The arrest of S.C. Rep. Ted Vick (D-Chesterfield) on drunk driving charges – his second driving under the influence (DUI) charge in less than a year – is big news in the Palmetto State. Potentially bigger news, though? The story behind a remark that Vick casually made to the officers who arrested him on the grounds of the S.C. State House last week.
“Mr. Vick was also asked if he would normally drive in his current state, ” the incident report from Vick’s arrest notes.
His response?
“No, I have drivers.”
Hmmmmm …
That’s an interesting comment when you stop and think about it, isn’t it? Like most ethically challenged South Carolina lawmakers, Vick is doing a lot better for himself than the poor saps he represents. But is he wealthy enough to have a team of chauffeurs carting him to and fro every time he gets hammered?
No …
So … what exactly did Vick mean when he said “I have drivers?” To whom was he referring?
According to our sources, Vick was likely referencing the S.C. House Sergeant at Arms’ office – which is responsible for providing security to members of the House when they come to Columbia, S.C. on legislative business. But “security” apparently isn’t the only taxpayer funded service the Sergeant at Arms’ office provides.
The office also runs “a late night taxi service for drunk lawmakers and their mistresses,” one lawmaker explained to FITS, adding that lobbyists and other special interests also routinely get taken along for rides.
Multiple lawmakers confirmed to FITS that the Sergeant at Arms’ office maintains a fleet of government funded vehicles which ferry lawmakers – mostly Democrats like Vick and S.C. Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D-Orangeburg) – to and from various special interest receptions and downtown Columbia, S.C. bars.
“They go wherever the members tell them to go,” another lawmaker said.
The exact number of vehicles assigned to this taxpayer-funded taxi service (or the cost billed to taxpayers for its provision) is not known, but one lawmaker familiar with the operation tells FITS the House fleet consists of “several (Ford) Crown Vics and two (Chevy) Tahoes.” A similar fleet is maintained for use by members of the South Carolina Senate.
Crazy huh?
FITS is preparing freedom of information act (FOIA) requests for both the S.C. House and Senate Sergeants at Arms’ offices in an attempt to determine the extent to which taxpayer funded resources are being used to cart drunk lawmakers around the State Capitol. More importantly, we’re also seeking trip logs and other information to determine which lawmakers are abusing this service.
Stay tuned …
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76 comments
This, if true, is utterly shameful. But is anyone surprised? Let’s hope the info to be FOIAed won’t go the way of the Rose Law Firm’s bills.
This, if true, is utterly shameful. But is anyone surprised? Let’s hope the info to be FOIAed won’t go the way of the Rose Law Firm’s bills.
Wasting tax payers money supporting these security guards at the statehouse. As if they dont have enough security guards with BPS. I would love to know how big their budget is. Glorified mall cops…..nothing more.
Funny King-Tut
I have worked with these guys several times and found them to be true pros. Your anger makes you seem like a mall cop wash-out. I can only imagine the shit those guys have to put up with dealing with those crooks on a day to day basis….
Gonzo….lol your funny! No anger my friend, just calling it like it is.
Wasting tax payers money supporting these security guards at the statehouse. As if they dont have enough security guards with BPS. I would love to know how big their budget is. Glorified mall cops…..nothing more.
Funny King-Tut
I have worked with these guys several times and found them to be true pros. Your anger makes you seem like a mall cop wash-out. I can only imagine the shit those guys have to put up with dealing with those crooks on a day to day basis….
Gonzo….lol your funny! No anger my friend, just calling it like it is.
I’ve met Vick’s drivers….they are college kids whom he began paying after last year’s incidence. and FWIW, who cares if they get a ride here and there…they get paid 10k a year to take abuse from sites like this and folks back home.
Roger,
You are misinformed. The in district expense, the free meals, free medical, glorified retirement (taxpayer subsidized) the graft and contributions, early retirement. I use to work there, they don’t even try to hide it. I’ve actually seen them brag!
Glenn McConnell’s got four guys assigned to him for security. And running errands, I suppose, and driving him around, and fetching his boy friends, etc. Costs the state over $500 thousand a year.
