TheState.com: SC Politics Today

Vick quits congressional race, media buyer says

Sat, 26 May 2012 00:10 EDT

State Rep. Ted Vick on Friday ended his bid to become the Democratic nominee for South Carolina’s new 7th congressional district following his arrest Thursday in Columbia on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and illegally carrying a gun.

“While I have full confidence that the legal system will clear much of this up, it will not change the fact that I made some serious mistakes that I alone am responsible for,” the four-term House member said in a statement. “I realize that I have caused pain to those who love and support me and it’s my responsibility to make this right.

“After spending time with my family, my pastor and my friends, I have decided to end my campaign for the United States Congress.” Vick had apologized for his actions Thursday.

“I will humbly seek re-election to the State House in November,” his statement on Friday said. “If re-elected I will continue to work across party aisles to seek consensus and progress.”

Vick had been the Democrat’s fund-raising leader in the campaign for the largely coastal, Republican-leaning district.

Columbia cops arrest state representative for DUI, weapons possession

Fri, 25 May 2012 00:39 EDT

Columbia police officers arrested a state representative Thursday for driving under the influence of alcohol and the unlawful carrying of a pistol after he was stopped for speeding.

S.C. Rep. Ted Vick, D-Chesterfield, was released from the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center on personal recognizance bonds for the charges. He also was given a ticket for speeding.

Vick, 39, is one of several candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for South Carolina’s new 7th congressional seat. That primary is scheduled for June 12.

Vick was stopped at 1:12 a.m. Thursday on Devine Street by a Columbia police officer who had pulled him over for driving 44 mph in a 30-mph zone, according to a Columbia Police Department report. The officer smelled alcohol, but Vick refused to take a field sobriety test or a breath test, the report said.

When Vick was taken to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, a jail officer discovered a Kel-Tec .380-caliber pistol in his front pocket. He had not notified officers that he was carrying a gun, and a concealed-weapons permit in his wallet had expired in 2007, the report said.

Compromise on abortions ‘a win-win’

Fri, 25 May 2012 00:39 EDT

Public money would not pay for some abortions under the state health insurance plan, according to a compromise brokered Thursday by two state senators.

The state health plan, which covers 417,000 people and is financed by a combination of premiums paid by state workers and taxpayers, now pays for abortions if the life of the mother is in danger, or in cases of rape or incest.

The compromise — worked out between state Sens. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg, and Lee Bright, R-Spartanburg — would prohibit using taxpayer money to pay for abortions in the case of rape or incest. Instead, premiums paid by state workers alone would pay for those procedures.

Employees who do not support abortion could opt out, and their premiums would not pay for the procedures, if there are any. Since 2006, the state health plan has paid for six abortions. All six were performed to save the life of the mother, according to the state Budget and Control Board, which administers the state health plan.

The compromise will not be part of the $6.7 billion general fund budget that Senators approved Thursday. Instead, a budget rule would require the state health plan to determine how much, if any, premiums paid by state workers would have to increase in order to satisfy the proposal. Then, lawmakers would have to pass a law establishing the new guidelines. The health plan’s report is due to legislators by Nov. 15.

Video shows SC union leader striking Haley piñata

Wed, 23 May 2012 12:48 EDT

A YouTube video showing the retiring president of the South Carolina AFL-CIO hitting a piñata of Gov. Nikki Haley's face prompted the national union Tuesday to distance itself from what it called an "inappropriate joke."

The video, filmed Saturday, features Donna Dewitt striking the piñata of Haley's face with a bat. Click here to watch a pro-Haley presentation of the video, or here for a non-embeddable, anti-Haley version.

The image of the Republican governor was surrounded with "hair" of purple and black streamers and a red crown, above her quote that, "Unions are not necessary, wanted or needed in South Carolina."

People can be heard in the background yelling, "Whack her! ... Hit her again!"

The video circulated widely Tuesday in social media. The 40-year-old first-term governor even encouraged her Facebook followers to check it out.

Youth-suicide prevention bill signed into law

Tue, 22 May 2012 14:12 EDT

Gov. Nikki Haley has signed into law a bill requiring middle and high school teachers to receive suicide-prevention training.

Beginning with the 2013-2014 school year, the State Department of Education will require two hours of training in youth suicide awareness and prevention that would count toward the 120 credits that teachers need to renew their credentials every five years.

