Editorials from across South Carolina: ethics reforms, a Christmas silver lining, a smart gift

Ethics reforms

(Rep. Jim) Merrill hasn’t responded to the charges, but his lawyers contend that Mr. Merrill’s activities are legal. If indeed that is the case, it should spur additional ethics reform.

SCOPPE: Some unethical actions are illegal in SC; lots aren’t

For example, the indictment says Mr. Merrill’s advertising, direct mail and public relations business, Geechie Communications, received $35,000 from InfiLaw and that he tried to use his influence on behalf of the company’s proposed purchase of the Charleston School of Law. He was chairing a House higher education budget panel at the time in 2014.

The indictment further contends that in the years from 2008 to 2012, his business received $391,175 from the S.C. Association of Realtors and that he sponsored two association-supported property tax bills during that period.

And from 2012 to 2016, Geechie is alleged to have received $283,700 from the Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau while Mr. Merrill chaired a budget panel overseeing state tourism funding. The indictment contends it was “laundered” because half of it was first sent through his brother’s business.…

This week’s indictment underscores the need for more reform. The Legislature should be prepared to do what is needed to ensure that government is honorable and that the public doesn’t lose faith in its elected representatives.

Silver lining, Christmas style

Stealing is never condoned, but when someone decides to take what doesn’t belong to them, and at Christmas no less, that is like rubbing a little salt in the wound.

This is what happened when someone made off with a storage trailer containing nativity scene props belonging to Berlin Baptist Church in Wagener.

After a trailer full of nativity scene props was stolen from the Wagener-area church last month, church members pulled together to ensure they have everything they need to put on their annual live nativity scene production this holiday season.…

Pastor George Koon said the situation started out bad, yet turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

“This is what Christmas is all about. People who are not even church members showed up to help us out and be a part of our production. We didn’t just replace things, but improved them. Our live nativity scene is now going to be bigger and better than it would’ve been otherwise.”

Even the Aiken Standard proved to be inadvertent benefactors simply by running the story and getting the word out in our paper.

“The response we have gotten from all the press has been amazing,” Poole said. “We’ve had so many people coming in to participate in the event.”

A smart gift

(A) popular suggestion by financial planners is to give young children a contribution to a college savings plan. 529 college savings plans grow tax-free, and withdrawals for educational expenses are also untaxed. The giver may get a tax deduction as well.

South Carolinians have a particularly good option for making such a gift.

The state’s Future Scholar Advisor 529 Plan ranked in the top 10 for one-, three-, five- and 10-year investment performance in a recently released nationwide analysis by Savingforcollege.com that identifies the best performing adviser-sold 529 plans.…

Future Scholar is now offering an online contribution service called eGift, a new way to invite family and friends to give to your child’s 529 account online.

▪ eGift is an easy, secure way to ask others for contributions.

▪ Step-by-step guidelines on how to use the eGift platform to request contributions can be found at Futurescholar.com/gift/egift.

Saving for college is important for students at any level, but dedicating funds when children are still years away from completing high school allows every dollar set aside for college to grow into more dollars. The money represents insurance for a child’s college education that, hopefully, leaves the graduate without strangling debt that is plaguing so many today.

As (S.C. Treasurer Curtis) Loftis has said, “One of the most important ways we can help our children achieve success is to clear a path toward a debt-free higher education.”