Props To Jimmy Merrill
LAWMAKER BLOCKS FUTURE PENSION FUND BONUSES This website hasn’t had much nice to say about S.CYou must Subscribe or log in to read the rest of this content.
LAWMAKER BLOCKS FUTURE PENSION FUND BONUSES This website hasn’t had much nice to say about S.CYou must Subscribe or log in to read the rest of this content.
88 comments
Merrill is one of the few sane ones down there.
I saw the Ryberg attack on Loftis in the house, then again in the Senate. It was the lowest thing I have ever seen in government and I wondered why he did it. Now I see, he is trying to destroy the relationship so Loftis will be taken off the Commission, and to damage him politically.
The folks I knew in the committee hearing were appalled by Ryberg. Even those that were not Loftis allies. I think this effort by Ryberg will backfire.
Sometimes the truth hurts. I have never seen Ryberg caught in a lie. I doubt he will be this time.
“I have never seen Ryberg COUGHT in a lie.”
Caught?
Only in SC do people brag about not getting caught while lying!!!
Now, now, Mary. Nobody’s bragging about anything. You know that. You just choose to act dumb–especially your spelling of caught–two versions. You should correct that.
Loftis must be taken off the commission. Way above his head ! What has he done for the citizens of the State? He has caused them to loose money, time, effort . Go away, Loftis. We will be better without you and your vile disease..
I know Jim, when he focuses he can’t stop. His Dad was a Vietnam war hero too, a real Hero, but he don’t like to talk about it all that much so don’t ask.
Jimmy Merrill is a standup guy. He runs a tight ship and has a good eye for the BS some agencies throw around..
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/video/videofeed.php
Thanks for link! Interesting testimony, especially the January 23rd one with the State Retiree’s Association complaints of Loftis attacking them for invalid reasons.
Obviously the State Retirees were too subtle for you. The point they made was that a Constitutional Officer of this state was so obsessed that private citizens disagreed with him over an internal dispute involving their money that he spent several months filing false charges against them with the Ethics Commission, Attorney General, and Sec. of State. To make it even simpler for you, he used taxpayer funds and state employees to pursue a witch hunt against private citizens. BTW, since you enjoyed the video link check out the January 30 one and look at his face when a lady corrected his dumb ass, pure rage. Loftis has issues.
Reynolds Williams and his croyenies made $125,ooo of the retirement fund. They pay the highest fee percentage in the country. Their returns are in the bottom 20%.
In South Carolina’s crooked government, they will be praised as heroes! Thanks to Mr. Merrill for his actions to protect our retirements.
I would like to add my thanks to Mr. Williams and his “cronies” for overseeing a fine investment program. There are thousands out here who appreciate him and his “cronies.” Ron, you have more credibility when you check your grammar and spelling before posting. Just saying….
“Thousands that appreciate him?
Why? Is Reynolds Williams spreading the booty he makes off the fund to retirees?” I doubt he is giving money he makes off the retirees BACK to the retirees. What would be the point of taken it in the first place?
Anna, what is it that you do not understand about three independent investigations finding no wrong-doing? Regardless of the facts, YOU are going to believe the negatives. Do you not require even a hint of real facts before you believe the worst? In the USA we are innocent until PROVEN guilty. Not the first shred of evidence has been produced. Only Loftis’s unfounded allegations. How gullible are you?
Anna, what is it that you do not understand about three independent investigations finding no wrong-doing? Regardless of the facts, YOU are going to believe the negatives. Do you not require even a hint of real facts before you believe the worst? In the USA we are innocent until PROVEN guilty. Not the first shred of evidence has been produced. Only Loftis’s unfounded allegations. How gullible are you?
My pappy got black lung fer 20 years in the coal mines and he was happy to git it… He lived out his retirement years eating wild onions, canned wild poke dock, poke greens, paw paws, crab apples, blackberries, gooseberries and persimmons.
He used poultices made from mustard and moonshine fer his complaints.
