The Nerve

State lawmakers have borrowed hundreds of millions of dollars to benefit specific companies — which the state constitution prohibits. Taxpayers are promised the debt will pay off in jobs and investment, but there is little evidence that’s true. In fact, as the Nerve reported in 2010, many companies that receive incentives shut down completely.  Lawmakers […]

Lawmakers have now created two separate committees to explore the sale of state-owned utility Santee Cooper. One of those committees (formed by the Senate) met last Tuesday and requested to spend roughly $193,000 to gather more information before taking official action. In light of this reluctance to move toward a sale, it’s important to remember […]

In the next couple of weeks, the House will “debate” the budget passed last week by the Ways and Means Committee, so it’s a good time to remind everyone that this is not the way the budget is supposed to come together. Last fall, the SCPC research team shared a detailed overview of what state […]

  To Our Readers: The Nerve will not be publishing this week and early next in observance of the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Thank you for all your support this year; we are planning many hard-hitting stories for 2019 to hold politicians and other public officials accountable. So stay tuned!

Lawmakers are against wasteful spending – in the counties By HANNAH HILL In a House Ways and Means subcommittee meeting this week, state lawmakers expressed great concern about the responsibility of county spending practices. Let’s be clear: County spending habits are technically no concern of the state, from a jurisdictional perspective. However, the law requires […]

Fixing South Carolina’s pension system requires realism By BRYCE FIEDLER The Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA) – the agency responsible for administering the state’s retirement plans – recently released its annual report assessing the South Carolina Retirement System (SCRS). In a huge upswing from previous years, the state’s pension investments performed very well during FY16-17, […]

Lawmakers want to even the playing field between themselves and the people By HANNAH HILL “…When we have to go back to the ratepayers and explain what we’ve done and things like that, you know the first thing they’re gonna say is ‘Well, why’s it three/two? Why can’t we be at the same table?’” – […]

Why Can’t the Governor Pick His Own Advisers? By BRYCE FIEDLER As it turns out, the now suspended V.C. Summer project isn’t the only nuclear concern in South Carolina. The Governor’s Nuclear Advisory Council (NAC) met on October 11th to discuss the troubles facing a poorly managed plutonium fuel construction operation at the Savannah River […]

In the nukes debacle, Santee Cooper seemed alone and sleepy By BRYCE FIEDLER Chairman Russel Ott appeared frustrated sitting across from outgoing Santee Cooper CEO Lonnie Carter during Tuesday’s House Utility Ratepayer Protection committee hearing. “So you don’t know why the board’s not here?” asked Ott. “I didn’t know they were invited. I don’t think […]

Problems stem from lack of accountability By BRYCE FIEDLER Every government body deals with its share of problems. In an ideal world, proper oversight systems are in place so that when those issues arise, the right people can be held accountable. But what happens when a government department answers to virtually no one? Look no […]