Back when South Carolina taxpayers were providing her with a state-owned Dodge Durango to travel back and forth from Mount Pleasant to Columbia, S.C. a few times each week, S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley’s director of the Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation (SCLLR) was still little more than a “part-time” employee.
So … what’s happened since July? You know, when Templeton decided to give up her government-issued SUV thanks to a new budget proviso that would have required her to pay for travel expenses?
According to our sources, Templeton’s job status has gone from “part-time” to “nonexistent.”
“Catherine Templeton had not been in the SCLLR office for more than an hour or so per week, if that, since she gave up her state vehicle,” an anonymous source informed us this week. “(She) has not been in at all for the last three weeks.”
FITS quickly contacted several of our moles at the agency … each of whom confirmed that they had not seen Templeton in the office at any point over the last month.
(To read our coverage of “Durango-gate,” click here. For Templeton’s fuel logs, click here).
Like the governor’s office, SCLLR has a policy of refusing to respond to media requests from this website. Templeton, specifically, has been provided by FITS with numerous opportunities to address her critics – but has refused to do so each time.
Why does any of this matter?
Well, Templeton was grilled during her confirmation hearing back in January after it was revealed that she planned on working in her Columbia office just three days a week. At the time, she committed to working five days a week – saying that she would commute from her home in Charleston, S.C.
Apparently, she has stopped doing that since the taxpayers are no longer picking up the tab for her travel.
Templeton makes $116,797 a year, not counting her generous state benefits package. She’s also been busy expanding the agency’s bureaucracy with inexperienced political appointments.
So … is SCLLR managing without any adult supervision?
Back in September, FITS reported exclusively that two agency employees were fired from their jobs after GPS tracking devices installed on their vehicles revealed minor deviations from their assigned routes. One of those employees has since alleged a racial motivation for his firing – while another employee who was recently terminated from the agency suggested that Templeton is firing employees based on their allegiance to Haley.
In July, a legislative audit blasted Templeton’s agency for its laziness in responding to licensing inquires. According to that report, LLR’s licensing division failed to answer a whopping 27 percent of the phone calls it received – while staff at the agency “spent an average of 36 percent of their time on calls or after call work when 70 percent is a reasonable expectation.”
Guess that’s what happens when nobody’s minding the store …
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By It is what it is November 11, 2011 at 9:26 am
The corruption and incompetence is SOOOOO TRANSPARENT!!!!!!!!!!!
By RINO November 11, 2011 at 9:30 am
When Prosser was head of PRT under Sanford, the employees there used to refer to PRT as “Prosser Rarely There”. He preferred to be at his home in Myrtle Beach. Perhaps, agency heads need to punch a time clock.
By LLR Sucks November 11, 2011 at 9:38 am
I suspect she is contemplating leaving the agency though I have no information to such. She has allowed some upper supervision to run amuck, while she fails to have a grasp of what is really going on there. Her inability to get any sort of handle on the agency has caused the agency and the State to become involved in some pretty serious and obvious violations of the First Amendment of the US Bill of Rights. As a result, some heavy hitting attorneys have become involved and some very strong lawsuits are forthcoming. LLR is trying some damage control now, though too little too late, regarding the hiring of employees. Since there has been such an obvious disregard for qualifications, LLR has implemented as of this week a questionnaire along with the application to determine a person’s qualifications and their knowledge of LLR. I suppose PTT’s attorneys are advising her of the pickle LLR is exposed itself to.
By tr pk boy November 11, 2011 at 9:39 am
With a person of Tempoleton’s caliber, you learn not to set your standards too high.
By Andy November 11, 2011 at 10:02 am
Speaking of Durango–In Durango, Colorado, there is a great bbq joint called “Serious Texas Barbeque”. In addition to fantastic pulled pork they have turkey legs huge enough to satisy even Sic, maybe. If you are ever in Durango and you don’t eat there, you might be gay.
By LLR Sucks November 11, 2011 at 10:13 am
I forgot to mention PTT is an incompetent imbecile. She’s as productive as a one legged man in an ass kicking contest! Stay in Mt. Pleasant PTT with your ability you wouldn’t do any better if you lived at LLR. You worthless cow!
By cash November 11, 2011 at 10:13 am
She quit, but still gets a pay check.
By Mike at the Beach November 11, 2011 at 10:16 am
Has this been picked up by The State at all? You would think that even those assclowns could determine if the chic has been in the building or not.
By LLRstatemployee November 11, 2011 at 10:59 am
She chose to place the agency in the hands of lackluster, borderline incompetent employees. Political hacks, Haley paybacks. It’s really sad. The boards, which contained dedicated professional befoe, have been removed and replaced by “her people” Look at DHEC.. Same thing..They will destroy the consumer’s protection and put peole in harms way. Got PTT… Go back to Mt. Pleasant.. Take the rest of the worthless managment staff with u.WE ARE MAD AS HELL
By jimlewis,owb November 11, 2011 at 11:08 am
I believe By cash is right. Templeton has retreated to the Coast.
