SC

Tom Ervin Hits Nikki Haley On Medicaid Expansion

CANDIDATE ECHOES CRITICISM OFFERED BY VINCENT SHEHEEN This website has been harshly critical of S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley on the issue of Medicaid expansion – arguing that her administration has grown socialized medicine in the Palmetto State faster than other states (including states which have embraced the Medicaid expansion associated…

CANDIDATE ECHOES CRITICISM OFFERED BY VINCENT SHEHEEN

This website has been harshly critical of S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley on the issue of Medicaid expansion – arguing that her administration has grown socialized medicine in the Palmetto State faster than other states (including states which have embraced the Medicaid expansion associated with Obamacare).

And guess what … the numbers back us up.

Medicaid rolls in South Carolina are soaring by more than 16 percent in the current year – more than three times higher than the average state that rejected Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion.  It’s also more than the 12 percent average growth rate of states that took the Obamacare money.

Amazing, huh?

All from a governor who had the audacity to tell The Wall Street Journal  that South Carolina “will not expand Medicaid. Ever.”

Sheesh … how “Republican” of her to say one thing and do another. And yes, the price tag associated with this expansion will add another half-billion dollars (at least) to the state’s $25 billion budget each year moving forward.

Anyway, two of Haley’s opponents in the 2014 gubernatorial election have joined our criticism of Haley’s Medicaid expansion – although they are arguing she hasn’t expanded it fast enough.

S.C. Sen. Vincent Sheheen, a Democrat, has already gone on the record on this issue (a position we’ve criticized ideologically as well as politically).  Now Tom Ervin, a self-styled “independent Republican” who is running for governor as a petition candidate, is echoing Sheheen’s criticism – running a television ad that calls Haley out for failing to embrace the Obamacare expansion.

“Gov. Chris Christie supports the expansion of Medicaid,” Ervin’s ad states. “Why hasn’t Governor Haley?”

Ervin’s ad quotes Christie – a liberal “Republican” from New Jersey – as saying the expansion helps “provide greater access to healthcare for New Jerseyeans truly in need.”

According to Ervin, Haley’s refusal to expand Medicaid under Obamacare is costing South Carolina $4.1 billion in federal tax money and 44,000 jobs. Ervin’s ad also claimed that 300,000 South Carolinians had been forced to seek emergency room care as opposed to seeking less costly treatment options.

Here’s Ervin’s spot …

(Click to play)

“Republican governors from Florida, Tennessee, Arizona and New Mexico have all supported expanding Medicaid, but Gov. Haley refuses.” Ervin said in a statement accompanying his spot. “By rejecting $4.1 billion in funding; 44,000 new jobs and 300,000 people from medical coverage, the governor has left South Carolinians out of work and our tax payers footing the medical bills. What we need here is a little less politics and a little more common sense.”

We’ve been impressed with Ervin’s campaign up to this point – especially his support for individual income tax relief and expanded parental choice in the education marketplace.

Obviously this is one issue on which we do not see eye-to-eye with him … or Haley.

If South Carolina’s economy is truly “recovering” – as Haley claims – she shouldn’t be exploding our state’s dependency rolls.

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76 comments

The Colonel September 16, 2014 at 10:43 am

A vote for Ervin equals a vote for Gilligan. A vote for Gilligan equals higher taxes, more gubamint intrusion and four years of having to look at his goofy ass.

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Steve September 16, 2014 at 12:16 pm

Again, just admit there is nothing Haley could ever do or not do that would keep you from voting for her.

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The Colonel September 16, 2014 at 1:33 pm

There are plenty of things she could do that would keep me from voting for her. However, as things stand now, with my options being Gilligan, Ervin, French, Sage and Reeves, I’ll stick with the gubernor I know.

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Karolyn September 16, 2014 at 2:07 pm

Poor soul!

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Steve September 16, 2014 at 5:18 pm

If her epic failures at SCDOR, SCDOT, SCDEW, SCDSS don’t keep you from voting her in for a 2nd term nothing will.

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The Colonel September 16, 2014 at 5:25 pm

She inherited the DOR system that was hacked.
She fired the DOT director, Oakes appears to be doing a good job.
SCDEW has been a disaster for longer than I can remember.
DSS is an issue.

