By FITSNews || While the state’s legacy media outlets were running glowing profiles of S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford last weekend “celebrating” the one-year anniversary of his sex scandal (written from the vantage point of his LL Cool J “don’t call it a comeback” moment), we were busy examining another unfortunate consequence of his fall from grace.
Specifically, we were investigating the “Taxpayer Watchdog That Wasn’t.”
Wait … what?
Well, for the past decade various members of the reform movement in South Carolina have been laboring to create within the executive branch – and specifically within the governor’s cabinet – an Office of Inspector General (OIG). This is one of the rare government bureaucracies we support, because it exists for the sole purpose of eliminating waste, fraud and abuse in other agencies. Certainly, the bigger problem is unnecessary government, but in a notoriously-corrupt state like South Carolina it is our believe that an OIG would be worth every penny of taxpayer money we invest.
It is also our belief that such an office would save tens of millions of tax dollars a year.
In fact, a cabinet-level OIG was one of ninety-five reforms that we proposed more than two years ago in a document that still serves as the reform movement’s primary blueprint – as well as compelling reminder of this state’s unfinished business.
From the “95 Theses” (verse 13):
13) The Office of State Inspector General is hereby established to identify waste, fraud and abuse across all branches of government, and to refer violations to the Attorney General for prosecution. The Inspector General shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.
Upon reflection, in an effort to achieve maximum efficiency we would recommend incorporating several existing government watchdog functions (including those of the Legislative Audit Council) under the OIG umbrella. We would also mandate that any savings created by the OIG’s work be placed into a “taxpayer rebate fund” so that government didn’t just spend the “savings” on something else.
Obviously, we weren’t (aren’t) the first people to propose that this office be created. The late S.C. Sen. Bill Mescher fought for it valiantly during his otherwise undistinguished career as a lawmaker, and Gov. Sanford campaigned on it, too – twice, in fact.
Unfortunately, like so many other long-overdue reforms that would advanced the best interests of our state’s taxpayers, it hasn’t happened.
A bill sponsored by Senators Vincent Sheheen (D-Kershaw) and Tom Davis (R-Beaufort) that would have established this office and charged it with “investigating and addressing allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, misconduct, violations of state or federal law, and wrongdoing in agencies” was introduced last January, but it has been languishing in Senate President Glenn McConnell’s subcommittee for two years.
“It’s clear that leadership on both sides of the aisle doesn’t want these agencies to be held accountable, but this is something state government has needed for a long time,” Davis told FITS.
Davis says he will file a new OIG bill in 2011 when the new legislative session begins. We’ve also spoken with several House members who have expressed an interest in consulting with the Lowcountry Senator for the purpose of filing companion legislation.
Obviously, such efforts wouldn’t have been necessary had Gov. Mark Sanford simply followed through on his plans to create the office on his own – via an executive order.
In case you were wondering, eight states currently have OIG offices – with Ohio, New Jersey and New York giving their Inspectors General real teeth to enforce the law and lock up violators. In six of these states, the OIG was created by an executive order of the governor.
According to multiple sources close to his administration, Sanford was preparing to unveil his own OIG executive order during the summer of 2009 following a protracted battle over federal stimulus dollars. Of course, those plans came to a screeching halt when he was busted “hiking the Appalachian Trail.” Shortly thereafter – as Associated Press investigations uncovered a host of violations committed by Sanford in connection with his travel practices – it became clear that the creation of a new “taxpayer watchdog” within his cabinet was political infeasible.
In fact, had an Office of Inspector General been created at that time, it would have likely spent much of its first year of existence investigating the governor’s office.
So … where do we go from here?
Who knows …
The Davis-Sheheen bill is a solid starting point, in our estimation, and its language would require only minor tweaking to become a very effective instrument of taxpayer savings. Hopefully lawmakers will advance it next year.
Strangely, though, for some reason Sheheen has gone deathly quiet on this issue – which is most surprising given his current ambitions. After all, “eliminating fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement” sure sounds like something he would want associated with his gubernatorial campaign.
We contacted Sheheen last week to get his position on this issue but heard nothing back. Calls placed to the Haley campaign Monday seeking her position were not immediately returned.
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By Florida Watching June 28, 2010 at 4:51 pm
FITS – Do real people really risk talking to you?
By sclawboy June 28, 2010 at 4:52 pm
So you like something Sheheen proposed? He actually did something the Great Sic wanted done?
You called the man an empty suit. Admit you were wrong. Take it back.
As for “deathly quiet”, he was probably just making sure McConnell didn’t send a squad of gay Confederates after him during the primary.
By Fred June 28, 2010 at 4:54 pm
This is the kind of forward-thinking Legislatoion Vincent Sheheen is capable of producing. He partnered with David to push a reform-minded proposal.
Vincent will make a great Governor who will undo the damage of the Sanford administration.