Word on the street is that there is a young big boned red head who works at the Curl Up and Dye Facial and Vigina Restoration Beauty Parlor down in the Vista who has been bragging that she will be appointed to head up LLR.
The young lady used to be a lap dancer over at the Shake and Bake Bar and Grill in Pelion until the Governor got her a job as her personal attendant at the CUADFAVRBP.
By Yowzer November 11, 2011 at 11:12 am
Hmmm..maybe she will become the next DHEC Commissioner!
By Bob November 11, 2011 at 11:14 am
1) what are the direct responsibilities of her position?
2) what percentage of them require physical presence at a particular spot for her to perform them?
There are plenty of private sector jobs, and government jobs, that can be performed equally well from home, a hotel, ect as they can an office. When your job is to make decisions and manage, this can often be done from most any place.
By Declining Nation November 11, 2011 at 11:58 am
“maybe she will become the next DHEC Commissioner!”
Not in the least bit out of the question. Or maybe just the new head of the environmental side of DHEC after the post-TERI “hire back” purges.
By losingfaithrapidly November 11, 2011 at 12:12 pm
LLR could not be in worse shape if it were being run by 3rd graders…great employees replaced with young, inexperienced rookies…experienced dedicated “volunteer” board members replaced by Haley contributors who don’t know their way out of a paper sack…God help the consumer…they are the one’s who will really suffer at the hands of this administration. Just ask the family of the little boy in Spartanburg who died.
By toyota kawaski November 11, 2011 at 12:23 pm
Yea Andy just what i want Texas beef BBQ in CO
By Blazing Saddles November 11, 2011 at 1:00 pm
Hedley Lamarr: If you will just sign this, Governor. Right here.
Governor William J. Le Petomane: Yes, yes. What the hell is it?
Hedley Lamarr: Well, under the provisions of this bill, we would snatch two hundred thousand acres of Indian land, which we have deemed unsuitable for their use at this time. They’re such children.
Governor William J. Le Petomane: Two hundred thousand acres? Two hundred thousand acres? What’ll it cost, man, what’ll it cost?
Hedley Lamarr: [brings out a carton of paddleballs] A box of these.
Governor William J. Le Petomane: Are you crazy? They’ll never go for it. And then again they might. Those little red devils… they love toys!
By Stephan November 11, 2011 at 1:27 pm
What I don’t understand is why there is no accountability. I mean seriously, the Governita is supposed to be the State CEO? My CEO doesn’t let me never come into the office.
By TammynTampa November 11, 2011 at 1:30 pm
I don’t understand where the general assembly, leatherman, bingham etc are on this. does it take the mainstream media to get their attention. where is knotts. omg….help them FITS..please help us contact them..
By Joe the Plumber November 11, 2011 at 1:37 pm
Times are tough, ‘Gov, and I’ve got trouble filling my tank. Can I get some of that gas money? We can keep it secret, just like now. It IS a secret, right?
Only difference is, I’ll really work every day.
By Carol November 11, 2011 at 1:55 pm
Catherine walks her dogs in the morning, then gets help setting up for afternoon tea & bridge. I used to be invited quite often, until I asked her about her new position. She appeared evasive, quickly changed the subject, and our last round was stopped. Never been invited back. She is quite sensitive about it, this news article will only makes matter worse. She perhaps drinks alittle too much because of a nervous twitch down there, really quite noticeable when playing at her table.
By One flew over the cokoo's nest November 11, 2011 at 2:41 pm
This is great for morale at LLR and all the rest of state Govt. What are employees with no political clout to think. The people who do all the work:fix your roads
teach your kids
enforce the laws
take care of the needy
take care of the sick and disabled
They are dumped on by the likes of haley, kitzman, templeton, keel,etc. This is why we have the occupy activists. This is a disaster of Biblical proportions. Where is the General Assembly?
Where are the moral, ethical, and fiscal police (tea party)?
Where is anyone with common sense, morals, or ethics?
By cash November 11, 2011 at 2:49 pm
Her house is on the marsh and it looks really expensive. A neighbor around the corner has a small yacht docked.
By cash November 11, 2011 at 2:49 pm
Carol, do you think she has a drinking problem?
By LLR Sucks November 11, 2011 at 6:18 pm
PTT has been described as an arrogant cow that cuts you in a manner that actually appears polite, then has you tossed out when she’s gone.
By SickofHaley November 11, 2011 at 7:40 pm
@LLR Sucks:
Must be a prerequisite for Haley agency heads. THey certainly don’t give the appearance of nice and polite…and don’t care bc some are large and in charge military. It looks like Governing with arrogance, rudeness, sarcastism, and disrespect is the new way of intimidation in government.
By Carol November 11, 2011 at 7:41 pm
Well, we start (used to) at 11am. Always a glass of wine when we arrived, though she would switch to gin and ice before lunch. Never would go back to wine, she always told us her glass was tonic, or a water spritz. Naturally, gin sippers are easy to spot. However, I never saw in bottles in the kitchen other than vodka. So, to be honest, I don’t know. I do miss the party favors and gifts. Winners always get such nice gifts.