Steve September 16, 2014 at 7:32 pm

She put someone in charge of DOR who left the IT security position vacant, in 3 years roads have gotten worse not better, she appointed an unqualified director of DEW who resigned, and DSS have you ever heard Haley step up and admit she fubar’d that one?

You need to put down the Kool-aid and look at the facts.

Steve September 16, 2014 at 7:35 pm

Oh, and she did not fire the DOT director he resigned.

Lifelong Horseman September 16, 2014 at 5:07 pm

Colonel, Private, whatever. Goofy ass? Gilligan? I would love two minutes alone with you. Teach you some manners.

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The Colonel September 16, 2014 at 5:13 pm

By an act of Congress, I have all the manners I need but thanks for your kind offer.

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larry September 17, 2014 at 4:38 am

Lets don,t forget the time Gov.Haley went looking for those dead people voting and spent over 3.5 millions dollars she got our back so when you go to vote for her remember that what about the port of charleston .

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Lifelong Horseman September 16, 2014 at 10:46 am

Nikki, Please bring your Mom and Dad on the campaign trail with you. We want to see and hear from them. Family values. Bring them out, please.

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Bible Thumper September 16, 2014 at 11:06 am

Do I detect bigoted sarcasm? I haven’t seen any other candidates parents on the campaign trail.

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js September 16, 2014 at 12:14 pm

Speaking of Raj and Ajit, wonder why they didn’t get help for her early on. They had to know something was very wrong with her.

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Smirks September 16, 2014 at 1:40 pm

I haven’t seen any other candidates parents on the campaign trail.

Not many candidates put experience balancing the books for their parents’ business on their resume. There’s a lot of oddities surrounding Exotica, so I think suspicions about her parents are a bit valid.

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Bamberg native September 16, 2014 at 2:53 pm

According to the SC Judicial site, there is an Orangeburg Cty. judgement against the Randhawas to the tune of nearly half a million dollars.

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rum runner September 16, 2014 at 3:03 pm

Oddities and suspicious? You mean like mallet-head quiting two political parties because he can’t get a party nomination,taking on a faux moniker of a self-identifyed some such while spending millions of dollars and polling at 0%?

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Lifelong Horseman September 16, 2014 at 5:02 pm

Vincent Sheheen’s parents, Rose and Fred, have been campaigning all over the state for him.

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Bible Thumper September 16, 2014 at 5:15 pm

Well, what do expect from a Lebanese? {;-)

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Frankie Fasion September 17, 2014 at 7:16 am

Dont forget her witch doctor sister. The one that talks to the universe.

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SC Political Digest September 16, 2014 at 10:53 am

SCPSD says Dr. Ben Carson is coming to Lexington Co. before the election. If true, now SCPSD scooping establishment media, like FITS and The State…WOW!!!…Breaking news, and insightfully unique and accurate content…EXACTLY what SC needs in media…

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Dave Chappelle September 16, 2014 at 10:54 am

Just what exactly is an “independent Republican?”

Just another crafty way to market one’s self, likely. Again, I’ll say it over and over…it doesn’t matter who they are, or what nifty slogan they tout. In the end, it merely leaves you with a hot load of manure.

(“Washington is broken,” “Joe Means Jobs,” “Hope and Change,” “Believe in America,” “A Name You Can Trust,” blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah)

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SC Political Digest September 16, 2014 at 10:58 am

You’re just spouting cliche Bull-$#!*…It DOES matter who they are….

Haley rejected Obama’s Medicaid expansion. That’s not manure…that’s a sound decision by a governor, that is in the service, and interest of South Carolinians who would be paying for vastly broadened, and failed, social medicine. So Try again, Dumb@$$…next time w/o the mind-dead cliches..

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Dave Chappelle September 16, 2014 at 11:08 am

You, sir, are clearly contributing to this problem. I’m seeing a bright red Kool-Aid mustache on you today. It is comments like this:

“that’s a sound decision by a governor, that is in the service, and interest of South Carolinians. . .”

These are the comments that manifest the fools’ inherent belief that politicians are really showing up to work everyday because they sincerely care about you. Right, I’m supposed to believe these guys and gals will put my interest before their own?

“By the People, For the People” –> Somehow that has gotten lost in this mess.

On a final note, I encourage you to review all of my reply comments directed at you. Ask yourself how many times I have resorted to name-calling and cursing. I merely suggest to you that most educated folks will pay closer attention to what you say, when it sounds intelligent.

