SC

Haley Taps NYC Attorney For Workforce Agency

S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley has tapped a New York City attorney and former labor advisor to George W. Bush as her pick to lead the scandal-scarred S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (SCDEW), sources at the agency tell FITS. Haley has selected Cheryl Stanton – an attorney with the New…

S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley has tapped a New York City attorney and former labor advisor to George W. Bush as her pick to lead the scandal-scarred S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (SCDEW), sources at the agency tell FITS.

Haley has selected Cheryl Stanton – an attorney with the New York branch of the Ogletree Deakins law firm – to lead the agency, pending confirmation by the State Senate.

Stanton served for more than two years as the Bush administration’s top legal liaison to the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL). She’s also a former clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. After her stint at the White House, she returned to Ogletree – where she’s worked in employment law for the last four years.

Stanton will have her work cut out for her. Last year SCDEW doled out $54.5 million in “improper claims” according to USDOL data. In fact over the last three years the agency has an improper payment rate of 14.7 percent – one of the highest in the nation.

SCDEW was also the subject of a scathing audit last year by the S.C. Legislative Audit Council (SCLAC), which concluded that the agency owed $782 million to the federal government from its unemployment insurance fund. The SCLAC report also discovered that South Carolinians who “took advantage” of the agency’s reemployment services needed an average of 26.5 weeks to get off of the public dole. Those who didn’t use SCDEW took only 22.3 weeks.

Who’s picking up the tab for this incompetence? South Carolina businesses and taxpayers.

Abraham Turner – Haley’s first choice to lead SCDEW – resigned his post last month in disgrace, but in typical South Carolina fashion he quickly landed on his feet (at the taxpayers’ expense, of course).

Let’s hope Haley’s second pick for this post does better than her first … although honestly, it’s hard to imagine anyone doing worse.

UPDATE: Here’s Stanton’s official bio from Ogletree Deakins … 

UPDATE II: Local mainstream media are now confirming our report.

***

Pic: Travis Bell Photography

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65 comments

Smirks May 2, 2013 at 1:46 pm

I guess lawyers shouldn’t be governor, but they can be agency heads. lol…

Wonder what she got out of this appointment?

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Smirks May 2, 2013 at 1:46 pm

I guess lawyers shouldn’t be governor, but they can be agency heads. lol…

Wonder what she got out of this appointment?

Reply
GreenvilleLwyr May 2, 2013 at 1:51 pm

When you say Haley “taps” someone, exactly how far can we run with that…

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GreenvilleLwyr May 2, 2013 at 1:51 pm

When you say Haley “taps” someone, exactly how far can we run with that…

Reply
shifty henry May 2, 2013 at 2:50 pm

This sounds great on the surface if she has the background and experience needed to resolve the agencies problems (if she is allowed to instead of becoming mired into the murky swamp of SC politics). It would make Nikki look good, except that SC may have to repay millions of $$$.

The use of the word “tap”, however, has always been interesting to me. In grade school I was often “tapped” on my head by a ruler, and the Navy “tapped” me to disappear into Naval Intelligence, to provide a couple of examples.

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Soft Sigh from Hell May 2, 2013 at 7:45 pm

Google “tap the admiral.”

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shifty henry May 2, 2013 at 10:25 pm

weird — first time hearing that phrase

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shifty henry May 2, 2013 at 2:50 pm

This sounds great on the surface if she has the background and experience needed to resolve the agencies problems (if she is allowed to instead of becoming mired into the murky swamp of SC politics). It would make Nikki look good, except that SC may have to repay millions of $$$.

The use of the word “tap”, however, has always been interesting to me. In grade school I was often “tapped” on my head by a ruler, and the Navy “tapped” me to disappear into Naval Intelligence, to provide a couple of examples.

Reply
Soft Sigh from Hell May 2, 2013 at 7:45 pm

Google “tap the admiral.”

