Governor Ignores Three-Fourths of Budget in Lashing Senate

Gov. Nikki Haley's press conference earlier this week was strong on style and a bit short on substance.

S.C. Legislators Say 'No Agenda' on Trip to Turkey

Although South Carolina has a relatively small Turkish population and no major trade with Turkey,  eight S.C. senators apparently thought  it was important enough to go on a 10-day, all-expenses-paid trip to the Middle Eastern country last year.

Phantom of the Legislative Session

The journal for the S.C. Senate shows the legislative body meeting on both May 10 and May 11 of this year. But the reality is that not a single senator was on hand in the Senate chamber either day.

BCB OKs $21 Million More for Clemson Wind Turbine Center

Clemson gets OK to boost budget for wind turbine test facility by $21 million.

Freedom of Information Bill Faces Rocky Road in Senate

An S.C. House-passed bill to monumentally strengthen the state’s open-government law faces a precarious road in the Senate.

1,200 Hours to Be a Lawyer in S.C. … 1,500 Hours to Be a Barber?

It takes more schooling to become a barber in South Carolina than to pass law school.

Lancaster Citizen Reporter Queries Senator on State’s Growing Budget

Mary Atkinson of Lancaster recently posed questions regarding the state growing budget to state Sen. Greg Gregory, R-Lancaster.

House Panel Drops Ethics Case against Governor after House Changes Its Rules

The S.C. House last week danced a conspicuous ethics two-step, in what one State House watchdog describes as exactly the kind of bull pucky that makes taxpayers cynical about politicians and government.

USC Seeks Another $13.3 Million for Innovista

Plans by the University of South Carolina to move forward on a $26.8 million “upfit” for a building in USC’s star-crossed Innovista research campus have been delayed.

Sullivan’s Island Citizens Group Still Fighting for Referendum

A Sullivan’s Island citizens group plans to continue pushing for a public vote on a controversial  elementary school-construction project, despite inaction by the Town Council on a sought-after referendum, a group spokeswoman said this week.

Greenville Citizen Reporter: Committee Chairmen Agree to Record Votes

Fourteen of 20 of the chairmen of key S.C. legislative committees have agreed to record votes taken at the committee and subcommittee levels, according to an Upstate transparency advocate.

House Axes Budget and Control Board in New Restructuring Plan

The S.C. House passed a counterproposal Wednesday to a Senate plan for restructuring state government, going much further than the House’s original blueprint and outstripping the Senate in some areas.

46 State Symbols … and Counting?

A joint resolution to ban the addition of new state symbols is languishing in committee.

The Difference Between Incentives and Private Investment – Disclosure

Imagine being an investment broker without the information necessary to keep clients apprised of how their assets are performing: no price-to-earnings data, no quarterly profit statements, no tax liability numbers. Doesn’t sound like a very promising career path as a financial adviser, does it?

Boeing Greased Its Landing in South Carolina

Even before Boeing announced plans to build in South Carolina, the aerospace company showed it knew how to play the political game.

Politics Threatens to Derail Restructuring

Causal and keen observers alike might have heard rumblings about expanding government bureaucracy, along with concerns about protecting the state’s credit rating. The facts, however, do not confirm alarms about those matters.

Another Top SCRA Executive to Depart

The S.C. Research Authority, beset by loss of top executives over the past two years, is losing Rick Self, president of SCRA Applied R&D, one of its most important divisions.

Verifying Governor's Job Claims Remains Elusive

Gov. Nikki Haley continues to tout job announcements left and right, but it remains unclear how many of the positions are actually being created because no one in South Carolina state government wants to track whether companies follow through.

Economic Development in Higher Ed Funding Proposals

At face value it sounds like it might be a good idea to a lot of people, and an eminently fair proposal at that: Allocate public funding to state colleges and universities based on how well they do their jobs.

Francis Marion University Branches Out to … Ecuador?

Francis Marion University opens research station - in the Andes.

Columbia’s No Free Market Haven, Some Business Owners Say

Columbia city leaders spend too much time trying to pick winners and losers, rather than letting the market determine who's got the best product, some business owners say.

Legislature’s Watchdog Agency Lives on Bare-Bones Diet

Landmark legislation, which became law earlier this year, codified the creation of an inspector general’s office with broad powers in the executive branch of state government. But what about the General Assembly’s inspector general, the Legislative Audit Council?

Former SCRA Chairman: Turnover No Surprise

Former SCRA Chairman Bill Masters says problems at the agency are systemic.

