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Embattled SCDEW Leader Resigns

Retired Gen. Abraham Turner – whose two-year tenure at the head of the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (SCDEW) has been an unmitigated disaster – is stepping down from his post in Gov. Nikki Haley’s administration. Turner’s resignation is effective March 1. It comes just days after FITS exclusively…

Retired Gen. Abraham Turner – whose two-year tenure at the head of the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (SCDEW) has been an unmitigated disaster – is stepping down from his post in Gov. Nikki Haley’s administration.

Turner’s resignation is effective March 1. It comes just days after FITS exclusively reported about SCDEW doling out $54.5 million in “improper claims” last year, according to U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) data. Over the last three years the agency has had an improper payment rate of 14.7 percent – one of the highest in the nation.

Nikki Haley and SCDEW director Abraham Turner.
Nikki Haley and SCDEW director Abraham Turner.

No wonder South Carolina’s unemployment insurance burden keeps growing for businesses and taxpayers alike.

Anyway, Turner’s resignation also comes a week after his agency laid off several employees on “bring your kid to work day” – a nice bit of irony for the six-figured bureaucrat who reportedly had a staffer pull his chair out for him prior to every meeting.

Turner and his aides were enjoying another one of their lavish taxpayer-funded retreats at the time of the firings.

It’s not immediately clear what prompted Turner to resign, but there is literally no shortage of good reasons for his departure.

Last year SCDEW was the subject of a scathing audit by the S.C. Legislative Audit Council (SCLAC). It was also placed on alert by USDOL last year due to its “continuous failure to meet the minimum standard of performance” related to the distribution of unemployment benefits.

The SCLAC report also discovered that South Carolinians who “took advantage” of the agency’s reemployment services needed an average of 26.5 weeks to get off of the public dole. Those who didn’t use SCDEW took only 22.3 weeks.

Yeah … why is government in the job placement business again?

SCDEW has also committed numerous multi-million dollar errors in its administration of the state’s unemployment insurance tax.

Turner’s departure comes two months after his chief of staff (retired colonel Joseph Lowder) and top unemployment insurance bureaucrat (Laura W. Robinson) stepped down.

***

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57 comments

? February 15, 2013 at 1:55 pm

The whole agency should “resign”.

Reply
? February 15, 2013 at 12:55 pm

The whole agency should “resign”.

Reply
shifty henry February 15, 2013 at 1:58 pm

Why not at 1-pm TODAY!?

Reply
shifty henry February 15, 2013 at 12:58 pm

Why not at 1-pm TODAY!?

Reply
jimlewisowb February 15, 2013 at 2:19 pm

Odds are that he now has a combination of time worked and time purchased to qualify for lifetime benefits including a monthly pension from the State of SC.

Asswipe is laughing all the way to the Bahamas.

Reply
Charlemagne, King of France February 15, 2013 at 4:57 pm

eligibility for insurance in retirement are you must be elig to retire due to age/years of service, or disability, so unless hes 60 he needs to buy a lot of time, secondly your last 5 years of employment must be perm, ft, and consecutive. since hes only been there 2 years he is not.

Reply
jimlewisowb February 15, 2013 at 8:06 pm

If you really believe asswipes such as Turner have to adhere to the same rules as “normal” members of the Retirement System, then there is nothing left to say other than, bless your heart.

Reply
nitrat February 16, 2013 at 11:52 am

Thank God for that. Now if more of Haley’s idiot appointments will give up and get out we will be able to save the SCRS a lot of money.

Reply
jimlewisowb February 15, 2013 at 1:19 pm

Odds are that he now has a combination of time worked and time purchased to qualify for lifetime benefits including a monthly pension from the State of SC.

Asswipe is laughing all the way to the Bahamas.

Reply
Charlemagne, King of France February 15, 2013 at 3:57 pm

eligibility for insurance in retirement are you must be elig to retire due to age/years of service, or disability, so unless hes 60 he needs to buy a lot of time, secondly your last 5 years of employment must be perm, ft, and consecutive. since hes only been there 2 years he is not.

Reply
jimlewisowb February 15, 2013 at 7:06 pm

If you really believe asswipes such as Turner have to adhere to the same rules as “normal” members of the Retirement System, then there is nothing left to say other than, bless your heart.

Reply
nitrat February 16, 2013 at 10:52 am

Thank God for that. Now if more of Haley’s idiot appointments will give up and get out we will be able to save the SCRS a lot of money.

