer’s Chief-of-Staff, Jim Miles, and incoming SCGOP Chairman Karen Floyd, whose firm has received tens of thousands of dollars off of the racket.
And yes, our little website’s small role in shining the light on this scam is duly acknowledged in the story:
Anything but a paragon of progressivism, a heavily South Carolina-focused news and politics blog named fitsnews.com has sardonically sounded off about the program and the players behind it.
Relying on its staples of anonymous sources, reporting by legitimate news outlets and postings with no byline except that of the site, fitsnews wrote on April 15 that Bauer “has a task force to investigate ‘senior fraud’” and “maybe he needs to investigate his own office.”
The Office on Aging “has stunk to high heaven ever since Miles and Floyd got involved,” reads the broadside.
Then there was this Nov. 13 gem by fitsnews: “It’s also pretty obvious from the Post and Courier report that the dim bulbs Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer hired to run his outfit got caught with their pants down … ”
The Free Times story, written by reporter Eric Ward, is probably the best in-depth treatment yet devoted to this scandal, which broke last November in the, ummm … the Charleston, ummm … the … damn … what’s the name of that paper in Charleston again?
Somebody mentioned it a second ago …
Anyway, Ward’s story – which just hit storefronts today – is must read stuff.
So read it, people.
By Southern Belle May 6, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Karen and Andre severed their “senior” ties long ago, before she got into the race for SCGOP chair. She no longer raises money for Andre personally, and I don’t believe her business is still involved with Senior Shield activities, either. As usual, you’re making a mountain out of a molehill.
By Slicks worst nigtmare May 6, 2009 at 6:54 pm
I see Slick is still the same old puppet working for another master, Gosh I am glad no one takes this bozo serious. You know, you are the king of slime and the stuff you are writing is because you cannot amount to any type of leadership. Karen has long since decided to break ties with Andre long ago and all you want to do is beat a dead horse just like you do in many other races that come down to the home stretch.
Grow up will you, the job Karen will do will be fantastic. Why because we have absolutely got to build our party to protect it from idiots like you, Because your image is banged up gives you no right to do the same show the evidence Slick show it!
Why don’t you do something productive with you blog versus slamming people all the time? Or is that too much to ask? I am sure you will resort to cussing , swearing and being a jerk like you do in other responses. Lastly, come to the Convention run from the floor so I can personally call you out and introduce myself with hey you, your the idiot on Fits!
By Chris Richardson May 6, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Hey Sic Willie, is that a picture of your grandparents? Looks like they are disappointed at the mud you sling for no reason other than to see your name in the headlines.
By King Cotton May 6, 2009 at 10:34 pm
Ah, nothing like a few ad hominem attacks to let you know you’ve struck a nerve.
Will, your stories and the Free Times piece on Senior Shield demonstrate that this program is, if not outright scandalous, certainly highly suspect. And the Lt. Governor’s Office does little to disabuse that notion, either, as Bauer can’t even be bothered responding to interview requests.
As for Floyd’s involvement, even if her company did work for Senior Shield before she got into the race to lead the state Republican Party, she should have had the good sense to stay away from something involving Bauer and Jim Miles. At best, this shows poor judgment on her part; at worst … I’d rather not say.
By John May 6, 2009 at 11:29 pm
This is truly a scam. State employees taking state tax dollars from a state agency and giving them to a private group run by the same state employees…and the state employees still paid by the taxpayer to spend the money!
Gotta love SC politics.
What a bunch of crooks.
By Pat May 6, 2009 at 11:37 pm
Karen Floyd can easily set the record straight, but she has not because she has ACTIVELY taken steps to HIDE her involvment with Bauer and Senior Scam.
It is probably ok that she works for Senior Shield and Bauer. It is another thing to HIDE it from the public. She should be truthful at all times.
Hiding her actions from the public is not a good start for the new GOP chair.
By Clair May 6, 2009 at 11:45 pm
I thought we paid state employees to work for the state. Does this mean Jim Miles could work for NAMBLA on state time?
Can any state employee be ordered to work for an “objectional” 501c3 against their will?
Could Henry McMaster force a Catholic to work for Planned Parenthood? Could Converse Chellis force a Southern Baptist to work for a gay rights organization? Could Hugh Weathers send gay employee to ” Focus on the Family”?
I can’t see how any of this is legal.
By Fred May 7, 2009 at 8:43 am
Pat, now that you mention it, why does’nt Karen Floyd put the record straight? What is she hiding?
Five minutes of her time would be all it takes to be honorable, and tell the truth. Seems very odd she has not.
By Elizabeth May 7, 2009 at 12:19 pm
“Mr. Fits”, you need to get your facts correct. Even after numerous times when you have been given the facts, you continue to slam the Lt. Gov. and his staff. People who know the truth are just waiting for the day when you have to admit that this is personal, and is not in any way based on the truth. The fact is that Seniors have lost money from people who take advantage of them through roofing, drive-way, telemarketing etc: scams. Senior Shield was put into place to protect Seniors and there is absolutely no scam being run out of the Lt. Gov. office or The Office on Aging. People know why and who continues to prod you into this untrue and mean spirited attack. I also look forward to meeting you face to face. I will ask you to show me the figures, the check numbers, the contract, the scam. You and I both know you can not. It does not exist. Man up. Tell the truth. Re-examine your sources and their motivation.
By hammerheadSC May 7, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Elizabeth, are you writing this on taxpayers time?
By Elizabeth May 7, 2009 at 7:27 pm
HammerheadSC: No I am not. Were you?