Executive Turnover Hits SCRA

The S.C. Research Authority pays extremely well, but that hasn't helped it retain top executives.

Oconee Citizen Reporter: Zoning Regs Harm Property Rights

Oconee Citizen Reporter says zoning regulations around Lake Keowee harm property rights.

House Pension Bill Protects Current Lawmakers

A House bill would allow current lawmakers to continue receiving their state pensions while remaining in office.

Governor, Former Lt. Governor Cases Highlight House Ethics Secrecy

A judge’s recent dismissal of an ethics lawsuit against Gov. Nikki Haley serves as yet another example of secrecy surrounding ethics matters in the S.C. House. So does the case of former Lt. Gov. Ken Ard, who pleaded guilty to seven campaign finance violations and resigned earlier this month.

Senate Clerk Still Mum on Budget Details

S.C. Senate Clerk Jeffrey Gossett apparently is in no mood to publicly discuss his chamber’s proposed $12 million-plus budget for next fiscal year.

Market Bulletin Mystery Raises Legal, Constitutional Questions

It might sound like a trivial affair, but it actually carries legal and constitutional implications: The S.C. Department of Agriculture and Gov. Nikki Haley’s office disagree about whether the department’s Market Bulletin publication is a money-losing operation.

Republicans Back Away from School Flexibility Bill

Bill to allow school districts to move up start of school year by one week runs into strong opposition - from legislator who claims to be pro-school choice.

Bill to Make Insurance Director Elected Post Gets Favorable Report

Bill to make insurance director elected post gets favorable report from a Senate subcommittee. 

Democrats Lay Out Ethics Reform Plan for S.C.

S.C. Democrats unveil ethics-reform package.

Unlike Ard Pleading, Wheels of Justice Move Slowly in S.C.

S.C. Judicial Department records reviewed last year by The Nerve show that in fiscal year 2011, which ended June 30, none of the state’s 16 judicial circuits met the department’s benchmark of moving criminal cases through the circuit court system.

It's Wine and Rose at Charleston County Council meeting

Charleston County Council says things are looking up.

Advocates for Stronger FOIA Law Rally at State House

Proponents of bill to strengthen state's FOIA law rally at State House.

Legislation Looks to Take “Palmettovore” Program to Schools

Legislation would let school districts join program that puts S.C. produce and goods in schools.

Charleston Council Considers Funding Requests

Charleston County Council considered funding requests from three entities at its February 24, 2012, meeting.

Citizen Organizes Rally to Push for FOIA Bill

Citizen to hold rally in support of bill that would strengthen state's FOIA law.

Three SC Entities Win Transparency Awards

Aiken County, Anderson County and Pickens County School District were recognized by Sunshine Review for transparency efforts.

Grassroots' Organizations Call on State Leaders for 'Real Reform'

Grassroots activists takes lawmakers and the governor to task over Department of Administration bill.

Senate Passes DOT Transparency Bill

A bill to require the S.C. Department of Transportation to create and maintain an online database of all expenditures by the agency is halfway through the General Assembly.

Sullivan's Island Residents' Voting Rights Violated?

In what critics contend is an abuse of power, the town of Sullivan’s Island is suing a citizens group seeking a public vote on a controversial elementary school construction project.

Public Outcry Leads to Withdrawal of Lexington Blight Proposal

Lexington County Council has withdrawn a proposed ordinance that would have dictated the appearance of private property in the county.

Power Trip: The Legislature’s Double Standards on FOIA, Ethics and Spending

In South Carolina, there is one set of rules for state legislators, and another set of rules for everybody else – even state and local elected officials.

S.C. Legislature Uses Secrecy Law to Thwart Records Requests by Grassroots Groups

Grassroots groups pushing for more accountability and transparency in state government are running into a wall of secrecy in the S.C. General Assembly in trying to obtain legislative communications involving a controversial bill.

Obscure Program Revises Process, Accountability Remains Illusory

After three years of questions, the S.C. Lieutenant Governor's Office still cannot provide the legislative basis for the Senior Center Permanent Improvement Program.

Research University Presidents Silent on Board of Regents for S.C.

No, the college CEO triumvirate passed on that one and instead left it to … state Commerce Secretary Bobby Hitt to address it?

Still No Sunshine on S.C. House, Senate Spending

The S.C. House and Senate continue to bypass the normal budgetary process when it comes to adopting annual budgets for the two chambers.

