FORMER GUBERNATORIAL NOMINEE ALSO CALLS FOR “IDENTITY THEFT TAX CREDIT”
S.C. Senator Vincent Sheheen (D-Camden) is asking for an audit of Gov. Nikki Haley’s Department of Revenue (SCDOR) in the wake of the startling revelation that a simple $25,000 expense could have prevented a massive security breach at the agency.
Had Haley’s department required dual password protection of its data – which costs roughly $25,000 to implement (and which is required by the Internal Revenue Service) – it could have stopped an unprecedented security breach that Haley previously insisted the state was powerless to prevent.
Beginning in August of this year, Haley’s agency coughed up 3.8 Social Security numbers, 3.3 million bank account numbers, tax info for more than 650,000 businesses and nearly 400,000 credit and debit card numbers to hackers. Accounts of South Carolina citizens are already being depleted as this data is sold on the black market.
Haley initially claimed that “there wasn’t anything where anyone in state government could have done anything” to stop the breach – adding that “you assume everything is okay.” However she has since acknowledged that the state should have encrypted its data in accordance with industry standards and used tougher verification measures for individuals seeking to access the government’s network.
She’s also scapegoated her former director.
In addition to demanding the audit, Sheheen is proposing legislation that would provide a tax credit to South Carolinians who purchase identity theft protection. In the wake of the breach, Haley negotiated a controversial no-bid contract with Experian to provide credit monitoring to South Carolinians, but no provision has been made to protect them against the theft of their identities.
Sheheen – who was narrowly defeated by Haley in 2010 – is widely expected to run against her again in 2014. In fact at this point, it’s safe to say he would be favored to defeat her in a general election despite the historical Republican bent of the Palmetto State (which last elected a Democrat to the governor’s office in 1998).
SCDOR is the second agency in Haley’s cabinet to be subjected to an audit in as many days, coming on the heels of a request by several Republican lawmakers to audit the S.C. Department of Social Services (SCDSS).
Obviously we will keep our readers posted on what these probes uncover …
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26 comments
Is it a coincidence that Cabinet Agencies with three letters, DOR,DEW,DSS are all at FUBAR Level, Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition.
If I were the Gin and Tonic lady over at DHEC, I would rip my panties off and start sitting in the laps of the Senators who are proposing that DHEC become DEC.
It is obvious even to the Polish Dog Kiosk Operators in Lenin Square that the Health of the citizens of this State is the last damn thing DHEC has ever fucking cared about.
DOR
DEW
DSS
Joe Wilson
. . . . .FUBAR and totally worthless.
We’re gonna need a bigger auditor.
LOL, from JAWS.
Is it true that tax-payer money is being funneled to the Original Six Foundation which oddly has a land line phone number based in Bamberg as their contact number?
Yep. And its also true that the masons are ready to march. JK. I have no idea who the OSF are and frankly don’t give a hoot.
This is not an upstanding caring politician trying to save the little guy. This is another libtard trying to find more ways to spend money I don’t have.
Have a Great Day!! :) There won’t be many left with the Demlicans and Republicrats in charge.
Frank Pytel
I certainly hope that a really good Republican who is honorable, competent (kind of like Caroll Campbell) will defeat Nikki Haley in the primaries. If Nikki Haley wins, and Vincent Sheheen runs against her, I will have no choice but to vote for Vincent Sheheen. Sad, isn’t it?
You will have to go out of state to find that Republican mylnn.
So fucking sad it’s about to make me start drinking.
Cutis Loftis should be the next governor.
I don’t like everything Loftis supports but he has the character that is severely lacking in almost every crevice of this state’s political system.
Vincent is clearly posturing.
There you are! Someone here who actually can forward think. Yes, there will be a primary. Yes, Gov Haley will run on her record. Yes, Harpootlian and Sheheen will be running as Democrats. Therefore, we will have a GOP Governor, question is whom. Two years is a lot of time. The one constant, though, is that the Democrat brand will be soiled beyond repair.
Soiled beyond repair on the national level, yes. On the state and local level in SC, though, most people still don’t understand that there is fundamentally no difference at all between Dems and Repubs. They might as well be the same party. Both tax the shit out of us, both are full of pigs cannibalizing pork at the feeding trough, both are corrupt as hell, and both indulge their wingers but do so with a wink and nod to the establishment – and for the most part do all they can to block them from having real power.
Sheheen is a tool of the SC Chamber of Commerce, as are many SC Repubs. Harpootlian is just a tool, and a loudmouthed one. In truth, he’s just another shill for the same crony capitalists as Sheheen.
/// In truth, he’s just another shill for the same crony capitalists as Sheheen. ///
… and Nikki Haley.
Scapegoating former directors seems to be a trend in the state these days.
Fits, what’s your source for the statement that “Accounts of South Carolina citizens are already being depleted . . .” It wouldn’t be surprising if it’s true, but I haven’t seen that reported anywhere yet.
A week or two ago, a local TV station ran a report on a couple who own a small business who are experiencing that. The hacker is getting money out of their checking account via false utility bills, etc. So, it’s going on.
Anybody received a letter from DOR yet?
nope..prolly waiting on people culled from the 30K who will lose benefits next month to hand deliver them for minimum wage..on a temporary hire status of course
Does the DOR not have an internal audit department?
I believe the person who was over Internal Audit at the DOR is now over something at the Governor’s office.
Perfect set-up for a joke, but I’m gonna let somebody else take this one.
I believe you are referring to OEPP. Yeah I think she may be the first dude’s boss in the Nat. Guard.
Who is their Internal Auditor now?
Opening statement in his next run for Guv.