QUOTES OF THE WEEK
“I can’t find out where the man spent the night and who paid the bill. Wouldn’t you think such simple housekeeping would be easy?”
– State Treasurer Curtis Loftis telling a state Senate panel that the S.C. Retirement Investment Commission would not release the travel and expenses of its former investment chief, Robert Borden, now head of a private N.C. investment fund. State Sen. Greg Ryberg , R-Aiken, told Loftis that his comments sounded close to accusing Borden of impropriety – an accusation Loftis said he was not comfortable discussing. Ryberg asked that a tape of the hearing be sent to the State Law Enforcement Division for it to decide if an investigation was warranted.
“As (state Treasurer Curtis Loftis) is prone to do, he found what he thinks is the next political issue, and he’s out there trying to get attention for it. If I were him, I would choose his words carefully.”
– Robert Borden , former investment chief for the Investment Commission, reacting to Loftis’ comments to the Senate panel
(Actually, there was no need for Ryberg to refer the matter to SLED. The Investment Commission already had asked for an investigation – in November – into allegations of a pay-for-play scandal involving the pension fund and a Loftis ally, who has denied any wrongdoing.)
SCHMOOZING
Where legislators will be eating and drinking this week, and who will be footing the bill
Tuesday – 1 to 2:30 p.m., members of the House and Senate, luncheon, Capitol City Club, sponsored by the S.C. Arts Alliance
Tuesday – 6 to 8 p.m., members of the House, Senate and staff, barbeque and oyster roast, Clarion Hotel Downtown, sponsored by the S. C. Supreme Court justices, the Court of Appeals, the Circuit Court judges, the Family Court judges, and the masters in equity
Tuesday – 6 to 8 p.m., members of the House, Senate and staff, reception, Capitol City Club, sponsored by the S.C. Funeral Directors Association
Wednesday -- 8 to 10 a.m., members of the House, Senate and staff, breakfast, Room 112, Blatt Building, sponsored by the S.C. Primary Health Care Association
Wednesday – Noon to 2 p.m., members of the House and Senate, luncheon, Room 112, Blatt Building, sponsored by the Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School
Wednesday – 6 to 8 p.m., members of the House, Senate and staff, reception, Columbia Marriott, sponsored by the York County Regional Chamber of Commerce
Wednesday – 7 to 9 p.m., members of the House, Senate and staff, reception, Clarion Hotel Downtown, sponsored by the S.C. Optometric Physicians Association
Thursday – 8 to 10 a.m., members of the House, Senate and staff, breakfast, Room 112, Blatt Building, by AMI Kids
LEGISLATIVE STATUS
Where some key issues stand after the fourth week of the legislative session
Port expansion: A measure suspending the authority of South Carolina’s environmental agency to make dredging decisions for the Savannah River received unanimous support twice in the state Senate, passing 37-0. The measure is designed to help lawmakers’ efforts to undo a water-quality permit granted by the Department of Health and Environment Control that allows Georgia to expand the Savannah port. The House previously passed its version of the proposal 111-0. Another House vote will send it to Gov. Nikki Haley, who’s drawn fire for asking her board chairman to hear Georgia’s appeal.
Jobless benefits: S.C. workers in part-time and seasonal jobs could not get unemployment benefits under bills that advanced to the Senate floor. Employees for Carowinds, for example, could not claim benefits if their jobs simply expired at season’s end but could collect payments if they were let go midway through the season. The other bill would disqualify workers seeking a part-time job. State law considers anything over 30 hours a week full-time work.
DOT reform: A bill to give South Carolina’s governor full control of the Transportation Department advanced in the House, but the proposal appears on a crash course with state senators. A 2007 law restructuring the agency put it in the governor’s Cabinet but also gave oversight to a seven-member commission elected by legislators. Gov. Nikki Haley wants legislators to eliminate the commission. A House panel advanced a bill doing so. Senate Transportation Committee chairman Larry Grooms, R-Berkeley, also wants to get rid of the commission as is, but thinks a legislative oversight board must remain, saying no one person should have full authority over one of South Carolina’s largest agencies.
E-Mail
Print
Get The State newspaper delivered to your home. 
