When we first published the "Palmetto Power 100" list two years ago, we had no idea that it would so quickly evolve into one of the most important, influential things we do here at FITS. Forget all the legislative scorecards and awards put out by various special interest groups, our list has quickly
Read story »Jimmy Merrill
Erickson: Lawmakers Should Refuse Reimbursements
A state lawmaker who flew with former GOP Majority Leader Jimmy Merrill on the state plane to a legislative "conference" in Winston-Salem, N.C. is now asking her colleagues to refuse any food or travel reimbursements for this week's special session of the S.C. General Assembly, prompting several of her
Read story »The House Resignation Letter: Who Signed And Who Didn’t?
Sixty of seventy-two members of the S.C. House Republican Caucus sent a letter to Gov. Mark Sanford on Wednesday calling on him to resign his office. The drumbeat against Sanford has grown louder in recent weeks due to revelations that have followed his disclosure of an affair with Argentine lover
Read story »Palmetto One: Aloft Again
A little over a week after serving as a very expensive taxpayer-funded taxi to a legislative boozefest in Winston-Salem, N.C. (just five hours away by car), South Carolina's state-owned Beechcraft King Air is once again flying your friendly skies. According to public flight data obtained by FITS,
Read story »Lawmakers Use Of Plane Questioned Further
S.C. lawmakers who used the state plane to travel to a "legislative conference" in Winston-Salem, N.C. last weekend - with a registered lobbyist in tow - are now facing heat from their colleagues over the flight. Specifically, one of their fellow legislators is publicly chastising them while another
Read story »Who Was Flying Your Friendly Skies?
Former S.C. Majority Leader Jimmy Merrill (RINO-Charleston) led a delegation of lawmakers who flew on the state plane to a "legislative conference" in Winston-Salem, N.C. last weekend, according to documents obtained by FITS. Joining Merrill on the state plane were S.C. Reps. Shannon Erickson (RINO-Beaufort),
Read story »S.C. Lawmakers: The Real “Swine Flu”
While South Carolinians fret the spread of "swine flu" from Mexico, we've been able to isolate a particularly dangerous strain of this porcine pandemic. And no, it's not the "probable cases" of actual pig flu found in Newberry, S.C., we're talking about the swine flu that continues to infect our S.C.
Read story »What Is Larry Grooms Smoking?
He may not be the target of an investigation by Richland County (S.C.) Sheriff Leon Lott just yet, but more than a few Palmetto political insiders are asking the same question these days: "What in the world is S.C. Senator Larry Grooms smoking?" Once a champion of fiscal conservatism and market-based
Read story »Holiday Dance Fever
Just in time for Christmas, House Speaker Bobby Harrell and his "Fluffer Revue" have spared no expense in bringing the State of South Carolina a musical treat we're sure it won't soon forget. Along with House Majority Leader Kenny Bingham and Reps. Jimmy Merrill, Annette Young and Bill Sandifer, Harrell's
Read story »24,000 Reasons
We're sure there will be thousands (perhaps even hundreds of thousands) of additional reasons forthcoming, but in seeking to ascertain why former S.C. House Majority Leader and undeclared 2010 gubernatorial candidate Jimmy Merrill would sell out the conservative cause and cast his lot with House Speaker
Read story »Inside The Sellout
Earlier this year, we spoke with newly-elected S.C. Rep. Tim Scott after news broke of a major academic testing scandal down in his neck of the woods in Charleston, S.C. He gave us some great quotes about these schools offering "false hope" to parents and students, and said he was interested in using
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