Embattled SC Welfare Czarina To Take Leave

South Carolina’s embattled welfare czarina will take a three-month leave of absence following a recent medical episode.

Lillian Koller – director of the S.C. Department of Social Services (SCDSS) – will reportedly continue drawing her $154,879 annual salary during her extended period of convalescence.

It’s not immediately clear whether S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley will name an interim leader of the troubled agency.  Fortunately Koller’s equally controversial second-in-command stepped down earlier this year following a FITS investigation into irregularities regarding the agency’s food stamp disbursements.

Koller, 55, was tapped by Haley for the top SCDSS job in 2011 as a sop to the Republican Governors Association. Since then the agency has been literally one disaster after another, with elected officials of both parties calling for her ouster.

Obviously we don’t wish poor health on anyone … and hope Koller recovers quickly from whatever ails her.

Having said that, when it comes to the leadership of this scandal-scarred agency lawmakers should push Haley to extend Koller’s leave of absence … permanently.