Reply
shifty henry May 2, 2013 at 10:25 pm

weird — first time hearing that phrase

Reply
katlaurenscounty May 2, 2013 at 3:41 pm

As usual, Haley is showing she’s as fit to be governor as a 12 year old. Yeah, put a lawyer in charge of an agency that is supposed to deliver real quantifiable results. This chick probably doesn’t even know what operations management is, much less how to implement robust business processes. Shit this gal wouldn’t even know how to hire somebody who does. Oh, just like Haley hiring a lawyer who has zippo experience in anything but what’s called a staff position (as opposed to line) to run an agency. Running an agency (well, to accomplish anything other than spend money on open loop malfunctioning business processes) requires line experience and an understanding that a real business process can’t deliver on vague promises that aren’t quantified. Nor can it deliver what isn’t measured. The best we can expect from this appointment is more of what lawyers do best – unquantifiable doubletalk of vague unspecified generalities to hide incompetent failure to meet specific goals.

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nitrat May 2, 2013 at 4:02 pm

What is she going to attack Vincent Shaheen about next year?
At least 2/3 of her appointees have been attorneys.

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katlaurenscounty May 2, 2013 at 4:05 pm

Not understanding. Am I the ‘she’ who’s going to attack Sheheen?

Reply
nitrat May 2, 2013 at 5:46 pm

Her main campaign theme against Sheheen that he was a lawyer and actually sometimes represented government or took cases against it.
Did you miss that?

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katlaurenscounty May 2, 2013 at 6:03 pm

Yup. Like buzzing of flies, I don’t look past the annoying zzzzzz of politician marketing gobbledygook attacks on each other. They are as empty as their promises. I see your point.

shifty henry May 2, 2013 at 4:05 pm

….. and females (?)

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shifty henry May 2, 2013 at 4:26 pm

You’ve presented some interesting thoughts.

Reply
katlaurenscounty May 2, 2013 at 4:37 pm

You might be one of the few who understand, given the interesting experiences you posted. Operations management. Robust business process design. We dont’ do that heah in south cackalacky. We jus flail around our marketing promises. And good little citizens follow!! God forbid we should do the work to learn what performance review means and then actually do it!!!

Reply
shifty henry May 3, 2013 at 9:47 am

sort of like this…………..

Reply
katlaurenscounty May 3, 2013 at 9:51 am

H!!!!!!!

katlaurenscounty May 2, 2013 at 3:41 pm

As usual, Haley is showing she’s as fit to be governor as a 12 year old. Yeah, put a lawyer in charge of an agency that is supposed to deliver real quantifiable results. This chick probably doesn’t even know what operations management is, much less how to implement robust business processes. Shit this gal wouldn’t even know how to hire somebody who does. Oh, just like Haley hiring a lawyer who has zippo experience in anything but what’s called a staff position (as opposed to line) to run an agency. Running an agency (well, to accomplish anything other than spend money on open loop malfunctioning business processes) requires line experience and an understanding that a real business process can’t deliver on vague promises that aren’t quantified. Nor can it deliver what isn’t measured. The best we can expect from this appointment is more of what lawyers do best – unquantifiable doubletalk of vague unspecified generalities to hide incompetent failure to meet specific goals.

Reply
nitrat May 2, 2013 at 4:02 pm

What is she going to attack Vincent Shaheen about next year?
At least 2/3 of her appointees have been attorneys.

Reply
katlaurenscounty May 2, 2013 at 4:05 pm

Not understanding. Am I the ‘she’ who’s going to attack Sheheen?…Uhhhh, i think i get it now. Sheheen’s an attorney so Haley can’t go after him for lack of suitability for the job…

Reply
nitrat May 2, 2013 at 5:46 pm

Her main campaign theme against Sheheen that he was a lawyer and actually sometimes represented government or took cases against it.
Did you miss that?

Reply
katlaurenscounty May 2, 2013 at 6:03 pm

Yup. Like buzzing of flies, I don’t look past the annoying zzzzzz of politician marketing gobbledygook attacks on each other. They are as empty as their promises. I see your point.

shifty henry May 2, 2013 at 4:05 pm

….. and females (?)

Reply
shifty henry May 2, 2013 at 4:26 pm

You’ve presented some interesting thoughts.

Reply
katlaurenscounty May 2, 2013 at 4:37 pm

You might be one of the few who understand, given the interesting experiences you posted. Operations management. Robust business process design. We dont’ do that heah in south cackalacky. We jus flail around our marketing promises. And good little citizens must follow!! God forbid we should do the work to learn what performance review means and then actually do it!!!