Reply
Rep Clyburn February 15, 2013 at 2:30 pm

You people are just racists.

Reply
Rep Clyburn February 15, 2013 at 1:30 pm

You people are just racists.

Reply
Philip Branton February 15, 2013 at 2:49 pm

LOL….LOL……..that ol’ wiley …..Wil Folks…!!

So really think hard BIG (T) and Smirks……..if either of you two where in these shoes, would YOU stay around when the duds hit the fan from the BOEING battery fiasco fall out..!? Just imagine the froth from everyone knowing that you knew that the political cape was being used on SC taxpayers to send curves to the FRENCH and Airbus for the efforts in MALI ..!~!!! AIRBUS has orders in from WHO….!?!

Now also imagine the heat from sequestration when contractors from all across our state do what to their workers…!?!

Big (T)…….what will you think of FITSNEWS for not offering YOU a clear picture of what is getting ready to HAPPEN…!?!

Smirks or Boz do not need to be “meteor scientists” to understand the value of BOEING Pensions and battery grounding…!?!

As for Retired General Turner and the agency that he “helmed” during the last two years….how could he have reached out to our state’s media or FITSNEWS to instill accountability in a “transparent” way..?? How did he take advantage of his field of battle..!?

We wonder what type of information he passed to Bobby Harrell and Glenn..??

Reply
Smirks February 15, 2013 at 3:31 pm

Err, what?

Reply
2big2fall February 16, 2013 at 2:00 pm

I’m with you on that Smirks. Maybe PB was just finishing up his 20th PBR when he typed out that indecipherable, sputtering drivel.

Reply
Major Cordite February 16, 2013 at 2:37 pm

Hey Smirks. I just watched the movie “SkyFall” last night. I had no idea you were in it! I always pictured you as a manly intellectual. Never figured you as compadre of 9″. Oh well. I guess you can be a heavyweight on the issues and be light in the loafers, too.

Reply
2big2fall February 16, 2013 at 9:12 am

Incoherent much?

Reply
Philip Branton February 15, 2013 at 1:49 pm

LOL….LOL……..that ol’ wiley …..Wil Folks…!!

So really think hard BIG (T) and Smirks……..if either of you two where in these shoes, would YOU stay around when the duds hit the fan from the BOEING battery fiasco fall out..!? Just imagine the froth from everyone knowing that you knew that the political cape was being used on SC taxpayers to send curves to the FRENCH and Airbus for the efforts in MALI ..!~!!! AIRBUS has orders in from WHO….!?!

Now also imagine the heat from sequestration when contractors from all across our state do what to their workers…!?!

Big (T)…….what will you think of FITSNEWS for not offering YOU a clear picture of what is getting ready to HAPPEN…!?!

Smirks or Boz do not need to be “meteor scientists” to understand the value of BOEING Pensions and battery grounding…!?!

As for Retired General Turner and the agency that he “helmed” during the last two years….how could he have reached out to our state’s media or FITSNEWS to instill accountability in a “transparent” way..?? How did he take advantage of his field of battle..!?

We wonder what type of information he passed to Bobby Harrell and Glenn..??

Reply
Smirks February 15, 2013 at 2:31 pm

Err, what?

Reply
2big2fall February 16, 2013 at 1:00 pm

I’m with you on that Smirks. Maybe PB was just finishing up his 20th PBR when he typed out that indecipherable, sputtering drivel.

Reply
Major Cordite February 16, 2013 at 1:37 pm

Hey Smirks. I just watched the movie “SkyFall” last night. I had no idea you were in it! I always pictured you as a manly intellectual. Never figured you as compadre of 9″. Oh well. I guess you can be a heavyweight on the issues and be light in the loafers, too.

Reply
2big2fall February 16, 2013 at 8:12 am

Incoherent much?

Reply
Spunkoholics Anonymous February 15, 2013 at 3:08 pm

If he put on another 100 pounds and developed a taste for human flesh the government could parachute him into Uganda to take up where Idi Amin left off…

Reply
Spunkoholics Anonymous February 15, 2013 at 2:08 pm

If he put on another 100 pounds and developed a taste for human flesh the government could parachute him into Uganda to take up where Idi Amin left off…

Reply
shifty henry February 15, 2013 at 3:11 pm

Is it really true that folks call him General DEW-DEW behind his back?

Reply
shifty henry February 15, 2013 at 2:11 pm

Is it really true that folks call him General DEW-DEW behind his back?

