Murrell Smith

5 min read

Lawmakers routinely tap campaign funds for ‘other’ expenses

August 27, 2020 The Nerve

By RICK BRUNDRETT Politicians typically spend campaign funds on things like signs, billboards, TV, radio…

4 min read

Lawmakers continue to push their pet projects – at taxpayer expense

March 10, 2020 The Nerve

By RICK BRUNDRETT In debating next fiscal year’s state budget, House members could decide this…

3 min read

Governor, House want SC taxpayers to eat plenty of pork in fiscal ’21

March 6, 2020 The Nerve

By RICK BRUNDRETT Buried in the latest $32.3 billion state spending plan for next fiscal…

4 min read

Lawmakers ignoring $500M piggy bank to fix SC’s bad roads

February 28, 2020 The Nerve

By RICK BRUNDRETT While House budget writers have designated an extra $100 million next fiscal…

3 min read

Lawyer-lawmakers largely control who becomes a judge in SC. Here’s their latest power play

February 21, 2020 The Nerve

By RICK BRUNDRETT Ten S.C. House members who are lawyers are pushing legislation to create…

4 min read

Public agencies in SC spending thousands to influence lawmakers, other state officials

February 14, 2020 The Nerve

By RICK BRUNDRETT Last year, local municipalities, fire and other special purpose districts, public colleges…

4 min read

SCDOT director among dozens in agency’s growing six-figure club

February 11, 2020 The Nerve

By RICK BRUNDRETT The number of S.C. Department of Transportation employees making at least $100,000…