He don’t need no gubmint sniffin’ around looking fer taxes, neither.
Good times!
As unfortunate as it is, I believe Ryberg is right on. Mr. Loftis has done nothing but inject politics into this situation. He is a member of the Commission but acts like somebody not responsible for Commission decisions, even those he voted for. Staff have already left the Commission because of his antics. Attracting new staff is difficult. Three investigations have been made based on his allegations: Attorney General/SLED, Inspector General and Ethics Commission. The result: no findings of wrong-doing. This should tell you something about Loftis’s allegations. He has found a political horse to ride to re-election and doing his best to stay on until it’s over. Facts be damned.
SC is a corrupt place. Making money off the state, when you are suppose to be guarding the money, is not uncommon. Tragically, those of us that have been around a wile know that nothing ever happens in these cases.
The decision not to prosecute is not a finding of no wrong doing. it is a finding that the case, for one reason or the other, is difficult to prosecute. The laws are weak, there is little political will, and these rich white people have their powerful protectors, in this case Senator Leatherman.
. SC continues its ways. the rich get richer and the working class keeps working away. I wish Mr. Loftis the best, he will need it.
How in the hell is Ryberg “right on”? Whether it’s Loftis or whoever, here is the question? Does the SC Retirement System pay the some of the highest fee’s in the nation? and do we get the lowest returns on our investments? Thats pretty damn simple is it not? If this is true, fire their ass and let’s put someone else in there! How hard is that?
Those folks ill do anything to change the subject. I hope Loftis stays on them as the SC way is to fleece the public till the very end.
Just because Loftis says the fees are too high doesn’t make it true. He uses his silly charts, “a la Mark Sanford,” to try and compare retirement systems that have different strategies and different reporting requirements. In other words he tries to compare apples to oranges. But what is most egregious about Loftis is that not one time over the past two years has he ever offered a suggestion that might reduce fees or increase returns. You want to know why, according to his own testimony before the Senate subcommittee on January 30, he doesn’t have the knowledge to offer amendments to the asset allocation plan. Loftis is nothing more than a self absorbed little bully with absolutely no business being in his present position.
I met Mr. Loftis one time, treated me like a tiny king. He would be a good governor.
Next time you meet Loftis, tell him you disagree with his position on something, anything, and watch as he does the ole Jekyl and Hyde switcheroo. He frightens people.
What a dumb ass thing to say. I work for an agency where Loftis has been involved and he has been great. He and his office has helped us rework a lot of old financial practices and he has been gracious when he could have been unkind. He could have put us on the front page of the paper instead he helped us right the ship. We all love him.
If he is so damn helpful why doesn’t he suggest ways to reduce fees and increase return on investments. You would think that if he was truly concerned for retirees as he claims to be he would make that a priority. Actually you might think that he has a fiduciary responsibility to the members of the trust to do that.
Too bad he isn’t that way with every other agency he deals with. The guy is a creep and a real bully.
Loftis has cost the State so much, used and abused his staff, and the staff of many other agencies to pursue attacks based on false accusations. Such a waste. Please be careful when dealing or meeting him. You need to wash your hands, maintain your distance and vote him out. Wonder why all these hand sanitizers are showing up around Loftis’s office? He has a vile, loathsome disease contracted by fornicating outside of mariage. Do I need to say more?
No, we get the picture Mr. Ryberg.
I have a lot more information on Curtis Loftis from sworn testimonies. And I am not Mr. Ryberg.
Don’t use the rest room on the first floor of the Wade Hampton Building!
I am a teacher at a rural school in lower SC. I took my class to the statehouse and ran into Mr. Loftis by chance. he invited the class to his office, had them all sit and spoke to them for about 15 minutes. They were timid at first then he made them comfortable and they asked lots of questions and he answered them all. It was a great experience and this democrat will be voting for Mr. Loftis in November.