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SC Political Digest September 16, 2014 at 11:23 am

Not a bit of name-calling. I’m just accurately describing you, with specifics.

And what is foolish; is the assumption by yours and FITS’ ilk, that if political leaders are not doing your nuanced and naive bidding, they are wrong. That is an ignorant strategy…Everybody else is stupid, and only you have an answer, is how you represent yourself.

When someone does something right, I don’t paint myself into a corner w/ hatred, so that I’m paralyzed to give them credit.

Your answer is to have a state, and a country, leveled by your own small-mindedness and miserable, rigid, demeanor. Leaders have to act, and act right, otherwise they’d be like you.

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Dave Chappelle September 16, 2014 at 11:29 am

“I’m just accurately describing you, with specifics.”

Really? “specifics”? Serious? In what planet is calling someone a “Dumb@$$” (why the proper noun, also?) –and nothing more–rise to the level of “specifics?”

OK, GT…I’m done with you on this thread. Maybe we can chat again on another article. But I see this is clearly not going anywhere.

Smirks September 16, 2014 at 1:52 pm

The wheel in his hamster cage of a head broke a long time ago.

euwe max September 16, 2014 at 3:08 pm

Ripley!… you’re just grinding metal…

Karolyn September 16, 2014 at 2:05 pm

Coming from the epitome of “small-mindedness and miserable, rigid demeanor.”

SC Political Digest September 16, 2014 at 2:18 pm

If you are too F*#k!*g stupid to create your own descriptions….keep your mouth off mine….

You puppets would NEVER have a thought ….if someone did not give it to you…

Karolyn September 16, 2014 at 2:35 pm

Well, YOU provided the fitting description of yourself – hypocrite!

SC Political Digest September 16, 2014 at 3:11 pm

My point: You liberals are too STUPID to come up w/ a description for the people you hate, for not drinking the Kool-Aid you swill.

And worse than that, when someone accurately describes one of you, you constantly go into a childish Pee Wee Herman skit of “I know you are, but what am I?”…On top of that, you’re so ignorant, you double-down when I point it out…

Karolyn September 16, 2014 at 5:52 pm

Maybe YOU hate people who don’t agree with you (which does seem to be the case considering your tactics), but I sure don’t! And who said I was a liberal? I happen to be more of a left-leaning Libertarian, although I hate being put into any box with a label. You are just a distasteful, crass old man, as evidenced by your posts.

nitrat September 16, 2014 at 4:08 pm

” Dumb@$$…”
Is THAT name calling, shit head? I copies and pasted it from your last comment.
You are about as stupid as a cow patty. And, the fact that you are hear must mean no one is bothering with your “blog”.

SC Political Digest September 16, 2014 at 4:29 pm

It’s a DESCRIPTION, Dumb@$$. If you act STUPID, I will call you on it..and that’s what p!$$#$ off idiots, like you.

Don’t want to be described that way…quit acting like a DOLT!!!!

Tango's Farm Raised Cow Patty September 16, 2014 at 6:06 pm

Still actin’a fool, Hoss. I bet you’ve moved on from one med to another so many times you’re hoarding goats again.

Tommy Q. Welfare September 16, 2014 at 11:31 am

Independent Republican? Ervin is an Independent Socialist that makes Elizabeth Colbert Busch look like Jesse Helms.
Greeen Party icon Gloria Tinabu is more conservative than Ervin.

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no trust in welfare tommy September 16, 2014 at 10:56 am

LMAO! ‘Welfare’ Ervin wants to expand the Medicaid rolls in SC and bankrupt the state. Ervin appears to be clueless on all issues and this is just the latest example.The exploding Medicaid rolls bankrupted North Carolina a few years ago.

Wonder if the pro_abortion Ervin knows that the Hyde Amendment prevents Medicaid dollars from being used for abortion? Does the pro_gay marriage Ervin want expanded Medicaid rolls for the influx of illegals that will come to SC and drain the state of its resources or is this Ervin’s attempt to force all employers to provide insurance to same sex couples via Medicaid dollars?

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Smirks September 16, 2014 at 1:48 pm

Yes, as soon as we expand Medicaid in SC, millions of illegals are going to swarm LMC and the rest of us are going to get refused service. That’s exactly what’s going to happen.

