In case you’re new to this website, pretty much every day we break a story about yet another member of the S.C. General Assembly padding their own bank account at the expense of Palmetto State taxpayers.
Yesterday it was powerful S.C. Senate Finance Chairman Hugh Leatherman (RINO-Florence) raking in hundreds of thousands of dollars for a concrete company he co-owns. Today it’s S.C. Rep. Bill Bowers (D-Hampton) – who in addition to receiving salary and “expenses” from the S.C. House of Representatives totaling roughly $25,000 a year gets another $48,000 from the University of South Carolina-Beaufort to be a part-time “visiting professor of accounting.”
Nice, huh?
According to multiple sources at USC, Bowers’ USC-Beaufort position is a “no show job.” In fact, we’re told Bowers’ was terminated from a similar $47,000-a-year “no show job” at USC Salkehatchie in 2011 for … well, not showing.
“He is just awful,” one USC source told us. “Doesn’t show for classes, gets terrible student reviews.”
So … how did a guy who was fired (with cause) from one totally superfluous higher educrat position get hooked up with another totally superfluous position so quickly?
Easy: Intimidation.
“(Bowers) was given a job at USC Beaufort after he and other legislators pressured USC officials,” a source familiar with Bowers’ hiring tells FITS.
Not only that, we’re told Bowers demanded a raise from USC Beaufort Chancellor’s last year – and was denied (a decision backed by USC president Harris Pastides). At that point, Bowers went after funding for a “virtual campus” online degree program being pushed by Pastides as retribution.
In fact here’s a video of Bowers on the floor of the S.C. House of Representatives proposing to cut the funding for Pastides’ online campus (cut to the 4:45 minute mark).
This is shameful on so many levels.
First of all, it remains our fervently held belief taxpayers shouldn’t be subsidizing higher education – period. It is simply not a core function of government.
Yet here we have a state lawmaker openly lobbying on behalf of his higher ed employer – while simultaneously seeking to exact revenge for a taxpayer-funded pay raise he didn’t get.
How petty … and sad. Of course what’s truly is sad is crap like this goes on every single day at the S.C. State House, and yet the lawmakers who blatantly rip us off are never called to account for their actions.
One reason? They’re in charge of policing themselves …
Bowers should be terminated immediately from his post at USC-Beaufort. Not only that, this latest incident has us revisiting the “ethics reforms” everyone seems so keen to pass this legislative session … with an eye on beefing them up to address lawmakers like Bowers who are scamming the public treasury (and the public trust).
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26 comments
http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/ShowRatings.jsp?tid=817079
Bill Bowers
School: University of South Carolina Salkehatchie
Location: Allendale, SC
Department: Accounting
THAT, is so sad yet representitive of the type of people drawn into gov’t/lording over everyone.
I’m sorry but these reviews aren’t even recent. Not to mention there are only 3 of them……and I didn’t see any from USC-B
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoDwVNOPyyw
……. get a kick out of these music videos – thanks!
All the years this guy has been in the legislature, why hasn’t anybody ever heard of him?
….. me neither!………….what a mole!
Maybe no one was listening……….ever heard of “run silent, run deep”..?
Its not how loud a politician is…or how much money they raise…..or what you know about them.
It is how transparent in thought they are EVERY day for all to see..!?
Does FITSNEWS ever tell you this……..now you know why you have never “heard” of Bowers.!?
All war fare (and politics) …are….based upon “deception”.
Why is any legislator given special privileges such as this? This is corruption-so deep it’ll never be uncovered -intimidation- but the ethics committees will police themselves. I’m so glad that there are 10 members each now, all probably getting funds from Bobby’s PAC.
Hampton County has been a center of corruption for years. There is a reason rats live in sewers.
……. brown rats (aka sewer rats)are both smart and cunning
This is directed toward Mr. Bill Bowels, idoit blogger. It’s easy to say Hampton Co. has been a “center of corruption” for years. We are not a sewer here in Hampton Co. and if you have proof of what you say, how about sharing it with us.
Maybe not corrupt per se, but good luck getting a fair trial from the local jurors if you are sued by one of the locals.
