S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley says she will openly defy a two-decade-old state law which prohibits elected officials from using taxpayer resources to conduct political campaigning.
Haley has been busted violating this law on numerous occasions in the past – most notably during the aftermath of a previously undisclosed car crash that followed a campaign event in North Carolina (news of this crash was reported exclusively by FITS).
Prior to that Haley has come under fire for racking up exorbitant security costs on political trips – including fundraising trips. The governor reimbursed some (but not all) of those costs.
Now she won’t have to pay any of them …
According to an October 4 agreement between Haley’s office, the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the S.C. State Ethics Commission (SCSEC) – the governor’s campaign organization will no longer reimburse taxpayers for transportation and security costs.
The agreement – a copy of which was obtained by Columbia, S.C. website The Nerve – covers “fundraisers hosted for the governor, campaign rallies planned by the governor’s campaign, and any other event paid for and planned by the governor’s campaign.”
Wait … what?
That’s in direct violation of a state law (S.C. Code 8-13-765) stating that “no person may use government personnel, equipment, materials, or an office building in an election campaign.”
So how was Haley – who claims to be a champion of ethics reform – able to convince the state’s so-called “watchdog” agency to go along with this farce?
Glad you asked …
As we exclusively reported earlier this summer, eight of the nine seats on the SCSEC are either vacant or occupied by members whose terms have expired (meaning Haley can replace them at a whim if she doesn’t approve of their decisions).
“She’s leaving those commissioners with expired terms there precisely so she can have this kind of leverage over them,” one Palmetto politico told us.
Which explains why Haley has been getting such preferential treatment from this agency …
Democrats were incredulous.
“Rather than following South Carolina’s laws and behaving ethically, Nikki Haley just writes herself a new set of rules so she can continue to campaign on the taxpayer dime,” S.C. Democratic Party spokeswoman Kristin Sosanie said.
We agree …
Even if it was legal to do so, why would Haley’s campaign – which has more than $3 million in the bank – subject taxpayers to these expenses? Doesn’t that go against everything a “limited government” official supposedly stands for?
Oh … right. This is Haley we’re talking about …
What do you think? Vote in our poll and post your thoughts in our comments section below …
34 comments
She needs to be sued by a private SC Citizen.
It’s the only way to put her away: just like “Lost Trust Cases,” years ago.
Wilson, the Attorney General, should be removed from office for not prosecuting Haley.
Probably a Federal Lawsuit, or a Federal Investigation, is the only answer.
After Haley, Wilson and the SLED chief are all siting in Federal Prison, the rest of the crooks in the State House will finally get the message: NO THIEVES ALLOWED!!
SSDD, as in one of Stephen King’s novels.
So, nothing has come of the imminent indictments/fed involvement/investigations of Greenwood po po, Lexington ring, bribery at the beach or any number of scandals.
No one is looking… do what you want.
The Rainey v. Haley ruling ended the option of bringing private court action under the state ethics laws.
Yes, But that does not apply to Federal Charges.
Lost Trust was not a lawsuit. It was an undercover sting operation led by the FBI and the US Attorney’s Office.
I didn’t say it was a law suit.
I said there needs to be a Federal Investigation.
I knew the Citadel Grad who put those crooks in jail.
We need another Cid Grad to root out these criminals again.
Did you fall on your head when you were at the Citadel? Tard.
This is what you wrote: She needs to be sued by a private SC Citizen.
It’s the only way to put her away: just like “Lost Trust Cases,” years ago.”
Sure reads like you’re saying a lawsuit from a Private SC Citizen,like the Lost Trust Cases, is the only way to put her away.
The voters should follow Will Folk’s lead and dump Haley.
yup … but there has to be a better option. when I dumped her there was a MUCH better option – Mrs. Sic! Unfortunately my hot wife is not running for governor :(
She’s definitely slicker than whale shit. And that includes her cohorts….
People get the government they deserve.
If she is voted in for a second term, she will be just like (potus), her “secret idol”.
No doubt about it — They have both laughed in the face of South Carolinians.
Fo sho.
From The Nerve story:
“Wages and salaries are not reimbursable because they are not an
additional cost to the State,” so reads the Oct. 4 agreement signed by
Haley, State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Chief Mark Keel and Herb
Hayden, executive director of the State Ethics Commission.
Reimbursable or not, will the value of those resources be reported?
Wage and salaries may not be reimbursable, BUT these employees could be working on crimes in the state—ex: who hacked DOR? instead of riding her around to collect out of state money for her political use! Something is just not right her and no one will challenge it because Haley always gets her way REGARDLESS the cost.
Couple of questions;
1) If Ms. Haley goes to the grocery store to pick up milk and bread does the security go with her? I believe the answer is yes, she’s the governor and if they didn’t anyone wanting to bump her off would just have to wait in the parking lot at Piggly-Wiggly.
2) If Ms. Haley went to Vail, Colorado on vacation would the security go with her? I believe the answer to be yes, again, otherwise anyone wanting to do her harm would only have to go to Vail and wait for an opportunity (her schedule is public record).
Whether campaigning or not the governor must travel and must have security when traveling, to saddle this or any other governor with the bill for required (whether by law or circumstances) security when traveling would be unconscionable. For those that strongly dislike her, pick from among the abundant reasons for her to be defeated at the polls but petty criticisms like this only weaken your position and make otherwise ambivalent voters want to take her side (sort of like forbidding your daughter to date a ruffian, makes her want to date him more).
If she went for a hike on the Appalachian Trail she would probably be safe.
Hey! Don’t drag my name through the mud here! Haley’s been hiked more than me!
What has been done in the past? Generally speaking trips that are competely political in nature are paid by the campaign.
No one is questioning the fact that Haley needs security—the question is why should taxpayers have to pay for her travel expense while campaigning when she has $3 million dollars that she received to cover expenses. Our state does not “gain” anything by her going out of state on these trips—we go in debt because we are paying the expense of the gas, lodging and meals.
Morning Routine:
Roll out of bed
Plug in percolator
Take a whiz
Take puppy out to take a whiz
Down two cups of Columbian Roast
Click on laptop
Confirm that this day just like hundreds before, has started with the Gypsy Queen Governor sticking her dick up my taxpaying ass
She doesn’t have a dick, but I’ll bet she has a strap-on.
No: 97 votes.
Yes: 1 vote.
Hi Haley!
Now 5, Mom, Dad, 2 kids. Hubby is serving our country
They have internet there.
Hey kids, we don’t get to chose our parents.
Nikki Haley only cares about Nikki Haley!
I’ve said it befor and will again, Obama and Haley were twins separated at birth.
Obama’s reelection was a horrible mistake; but, we are stuck with him for 3and a half more years.
Please don’t make the same mistake with Haley. Her first term has been about ethics violations, moral indescretions, lies, screw ups and self service. PLEASE don’t make the same mistake. Let’s send her packing!
She really does look like the Wicked Witch of the West.
SC is completely eat up with fraud & corruption. See, http://lillycollette.blogspot.com
How can state agencies make an agreement to allow violation of the law? She should be charged for this. I guess expecting the AG to do something is out of the question? Do we need the feds again like Abscam or Lost Trust? It seems only DOJ or the FBI can do anything in this political cesspool known as South Carolina.
The problem is SC’s AG has his nose stuck so far up Nikki Haley’s butt – he can’t see straight. He himself has spent SC taxpayer dollars on partisan issues.