Gina Smith

House expected to take up vetoes June 19

Tue, 22 May 2012 11:57 EDT

House Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, predicts House members will return June 19 to take up Gov. Nikki Haley’s vetoes.

That date is contingent on the Senate finishing up its work on the budget either Tuesday or Wednesday, Harrell said.

The General Assembly is scheduled to end its regular session June 7.

-- Gina Smith

Haley: Grand Strand means business opportunities

Tue, 22 May 2012 09:17 EDT

Gov. Nikki Haley says while the Grand Strand is great for tourism, it also provides business opportunities for investors.

Haley made the comments Monday during a business conference with Canadian business leaders in Myrtle Beach.

Haley said the conference highlights Myrtle Beach as a place for businesses to invest and expand.

The annual conference draws business representatives from six Southeastern states and seven Canadian provinces.

Haley says South Carolina is open for business and has a trained workforce. She says the state is building relationships with business and, even though the dollar is weak, businesses are looking to invest.

GOP won’t sue to get Shealy on ballot

Mon, 21 May 2012 23:10 EDT

The first act of the political theater in Katrina Shealy’s rematch against state Sen. Jake Knotts appears to be ending.

Less than a week after agreeing to certify her candidacy in the wake of an emotional speech by Gov. Nikki Haley, S.C. Republican Party chairman Chad Connelly said Monday the party will not launch a court fight to get Shealy on the GOP primary ballot in Lexington County.

“We have to raise money to beat (Democratic President Barack) Obama,” Connelly said. “It doesn’t make sense to spend money to run up against a stone wall.”

However, the party would file a brief supporting a lawsuit by Shealy if she files one, Connelly said. Shealy’s campaign said in a statement that it “cannot discuss any potential lawsuits at this time.”

Shealy has said she would run as a petition candidate in the November general election if she is not on the June 12 primary ballot.

SC GOP unlikely to fight to get Shealy on ballot

Mon, 21 May 2012 13:35 EDT

Less than a week after agreeing to certify her candidacy, the S.C. GOP is unlikely to start a court fight to get Katrina Shealy on the primary ballot, the party’s chief said today.

Shealy will have to decide whether to sue on her own for the right to face state Sen. Jake Knotts of Lexington County on June 12, S.C. Republican party chairman Chad Connelly said.

“We have to raise money to beat Obama,” Connelly said. “It doesn’t make sense to spend money to run up against a stone wall.”

The S.C. GOP executive committee voted unanimously last week to certify Shealy for the primary after she was removed from the ballot in the wake of a Supreme Court decision.

The court banned candidates who did not submit paper copies of their statements of economic interest when they filed for office.

House ethics panel wants documents from Haley

Sat, 19 May 2012 00:03 EDT

A S.C. House of Representatives ethics panel wants W-2s and other employment documents from Gov. Nikki Haley to prove she was working for a hospital’s charitable foundation, not the hospital itself, and support her defense that she broke no state ethics laws.

At issue is whether Haley, while a state representative from Lexington, illegally worked as a lobbyist for Lexington Medical Center, as it sought legislative approval to build an open-heart surgery center, and exploited her status as a lawmaker to land donations from lobbyists and businesses for the hospital.

Based on the documents Haley turns over, the House Ethics Committee could decide to close the case against Haley or move it to the full House of Representatives for possible further action.

Earlier this month, the House Ethics Committee reviewed the complaint against Haley and decided there was “probable cause” that an ethics violation occurred. But the panel then immediately ruled Haley had broken no laws and no further review was needed.

But some lawmakers, including state Rep. James Smith, D-Richland, were not satisfied with the committee’s work. They contend state law requires the committee to conduct a thorough investigation – not a superficial review – once probable cause of a violation is established.

Knotts challenger off ballot again

Fri, 18 May 2012 01:05 EDT

Without a legal fight, Katrina Shealy’s name will not appear on the June 12 Republican primary ballot against state Sen. Jake Knotts of Lexington, a top S.C. elections official said Thursday.

“If some want to get on the ballot now, the court is going to have to order us do that,” S.C. State Election Commission executive director Marci Andino said. “Absentee voting has begun, and counties have sent the ballots to printers.”