Reply
BrigidBernadette February 15, 2013 at 3:56 pm

Hard not to notice the lack of comments, I suspect from people who dislike the new design, I cannot stand the fade on the headlines, FONTS ARE WAY TOO LARGE, please condense and reduce the scrolldown, some of the reason behind Drudge’s dominance of the global internet is the simple visual formula, no ridiculous my-spacey tricks that slow down the loadtime, and consistency. Everything is just too large, making it feel like a big type book for children, not an intellectual read like WSJ. I cannot even comment on the grotesque sexual images/content, they are beyond gross and ruin this website. Lobby legs is one thing, and relevant as well as funny; competing with The Sun (UK) or inane celebrity articles with no content is a really dumb move.

Reply
Major Cordite February 16, 2013 at 2:44 pm

Yep, you are spot on Brigid. Me thinks Will Folks is short on $$ and had to trade in his previous Cadillac Escalade website and Nancy Mace cut him a deal on this used Chrysler mini-van website. This site does resemble the instructions on the back of a Lego box. Nice color pictures though for Sic to maintain his daily erection.

Reply
BrigidBernadette February 15, 2013 at 2:56 pm

Hard not to notice the lack of comments, I suspect from people who dislike the new design, I cannot stand the fade on the headlines, FONTS ARE WAY TOO LARGE, please condense and reduce the scrolldown, some of the reason behind Drudge’s dominance of the global internet is the simple visual formula, no ridiculous my-spacey tricks that slow down the loadtime, and consistency. Everything is just too large, making it feel like a big type book for children, not an intellectual read like WSJ. I cannot even comment on the grotesque sexual images/content, they are beyond gross and ruin this website. Lobby legs is one thing, and relevant as well as funny; competing with The Sun (UK) or inane celebrity articles with no content is a really dumb move.

Reply
Major Cordite February 16, 2013 at 1:44 pm

Yep, you are spot on Brigid. Me thinks Will Folks is short on $$ and had to trade in his previous Cadillac Escalade website and Nancy Mace cut him a deal on this used Chrysler mini-van website. This site does resemble the instructions on the back of a Lego box. Nice color pictures though for Sic to maintain his daily erection.

Reply
Smirks February 15, 2013 at 4:44 pm

The new design is worse than the old one when it comes to mobile browsing, no question about that.

Reply
Smirks February 15, 2013 at 3:44 pm

The new design is worse than the old one when it comes to mobile browsing, no question about that.

Reply
Mr. Politically Correct February 15, 2013 at 4:46 pm

Turn off the lights at night and it’s all teeth. Chesire cat.

Reply
Mr. Politically Correct February 15, 2013 at 3:46 pm

Turn off the lights at night and it’s all teeth. Chesire cat.

Reply
Moman50 February 15, 2013 at 4:52 pm

Fits

Did you actually PAY aomeone for this new design?

One word

SUCKA!

Reply
Moman50 February 15, 2013 at 3:52 pm

Fits

Did you actually PAY aomeone for this new design?

One word

SUCKA!

Reply
2big2fall February 15, 2013 at 5:35 pm

I think you folks need to give Will and his crew some space to innovate, to experiment, and to find out what works and what doesn’t work.

It’s his site and he can do any goddamned thing he wants without a bunch of limp-wristed techno pussies issuing threats while clanging a monkey wrench on the water pipes in Mom’s basement ….”Hey, MOM! Get rid of the DAMN door-to-door salesman you’ve been banging for the last two days. I need to replenish my supply of Dr. Pepper and Cheetos! I need to empty the Pee Jugs!”

You Selfish Bastards! Let her have her fun!

Put up links to your own blogs and let us have a go at picking your creative carcasses to the bone. My site is 2big2fall…what’s yours?

Reply
2big2fall February 15, 2013 at 4:35 pm

I think you folks need to give Will and his crew some space to innovate, to experiment, and to find out what works and what doesn’t work.

It’s his site and he can do any goddamned thing he wants without a bunch of limp-wristed techno pussies issuing threats while clanging a monkey wrench on the water pipes in Mom’s basement ….”Hey, MOM! Get rid of the DAMN door-to-door salesman you’ve been banging for the last two days. I need to replenish my supply of Dr. Pepper and Cheetos! I need to empty the Pee Jugs!”

You Selfish Bastards! Let her have her fun!

Put up links to your own blogs and let us have a go at picking your creative carcasses to the bone. My site is 2big2fall…what’s yours?

