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by WILL FOLKS
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DOGE SC – the citizen advocacy movement founded by Lowcountry businessman Rom Reddy – honored its first “Palmetto Revolutionary” this week, bestowing a green check mark upon the lucky candidate as a sign of his support for the movement’s agenda.
And, just as importantly, as a sign of the movement’s support of him…
The recipient of the coveted honor? Mike Burkhold, who is currently campaigning for comptroller general of South Carolina in next spring’s Republican primary election. A successful entrepreneur, Burkhold has made it abundantly clear the status quo in this office is unacceptable.
“The office treated itself like a back-office ledger clerk instead of a taxpayer watchdog,” Burkhold noted in a recent guest column on FITSNews. “The result was catastrophic: billions mishandled, trust shattered, and the credibility of our state government badly damaged.”
That’s a reference to several multi-billion dollar accounting errors committed by former comptroller general Richard Eckstrom – who sidestepped being removed from office by resigning.
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Burkhold has vowed to transform the comptroller general into a true watchdog – one intent on providing transparency, accountability and taxpayer advocacy.
“The time has come for South Carolina’s comptroller general to step out of the back office and into the fight,” he said.
Such an aggressive, 180° reorientation from the status quo is obviously music to the ears of Reddy, whose movement is built upon precisely such an overhaul/overturning of the Palmetto State’s entrenched bureaucracy.
“His slogan, ‘Show Me The Money,’ says it all,” DOGE SC’s endorsement of Burkhold noted. “Mike is a true taxpayer advocate who believes citizens deserve to know where every penny is being spent. But he’s not stopping there — he wants to transform the comptroller general’s office from simply approving expenditures into a true watchdog for the taxpayer.”
“We are proud to give Mike Burkhold our first green check mark and thank him for being a Palmetto Revolutionary,” the endorsement added.
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The Palmetto Revolution: Covenant 250, a DOGESC initiative, is a citizen-first agenda to shift power back to the people, restore our God-given rights, and take back South Carolina’s future.
— DOGE SC (@officialdogesc) October 6, 2025
Our vision is to make South Carolina the freest, most citizen-first, self-governing state… pic.twitter.com/xYJuB4a2YC
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“I’m honored to be recognized by DOGE SC and proud to stand with Rom Reddy in his fight to return power to the citizens of South Carolina,” Burkhold wrote on X in response to receiving DOGE SC’s imprimatur. “Rom has been the loudest voice in our state for true constitutional conservatism and a government that serves the people, not the insiders. His leadership is making a real difference.”
DOGE SC’s endorsement of Buckhold comes as it is enlisting legislative support for its “Covenant 250” agenda – which Reddy unveiled earlier this year. It also comes as the movement launched its first television advertising blitz in support of that agenda.
“Which state officeholders and candidates share our vision?” the group’s latest missive. “Over the coming weeks, we will show you.”
In the coming weeks, DOGE SC plans on putting Palmetto politicians into three categories – letting the citizens know “who supports the Palmetto Revolution, who does not, and who refuses to say.”
Count on FITSNews to keep our audience apprised as to which candidates land in which categories…
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and eight children.
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10 comments
The Evangelist model. Send me money so that I can do god’s work. Pay no attention to the fact that I get rich in the process, because it’s God’s will.
It amazes me how so many people get rich from the teachings of a man who shunned wealth and advised his followers to shun wealth, healed the sick and asked nothing in return, fed the poor and asked nothing in return, welcomed the stranger, and loved everyone, including his enemy. But I guess the evangelist is different. God wants to reward him with wealth and power. Praise the Lord! God created so many fish that I was able to do all the tasks he assigned to me the year with millions left over; and then he said unto me, “Keep these, my good and faithful servant, for yourself.” There will be more fish next month.
Mark, you were always right to the point. Not a single SC legislator, candidate or county council person willing to lend their names to this chicanery.
This reminds me of when Tom Ervin ran for Governor outta nowhere and they made him PSC commissioner, then used his time there as the logic for emasculating the PSC, so Tom quit government in disgust. Problem solved!
Cant wait to see what study committee they use to make this douche canoe float on down the old main stream….
DOGE SC would be the laughingstock of the country if anyone even heard about DOGE SC.
Can see it coming. These northern transplants are nuts. They line Folks’ pockets.
Reddy is full of himself.
The slogan “show me the money” would be hilarious for someone to use in order to advertise that they are very much open to bribes.
The first Red X!
From what I can tell Mike Burkehold owns/started “Equiscript”. What is Equiscript?
“Equiscript helps covered entities offer a new home delivery pharmacy service to patients that will help improve patient outcomes and generate resources for your organization. We take great care of patients; providing a service that improves medication adherence while complementing your existing 340B network and generating new savings for you.”
So, what is a 304B? “A 340B refers to the 340B Drug Pricing Program, a federal program that allows eligible healthcare providers, called “covered entities,” to purchase outpatient drugs from manufacturers at significantly reduced prices. Established by Congress in 1992, its purpose is to help safety-net hospitals and other qualifying organizations stretch federal resources to provide more comprehensive services and care to low-income and uninsured patients, thereby strengthening the healthcare safety net”
So help me out here folks, has this guy made all his money essentially taking a cut of federal money that helps poor folks afford their prescriptions?
Mike will you be transparent and share with us all exactly how, and how much, money your company makes from this federal program paid for by the taxpayers. Will you share your salary and and other benefits you derive from the company? Any family members also employed? Will you move to Columbia full time if elected or will “commute” from Charleston daily? Will you commit, in writing, to being present in the office everyday and not “remote” work?
False billings are too risky to allow full disclosure.
Doesn’t sound kosher to me. Florida: Yet, despite significant ongoing demographic changes, Florida has set a trend of collecting and spending less general revenue, via taxes, than most other states. The state relies heavily on its general sales tax to balance its budget. Texas: The largest single source of revenue for the Texas state government is federal funding, followed by the sales tax, which is the state’s largest source of tax revenue. Other important revenue sources include the franchise tax (the state’s primary business tax) and various motor vehicle-related taxes.