Andino said the Election Commission is adhering to the May 4 deadline set by a state Supreme Court ruling for determining which candidates submitted written statements of economic interest when they filed for office. More than 180 candidates statewide, including Shealy, were ruled ineligible.

The state GOP executive committee unanimously certified Shealy at a protest hearing on Wednesday – agreeing with her testimony that she brought the economic-interest form with her when she filed for the state Senate in March but was not asked to submit it.

The committee’s decision came after a speech by Republican Gov. Nikki Haley, a Shealy ally, about how the party needed to change South Carolina’s political culture. Haley did not directly ask members to put Shealy back on the ballot.

Senate Democratic official reprimanded for Haley tweets

Fri, 18 May 2012 01:16 EDT

Phil Bailey, the S.C. Senate Democratic Caucus political director, was reprimanded and told to take down his Twitter feed after calling Gov. Nikki Haley a "Sikh Jesus" in tweets, a Senate leader said.

Bailey's tweet on Wednesday came after Haley spoke to the S.C. GOP executive committee before the group voted to certify Katrina Shealy to run in the Republican primary against Sen. Jake Knotts of Lexington. Shealy was among more than 180 candidates punted from the ballot after the state Supreme Court ruled office seekers needed to file a paper copy of their statement of economic interest.

Bailey tweeted: "@nikkihaley is the Sikh Jesus. She can resurrect an unlawful campaign from the dead by simply appearing at a @SCGOP hearing," according to a report from BuzzFeed. He used the term "Sikh Jesus" in another tweet.

Haley was raised a Sikh but converted to Christianity.

Bailey, who was working with senators Thursday, declined comment, saying he had to go to a meeting.

Senate gives preliminary OK to changes in election rules

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:46 EDT

In an attempt to head off future problems like that this month that led to the disqualification of more than 180 candidates for state and local offices, the state Senate Wednesday gave preliminary approval to changing the rules governing election filings.

Meanwhile, the state Attorney General's office issued an opinion Wednesday that said the ousted candidates can run as a petition candidates in the general election.

Under the legislation, candidates would file with their county election commissions rather than county parties. Before they are certified, candidates also would have to prove they filed a current statement of economic interest, which reveals any potential business conflicts, with state elections officials.

Earlier this month, the state Supreme Court ruled that candidates who did not submit hard copies of their statements of economic interest by the March 30 filing deadline could not appear on the June 12 primary ballot. The ruling did not apply to incumbents.

Some of the 180-plus challengers filed the statements only online at the direction of their county parties. Most did not file the statements at all by the deadline.

Lawmaker: Re-examine Haley ethics

Wed, 16 May 2012 11:07 EDT

A Columbia lawmaker wants a legislative committee to take a second look into whether Gov. Nikki Haley illegally lobbied and broke other ethics laws while she was a Lexington state representative.

State Rep. James Smith, D-Richland, filed a resolution Tuesday asking the House Ethics Committee to look again into Haley’s activities while she was a House member, working for a hospital foundation and consulting for an engineering firm.

Smith said his resolution is not about targeting Haley, a Republican, but about restoring public confidence in the way lawmakers’ activities are investigated. “I would think the governor would feel better in her vindication after a full investigation.”

But Haley, cleared by the committee of ethics charges earlier this month, said Smith’s proposal is just more political foolishness.

“This is wasting taxpayers’ dollars,” Haley said. “This is wasting my time.”

Judges dismiss effort to delay June primaries

Tue, 15 May 2012 00:54 EDT

A three-judge panel Monday removed a potential barrier to holding the state’s June political primaries, throwing out a federal lawsuit that sought to delay that vote, contending overseas military personnel do not have enough time to vote in the elections.

The suit was filed after a state Supreme Court decision two weeks ago ousted more than 180 candidates from the June 12 primary for failing to properly file statements about potential business conflicts.

The federal panel ruled the plaintiff in the case, Upstate Senate candidate Amanda Somers, could not bring the lawsuit over military voting since her rights were not in jeopardy.

Federal law requires that military voters who are overseas have 45 days before an election to receive and return absentee ballots, said Columbia attorney Todd Kincannon, who filed the suit on Somers’ behalf.

However, candidates for state and local offices were not certified for the June primaries until after that 45-day window because of the Supreme Court challenge.