You don’t post under Sandi anymore?

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euwe max September 16, 2014 at 3:07 pm

I expect to see Iraqis showing up in used cars with their swimming trunks still wet.

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Karolyn September 16, 2014 at 2:03 pm

They’ve already expanded Medicaid, albeit without the Federal money; so why not take the money? Stupid ad illogical.

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nitrat September 16, 2014 at 3:57 pm

Honey, if you ain’t rational, logic don’t mean a damn thing!

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craig321 September 16, 2014 at 11:18 am

French for Freedom!!

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a face in the crowd September 16, 2014 at 11:21 am

“We need an answer to the question.” Haley has no answer to the question because she cannot even comprehend the question.

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SC Political Digest September 16, 2014 at 11:25 am

Expansion of the failed Medicaid program is a waste. She answered. You’re just too stupid, or too hateful, to accept it…

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a face in the crowd September 16, 2014 at 11:32 am

No, you are too ignorant to understand that she is costing the state ridiculous amounts of money out of nothing but spite.

And no, she did not answer the question.

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SC Political Digest September 16, 2014 at 11:40 am

The bill will come due, Dumb@$$. And the broke federal government will just demand we deliver free healthcare to the non-payers, who use the ER for a cold, while us payers must plan and scrape to be able to afford healthcare.

You view life as a child, like most democrats…And any house that lets children run it…will eventually go bankrupt (see Obama’s America 2014)….

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RogueElephant September 16, 2014 at 7:51 pm

Dead on. Fed “help ” is only for a certain number of years , then it falls back on the state to come up with the money. Nikki is doing the right thing. It might hurt a little now but much less down the road. Ervin is like all Dims. gimmie, gimmie gimmie , don’t think just gimmie. That is what got US where we are today. 17.5 Trillion in debt because of Dims and their freebys.

to be faid September 16, 2014 at 9:17 pm

Well with respect GWB took us from Clinton’s surpluses into I’ll advised tax cuts that – surprise – didn’t work. So ultimate cutting taxes while fighting two wars and expanding Medicare part D benifts took the debit from about 5.5 trillion almost 11 trillion.

a face in the crowd September 16, 2014 at 10:59 pm

Amen. These people watch Fox News and listen to Rush Limbaugh and think they understand the economy.

SC Political Digest September 17, 2014 at 9:04 am

Head up your @$$ much?

SC Political Digest September 17, 2014 at 5:29 am

Bush had to clean up the very dangerous terrorists that Clinton ignored for 8 years, until they were blowing up NYC and the Pentagon.

Under Bush, the deficit would have eventually been wiped out, as soon as he finished the job Congress voted and empowered him him to do.

Not to mention, Obama has spent about 4 times as much, and Americans are suffering in his economy. We prospered for almost all of Bush’s two terms. I’d love to have Bush back. We NEED that economy again.

to be faid September 17, 2014 at 8:43 am

good call the bush economics were going really smoothly indeed – culminating in 2008 with the market collapse and housing collapse. You do realize Obama wasn’t pres till 2009 and the first bailouts tarp etc cetera were sign by bush?/boy another few years of that and we’d have been right as rain? I bet he could have gotten the Dow to 1000 points if he ‘stayed the course’/a little longer with his tax cuts…

SC Political Digest September 17, 2014 at 9:03 am

There was a recession at the end of the Clinton era, too. Bush made it short, and the economy was robust for most of Bush’s years.That’s just not deniable. Congress going D in 06, preceded the collapse of last quarter 08, and culminated w/ the election of Emperor Obama.

Now, we’re in year SIX of the Obama Depression. You are the most ignorant Mother-F*#ker on the planet, if you are trying to compare Obama in a favorable light to Bush. Unemployment, salaries, taxes, healthcare costs, energy and food prices are are all at record bad numbers under the your lord-god Obama.

I don’t mind a Dumb@$$. God made them too. But one that runs his mouth, especially with the way people are suffering under Obama, needs the S#!* slapped out of him, as a matter of national pride.