Sheez…
Drivers to pick-up-and-deliver on our dime whores and girlfriends for cheating husbands, and queers for homos like McConnell, plus pizza, fried chicken, drinks, football tickets, movies…
If FITS can get data on that, he’s got a real scoop…
And they are hot. Just sayin’
Is that boyfriends or boy friends, why boys? Artists, expensive boys.
I’ve met Vick’s drivers….they are college kids whom he began paying after last year’s incidence. and FWIW, who cares if they get a ride here and there…they get paid 10k a year to take abuse from sites like this and folks back home.
Roger,
You are misinformed. The in district expense, the free meals, free medical, glorified retirement (taxpayer subsidized) the graft and contributions, early retirement. I use to work there, they don’t even try to hide it. I’ve actually seen them brag!
Glenn McConnell’s got four guys assigned to him for security. And running errands, I suppose, and driving him around, and fetching his boy friends, etc. Costs the state over $500 thousand a year.
Sheez…
Drivers to pick-up-and-deliver on our dime whores and girlfriends for cheating husbands, and queers for homos like McConnell, plus pizza, fried chicken, drinks, football tickets, movies…
If FITS can get data on that, he’s got a real scoop…
And they are hot. Just sayin’
Is that boyfriends or boy friends, why boys? Artists, expensive boys.
this has been going on for years,i started in law enforcement in 1982,it is a perk that no amount of news coverage will change,i spent alot of late nights driving these turds around!
Very interesting. And you were employed by?
this has been going on for years,i started in law enforcement in 1982,it is a perk that no amount of news coverage will change,i spent alot of late nights driving these turds around!
Very interesting. And you were employed by?
Its far better than using the SCHP as they did in the old days. Not to mention the seafood, family members, booze, and girlfriends they ferried up and down the Interstates, and secondary roads like they previously did.
Finally, someone else over 40 years old weighs in.
And tater salad to the beach, cakes to the bereaved, and happy hour served IN the State House.
Its far better than using the SCHP as they did in the old days. Not to mention the seafood, family members, booze, and girlfriends they ferried up and down the Interstates, and secondary roads like they previously did.
Finally, someone else over 40 years old weighs in.
And tater salad to the beach, cakes to the bereaved, and happy hour served IN the State House.
Remember that he asked for the Sergeant at arms on the tape.
Yep.
Interested to see what that FOIA request turns up. If this is true, it’s shameful. Pay for a damn cab yourself.
Remember that he asked for the Sergeant at arms on the tape.
Yep.
Interested to see what that FOIA request turns up. If this is true, it’s shameful. Pay for a damn cab yourself.
Just like Bobby Harrell, Vick has an over inflated narcissistic ego.
God damn them all.
Bobby and the whitney and who else?
Just like Bobby Harrell, Vick has an over inflated narcissistic ego.
God damn them all.
Bobby and the whitney and who else?
Where are Fanny Foxe and Wilbur Mills (late D-AR) when we need them?
Instead of the DC pool. Vick and Honeybee (whomever she may be) are welcome to use the 5 Points Fountain or the 2600 Bull St. DHEC mudhole….
Where are Fanny Foxe and Wilbur Mills (late D-AR) when we need them?
Instead of the DC pool. Vick and Honeybee (whomever she may be) are welcome to use the 5 Points Fountain or the 2600 Bull St. DHEC mudhole….
Vick: Hobson?
Hobson: Yes.
Vick: Do you know what I’m going to do?
Hobson: No, I don’t.
Vick: I’m going to take a bath.
Hobson: I’ll alert the media.
Vick: [rises] Do you want to run my bath for me?
Hobson: That’s what I live for.
[Vick exits]
Hobson: Perhaps you would like me to come in there and wash your dick for you, you little shit.
Washing dick? I’ll help.
Me too.
Maybe FITS should hire Clarence Beeks of Lyndhurst Security to get to the bottom of this sordid mess…
Vick: Hobson?