GOP shoots down Shealy’s bid to remove Knotts from ballot

Tue, 15 May 2012 07:22 EDT

Add another chapter to the feud between state Sen. Jake Knotts and Katrina Shealy: dueling.

First, a state Supreme Court ruling resulted in Shealy being removed from the June 12 Republican primary ballot. That ruling came after a paid campaign worker for Knotts filed a lawsuit alleging Shealy and others did not file their paperwork correctly. Then, last week, Knotts used legislative maneuvers to kill a Senate bill that would have allowed Shealy back on the ballot.

On Monday, Shealy asked the S.C. Republican Party’s executive committee to remove Knotts from the ballot because “he has previously issued a duel challenge to former S.C. GOP First Vice Chairman Patrick Haddon.”

That’s “duel” as in, stand back to back, walk 10 paces, turn and shoot.

Shealy’s attempt is rooted in the state Constitution, which says “any person who shall fight a duel or send or accept a challenge for that purpose, or be an aider or abettor in fighting a duel, shall be deprived of holding any office of honor or trust in this State.”

S.C. Politics

Mon, 14 May 2012 23:38 EDT

Haley signs charter school bill

S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley signed into law Monday a bill expanding charter schools, calling it a big first step in improving education by expanding options for parents who don’t want to send their children to traditional public schools.

The new law allows boys-only and girls-only charter schools, and requires traditional schools to open their doors to students who want to take part in extracurricular activities not offered by their charter school. It also allows universities to sponsor charter schools.

“Charter schools are not a magic bullet, but they are a tremendous step in the way to providing a personalized and customized education for every student,” state Education Superintendent Mick Zais said.

South Carolina has 17,000 students in 47 charter schools, public schools subject to fewer regulations than traditional schools and overseen by a board of parents, teachers and community members, rather than a school district board.

Democrats: The party throws a party

Fri, 11 May 2012 07:55 EDT

The guest list for George Clooney’s fundraiser for President Barack Obama Thursday night included Robert Downey Jr., Tobey Maguire — and Dick Harpootlian.

The chairman of the S.C. Democratic Party was in Los Angeles for an ultra-exclusive fundraiser at Clooney’s house that was expected to bring in upward of $15 million for Obama’s re-election campaign.

“I don’t know where the butler’s pantry is in (Clooney’s) house, but I have a sneaking suspicion I’ll be back there with the D-listers,” Harpootlian said.

It was a quick trip for Harpootlian, who is scheduled to fly back to South Carolina today for the state party’s annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner at Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick is scheduled to be guest speaker.

Afterward, Democrats will party with U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., at his “World Famous Fish Fry” at Carolina Field House, 941 South Stadium Road. The event is free and open to the public.

Senate kills bill to reinstate 180 ousted primary candidates

Wed, 09 May 2012 19:35 EDT

When they go to the polls June 12, voters will likely not see the names of 180 candidates ousted from the S.C. primary ballot because of a state Supreme Court ruling.

The state Senate rejected a proposal Wednesday that would have reinstated the candidates if they filed statements of economic interest by April 15. That would have restored almost all the ousted candidates, state Sen. Larry Martin, R-Pickens, said.

But some senators objected to the extension of the March 30 state mandated deadline. They also believed that by not changing the deadline the state would avoid a federal review over changing an election law that could delay the primary.

Just about 60 candidates would have been able to appear on ballot with the March 30 deadline, state Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg, said.

A Supreme Court ruling last week threw off candidates from the primary ballot who failed to submit written statements of economic interest.

USC buys 2 ETV buildings

Wed, 09 May 2012 17:56 EDT

The University of South Carolina has purchased two buildings and more than six acres near Williams-Brice Stadium from South Carolina ETV for $5.275 million.

The college will own ETV’s administration building next to the stadium and a site on the other side of Key Road behind ETV’s production facility that included a childcare center.

USC will use the administration building to house institutes on families in society and public service and policy research as well as information technology operations, said Rick Kelly, a consultant working with the school. The building is the former home of The State newspaper.

The childcare center will be used to temporarily house university offices that need to move during renovations on campus, he said.

The transition in occupancy will take six months. USC not take control of parking at the sites on football gamedays until 2013.