By Manchester November 11, 2011 at 7:44 pm
Vodka bottles? Don’t see much of a difference. How do you know it was gin?
By Carol November 11, 2011 at 7:49 pm
Well, evergreen breath of course. She likes only on ice, no mixer.
By TiredofGovernmentBully November 11, 2011 at 7:49 pm
Is bullying in the workplace against the law? an agency head meets the definition of a big fierce bully.
By Rapture November 11, 2011 at 7:57 pm
Wait, you saying this blonde bimbo is a boozer as well? No wonder she stays at home. . .DUIs nowadays are a bitch. You know, gin drinkers which to vodka when they don’t want to get caught, like driving or at work. I bet its vodka at the office, and gin at home. But since she hasn’t been to work in weeks, she has sucked up her gin stash and is breaking into the vodka meant for work. It’s like milk. You don’t open new until the old is gone. Crazy lady.
By Carol November 11, 2011 at 7:59 pm
Oh, no, I don’t know. I haven’t been to a bridge game in awhile. I am not saying she drinks alot everyday, just alot when she has guests over.
By Carol November 11, 2011 at 8:05 pm
Its not that though. She twitches down there, and I believe drinking helps her. As for all the rest you are saying, she has a sharp tongue, sailor’s vocabulary, and not the brightest bulb in the room. Not that I am bitter, we are not really close, but you can’t talk about work, she hates that.
By Jamerson November 11, 2011 at 8:10 pm
Carol, I don’t believe you will be invited over anymore. Isn’t there some kind of code of silence amongst you gals?
By Jamerson November 11, 2011 at 8:11 pm
And your name sure as hell isn’t Carol.
By Carol November 11, 2011 at 8:24 pm
Noone can read this, it is on the private blog page. I’m not an editor.
By losingfaithrapidly November 11, 2011 at 8:46 pm
And the plot thickens!
By Lincoln Lawyer November 11, 2011 at 8:49 pm
Carol, nobody under 60 plays bridge anymore. Methinks you are a dude who didn’t get a raise and you are just trying your hand at payback. Nice try. The evergreen breath remark gave it away. Besides, its juniper berries, my friend.
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By Carol November 12, 2011 at 8:53 am
Sweetie, I’ve been around her for years. It is evergreen, as in like a freshly cut christmas tree. The average age for bridge is around 40, of course there are hundreds and hundreds of senior tables, this is the south.
By citizen November 24, 2011 at 5:43 pm
Its Senator Jake knotts who is also on that state judicial committee. Has pledged his vote and support in turn for her taking care of his family members who work at LLR and was tied to the person selling licenses. Cheek the records of her testimony to the Labor committee last week. When lies about Human Trafficking and how SHE cleaned up LLR By fired-retired one guy as the FALL GUY! If you read or see that is show what type of liar she really is! I believe that committee saw right throw her. And that no news media pick up the whole story on Human Trafficking with all that testimony. Show how sorry the news media in SC is! The girl alleged of selling the license was pregnant by someone and family member of someone IMPORTANT. While she gets to go to PTI for her part in selling license and Human Tracking? Come on Allen Wilson are asleep at the wheel.
By Swampfox March 4, 2012 at 12:05 am
Can anyone please give us the correct information, not lies, on the job the SCLLR and director Catherine Templeton has done, or not done concerning the S.20 Illegal Immigration Reform Act Amendment, made-up by Templeton, passed by the House, Senate, and signed into LAW last June 2011 by the Governor.
So far, for 6 months and especially since Jan 1, 2012, it’s date to be completely in force to fight the Illegal Immigration problem that is draining our state of funds, over 1 billion a year, of lives on our highways, unlicensed and no insurance illegal driver’s, of murders, est. 500 or more, state doesn’t keep records of race related ones, robberies, est. 2,900, again not record by race, Medicaid, not recorded because they say it is unconstitutional…. basically, nothing has been done. No investigators, no fines, no justice, and we are footing the bill for Catherine Templeton’s, the Governor’s, the senator and house members “YES” vote on this do nothing Bill… S.20.
They, the house, senate and governor were warned about this bill, and those that voted for it are your reps. who you should remove at the voting box.
You can find out who voted for it at S.C. LEGISLATURE ONLINE, LEGISLATION S.20 THE S.C. MINUTEMAN, CITIZENS, AND OTHER GROUPS ACROSS THE STATE ASK THEM TO VOTE “NO”. THEY DIDN’T LISTEN!
IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO VOTE THESE PEOPLE OUT AND PUT PEOPLE YOU KNOW WILL WORK FOR THE CITIZENS IN PLACE. CALL THEM! YOU WON’T GET AN ANSWER LIKE WE HAVEN’T.
WE WANT ANSWERS, NOT LIES.
THE CITIZENS GROUPS OF S.C.