Reply
Squishy123 February 15, 2013 at 6:24 pm

Negro please…

Reply
Squishy123 February 15, 2013 at 5:24 pm

Negro please…

Reply
ELCID February 15, 2013 at 7:16 pm

Yet, look at the job postings for this position and you will see that they are really not looking for someone qualified from the business community. Only, former government workers, and people like this guy, who have no clue how the private sector operates. How about somebody who has actually run a business successfully. From start-up to finish, a major company. Some one with credibility, SC Roots, and Ethics. Someone who knows how to get people deceit jobs and off the dole?

Not a chance, just another bureaucrat job filled by another graft given bureaucrat.

Reply
Soft Sigh from Hell February 16, 2013 at 4:32 pm

“deceit jobs”

Why that’s nearly the whole of management in some agencies, companies, and organizations.

Reply
ELCID February 15, 2013 at 6:16 pm

Yet, look at the job postings for this position and you will see that they are really not looking for someone qualified from the business community. Only, former government workers, and people like this guy, who have no clue how the private sector operates. How about somebody who has actually run a business successfully. From start-up to finish, a major company. Some one with credibility, SC Roots, and Ethics. Someone who knows how to get people deceit jobs and off the dole?

Not a chance, just another bureaucrat job filled by another graft given bureaucrat.

Reply
Soft Sigh from Hell February 16, 2013 at 3:32 pm

“deceit jobs”

Why that’s nearly the whole of management in some agencies, companies, and organizations.

Reply
shifty henry February 16, 2013 at 9:04 am

Good morning to all! This is one of my favorite days to observe—-
—-
—- —————-DO A GROUCH A FAVOR DAY

Reply
shifty henry February 16, 2013 at 8:04 am

Good morning to all! This is one of my favorite days to observe—-
—-
—- —————-DO A GROUCH A FAVOR DAY

Reply
hollywood February 16, 2013 at 3:25 pm

great – one idiot resigns and the previous idiot director is returned to the helm – Gov just doesn’t get it

Reply
hollywood February 16, 2013 at 2:25 pm

great – one idiot resigns and the previous idiot director is returned to the helm – Gov just doesn’t get it

Reply
shifty henry February 17, 2013 at 1:27 pm

Thad Viers is available – he needs a job.

Reply
shifty henry February 17, 2013 at 12:27 pm

Thad Viers is available – he needs a job.

Reply
spraywiper March 23, 2013 at 12:00 pm

You call this man a leader? I would no want to go in combat with this so call man. The pressure and the smoke in the kitchen got thick and he ran like a duck in a hail storm. After firing leaders in the SCDEW with 20 or more years of service and taking their retirement, he destroyed their lives just to hire his buddies at much higher pay. He spent large amount of our state money on his buddies for big parties and golf retreats. He gave his own self a large raise and put the state of South Carolina in much more debt. People, this man and Haley should be held accountable for all the wrong doings. There should be a full investigation into this matter and many questions should be answered. But like I said , he ran like a duck in a hail storm when questions were being asked. He said he quit for personal reasons. It is time for the people in this state to demand better decision making and better leadership. RIGHT NOW, IT IS A TERRIBLE DAY IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

Reply
spraywiper March 23, 2013 at 12:00 pm

You call this man a leader? I would no want to go in combat with this so call man. The pressure and the smoke in the kitchen got thick and he ran like a duck in a hail storm. After firing leaders in the SCDEW with 20 or more years of service and taking their retirement, he destroyed their lives just to hire his buddies at much higher pay. He spent large amount of our state money on his buddies for big parties and golf retreats. He gave his own self a large raise and put the state of South Carolina in much more debt. People, this man and Haley should be held accountable for all the wrong doings. There should be a full investigation into this matter and many questions should be answered. But like I said , he ran like a duck in a hail storm when questions were being asked. He said he quit for personal reasons. It is time for the people in this state to demand better decision making and better leadership. RIGHT NOW, IT IS A TERRIBLE DAY IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

Reply
dave April 15, 2013 at 4:45 pm

All he cared about was making a name for himself anyway. Being one of the “elite” members of SC.

Reply
dave April 15, 2013 at 4:45 pm

All he cared about was making a name for himself anyway. Being one of the “elite” members of SC.

Reply
fukscdew November 11, 2013 at 4:50 pm

Fuck SCDEW!I gunna milk dem fukas for all i cin!

Reply

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