Friends, There is good news and bad news. The good news is that on Tuesday the Senate, in a historic vote, finally eliminated the archaic Budget and Control Board. In its place they voted to implement a sensible structure similar to the one used by the forty-nine other states. Senators Davis
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SC’s Sagging Income Levels
While S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley and the "Republican-controlled" General Assembly in South Carolina continue to grow government at recklessly exorbitant levels, the ability of Palmetto State taxpayers to pick up this soaring tab continues to shrink. According to data published by the U.S. Census, South
Read story »Tea Party Scorecard Rips SCGOP Senators
A legislative scorecard released by one of South Carolina's most credible Tea Party organizations offers fresh proof that the Palmetto State's "Republican-controlled" Senate is really in the hands of free-spending Democrats. You know ... as if the passage of the two largest budgets in state history (here
Read story »Sources: Bauer Mulling SC 7 Bid
Another day, another rumored candidate for South Carolina's newly-drawn seventh congressional district. Today's contestant? Former S.C. Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer. According to our sources, the 42-year-old politician is seriously considering jumping into the race - hoping to exorcise the demons of a
Read story »Luke Rankin Switching Parties (Again)?
S.C. Sen. Luke Rankin - who switched parties in 2004 - could be on the verge of switching again. The Democrat-turned-Republican is contemplating becoming a Republican-turned-Democrat. Why? According to our sources, so he could mount a bid for the as-yet-undrawn Seventh Congressional District. Rankin
Read story »Six SC Senators On “Hit List”
Several "Republican" State Senators are on a new "hit list" being circulated by Tea Party leaders - and GOP activists - a sure sign that the 2012 legislative primaries in South Carolina are going to be contested and competitive. One Tea Party missive identified six "Republican in Name Only" State
Read story »Let’s Hunt Some RINOs
Ready, aim ... fire! It's almost RINO hunting season in South Carolina, but you can get an early start on the 2012 fun by preemptively targeting four liberal Republicans who continue to vote with Democratic lawmakers on key tax, spending and reform legislation. We're talking, of course, about State
Read story »SC Senators Rake In Trial Lawyer Cash
South Carolina State Senators - many of whom are blocking a tort reform bill passed by the S.C. House of Representatives - are being bankrolled by hundreds of thousands of dollars from trial lawyers. According to a spreadsheet provided to FITS by a prominent Upstate business leader, forty-five S.C.
Read story »SC Tea Party Takeover?
We've heard this song before ... a hard-charging "join the movement" reformer with a strong base of Tea Party support storms to the head of the GOP ranks. It's catchy ... and it's got a beat that plenty of people are dancing to these days. In fact, this familiar tune played out once again last
Read story »Anti-Transparency Trial Lawyers Strike Again
South Carolina lawmakers have been patting themselves on the back this year for passing "tort reform" and "advancing transparency," but when it comes to serving the Palmetto state's liberal trial lawyer lobby, they are once again operating in the shadows. In fact, the State Senate is about to ram
Read story »“Coastal Kickback” Scam Update
Every time we think it couldn't possibly get any more corrupt, the "Coastal Kickback" - a brazen pay-to-play scam involving numerous South Carolina politicians - finds a way to prove us wrong. In case you're new to FITS, this scam began last May when the city of Myrtle Beach, S.C. passed a one cent
Read story »Leatherman Sounds Tax Hike Trumpet
S.C. Senate Finance Chairman Hugh Leatherman - the Palmetto state's "Godfather of Pork" - sounded the tax hike trumpet during a publicly-funded trip to Arizona this week. While attending the National Conference of State Legislatures fall forum in Phoenix (on your dime), Leatherman declared that disproportionately
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