20 Senators Support Bill to End Budget Shell Game

Anytime anyone pays a fee or a fine to a state agency it traces to this game, and it involves a huge chunk of the state budget – about $7.8 billion in the current fiscal year.

Restructuring Could Face Filibuster in Senate

Sen. Robert Ford, D-Charleston, told The Nerve on Monday that he and some other senators plan to help Sen. Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence, lead a filibuster against the bill in an effort to defeat it in their chamber.

The Search for a Joint Open Session on the Budget

The fruitless quest for a joint legislative open session on the budget.

More Lawmakers Supporting Independence for Legislative Ethics

A third bill has been introduced to put the kibosh on ethics self-policing in the S.C. General Assembly, and the effort is now bipartisan.

Provisos: Legislators’ Earmarks – and Why They Love Them

Lots of politicians rail against federal earmarks in Congress, but the S.C. General Assembly has its own version of earmarks and many of them represent the very same kind of special-interest, pork-barrel spending.

Hundreds of Thousands Spent Annually Wining and Dining S.C. Lawmakers

An investigation by The Nerve found that several hundred thousand dollars likely will be spent before June wining and dining state lawmakers. A plethora of private organizations and public agencies host the events in an effort to get legislators’ ears – and ultimately, their votes – for the groups’ pet issues.

Senate Bill Seeks to Make Top Insurance Post an Elected Position

A Grand Strand legislator wants the state’s director of insurance to be an elected position, rather than one appointed by the governor.

Senate Faces Choice on Dept. of Administration: True Change or Fig-Leaf Reform

The S.C. Senate is debating a bill to abolish the Budget and Control Board, but will the Senate embrace real change or fig-leaf reform?

Secret Budget Process Continues in S.C. General Assembly

The S.C. House and Senate typically release their respective chamber budgets months after most other state agencies do so, allowing lawmakers to quietly increase their own budgets with little public scrutiny.

Clemson Sustainability Program in Line for $445,000 in State Funds

The S.C. Commission on Higher Education got approval from the Joint Other Funds Oversight Committee on Jan. 19 to present a request to the Office of State Budget for $445,240 for Clemson’s “Endowed Chair in Sustainable Development,” part of the SmartState program.

Guv’s Office, Commerce Can’t Produce Job-Creation Records

Despite glowing job announcements over the past year, neither Gov. Nikki Haley nor the S.C. Department of Commerce can produce records showing the number of actual jobs created to date.

Charleston Council Changes Citizen Participation Guidelines

Charleston County Council citizen participation session to begin before council meeting.

S.C. House Stands Alone in Shadow of Ethics Secrecy

Members of the S.C. House are the only state or local elected officials in South Carolina who remain wrapped in a cloak of ethics secrecy as this year’s legislative session begins.

Cost of Haley’s Special Session Bid Unclear; Right Remains Intact

The S.C. Supreme Court ruled in early June that Gov. Nikki Haley lacked the authority to call legislators back into session while they were on a break between the regular session and an already scheduled special session, saying her order violated the separation of powers. Today, more than six months after the Supreme Court nixed Haley’s bid to get legislators to return, it’s still not clear what the effort cost South Carolina taxpayers.

S.C. State Gets an ‘Incomplete’ on Budget Request

South Carolina State, already under scrutiny for alleged financial mismanagement related to millions of dollars earmarked for the James E. Clyburn University Transportation Center, appears to have dropped the ball by incorrectly filling out a request for $36 million to renovate a pair of structures.

Charleston Council Defers Business License Expansion

Charleston Council defers business-license issue.

LLR Report Clarifies Position on Deregulating Auctioneering

The S.C. Auctioneers’ Commission isn’t in danger of being dismantled – as was recommended by one state agency not too long ago – but the time is ripe for deregulating the industry, according to a recent report.

'You Can't Let Somebody Stick Fix-a-Flat on Your Rear End'

Increased regulation of business isn't always the answer, S.C. Senate Shane Massey tells a group of cosmetologists.

Charleston Council Moves Forward on Rental Housing Issue

The Charleston City Council ignored the decision by the Planning Commission and voted Dec. 20 to allow short-term housing rentals in the city’s commercial-zoned districts.

Fate of I-526 Extension Project Remains Unsettled

Individuals who turned out for the Dec. 6 Charleston County Council meeting expecting some resolution of the I-526 extension issue went away disappointed.

Charleston County Council Agrees on Redistricting Plan

Charleston Council agrees on redistricting plan.

