Trikki Nikki’s “Corrupt Bargain”

In a last-ditch effort to pass a watered-down ethics reform bill, S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley – perhaps the most hypocritical good government reformer in political history – has reportedly cut a deal with two tax-hiking “Republicans in Name Only.”

Multiple sources in the S.C. Senate tell FITS that the governor – who is desperate to secure enough votes to bring “her” ethics bill up for debate in the State Senate – has reached an agreement with fiscally liberal Republicans Paul Campbell (RINO-Berkeley) and Ray Cleary (RINO-Horry).

Campbell and Cleary are among the Senate “Republicans” aggressively pushing a massive tax hike bill that would impose numerous new levies on South Carolina motorists. According to our Senate sources, Campbell and Cleary have informed their colleagues that they will vote in favor of placing ethics reform on “special order” – as opposed to their preferred tax hike legislation.

What caused them to change their position?

A “backroom deal” with Haley.

Specifically, Campbell and Cleary are telling their colleagues that Haley has agreed not to veto the massive tax hike bill so long as they support “her” favored ethics legislation – and so long as they agree not to send the tax hike to her desk until after her presumed reelection in 2014.

Wow … a multi-billion dollar annual tax hike in exchange for a totally inadequate “ethics reform” bill? One that won’t even dent the culture of corruption in state government?

“It’s a great day in South Carolina,” people …

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Pic: Travis Bell Photography