Evidently tired of getting shafted by South Carolina GOP lawmakers in the state budget, a group of Palmetto State solicitors is hoping to bring some serious political muscle on board to help them “get theirs” in what is expected to be a cutthroat budget year.
Specifically, the solicitors are reportedly trying to hire former GOP Speaker and U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Wilkins – a guy who (unlike the current occupant of the Speaker’s chair) occasionally dabbles in policies that might be viewed as “Republican.”
It’s unclear exactly how such a deal would be structured, however, as lobbyists are prohibited from simultaneously serving on state boards or commissions – and Wilkins currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Clemson University.
Also, neither the S.C. Commission on Prosecution Coordination (a state agency) nor the S.C. Solicitors Association will be hiring a contract lobbyist for the upcoming legislative session, sources tell FITS. The Commission’s executive director – William Bilton – is currently registered as a taxpayer-funded lobbyist.
Since February of this year, Wilkins has been employed by the Nelson Mullins law firm – which employs six lobbyists – an arrangement which has drawn criticism from at least one other law firm that also employs a sizable government relations staff.
“I would be shocked if he wasn’t directly lobbying on behalf of clients,” one longtime State House lobbyist told FITS anonymously.
Other than alleging the pending deal with the solicitors, however, the lobbyist declined to provide any additional examples of instances in which Wilkins allegedly lobbied lawmakers on behalf of Nelson Mullins clients.
Wilkins’ name is frequently bandied about as a potential candidate for higher office, although he almost always backs out due to his legendary “thin skin” and “sad turtle” face.
Oh, and some other things.
Incidentally, among Nelson Mullins’ six full-time State House lobbyists is Wilkins’ son, Robert.
By Frequent Flyer November 16, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Say what you will…but ole Raisin Head can deliver the goods!
By Todd November 16, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Isn’t this solicitors bunch under Queen Jean’s jurisdiction? And doesn’t she and D Wilkins have a long history….. of not liking each other? Just one more chemical in the mix.
By RedBank Bar November 16, 2009 at 3:08 pm
“Eu-Jean” Toal has been sucking up to the Solicitors for the last 4-5 years. They lobby the legislature for her and she coughs up another furball ORDER that grants the solicitors another revenue stream. She took away fees from attorneys and gave the solicitor a monopoly on expungments. She helped set up “Check Clearing Houses” for the solicitors so they can be a collection bureau for bidnesses (Didn’t Fred Spires go to jail for this?). She also judicially outlawed Magistrates and municipal courts from running their own diversion programs so the solicitors’ PTI pot-o-gold wasn’t challenged and she helped solicitors set up a traffic PTI program to further milk the public.
By Ynot November 16, 2009 at 4:53 pm
I watched a video of Wilkins on palmetto scoop recently where he spoke about being a “PHYSICAL CONSERVATIVE”.
Ha to Wilkins.
By Old Bike Dude November 16, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Red Bank all I can say is “go ahead with your bad self”.
By Fred Fudgeonya November 17, 2009 at 12:47 am
Is it true that P.R.T. has hired Randy “Cousin Eddie” Quaid to lobby to keep the Wecome Centers open? Money well spent because without the welcome centers there would be no place for my taxes to go so anyone coming in to South Carolina would feel welcome.