Be careful around Loftis. Keep the children away. WASH YOUR HANDS! He has many behavioral problems and has contracted an incurable, foul, vile, loathsome disease because of them. Loftis needs to go, be removed from the commission and office.
He would be a good governor because he treats you like a “tiny king?” Doesn’t take much to fool you does it?
We do not pay the highest fees in the nation. The testimony in front of the Senate Finance Subcommittee today clearly proved that. I would invite you to review that testimony. It will be posted tomorrow on the legislative web site. What is apparent is that we are the most transparent retirement fund of its type in the USA and report expenses most funds do not report. The comparisons with other funds made in the testimony prove that. Our fund returns exceed the actuarially projected required returns to pay our way on an annual basis and retire the unfunded liability over time. This can be proven in black and white and has been audited and assessed by reputable independent bodies. The testimony by Ms. Sara Corbett this morning was unassailable. Loftis is riding a political horse that cannot be substantiated by the facts. I know you don’t want to hear that but it is the unvarnished and provable facts of the case. All the allegations brought by Loftis have been rejected by three independent assessments I mentioned above. The guy is using you by playing on your distrust of government. In this case, it is demonstrably untrue. If you have any information other than Loftis’s unfounded and disproven allegations, please enlighten us.
The Testimony in front of the Senate Committee was a joke. The whole thing was a set up. I watched it all for the law firm I clerk for and I can’t tell you how disingenuous it was. My boss said it was these hearings were the most outrageous official meetings he had ever seen.
Crooks in power act like crooks in power.
John, is this the law firm Loftis paid $2 million of taxpayer money to for negotiating the Bank of New York settlement which has his old college buddy as a primary partner?
I knew Sara Corbett at her last job. I never trusted her then and I sure would not trust her now. Especially if she is around all that money!
What a horrible ad hominem comment. Ms. Corbett is a CPA and a consummate professional. I certainly would trust her testimony given under oath more than I would your unfortunate remark. If you are going to make such remarks about other people and their professionalism, at least have the courage to use your real name. What you have done is cowardly. I hope you think twice and are ashamed. You should be.
Ms Corbett has almost doubled her salary in 2 years. A CPA that will sign anything is a valuable person. She is paid well because of her “services”.
You are a course, vile person. The only one I know that would talk like you is the Treasurer. Is that you, Curtis?
“What a horrible ad hominem comment.”
“You just choose to act dumb–especially your spelling of caught–two versions.”
That’s not an ad hominem comment. She really did choose to act dumb. That is her clear intent.
“The guy is a creep and a real bully.”
A fiduciaries responsibility is to reject the work, not the issue before the board. Breaking fiduciary responsibility is not a crime. Mr. Williams is beating his chest because he did not go to jail and that is hardly a worth accomplishment.
I suspect he should be turned over to the SC Bar. I read the order from the ethics investigation and it is embarrassing.
The Ethics Commission did not issue an order, they issued a report. If you want to read an embarrassing document read the legal settlement Loftis signed with the Bank of New York.
Actually it is an order. I saw it today. Says Williams should have withdrawn from the process and he did not. It was the appearance of impropriety. He was “strongly cautioned.”
In this state it takes a audio or video tape to convict. High bar lets crooks run wild.
Williams aint no saint.
I will post the report tomorrow. Let the people make up their own minds. It must be embarrassing to Mr. Williams and those that support him.
Post away! Three independent investigations and no findings of wrong-doing. Just what is your point???
Great I will post away when I get to work this afternoon. I appreciate your permission.
I am sure your employer will appreciate your attention to work. I only post on my own time.
your mean. i like that.
group
where is the report? Embarrassing to you , if you cannot produce the report. You are a liar. You waste our time and the tax payer time, the state retirees’s ’s time and you waste your time!. Go away, we will be better without you
What a nasty punk you are.
I was busy today. I will post it when I get to it. Don’t sweat your drawers over it.
Busy today! You are an embarrassing liar. Go away, we will be better without you. Get lost..