Reply
shifty henry May 3, 2013 at 9:47 am

sort of like this…………..

Reply
katlaurenscounty May 3, 2013 at 9:51 am

H!!!!!!!

fred May 2, 2013 at 4:10 pm

Clerked for Alito?? Well that says volumes!

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fred May 2, 2013 at 4:10 pm

Clerked for Alito?? Well that says volumes!

Reply
lowcorider May 2, 2013 at 4:11 pm

Palin needs a job.

Reply
Lowcorider May 2, 2013 at 4:11 pm

Palin needs a job.

Reply
jimlewisowb May 2, 2013 at 4:24 pm

Top caliber lawyer, top caliber resume, top caliber law firm and this Lady is leaving New York to come to the State where New York sends its garbage

Naw, there is something afoot in the Gypsy Queen’s village and it smells

If I were a betting person, I would wager that this Lady is coming in to grease the rails for privatization of DEW. Of course since her old law firm has expertise in this area they would be a natural for a sole source no bid contract

The Governor and her fellow cockroaches love contractual services. Big contracts, big money for them and their friends and a built in excuse when the experiment goes South or in our case goes to Georgia with all our other resources

Yep, do believe if the Gypsy Queen gets re-elected she will privatize every Agency she can to benefit her benefactors and maintain the flow of money

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katlaurenscounty May 2, 2013 at 4:28 pm

Astute speculation.

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shifty henry May 2, 2013 at 5:30 pm

yes – interesting ……………

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Liberal=Science=Equality May 2, 2013 at 8:16 pm

Might be on to something since she’s not doing jack for small businesses…funny, on her web page this week she turned one of her cheerleaders into a Nancy Pelosi supporter due to her lack of defense for women and small businesses…also Mark Sanford’s crap helped as well. Women tend to take offense to misogyny…

Reply
jimlewisowb May 2, 2013 at 4:24 pm

Top caliber lawyer, top caliber resume, top caliber law firm and this Lady is leaving New York to come to the State where New York sends its garbage

Naw, there is something afoot in the Gypsy Queen’s village and it smells

If I were a betting person, I would wager that this Lady is coming in to grease the rails for privatization of DEW. Of course since her old law firm has expertise in this area they would be a natural for a sole source no bid contract

The Governor and her fellow cockroaches love contractual services. Big contracts, big money for them and their friends and a built in excuse when the experiment goes South or in our case goes to Georgia with all our other resources

Yep, do believe if the Gypsy Queen gets re-elected she will privatize every Agency she can to benefit her benefactors and maintain the flow of money

Reply
katlaurenscounty May 2, 2013 at 4:28 pm

Astute speculation.

Reply
shifty henry May 2, 2013 at 5:30 pm

yes – interesting ……………

Reply
Hot Air Balloon May 2, 2013 at 8:16 pm

Might be on to something since she’s not doing jack for small businesses…funny, on her web page this week she turned one of her cheerleaders into a Nancy Pelosi supporter due to her lack of defense for women and small businesses…also Mark Sanford’s crap helped as well. Women tend to take offense to misogyny…

Reply
sillywilly May 2, 2013 at 5:05 pm

Again, someone without any business experience…SCDEW is set for catastrophic failure. The Agency is laying off all field staff and expecting them to reapply for 153 fewer, lower paying jobs and management is suprised that few are applying. This would be funny if it wasn’t a GIANT waste of taxpayer money!

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sillywilly May 2, 2013 at 5:05 pm

Again, someone without any business experience…SCDEW is set for catastrophic failure. The Agency is laying off all field staff and expecting them to reapply for 153 fewer, lower paying jobs and management is suprised that few are applying. This would be funny if it wasn’t a GIANT waste of taxpayer money!

Reply
9" May 2, 2013 at 5:25 pm

there’s just the tiniest dribble of cum, dripping from the edge of her mouth,but she managed to swallow the rest…

Reply
9" May 2, 2013 at 5:25 pm

there’s just the tiniest dribble of cum, dripping from the edge of her mouth,but she managed to swallow the rest…

Reply
Larry May 2, 2013 at 5:34 pm

MAN that’s a horrid picture. PLEASE, governor, wash your face, get a facial, cut your hair, & get a boob job. And good luck with the new appointment.