I’m just scared to death the GOP is still scared of the media, and we’ll not disposed of your failed ignorance posthaste. Our country is in severe danger because of you, and drastic measures are needed.

to be faid September 17, 2014 at 9:39 am

Yeah, those two recessions were the exact same…good point too about how the dems that were elected in 06 and sworn in in 07 led to the 08 leveraging issues of most of the NY brokerage house that started several years before. The one Percenter’s and retirees must hate Obama, the DOW has only gone from 6000 to about 17,000. You got me down up argument wise anyway I look at it. Thanks for setting me on the right path. Hey seriously though, in your world what color is the sky?

SC Political Digest September 17, 2014 at 11:26 am

17,000 for rich fatcat 1%-er investors, while we cannot afford to eat, or take out kids to the doctor. What an uncaring @$$hole you are. Rich get richer under Obama, while the American people – who BUILD it – starve.

And the deficit is $17.5 trillion propping up that stock market.

Haliburton Bob September 17, 2014 at 9:56 am

How much of that money went to fund,ing two wars??

RogueElephant September 17, 2014 at 10:00 am

1 or 2 trillion. A mere pittance compared to what has been wasted on give away programs with no improvement.

Smirks September 16, 2014 at 1:31 pm

she is costing the state ridiculous amounts of money out of nothing but spite.

To be fair, she’s one of many governors doing this.

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euwe max September 16, 2014 at 3:06 pm

…divine right of kings.

Bobbie September 27, 2014 at 3:58 pm

Whoa. Thats not nice

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Tunes'n'News September 16, 2014 at 12:13 pm

Was the availability of Medicare changed, or did the state government make efforts to get people who are eligible sign up for it? Leaving this out of the story is misleading, no?

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Tunes'n'News September 16, 2014 at 12:14 pm

Medicaid.

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Karolyn September 16, 2014 at 2:02 pm

I had heard some time ago that people were being actively recruited for Medicaid in the state.

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Tunes'n'News September 16, 2014 at 2:41 pm

Correct. It’s not an eligibility change. It is advising those already eligible to sign up to do so.

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Haley is a idiot September 16, 2014 at 1:23 pm

Go Tom call the witch everyone else has been cowards. …all that money we paid going to other states because Haley was following the Koch brothers orders.

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Smirks September 16, 2014 at 1:30 pm

lol!

So Ervin is for the Medicaid expansion, huh? That’s interesting. Good for him I suppose. Like it or not, SC stands to gain far more from expanding Medicaid than many other states. Footing 10% of the cost isn’t that horrible.

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euwe max September 16, 2014 at 3:05 pm

Taxes can’t be seen as beneficial, stoooopid!

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west_rhino September 16, 2014 at 2:23 pm

Same Ervin that thinks raising the minimum wage will help inflation? The economics aren’t rocket science, go fig!

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nitrat September 16, 2014 at 3:54 pm

Go read some Paul Krugman.

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larry September 17, 2014 at 4:03 am

Don,t forget we pay coaches and ball player millions of dollars to play with a little ball but can,t pay teachers and others a good wage we find money for these and go look at what college presidents in SC is getting.

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nitrat September 16, 2014 at 2:44 pm

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/09/02/238367_states-that-decline-to-expand.html?rh=1

We are also PAYING $3.1 billion in TAXES to support the expansion in the states with governors smart enough to expand through 2022.

That’s not counting $15.8 billion in lost Medicaid funding through 2022.

It would have cost us $1.2 Billion to expand.

Great to know Trikki is as stupid with numbers as Mark Sanford was…but, he did hand pick up for a reason.

The chart is about 3/4 down the McClatchy page.

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Rocky September 16, 2014 at 7:57 pm

Truth sucks sometimes.

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TaraTheBarrister September 16, 2014 at 8:41 pm

don’t like the dependency rolls? then hire the poor. let’s start with you, Sic Willie. Employ some poor to do your part to reduce the rolls.

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what?!? September 16, 2014 at 9:10 pm

So you don’t see eye go eye with Haley – who doesn’t want to expand and opt out, and you disagree with Tom Ervin who wants to expand it and opt in…WTF? So you want to bitch and moan without any point? The current rate of increase is simply due to the fact that we live in a very poverty stricken state…

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SC Political Digest September 17, 2014 at 6:28 am

Does this commercial encourage violence toward women? Where are FITS pop-culture, feminist writers? They should be outraged the way Haley is being bullied. Violence toward women is not OK, even for a left-leaning petition candidate, who is wealthy from his take as a Trial Lawyer.
Got a good read about it on SCPSD.

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