Hobson: Yes.
Vick: Do you know what I’m going to do?
Hobson: No, I don’t.
Vick: I’m going to take a bath.
Hobson: I’ll alert the media.
Vick: [rises] Do you want to run my bath for me?
Hobson: That’s what I live for.
[Vick exits]
Hobson: Perhaps you would like me to come in there and wash your dick for you, you little shit.
Washing dick? I’ll help.
Me too.
Maybe FITS should hire Clarence Beeks of Lyndhurst Security to get to the bottom of this sordid mess…
I think it would be fitting to have golden thrones for all those elected for transportation around town, like in the days of the Pharaohs or a la Xerxes in the film 300.
They can be carried by a mix of taxpayers and bureaucrats, but let’s make sure the pol groupies and cartons of booze have to walk/be carried behind their thrones…I don’t want to have to carry that too.
they would love it……
I think it would be fitting to have golden thrones for all those elected for transportation around town, like in the days of the Pharaohs or a la Xerxes in the film 300.
They can be carried by a mix of taxpayers and bureaucrats, but let’s make sure the pol groupies and cartons of booze have to walk/be carried behind their thrones…I don’t want to have to carry that too.
they would love it……
This is what I love about Fitsnews! They have the balls to look for and dig, where no other local media outlets would DARE!!!!! Keep digging Sic and let us know what you find. And we wonder why the state budget is frequently so strapped…
Fits is great. I love him, even when I disagree or have contrary sources. He’s an honest and smart guy who understands felgecarb when he sees it.. But what I do is a hobby. He actually makes a living at it. And God bless him for it.
This is what I love about Fitsnews! They have the balls to look for and dig, where no other local media outlets would DARE!!!!! Keep digging Sic and let us know what you find. And we wonder why the state budget is frequently so strapped…
Fits is great. I love him, even when I disagree or have contrary sources. He’s an honest and smart guy who understands felgecarb when he sees it.. But what I do is a hobby. He actually makes a living at it. And God bless him for it.
I can confirm this is a regular occurrence. The Dems seems to use it the most, but the Speaker and his guys are regularly ferried around town by the Sergent of Arms office.
I can confirm this is a regular occurrence. The Dems seems to use it the most, but the Speaker and his guys are regularly ferried around town by the Sergent of Arms office.
Vick’s lawyer has an uphill battle with a jury. Maybe he will use the classic defense…Don’t believe your lying eyes!
Don’t believe his lying lawyer. I want to be on his jury.
Vick’s lawyer has an uphill battle with a jury. Maybe he will use the classic defense…Don’t believe your lying eyes!
Don’t believe his lying lawyer. I want to be on his jury.
The current crop of legislators are rank amateurs when it comes to partying. How I long for the times we had at the Townhouse…the blow, the chicks, the single-malt Scotch. Where’s Ron Cobb when you need him?
Lee Atwater took some secrets with him to the grave.
Naw, man; this was pre-Lee and pretty much all Democrats. Not too many secrets, either. Cobb, who furnished the bribes (ostensibly to legalize parimutuel betting) cut a deal with the prosecutors and rolled on everybody. See Operation Lost Trust.
That was before they all change parties and became Republicans. Same bunch.
The current crop of legislators are rank amateurs when it comes to partying. How I long for the times we had at the Townhouse…the blow, the chicks, the single-malt Scotch. Where’s Ron Cobb when you need him?
Lee Atwater took some secrets with him to the grave.
Naw, man; this was pre-Lee and pretty much all Democrats. Not too many secrets, either. Cobb, who furnished the bribes (ostensibly to legalize parimutuel betting) cut a deal with the prosecutors and rolled on everybody. See Operation Lost Trust.
That was before they all change parties and became Republicans. Same bunch.
And remember that Republican Andre Bauer and his $90,000 security coverage. He always had to use a driver.
Not going down Assembly St. he didn’t.
And remember that Republican Andre Bauer and his $90,000 security coverage. He always had to use a driver.
Not going down Assembly St. he didn’t.