Last week, this website published a story recapping the various and sundry scandals to befall S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley’s Department of Social Services (SCDSS) – one of the many incompetently run agencies in the governor’s cabinet. Most of these scandals were broken exclusively by this website, with the mainstream media playing ketchup (sorry, we’ve got condiments on the brain for some reason today).
In case you missed that update, click here …
This week a liberal website joined in – publishing its own report on the troubled agency entitled “Storm Brews at DSS.”
“Storm clouds are forming over the state Department of Social Services as a powerful state senator has begun probing its personnel decisions, including the firing of a long-time deputy director and a $3 million contract to an out-of-state consulting team,” Bill Davis of The Statehouse Report notes.
First of all, as a gorgeous lobbyist once told us, it’s “State House.” Two words, not one.
Also … The Statehouse Report is still around? Seriously? We thought we buried them a long time ago … along with the rest of the Palmetto political “new media.”
Anyway …
According to Davis, S.C. Sen. Brad Hutto (D-Orangeburg) is delving into the agency’s problems – which he claims is part of Haley’s “alphabet soup of incompetencies.” Nice! Hutto is also taking us up on our suggestion to question recently fired employees about their knowledge of the agencies many problems.
In addition to the colossal and ongoing failure of its child support enforcement database project, SCDSS has also dropped the ball on a food stamp waiver touted by Haley, its benefit call center was recently shut down (reportedly pending a federal investigation) and the success of its so-called “welfare-to-work” program is the result of cooked books (like its food stamp system).
Oh, and in addition to all that scandal the agency has actual blood on its hands.
Along with Hutto, several Republican lawmakers – S.C. Sen. Katrina Shealy and Reps. Kirkman Finlay and Jenny Horne – have expressed concerns with the agency. Horne has even requested a legislative audit.
Hopefully someone will eventually hold it accountable for its multiple major failings …
12 comments
There will be no “probing” of anything in the SCDSS and certainly no need for condoments, Saran wrap will do just fine.
Why would anyone think that an AUDIT would do any good????? Every agency under the Govenor’s watch that has had problems have had audits and not one thing has been done. The leaders in these agencies just laugh because they are untouchable. Why waste the tax peoples money on audits that go no where? The things that have gone on over the past couple of years within state government have been done while the entire state watched. No questions have been asked, no investigations have been done, and audits are a waste of time. Just don’t get it……I do not think that anybody really cares.
Nikki Haley vetoed the State Treasurer’s bill in 2012 to allow the Treasurer to follow up on audits. As of now there is no one to follow up on the audits and to make sure the inadequate procedures are corrected. I wondered why she vetoed it at the time. My boss (a house member) voted to uphold her veto even though he knew the bill was a good one. He regrets his vote now.
By The Way — Is Sharon F still the “lobbyist” for DSS?
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She did very well for years as Exec for the Pharmacy Assn., but haven’t been able to find out if she is still doing jher thing as lobbyist.
Is Sharon F, Sharon Fennell?
The LAC needs to talk to staff in the trenches…if they can get anyone to speak freely without fear of retaliation. Employees are working evenings and weekends to try to stay afloat while they are told that the county offices don’t need extra staff. All the while, the Agency Director is hiring out of state ‘talent’ at an alarming rate to fill custom-created positions. Wonder why the data is not exemplary! Meanwhile, county staff have to jump through hoops to BEG just to fill vacancies as they occur… Front line staff know the solution, it’s not magic, it’s called caseload reduction through equalized hiring practices. But, oh yeah, Lillian doesn’t approve of hiring staff that actually do the work. She doesn’t want Haley to look like she’s growing the government, even though the agency has been decimated by staff losses. Go to the County offices for the truth, but offer protection to those brave enough to speak.
Sounds like wage and hour violations, federal labor law violations.
Wouldn’t be the first time DSS has had this problem…
Any audit or fault finding that happens, be sure that Haley will not release the reports! Just like the SLED report regarding the hacking of the Dept of Revenue. She refuses to let the public know what was written, because, of course, Haley was responsible for the breach that occurred, under her jurisdiction!
Who’s responsible for the missing money at the Sikh temple? Was it Nikki or Ajit?
Ask Sarah Palin………..
Brad Hutto is involved for the sole purpose of protecting the Democrat heavy rank and file SCDSS personnel. He should be investigating the corrupt ODC his owner and handler Jean Toal runs. He knows a lot about that cesspool of secret political insider dealing.
Will,
Without getting into the main argument, I’m writing about your assertion that it should be State House, two words, instead of Statehouse. The AP Stylebook says it should be one word. I think one of the main arguments is that if you’re talking about the collective Statehouse, where the state’s business is done, it’s clearer to make that one word. Otherwise, there’s confusion between State House (of Representatives) and State House (both House of Representatives and Senate). If it’s one word, there’s no ambiguity.