I am still waiting for the report you said you will post today so “the people can make up their own minds. it must be embarrassing to Mr.Williams and those that support him” I want that report so I can make up my mind. So far , you are a liar and you have wasted my time and totally made an idiot of yourself. You are a liar.. It must be embarrassing to yourself! Go away
As a lawyer and trustee of several estates I can not imagine a trained person like Reynolds Williams making lots of money off the Pension Fund. It is something that should not be tolerated.
The Ethics Commission’s opinion does not mean that taxpayers are bring well-served. It simply means the Commission came to the conclusion that illegality and criminal intent could not be proven in a court of law. That’s a big difference.
The big question is whether taxpayers are being exploited. I continue to believe that the best interest of taxpayers is being poorly served by the decisions being made by Mr. Reynolds and his cohorts. But ultimately these decision will have to be decided in the court of public opinion.
There have been three independent investigations: Attorney General/SLED, Inspector General and Ethics Commission. In every case, the allegations made by Loftis have not been verified. That tells me something: there is a big error in the allegations. One or another of these investigative entities has taken on the Lt. Governor, Governor and other officials. If there was any real evidence of wrong doing they would have pursued it. Loftis is needlessly creating a toxic environment and plays on your fears of government. He should be stopped. The fourth investigation is being done by the Senate Finance Committee. Based on the last meeting, I suspect they will find the only thing wrong here is Loftis and his wild unsubstantiated allegations. He needs to move on (and out).
What a sick joke! If it could not be proven in a court of law that illegal and criminal intent could be proven in a court a law, then stop your stupid accusations and get better informed. Tax payers are informed and retirees are very informed as well. Get real. Curtis must go. Loftis is exploiting the retirees and state employees of this state for a personal gain. A very sick man.This must stop. Loftis has caused too much waste in time and expense for the state. Do not listen to this man. A very vile, corrupted man with a disease .
Yea, that is why his poll numbers are sky high, his TV commercials are already shot and he has 1800 people on his campaign committee. He has cleared his schedule and believe you me he is ready for a campaign. I volunteer some for him as I did last election. I cant wait. His last campaign was a classic and this one is going to be even better.
Do they seriously have legitimate poll #s for lowly positions like State Treasurer? especially this early in election season?
“You need to know better, so you can do better”. Please watch the senate hearings so you can make an informed decision about your opinion of Loftis. If you want more sworn testimonies about his vile, foul, loathsome , incurable disease, easy to find , in public documents. His bullying, bearer of false witness, fornicating and alternative sex life…easy also. The State will be much better without Loftis. He must go. please, Loftis.,go..
Ryberg is a scum bag and should have been tossed out of the State House! Corruption at its finest, only here in SC.
Reynolds Williams and his cronies made over $110,000 dollars off the fund he was supposed to protect. In SC that may not be against the law. Corruption, corruption, corruption. It is the SC way
One thing is for sure. Loftis has some crazy enemies. personal attacks, using 25 year old divorce claims, name calling. These people are whack jobs.
I don’t know much but I know how to stay away from mean ass crazy.
Sworn testimonies from Loftis himself. Many more . Assault charges, Bearer of false witness . Liar and behavioral problems to numerous to mention. Infected with a incurable, vile ,foul, loathsome disease. The man need to go and you need to be informed for when “you know better , you will do better”
Crazy talk from crazy people. This issue is about the Pension Find. Crazy talk attacks against loftis shows the Commission is wrong. Attacking the messenger is always the last effort.
Too many people have been hurt by Loftis’s stupid behavior and false allegations. Your “crazy talk” from “crazy people against Loftis “can be refuted by sworn testimonies. Yes, this issue is about pension fund, not pension find. Love to know what you found about pension find. Time to get rid of Loftis and make a statement to move this State away from Loftis and his vile, foul and loathsome disease. The commission has done a moral and dignified job and is proven to be right in this effort. Be informed and watch the testimonies in the senate. ” You will do better, when you know better”Maya Angelou.