By CNSYD June 28, 2010 at 5:20 pm
Ohio, New Jersey and New York. Now those are three states whose lead we need to follow. Next you will tout Illinois and Cook County in particular as an example of controlling government fraud and waste. But anyway you can put forth Davis’ name is OK by you.
By Florida Watching June 28, 2010 at 5:55 pm
Hmmmm….Uncle Vinnie??? Daddy Vinnie??? It kinda has a ring to it.
By eggaday June 28, 2010 at 6:22 pm
make it happen elite ruling people. make it happen.
By yarrrr June 28, 2010 at 7:13 pm
“David ”
Who? Davis?
By Huhhh??? June 28, 2010 at 8:27 pm
Doesn’t the LAC do pretty much the same thing already?
And, for what’s left over don’t we have the State Grand Jury?
What does SLED ever do, at least since Mark’s little flunky Reggie has been there? I know he’s looking into Alvin Greene this week.
Hmmmmh…
1. cabinet agencies, like DSS and DHHS and Governor’s Office EOC (which is currently involved in the 3rd EOC/Headstart scandal in about 3 years – covered by the MB Sun News), get limited coverage from the media
2. we get no press releases on what ineptitude is going on in Mark’s agencies
3. why in the world would we want any kind of investigative agency in the Governor’s office when it’s obvious we would not hear the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth from the likes of Mark and Nikki?
Think of somewhere else to put it.
By Mike Honcho June 28, 2010 at 9:50 pm
The funny part of this story is the part where you think you made some original document that you call the “reform movement’s primary blueprint.”
Some suggestions for future posts:
1. Starting each post with “The following is based on a true story.” In movies, that’s a dead giveaway that the bullshit will start flowing in Act 1.
2. Put a Dragnet-style disclaimer that says: “The names you are about to hear are true. Only the story has been changed to protect the innocent.”
Those should help the “literally” thousands of uninitiated new readers to understand the kind of quality they should expect from this blog.
By Soft Sigh from Hell June 28, 2010 at 10:17 pm
So much of legislative and agency waste is perfectly legal, that is to say no outright fraud or other crime is committed. Laziness, stupidity, and degrees of favoritism that probably don’t rise to illegal are common causes. Some violate written general procedures though.
Exposure, negative publicity, and ridicule are part of the cure here. Agencies hate that (politicians are more shameless about it). Any system attacking governmental waste has to include effective measures for the noncriminal waste. Catching bureaucrats violating their own written procedures is best, but highly publicizing their laziness, stupidity, or simply self-serving decisions and actions is effective as well.
If I had the time and skills, I’d start a comment board called something like “The Water Cooler” for background chatter on agency and state contractor dysfunctions. Choice items could be sent to the guy who writes Dilbert . . . or to SLED. Eventually a book might be gleaned from it: A Carolina Kakocracy–Your Tax Dollars “At Work.”
By James June 28, 2010 at 10:42 pm
Ask professor will cook at the charleston school of law about this. Mama said knock you out.
By Concerned Citizen June 29, 2010 at 7:59 am
I think a OIG in very much needed. Being from Louisiana I believe we are way ahead in the corruption game. Our longest running governor is in jail, I know of at least 3 insurance commisioners that served time including CNN’s Campbell Brown’s father Jim Brown. Before Katrina our elections commisioner was in jail. While there his wife mysteriously disappeared from in front of a Subway leaving behind only her broken fingernails. We had Cleo Fields (ran for Gov and Rep.) on video stuffing money down his pants and he as well as Jefferson (money in the freezer).
I just returned from New Orleans yesterday and heard our long time accessor and parish president are under federal investigation. The webstie above MCC used to really look at police corruption I believe but when I was there they actually had a commercial advertising for reports of corrupt politicans!! Maybe we need one of these commisions??
P.S. OMG the oil spill and its effects are NOT being portrayed in the media as bad as it is…sadly…I lost everything in Katrina… :(
By Sam June 29, 2010 at 10:09 am
Curtis Loftis is all over this. He is on this like white on rice. Take that to the bank.
By SubZeroIQ June 29, 2010 at 11:25 am
Instead or arguing who has the right of authorship, instead of waiting until the Legislature reconvenes next year, and instead of hanging hope on one governor or another, we should use this website to explore the feasibility and contents of ballot initiatives.
SERIOUSLY: We should have serious and frutiful discussions on Amendments to the Constitution of South Carolina, to include reforming everything from the way we elect judges to the way counties and municipalities should have limits on the percentages they can raise taxes and users’ fees.
Also, for an OIG office or something to work by any other name, it MUST be paired with a strong whistle-blower and false-claims-rewards law. In other words, whoever SUCCESSFULLY uncovers waste, fraud and abuse that results in money being refunded to the tax-payers should bet a percentage of those refunds/savings.
FITS are you a serious journalist or merely an entertaining blogger?
Please answer; and, if the former, then please follow up on it.
Thanks and God bless.
By Gen. Longstreet June 30, 2010 at 12:39 pm
As you may know, sir, I am a general of some note, and I would humbly offer my services should I be called.