Reply
Larry May 2, 2013 at 5:34 pm

MAN that’s a horrid picture. PLEASE, governor, wash your face, get a facial, cut your hair, & get a boob job. And good luck with the new appointment.

Reply
This just in . . . May 2, 2013 at 5:47 pm

Pope Francis Tells Pope Benedict to Stop Rolling His Eyes in Meetings

VATICAN CITY (The Borowitz Report) — Pope Emeritus Benedict’s return to the Vatican began on a sour note today as the current Pope, Francis, reprimanded him for rolling his eyes sarcastically during meetings, observers said.

The trouble started when the former Pope showed up at a meeting Francis scheduled to discuss plans for his Christmas mass, a meeting that “Benedict wasn’t even invited to,” a Vatican source said.

“It was awkward,” the source said. “Francis started talking about making an appeal to the world’s poor, and then Benedict started sighing in this really loud and obnoxious way.”

After about ten minutes of suffering through Benedict’s sighing and eye-rolling, Francis “totally called him out on it,” the source said, adding, “What Benedict was doing was totally disrespectful. Plus, he is supposed to be retired, so he shouldn’t have been wearing his Pope costume.”

Reached at his apartment at the Vatican, Benedict downplayed the incident, saying he “was just trying to be helpful.”

“Look, Francis is insecure — I get that,” he said. “He’s new at being Pope and it’s not surprising that he’s making so many mistakes. Once he checks his ego at the door, I think he’ll thank his lucky stars that old Benedict is around to back him up.”

Sources said that Benedict ignited tensions upon his return to Vatican City earlier this week when he posted a sign outside his residence reading “Home of the Original Pope.”

Reply
This just in . . . May 2, 2013 at 5:47 pm

Pope Francis Tells Pope Benedict to Stop Rolling His Eyes in Meetings

VATICAN CITY (The Borowitz Report) — Pope Emeritus Benedict’s return to the Vatican began on a sour note today as the current Pope, Francis, reprimanded him for rolling his eyes sarcastically during meetings, observers said.

The trouble started when the former Pope showed up at a meeting Francis scheduled to discuss plans for his Christmas mass, a meeting that “Benedict wasn’t even invited to,” a Vatican source said.

“It was awkward,” the source said. “Francis started talking about making an appeal to the world’s poor, and then Benedict started sighing in this really loud and obnoxious way.”

After about ten minutes of suffering through Benedict’s sighing and eye-rolling, Francis “totally called him out on it,” the source said, adding, “What Benedict was doing was totally disrespectful. Plus, he is supposed to be retired, so he shouldn’t have been wearing his Pope costume.”

Reached at his apartment at the Vatican, Benedict downplayed the incident, saying he “was just trying to be helpful.”

“Look, Francis is insecure — I get that,” he said. “He’s new at being Pope and it’s not surprising that he’s making so many mistakes. Once he checks his ego at the door, I think he’ll thank his lucky stars that old Benedict is around to back him up.”

Sources said that Benedict ignited tensions upon his return to Vatican City earlier this week when he posted a sign outside his residence reading “Home of the Original Pope.”

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Chickenoregg May 2, 2013 at 6:27 pm

Not a person in SC that could do this job?? Putting people from out of state in these jobs, Like Keck at DHHS and Kohler at DSS is bad policy. They have no vested interest in the well-being of the state and will leave when Haley goes. Keck has not even moved his family here from Louisiana. You think he cares what happens to us? He’ll never have to live with it. We’re just another notch in his resume. Hired guns loyal only to Haley and not our state.

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Chickenoregg May 2, 2013 at 6:27 pm

Not a person in SC that could do this job?? Putting people from out of state in these jobs, Like Keck at DHHS and Kohler at DSS is bad policy. They have no vested interest in the well-being of the state and will leave when Haley goes. Keck has not even moved his family here from Louisiana. You think he cares what happens to us? He’ll never have to live with it. We’re just another notch in his resume. Hired guns loyal only to Haley and not our state.