Still No Resolution in Sight on I-526 Extension

Individuals who turned out for the Dec. 6 Charleston County Council meeting expecting some resolution of the I-526 extension issue went away disappointed.

Still No Resolution in Sight on I-526 Extension

Still no resolution on I-526 for Charleston County Council.

Pearson: No Quid Pro Quo with Georgia

Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg, asks Gov. Nikki Haley's chief of staff Tim Pearson if there was a quid pro quo arrangement between South Carolina and Georgia regarding the Savannah and Jasper ports.

Additional Details of SCRA Lending Revealed; Legality in Question

Some South Carolina banks have had a tough go over the past few years. Hit hard by the ongoing economic downturn, no fewer than seven state financial institutions have been closed by regulators since 2009, while several others have been placed under regulatory-enforcement actions of one sort or another.

Additional Details of SCRA Lending Revealed; Legality in Question

The S.C. Research Authority approved nearly $1 million in loans to five separate entities – including a consortium created by some of the biggest entities in the state and an alternative-fuel vehicle manufacturer eligible for tens of millions of dollars in state incentives – during fiscal year 2011 alone.

Restructuring: Lots of Talk, Little Action

“Restructuring” might have been the buzzword of this year’s legislative session, but in the end, there was a whole lot of talk – and even an emergency S.C. Supreme Court ruling – with no concrete results.

Haley Staffer Faces Senate Panel on DHEC Permit Issue

Tim Pearson, chief of staff for Gov. Nikki Haley, is questioned by members of a Senate panel Dec. 8 regarding a water quality permit for the dredging of the Savannah River.

Making Sense of SC Launch Numbers No Easy Task

Questions still remain after the S.C. Research Authority responded to an S.C. Freedom of Information Act request for information on how its affiliate SC Launch spent approximately $18 million in state money over the past three years.

Making Sense of SC Launch Numbers No Easy Task

Questions still remain after the S.C. Research Authority responded to an S.C. Freedom of Information Act request for information on how its affiliate SC Launch spent approximately $18 million in state money over the past three years.

Senator Grills Haley Chief of Staff on DHEC Permit

Sen. Joel Lourie, D-Richland, questions Gov. Nikki Haley's chief of staff Tim Pearson on whether the governor attempted to influence the DHEC board to grant a permit to allow the expansion of a Georgia port.

What's Behind the Unfunded Liability in SC's Retirement System

A member of the Retirement Ad Hoc Committee highlights some of the causes behind the huge unfunded liability facing the state retirement system.

Legislators Exempt Themselves from Sunshine Law They Created

The state's open-records law for more than 30 years has shielded the S.C. General Assembly from releasing documents showing what it does behind the scenes.

Restructuring: Lots of Talk, Little Action

State’s Top Court Asked to Remove Legislators from Aviation Authority

The S.C. Supreme Court has been asked to determine whether a 2007 law that appointed two state legislators to the Charleston County Aviation Authority, which owns Charleston International Airport, violates the state constitution.

Results of District 5 Audit Detailed

Alan Grimsley of the accounting firm of Derrick Stubbs & Stith presents his report on the Lexington Richland District 5 2010-11 fiscal year audit.

Richland 2 Crawls onto Transparency Bandwagon

Charleston Auditor Takes Questions, Provides Few Answers

Legislators: Law on Budget Process has been Ignored

Legislature Again Ignores Budget Law

Charleston Council Asks 'Where's the Property Tax Bills?'

SC Launch Slow to Respond to Funding FOIA

It’s been nearly seven weeks since The Nerve sent SC Launch a state Freedom of Information Act request to ascertain how the S.C. Research Authority affiliate was disbursing $6 million in taxpayer-supported funds it receives annually.

State Agencies Cry Poverty While Amassing Large Surpluses

South Carolina’s 33 public colleges and universities collectively amassed nearly $900 million in “unrestricted” assets – generally surplus money that can be spent on anything – as of June 30, according to year-end financial statements reviewed by The Nerve.

Charleston Considers Consolidation Question

Commerce Pay Incentives Nab Big Part Share of BCB's Attention

Sex Offenders Receive Big Bills from State Mental Health Agency

Pastides Shows He’s No Renaissance Man

Direction of Charleston Greenbelt Funding an Issue

Charleston Won't See Tax Increase in 2012

District 5 Officials Balk at Adding Information to Check Registers

More Questions Arise Regarding Program that Won’t Die

More questions on Senior Center Permanent Improvement Program.