SLED or FBI?
Neither SLED nor the FBI have done anything about Jean Toal, Jakie Knotts, Lexington County, Horry County, or Chesterfield County. Wny do you think they will do anything in poor little Hampton County? I’ve given up on the FBI.
Is that pretty boy Ron still with the FBI? The one who plays golf with the investigator at the AG’s office? The one who had all the goods on Toal and Knotts back in 2005-6 and did NOTHING – but play golf?
keep up the heat
There is an easier solution to this problem Will: expand the definition of dual office holding. Change the law to prohibit holding any government employment as well as serve in a position in the legislature or the judiciary.
And I know you don’t want to consider this, but there is another solution: pay legislators as full-time employees like Congress. I know you don’t want to “reward” the existing bunch, but in time the quality of legislators will improve.
And by the way, Bill Bowers is not the only legislator who has leveraged the system in this manner. In fact there is one that is far worse: Rep. Jackie Hayes (http://scstatehouse.gov/member.php?code=0802272631). He is the head football coach and athletic director at Dillon High School. That school district’s budget is set by the legislative delegation. Imagine being the superintendent and having one of your employees decide your budget.
Recovering Lobbyist……..LOL…LOL..
Do Lobbyists ever recover from skinned knees..?
Hmm….so…lets really “imagine” for a moment if you had your thumb on a school district superintendent AND held the REP on a string..!? What major lobby group would “love” this wedgy..??
…Big OIL and the school district school bus FUEL contract..???
…Big Union and the school bus drivers and the private contracts..for what..??
….we wonder just how many FITSNEWS readers will use google EARTH to see what makes HAMPTON County so valuable..!?
….Big Insurance and the school insurance for WHAT..!?
….when you look at Hampton county from 50K feet….what valuable easements do you see that are NOT being used for tax revenue …..WHY NOT..(have Bill ask Hugh Leatherboy)
It is indeed sad, and totally predictable. Our legislature is populated with congenital thieves like “Professor” Bowers. I’ll bet his mother knew better than to leave her purse lying around. It is pitiful the way the members of our legislature extort money out of schools and other agencies. I am surprised that a diagnosis of kleptomania is not a requirement to hold office in this state. Ripping off money is a compulsion, not unlike pedophilia, with these people. No wonder they had to invent a unique ethics system to go by. Simple college honor codes, or even the Boy Scout oath, would set too steep a curve for them.
What is truly disheartening is that a measly $48K subsidy is all this pathetic nose picker has been able to rip off. I think we should leave him alone. Imagine the teasing he must be subjected to by his fellow legislators. Leatherman must point and laugh every time he enters the lobby.
Bill’s mother was an exceptionally nice person as is Bill. It’s interesting to me that you are completely blaming Bill when it was/is USC that has gone along with and protected this arrangement for at least 20 years. Which one is the prostitute and which one the john here? Leave Bill alone. He’s a hell of a lot more honest that 90% of the politicians in Columbia. This is a blip.
This is your defense of this lop-ear? You attended South Carolina State University, didn’t you.
Did you even know who Bill Bowers was before you read this story…….that’s what I thought. I have known Bill Bowers for many years and he has done nothing but help the citizens that he represents. I personally know 100’s of his past students and have never heard one bad word about him. He was actually very instrumental in keeping USC-Salkehatchie in Allendale open when Mark Sanford wanted to close it. The people of Hampton County are proud to have him as our representative in Columbia. You sir are an A** who has formed his opinion based on hearsay and accusation. You are a fool Carpe!
Sticks and stones may break my bones, anonymous, but an indignant toad will never do it.
Your assumption about my knowledge of “Professor” Bowers is simply wrong (this is my shocked face!)
You personally know 100s?!? of his students? 100s? really? 100s? Not just a 100, but 100s!!! Unfortunately, for the people in Hampton County at least, the rest of us aren’t that gullible. This explains how the piker got elected there in the first place. Apparently you have been convinced, probably by your friend Professor Bowers, that we will believe anything.