$292 million added to state budget

Wed, 09 May 2012 01:26 EDT

State economists added an extra $292 million to the state budget Tuesday, the result of South Carolina adding 26,000 jobs over the last 12 months.

More people working means more people are paying state income taxes. In October, when state economists released their first revenue forecast, South Carolina had a 10.5 percent unemployment rate.

Six months later, the unemployment rate was 8.9 percent – the first time South Carolina has had fewer than 200,000 people on unemployment rolls in more than three years, according to Robert Martin, a state economist. “That’s a very positive sign.”

State income tax refunds also were down $93 million, which means more money for the state.

The state Board of Economic Advisors unanimously approved adding the money to the state budget Tuesday.

Ground gained to get 180 candidates back on primary ballot

Tue, 08 May 2012 15:14 EDT

The Senate could vote as early as Wednesday to allow 180 disqualified candidates back on the June primary ballot.

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a measure today that would allow any candidate who attempted to file an statement of economic interest by April 20 back on the ballot. The deadline was March 30. The state Supreme Court booted candidates last week who failed to file a hard copy of the statement.

The Senate put the new measure on the fast track by amending it to already approved House bill. The move also overrode objections to changing the law from state Sens. Jake Knotts and Robert Ford that could have stalled efforts to reinstate the challengers in state and local races.

Knotts’ decision led to a brief shouting match after the meeting with Roxanne Wilson, the wife of U.S. Rep, Joe Wilson and sister of Suzanne Moore, a candidate for Lexington County clerk of court who was ousted off the ballot.

“I’m telling you this is absolutely wrong,” Wilson told Knotts. “How could you do this to the people of Lexington County?”

19 local candidates off ballot after court ruling

Fri, 04 May 2012 17:07 EDT

Nineteen local Democrat and Republican candidates – 13 in Lexington County and six in Richland County – were removed Friday from the June 12 primary election ballot.

The candidates were taken off after party leaders determined they did not file statements of economic interests properly.

The decision comes after the South Carolina Supreme Court ordered some candidates deleted from the ballot for failure to file the paperwork.

Overall, 88 Republican and 95 Democratic candidates statewide are off the ballot, while 436 GOP and 353 Demcratic candidates remain.

Lists from the S.C. State Election Commission of candidates who properly filed for office by noon, May 4th:

Senate panel: End TERI plan by 2018

Fri, 04 May 2012 01:16 EDT

View the full proposal at the bottom of the page

Current state employees would likely work longer – but get to keep more of their retirement benefits – under a plan a Senate panel approved Thursday.

The problem is the state’s retirement fund, which is short $14 billion – a deficit that taxpayers would have to make up unless lawmakers can agree on a way to change the system.

House lawmakers already have approved a plan that would fix the system by paying state workers less once they retire. The Senate plan, approved Thursday, does something different: It encourages state employees to work longer before they retire.

“We don’t want people to retire,” said state Sen. Greg Ryberg, R-Aiken, one of the authors of the plan. “They are not forced to retire, they are not forced to TERI. They can stay here forever.”

Up to 100 S.C. candidates ordered off June ballots

Thu, 03 May 2012 00:37 EDT

The state Supreme Court Wednesday ordered S.C. political parties to remove up to 100 candidates from their June 12 primary ballots, sending candidates and voters into a tailspin in an election year already fraught with confusion.

Any candidate who did not file a statement of economic interest — listing income, property and other financial information — at the same time they officially filed for office must be removed from the ballot, the court ruled in a unanimous decision. The ruling does not affect incumbents seeking re-election or officeholders seeking another office because they already had economic-interest statements on file.

The deadline to file to run was March 30.

The ruling means that some state senators who were expecting tough primary fights, including Jake Knotts, R-Lexington, and Larry Martin, R-Pickens, suddenly find themselves unopposed in June’s GOP primary.

It also means some would-be candidates — including Kerry Wood, who says he filed for office at 11:52 a.m. and filed his economic interest statement minutes later, at 12:30 p.m. March 30 — are off the ballot, leaving incumbents without an opponent in the November general election. Wood, a Republican, was the lone challenger to state Sen. Glenn Reese, D-Spartanburg.

Haley cleared of illegal lobbying

Thu, 03 May 2012 00:37 EDT

A House panel cleared Gov. Nikki Haley Wednesday of claims she illegally lobbied and broke other ethics laws while a state representative.