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Fleet May 2, 2013 at 9:17 pm

Did her daughter already have a job?

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Right May 2, 2013 at 11:04 pm

+1

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Fleet May 2, 2013 at 9:17 pm

Did her daughter already have a job?

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Right May 2, 2013 at 11:04 pm

+1

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Capt Real World May 2, 2013 at 10:13 pm

The lady has no executive experience, can’t see this backfiring. When will politicos learn that just because someone is friends with one of your cabinet appointees doesn’t make them qualified to run an agency with as many challenges as DEW.

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Capt Real World May 2, 2013 at 10:13 pm

The lady has no executive experience, can’t see this backfiring. When will politicos learn that just because someone is friends with one of your cabinet appointees doesn’t make them qualified to run an agency with as many challenges as DEW.

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Dave May 3, 2013 at 12:58 pm

The weeks it took someone to get back to work using the SCWorks centers (not SCDEW) versus the ones that didn’t use the services is an unfair calculation. Those using the services may be enrolled in continuing education training to become more marketable – which will obviously take longer. Those NOT using the services are theoretically already marketable and should be able to find work faster, so their weeks going back to work would naturally be less.

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Dan May 3, 2013 at 1:40 pm

Dave, you are absolutely correct; unfortunately the majority of this audience either refuses to or is incapable of understanding how the Workforce Investment Act and U.S. DOL’s rules influence the state’s unemployment and reemployment programs. The past Turner leadership was pathetic, inept, and destructive. The last thing a director should do is piss DOL and the legislators off as Turner did. His first mistake was bouncing ideas off a previous director – Roosevelt Halley. Hopefully the next director will build on the current temporary director’s vision.

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Dan May 3, 2013 at 1:40 pm

Dave, you are absolutely correct; unfortunately the majority of this audience either refuses to or is incapable of understanding how the Workforce Investment Act and U.S. DOL’s rules influence the state’s unemployment and reemployment programs. The past Turner leadership was pathetic, inept, and destructive. The last thing a director should do is piss DOL and the legislators off as Turner did. His first mistake was bouncing ideas off a previous director – Roosevelt Halley. Hopefully the next director will build on the current temporary director’s vision.

Reply
Dave May 3, 2013 at 12:58 pm

The weeks it took someone to get back to work using the SCWorks centers (not SCDEW) versus the ones that didn’t use the services is an unfair calculation. Those using the services may be enrolled in continuing education training to become more marketable – which will obviously take longer. Those NOT using the services are theoretically already marketable and should be able to find work faster, so their weeks going back to work would naturally be less.

Reply
Dan May 3, 2013 at 1:40 pm

Dave, you are absolutely correct; unfortunately the majority of this audience either refuses to or is incapable of understanding how the Workforce Investment Act and U.S. DOL’s rules influence the state’s unemployment and reemployment programs. The past Turner leadership was pathetic, inept, and destructive. The last thing a director should do is piss DOL and the legislators off as Turner did. His first mistake was bouncing ideas off a previous director – Roosevelt Halley. Hopefully the next director will build on the current temporary director’s vision.

Reply
That Guy May 6, 2013 at 9:50 am

Word around DEW is that 75% of the staff are getting laid-off and anywhere from 85 to 90% of the SC Works centers in the 12 regions are closing. In my region they are going from 12 centers to 2. Most of the 12 regions will have only one centralized center for folks to get services and will be minimally staffed for folks to be access to WIA, TAA and Wagner-Peyser services. WIA is affected by the lay off too and has cut staff as well. Only the clueless at the top will remain. Burned out mindless tards will be left to run what is left of the whole system.

Reply
That Guy May 6, 2013 at 9:50 am

Word around DEW is that 75% of the staff are getting laid-off and anywhere from 85 to 90% of the SC Works centers in the 12 regions are closing. In my region they are going from 12 centers to 2. Most of the 12 regions will have only one centralized center for folks to get services and will be minimally staffed for folks to be access to WIA, TAA and Wagner-Peyser services. WIA is affected by the lay off too and has cut staff as well. Only the clueless at the top will remain. Burned out mindless tards will be left to run what is left of the whole system.

Reply

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