Instrumental in saving USC Salkwhatever it is? Is that what he told you? He should have been more instrumental in saving his job at USC Salkwhatever it is. He could have started by showing up to teach those “100s” of students you personally know and discuss deep topics of the cosmos with. This should give you some idea of the kind of influence Professor Bowers really wields.
Say hello to Mr. Haney and Sam Drucker for me……
Just so you know, USC Salkehatchie is a regional campus of the USC system that has been in existence for nearly 50 years. It has over 1000 students and is an integral part in the higher education system in the Lowcountry. It is supported by 5 counties and has an athletic program that brings in kids from all over the country as well as other nations. USC Salk also employes over 200 people between its Walterboro and Allendale Campus. An issue that was extremely important when Sanford wanted to shut it down. I am from this area and graduated from USC Salk I have know Rep. Bowers for well over twenty years and when I say I know 100’s of his former students, I do. I deal with the public everyday in my business as well as in politics and know a vast number of residents from the Allendale, Hampton, Colleton, Bamberg and Barnwell areas in which Salkehatchie serves. I have worked with Rep. Bowers on several different occassions with issues that relate to many of the concerns and needs in our area. Not once have ever known him to not do his best in trying to meet those needs and concerns of his constituency. It is an honor to have him serve us in Columbia. Maybe the reason why he is the longest serving member of the State Legislature in the Lowcountry is because he does his job. His district has been redrawn three times during his 16+ years in the House and he still manages to get reelected. Last year he faced stiff opposition in his district by Curtis Brantley who already held the seat Bowers was forced to run for after redistricting and even beat him in Jasper County 2 to 1 where Brantley resides. Just what do you know about him other than what you have read here? As I said before you are a fool! By the way,it’s great here in Petticoat Junction! As far a gullible goes, you’re the one making your decisions based on a one time article. Who even wrote this story?
Who in the State Legislature doesn’t recieve $25,000 a year in expenses and salary? And Carpe, if you heard both sides of the story from all involved with Bowers job at Salk and then USC-Beaufortyou maybe would sing a different tune. But that’s right, you aren’t interested in the truth.
Damn, it looks like you almost missed milking time staying up to write all that stuff. Unfortunately, you keep missing the point. I realize you think Professor Bowers is just wonderful. I’ll bet he can call a square dance, whistle with the best of them, and can cipher like anything. I can see where he would be a real hero to you. However, you need to put down your potted meat sandwich and focus on the problem.
The average family income in Hampton county is $32,929.00. The average family income for the state of South Carolina is $42,442.00. These nice people, just like you and me, pay taxes out of the money we earn so our state government can provide things we need. We elect people to decide how our tax money should be spent so that it best serves everybody. You know, like maintaining and building the roads we need, insuring that the hospitals and restaurants we visit are safe, that we get a real gallon of gasoline we pay for, and yes, even to pay for the schools our little and big children attend.
We have an expectation that the people we elect to office will take their responsibilities serious and manage our money the same way we would our own. Sometimes they don’t. Sometimes they think that they are special and are entitled to more than their fair share and use the trust and authority that we give to them in bad ways to get more. Like making a school give them a job and pay them money, but then they don’t show up to perform the job they promised to do. It’s getting a paycheck that is not earned. This is not what we call “ethical.” It’s stealing.
Now, if you hop on the Cannonball and ride over to Salkwhatever it is, I’ll bet you can find one of those accounting professors over there (one of them that actually shows up on campus) that will do so some quick “take aways” for you. You will immediately seize upon the fact that Professor Bowers is getting more money than the average person in South Carolina earns at a job they actually have to show up and do! Now, this is where the real “hitch in the giddyup” lies. Paying Professor Bowers $48,000.00 a year for a job he is not performing comes out of those taxes that the rest of us are required to pay and that we were told was going to educate our darling precious children.
Perhaps now you can see a little more clearly why the rest of us are a little “put out” with Professor Bowers. While you’re over in Salkwhatever it is, look up Andy, Barney, and Aunt Bee. I’ll bet they’ll be downright proud to explain the concept of ethical gonorrhea to you. By the time you get back to Hooterville, you’ll be able to impress all the folks with big words.