The six-member House Ethics Committee had been meeting behind closed doors for more than a month, looking into a complaint alleging Haley lobbied for Lexington Medical Center, which was seeking state approval to build a heart center. The complaint also alleged Haley broke other ethics laws while consulting for Wilbur Smith Associates, a Midlands engineering firm that has received state contracts.

The committee agreed there was probable cause that a violation occurred, opening its hearing to the public under a new House rule adopted Tuesday. It then dismissed the allegations minutes later in a 5-1 vote, saying no additional investigation was warranted.

“We found no evidence that she lobbied or broke any laws,” said state Rep. Roland Smith, R-Aiken, chairman of the committee.

Committee members said their inquiry determined state law is vague on what constitutes illegal lobbying vs. legal consulting, leaving room for interpretation on what is appropriate activity by lawmakers. They instructed staffers to begin working on a bill to clarify the law.

Bill to oust S.C. State trustees on hold

Wed, 02 May 2012 16:29 EDT

A measure to replace the entire S.C. State Board of Trustees by July 1 was temporarily on hold by a Senate subcommittee Wednesday.

Sen. Darrell Jackson, D-Richland, said he was concerned about the precedent set in ousting an entire board -- something that did not happen during previous scandals at other public colleges.

“We need to find a better fix,” Jackson said during a Senate Higher Education subcommittee hearing.

Sen. Ralph Anderson, D-Greenville, said two or three board unnamed members are causing the problems.

The House passed a bill last week that would replace the school’s 13-member board with a temporary seven-person board that would remain until new members were elected in 2014.

House amendment would give governor power over 90 percent of state’s administrative duties

Wed, 02 May 2012 11:23 EDT

Gov. Nikki Haley would control 90 percent of state government’s administrative duties under an amendment House Republicans will push Wednesday that would eliminate the Budget and Control Board and create a new Department of Administration.

The new department, which would be run by an executive director appointed by Haley, would control things like human resources, information technology and general services.

It would not, however, control the state’s bonding authority, annual retirement assumptions and employee health insurance plan benefits. Those functions would be overseen by a seven member State Contracts & Accountability Authority made up of the governor, lieutenant governor, comptroller general, state treasurer, attorney general and appointments by the House speaker and president pro tempore of the Senate.

Meanwhile, the state’s revenue projections would continue to be set by a three-member Board of Economic Advisors, which would be independent.

“This isn’t an amendment to send back to the Senate to start a negotiation,” House Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, said. “We believe this would be a very good government restructuring and create an excellent system of government to operate the executive branch and operate a department of administration.”

Conservation Bank clears Senate hurdle

Wed, 02 May 2012 07:42 EDT

A senator whose opposition had placed the future of the South Carolina Conservation Bank in jeopardy has removed his objection to a bill allowing the land protection agency to continue.

After Sen. Lee Bright, R-Spartanburg, dropped his opposition, the state Senate gave the legislation final approval Tuesday. The House already has passed the bill, meaning only minor negotiations are left between the two chambers before the legislation goes to Gov. Nikki Haley for consideration.

The bill extends the life of the Conservation Bank until 2018. By law, it was scheduled to shut down in 2013 unless the General Assembly agreed to keep it open.

Bright had questioned whether the government should operate a land-protection agency in a state which he said has plenty of open land. But conservation lobbyists talked with Bright about his concerns, and he removed his opposition.

“We are as pleased as we possibly can be,’’ said Cary Chamblee, a lobbyist for the SC Wildlife Federation and the state Sierra Club. “This is a strong move for conservation. It just took a while to work its way through the process.’’

Supreme Court considering fate of primary candidates

Tue, 01 May 2012 14:45 EDT

The state's highest court is mulling whether the names of more than 100 candidates should be left off of the June primary ballot.

A lawsuit, being considered by the State Supreme Court, claims candidates who failed to file a financial form should be excluded from the ballot.

The South Carolina Ethics Commission has already dealt with the issue, giving candidates until Friday to get the form in before penalties accrue. Called a statement of economic interests form, it lists candidates' salaries, loans and other financial information.

State Senate and state House candidates in 32 counties and local candidates in 26 counties could be affected by the ruling.

The lawsuit, filed by two Lexington County residents, claims state law does not allow for an extension.