Certified SC Grown – Not Always What It Seems

Certified SC grown is not always what is seems.

Can S.C.’s FOIA Law Be Strengthened?

Commerce, DMV: Information is Power, and It’ll Cost You, Too

$270M Taxpayer-Funded Gift to Boeing Properly Spent, Commerce Chief Says

Aerospace giant Boeing properly spent $270 million in S.C. taxpayer-backed bond proceeds given to the Chicago-based company for its North Charleston assembly plant, state Commerce Secretary Bobby Hitt said in a letter obtained Thursday by The Nerve.

District 5 Puts Teacher on 'Restriction,' Guts Course

Lawmaker State Plane Travel: Frequent Frivolous Miles

The Nerve’s review of Aeronautics Commission flight logs and manifests, or passenger lists, shows that from Jan. 1, 2010, through the end of last month, legislators collectively have approved at least 29 state plane trips for themselves, staff members or others to destinations in and outside South Carolina.

The Boeing Incentives Deal: More Secrecy, Lack of Accountability

The Boeing Co. isn't required by the state to verify that the $270 million in taxpayer-backed bonds it received for its North Charleston plant was properly spent.

Keel on How SLED is Funded

LLR Mum on Auctioneering Board About-Face

Ballentine on How to Improve State Government

Midlands Lawmakers Still Milking Subsistence Cow

A review by The Nerve of state House and Senate expense records, obtained under the S.C. Freedom of Information Act, found that from the start of last year through August of this year, 23 Richland or Lexington County legislators living within 25 miles of the State House have received subsistence payments equal to or greater than payments to lawmakers who live farther away.

Resurrecting Town of James Island Won't Be Cheap

LLR: A Case Study of Bureaucratic Bungling

Tech Schools' Green Push Raises Questions

SC Launch Grant to MUSC Dean’s Company Raises Questions

There appears to be potential issues with NextRay’s funding from SC Launch. Not only is there a question as to whether NextRay fulfilled the residency requirement necessary to receive funding from SC Launch, but it’s not clear if NextRay was up front in its application about all of its “principals, founders and partners.”

Charleston Council Approves COLA Increase

Nearly All S.C. School Districts Have Check Registers Online

King: Municipalities Need to Look at All Options

Governor’s Job Numbers: Lots of Hype, Unanswered Questions

Richland County Councilman Fighting Federal Complaint

Isle of Palms Land-Purchase Plan Voted Down

High Court Rejects ‘Power-of-One’ Practice

In a 4-1 vote, the state’s top court said the General Assembly violated the S.C. Constitution last year when it overrode former Gov. Mark Sanford’s veto of a bill (H. 4431) involving the Fairfield County School Board.

Businesses Aiding Schools with Curriculum Development

Employers are working with secondary schools and colleges "to engage in curriculum planning," according to Congressman Trey Gowdy.

"By increasing the number of students seeking higher education, we can begin the process of decreasing our nearly 10 percent unemployment rate," Gowdy said during a congressional delegation field hearing focused on higher education and job growth Aug. 16 in Greenville.

DOT Year-End Surpluses Plunge by $217 Million

Heritage Corridor Takes Steps After State Audit

Congressman Sings the Praises of ICAR

Congressman Trey Gowdy sings the praises of ICAR during a congressional delegation field hearing focused on higher education and job growth Aug. 16 in Greenville.

ICAR has generated nearly $250 billion in new investments, with another $500 million currently in development, and has announced the creation of 2,300 high-wage jobs, Gowdy claims.

Greenbelt Fund Application Creates Fuss in Charleston

Wilson on Greenville County's Abundance of Engineers

Congressman Joe Wilson, speaking during a congressional delegation field hearing Aug. 16 in Greenville, says Greenville County is home to 10,000 engineers.

Wilson goes on to say that Greenville County has one of largest concentrations of engineers per capita in the world.

New Carolina: Full of Sound and Fury, Signifying Nothing

Lobbyist-Relative of S.C. Congressman Paid Well by Charleston

Superintendents: Earning Their Keep?

If South Carolina’s top-paid school superintendents had to justify their salaries based on their districts’ annual report cards, many of them would have some explaining to do.

Program That Won't Die Continues Spending Millions

Unathorized state program continues spending money.

SCRA Said To Be ‘Cleansing’ its Wikipedia Page

Wikipedia, the free web-based collaborative encyclopedia project that encourages public input on articles, identified the S.C. Research Authority as the location of an Internet protocol address that had earlier this week repeatedly deleted information unfavorable to the state agency.

