The Nerve

By RICK BRUNDRETT Gov. Henry McMaster quietly appointed the owner of a well-known Columbia restaurant – and generous campaign donor – to a vacant state Department of Transportation Commission seat, but a lawmaker is questioning the selection process. The 2nd Congressional District Legislative Delegation is scheduled this morning to vote whether to confirm McMaster’s appointment […]

BY RICK BRUNDRETT S.C. lawmakers routinely approve naming road sections and bridges for living or deceased persons, including ex-legislators and other former public officials. Not only does it take up a lot of collective time that could be spent working on larger, more pressing issues, but it also comes with a cost to taxpayers – […]

By RICK BRUNDRETT When in session, S.C. lawmakers routinely introduce legislation dedicating an existing road section, bridge or intersection to a living or deceased person – including ex-legislators. Their road- and bridge-naming proposals are made through concurrent resolutions, which unlike general bills, can’t be reviewed by the governor. Since 2017, legislators have approved 57 such […]

By RICK BRUNDRETT Update: 8/8/2019 – The S.C. Attorney General’s Office in a letter to the State Law Enforcement Division asked SLED to “conclude the preliminary inquiry” of John Hardee so that the office could “review the allegations for any possible state violations,” noting that Hardee’s federal case was “resolved.” The letter did not provide […]

By RICK BRUNDRETT When it comes to fixing South Carolina’s deteriorating roads and bridges, where residents live could determine how hard their state lawmakers push to get unfinished work done. Since the gas-tax-hike law took effect nearly two years ago, raising the state gas tax 12 cents per gallon over six years and increasing other […]

By RICK BRUNDRETT Update: According to a written plea agreement dated 1/22/19, John Hardee agreed to plead guilty to one federal count of evidence tampering. Neither the count specified in the charging document, known as an “information,” nor the plea agreement provided any details about the alleged crime. The charge carries a maximum sentence of […]

By RICK BRUNDRETT A state transportation commissioner with ties to an advertising company that has a lucrative Department of Transportation contract also is a paid consultant with a lobbying trade group that receives thousands of dollars annually from other public agencies. Public and private entities eligible for public service announcements (PSAs) have paid the Outdoor […]

By RICK BRUNDRETT Time is fast running out for Gov. Henry McMaster to decide whether to reappoint the son-in-law of Sen. Hugh Leatherman – one of the state’s most powerful lawmakers who exerts tremendous control over transportation spending – to the S.C. Department of Transportation Commission. Commissioner John Hardee came under scrutiny in 2015 when […]