Legislature Still Polices Itself in Ethics Cases

Local Bills Again Under Scrutiny

Claim: The Problem is Spending, Not Lack of Revenue

Temporary Ban on Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Passes

Politician Justifies Secret Nature of Eco Devo Deals

Bill Strengthening Ethics Act Becomes Law

Recently enacted legislation strengthens South Carolina’s ethics law and gives the entity that enforces it, the State Ethics Commission, more power to do so.

But the Palmetto State still has a long way to go on ethics transparency and accountability when it comes to lawmakers themselves.

BCB Handles Public Relations Work for Private Business

By all accounts, Midlands BioFuels is an alternative fuels success story. The Winnsboro company produces 25,000 gallons of biodiesel fuel a month from waste vegetable oil, and while it has received some government support since its inception, Midlands BioFuels is profitable and would be even without government largesse, co-founder Joe Renwick says.

SCRA Paid Nearly $4 Million in Bonuses during 2008-10

The South Carolina Research Authority paid out more than $1.44 million in bonuses to 50 individuals for the 12-month period ending Oct. 23, 2010, the most current data available.

Why Does Government Spend Every Cent it Gets?

'Angel' Incentives Halfway Through Legislature

Economic development incentives – think Amazon.com in the Midlands – and transparency related to such tax breaks – or lack thereof – were major issues in this year’s legislative session.

But amid much attention on those matters, a pricey proposed subsidy for a high-risk, high-dollar type of speculative investing made it halfway through the General Assembly with little notice.

Court Ruling Spurs Changes in Child Support Cases

The S.C. Supreme Court is considering procedural changes in child support contempt hearings in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that rejected the way a case involving an Upstate indigent father was handled.

S.C. Film Incentives: 'B' Movie for Sure

The summertime movie season is upon us once again. During this time, if you decide to head off to a theater to bask in leisurely, overpriced entertainment for a couple of hours (at least it’s out of the heat), here’s something to consider.

Most State-Level Politicians Guided by Principle

Legislature Passes Higher Ed Transparency Bill

Veto on Sprawling Capital Reserve Fund Overridden

Embattled Ex-Judge Not Done Hearing Foreclosure Cases

Lexington OKs Incentives for Interstate Container

SCRA Intransigence Highlights State's FOIA Flaws

More than half a year after The Nerve submitted an S.C. Freedom of Information Act request to the state agency charged with developing South Carolina’s “knowledge-based economy,” officials with the S.C. Research Authority say they’re ready to comply.

Charleston Council Makes No Progress on I-526 Issue

Nation's Top Court Rules in Favor of S.C. Indigent Parent

Richland 2 Adds $1,000 Bonus for Teacher Attendance

For more than a year, Richland School District 2 officials have failed to follow a state law directing it to post the spending details of its budget online, arguing that it will not do so until it receives funding from the state.

Legislator Pushes for Hearings on Gasoline Price Cap

If S.C. Sen. Dick Elliott has his way, not only will gasoline prices be capped across South Carolina, but executives from large oil companies will have to face questioning from legislators and other Palmetto State residents.

After Nerve Story, Higher Ed Transparency Bill Revived

A bill requiring South Carolina’s state-supported colleges and universities to report their spending online has risen from the dead and looks like it might pass today – the last day of this year’s regular legislative session.

Viers: Voter ID Makes Sense

Legislators Show Lack of SCRA Knowledge

If South Carolinians were asked in a poll to explain what the S.C. Research Authority is, the vast majority of them probably would be unable to do so.

Bill Seeks Disclosure of Amazon-Like “Promises”

Viers: Why S.C. Should Look at School Choice

Viers on the Purpose of Government

Paper Trail Scarce Regarding SCRA Chair Selection

While the S.C. Research Authority may cloak itself in an air of mystery, there’s little doubt that state leaders have attached significant importance to the agency’s role in developing the state’s “knowledge economy.”

Davis: S.C. Needs a Spending Cap

I-73 Study Called into Question by Some

Davis: Time to Look at 'Other Funds'

New Debt Proposed for School Districts

Davis: Legislative Arrogance a Problem

Higher Ed Spending Transparency Bill Likely Dead – Again

Legislation requiring South Carolina’s state-supported colleges and universities to post their spending online looks like it might die in the General Assembly this year.

Union Pier Forum Fails to Find Common Ground

Senator Eyes Budget Cuts, Tax Refunds

S.C. Sen. Tom Davis wants to cut next year’s proposed state budget by at least $149 million and have that money refunded to South Carolina taxpayers. The senator’s proposed cuts and rebates could be twice that amount, or closer to $300 million, based on calculations he attributes to Senate Finance Committee staff.

SCRA Extends Tentacles into High Finance

SCRA is moving into high finance.

S.C. Research Authority's FOIA Fail

SCRA has gone more than 140 days without fulfilling an S.C. Freedom of Information Act request.

Nothing for Certain with Administration Agency

A skeptic might say to supporters of a proposed Department of Administration that it would not necessarily lead to savings and efficiencies in state government – and in fact could end up costing taxpayers more money.

Proterra Deal to Cost Tens of Millions to Taxpayers

South Carolina and Greenville County taxpayers won’t be getting any magic carpet rides with the construction of the Proterra electric- and hybrid-powered bus assembly plant in Greenville.

Nation's Top Court to Hear S.C. Case Wednesday

SCRA Chair Sets Departure Date, Slams Agency

SCRA chairman slams agency in resignation letter.

Masters Sounds Concerns on SCRA in E-Mail

Outgoing S.C. Research Authority Chairman Bill Masters continues to sound a steady drumbeat of concern regarding the state-created agency.

Monday, he sent out an e-mail questioning the direction of the agency, touching on a number of different issues, including the veracity of data provided by SCRA top management to board trustees, high management salaries, SCRA’s accounting practices and whether it funds jobs that go to other states.

SCRA Now Hiring – But Mostly Out of State

Call it mission creep or a basic misunderstanding of the mission, but the S.C. Research Authority – created nearly 30 years ago in part to boost employment in South Carolina – would appear at present to be doing more good for the Missouri Ozarks than the Palmetto State.

Tens of Thousands Spent on Sign Namings

Since 2006, South Carolina has spent at least $60,000 on highway and other structure signs named after state lawmakers or other individuals, The Nerve found in a review of state transportation records.

Chair Blasts SCRA in Resignation Letter, Report

S.C. Research Authority Chairman Bill Masters’ resignation letter to Gov. Nikki Haley, submitted earlier this month, contains an accompanying report that paints a damning picture of the agency charged with leading South Carolina’s knowledge-based economy.

According to the eight-page report sent to Haley and obtained by The Nerve, Masters states that "SCRA has evolved over the past five years from a scientific research organization into a political organization using its core competency of data and information manipulation to market itself and benefit top management and its allies."

Pay Cuts Proposed for Legislators, Agency Heads

State agency heads and lawmakers would experience a 25 percent pay drop this year and for the next two fiscal years under a pair of House bills.

Cutting the pay of the 16 members of Gov. Nikki Haley’s Cabinet, assuming nominees who are confirmed earn as much as their predecessors, would save state taxpayers $1.5 million over the three fiscal years, a review by The Nerve found.

SCRA Executives Took Home $50k-$90k in Bonuses

As South Carolina’s budget woes have worsened over the past couple of years, many state agencies have cut back, leaving unfilled positions vacant, curtailing raises and, in some cases, laying off employees.

Roll Call Voting Up to Senate - Again

Written by: Erick Ward

                    Citizen Reporter

Court Case Tests ‘Power of One’

The Legislature's single-vote practice of overturning vetoes on local legislation is being challenged in the S.C. Supreme Court.

Lawmakers’ Delay Keeps Judge on Bench

Inaction by Dorchester County’s legislative delegation could keep an embattled longtime judge on the bench for a year after his term expired. Patrick Watts is the only master-in-equity judge in the state to be in “holdover” status and the first-ever “holdover” for that type of position, said Jane Shuler, chief attorney for the S.C. Judicial Merit Selection Commission.

State Agencies’ Budgets Grew in FY 10

Bill Proposes Transparency in Incentives

Masters Calls for Investigation of SCRA Chief

SCRA chairman calls for independent investigation of agency.

Swansea Audit Shows Significant Problems

Newberry OKs Sale of County-Owned Home

Politicians and Flags Go Hand in Hand

Legislature Generous to Itself, Staff

Divisive Plan Scuttled by Investment Commission

Millions at Stake in Retirees' Suit

Secrecy Shrouds Retirement Proposal

Medical Supply Industry Targeted

How Tuition Helps Bankroll Construction

Restructuring Panel Off to Slow Start

SCRA Baits and Switches on Pay Hikes

Swansea Continues to Drag Feet on FOIA Request

Midlands Lawmakers Feasting on Subsistence

Republican S.C. Sen. Jake Knotts of West Columbia lives less than 10 miles from the State House in downtown Columbia.

Democratic state Rep. Joe Neal’s home in Hopkins is only about 16 miles from the state Capitol.

Yet an analysis by The Nerve of legislative records found that the two veteran Midlands lawmakers were among 26 current or former Richland or Lexington County legislators who received a total of at least $500,000 over a 2.5-year period in “subsistence” payments.

Legislators Get an Average 32K Per Year

Taxpaying South Carolinians, if your state lawmaker looks you in the face and says his or her legislative salary is a lowly $10,400, he or she is not telling you the whole story.

At the very least.

At worst, a member of the General Assembly poor mouthing to that effect without mentioning several other forms of compensation legislators pocket would be downright disingenuous.

Exclusive: Lawmakers Cost Taxpayers Millions

The S.C. Legislature is no cheap date for taxpayers.

From Jan. 1, 2008, through this past July 31, state taxpayers shelled out at least $14.8 million to cover salaries and expenses for 202 current or former House and Senate members, The Nerve found in a review of records from each chamber, obtained under the S.C. Freedom of Information Act.

Newberry Looks to Sell County Nursing Home

Norman Calls for Open Meeting to Pick Speaker

SCRA Board OKs Pay Hike, Not Transparency

Summit Generates Much Reaction, Little Agreement

Swansea Residents Seek Answers on Grant Money

Probe Reveals $3 Billion Gap in 'Other' Funds

Feds Weighing $8.5 Million Cost to S.C. Medicaid

State Agencies Grow Despite Budget Cuts

Schools Spent More Than $1.3 Million on Lobbying

Schools Spent More Than $1.3 Million on Lobbying

Online Register Upsets Some on Kershaw Board

Welvista Treated Well by S.C. Legislature

Wasden: Swansea Still Thwarting Quest for Info

Edge Proposal: $10 Million Tab for Medicaid?

Golden Parachutes for State Lawmakers?

In South Carolina, retired legislators earn an annual average of $19,605 in gross retirement benefits, based on July figures from the state retirement system.

Medicaid Time Bomb in Budget

Legislature Playing Favorites

SLC Donors Spent Heavily On Lobbying

Law, Lobbying Firms Pay for Conference

TRAC Lets Boeing Keep Tax Breaks

Most School Districts Have Put Check Registers Online

House, Senate Secrecy Kills Openness Bill

Sanford: Pyrotechnic Bill Usurps Executive Power

New Farmers Market: Costly Errors for All

Sanford: Chief Economist's Numbers Don't Add Up

Sanford Succeeds in Shaking Up BCB

Nonprofits Cheer Defeat of Economic Incentives Bill

How the S.C. Senate Gave Itself a $4 Million Raise

S.C. School Districts Short on Transparency

Lawmakers Uphold Hydrogen Funding Veto

Ten State Agencies Could Receive Budget Hikes

Legislature Budgets Money S.C. Doesn't Have

Political Tit-for-Tat Puts Crime Bill in Jeopardy

Taxpayers Eyed for Major State Museum Expansion

Miley Study Touts Boeing Incentives

Roll-Call Voting Bill Fizzles in Senate

Would Sanford Veto Local Retail Subsidies?

Firms’ Decisions Show Incentives Not Necessary

Got A Problem? Create A State Agency

House, Senate Ethics Panels Avoid Sunlight

Crime Victims Are Forgotten by Legislature

Santee Cooper Raises Salaries of Top Executives

Legislators Waste Time Debating Heritage Animals

Saving Children or Fleecing Taxpayers?

Act 388 Creates 'Perfect Storm' in Dorchester

Aiken Officials Don't Know What it Costs to Run City

Embattled Judge in Legal Limbo

Legislative Budgets Play Shell Game with Medicaid

Next Year’s Budget: Still Growing and Growing

Senators Seek Alternatives to Roll-Call Voting

S.C. Senate: Charity Starts at Home

Assuming the budget passed Thursday by the full Senate mirrors an earlier version approved by the Senate Finance Committee, it would be the 46-member chamber’s largest-ratified budget in at least the past 12 years, according to a review by The Nerve of ratified state budgets since fiscal year 1998, the most recent data available

House Panel Undercuts Input on Sembler Bill

Number of High-Paid County Employees Rising