Teddy, who is the scum bag? Listen to the testimonies in front of the senate . Get better informed about Loftis and his vile behavior and you will find that the scum bag is Loftis. Period.
How can Fitsnews be so wrong? You need to do your homework, Fits. Listen to the testimonies before the senate and make statements based on them. Loftis needs to go from the commission and from the treasurer’s office. He is incompetent, does not understand the issues and has caused unnecessary conflicts . He needs to go for many reasons. His lack of morals has caused him to contract an incurable, vile and loathsome disease from fornication outside of marriage. You need to go Loftis!
Maybe Fits has read the SLED report and the Ethics report. Maybe he knows what the authorities know which is Reynolds Williams is a crooked bastard. He got off because Leatherman got him off.
Come back to this page after you have read the reports, not listened to Reynolds.
Loftis needs to go!. He has abused and bullied too many people at the expense of the State. He has used staff members for his own personal attacks and has made false accusations against honest and intelligent people who are making a difference in this State. Loftis lacks morals, bears false witness and has behavioral problems too numerous to mention. For these reasons, he is living with an incurable, foul, vile and loathsome disease which can be spread… Keep the children away from him and maintain your distance! Please, Loftis go,..
“…the shady crew that’s been running one of the worst-performing, least-transparent pension funds in America.”
You mean like North Carolina’s?…hmmm, wonder what the common factors are?
Reynolds is a crook. I have known him for 20 years. He can lie faster than a a speeding bullet. But without Leatheman he is a spit country lawyer.
I am a state retiree and only know Reynolds in his Investment Commission role. There he has given generously of his time and expertise. He seems a real gentleman to me. I’m glad he’s there.
Is it just me or does Fitsnews just rerun basically the same stories on Curtis Loftis and Nancy Mace like every week????????? They always basically just say the exact same thing but maybe with a slightly different BS spin on it.
What I want to know is how Mallory Factor got to be chairman of the SC Legislative Audit Council, secretary of the Charleston Aviation Authority – and, Tommy Hartnett on both with him?
Is Factor, with his BA in biology, still the John C. West professor of government at The Citadel?
Anyone know of any other offices of honor or profit this NY creep – and, friend of Loftis, holds? I’m getting ready to file an Ethics Commission complaint and I want to have everything he’s got his carpetbagging finger in listed. And, Tommy Hartnett, too.
What worries me is that Loftis might appoint Mallory Factor to the Investment Commission. Of course, Factor would have to resign from other state positions but he might do that because the Commission job would pay $20,000. From what I can tell, Factor makes a living sucking at government and political party teats. That would be a juicy one for him. And Loftis complains of others doing that. It’s bad unless it is him or one of his buddies.
Loftis’ 2-year degree from USC is really helping him navigate through those tough financial waters. His huge campaign debt, couple with his inability to raise money is telling. His entire staff at the Treasurer’s Office thinks he’s a complete buffoon. Grady Patterson had more intelligence in his little finger that Cutis has in his oversized head.
” Grady Patterson had more intelligence in his little finger that Cutis has in his oversized head.”
Ain’t that the truth. And Grady was honest. He wouldn’t have agreed to a law suit that was past the statute of limitations just to get his fraternity brother, campaign official, and business partner $2 million. The only way Loftis could get his buddy the cash was to agree to a 10 year contract with the big New York banks that had violated their previous contract. He calls himself standing up for retirees.
Haha. Loftis retires at 40, Begins giving money away. Goes into politics, Pays his way cause he won’t take dirty money with strings (but does take clean money from honest people)., In fact the debt is too himself.
Crooks hate hem. Voters love him. So keep dreaming. about bad things happening to my old buddy Curtis. he is playing chess while you are playing checkers.
Haha. Loftis retires and is living with an incurable, vile, loathsome disease which can be spread… You need to wash your hands completely, keep the children away and maintain your distance. He cannot stay in office for the good of the State . Be informed as “You will do better as you know better” Voters will do better also..as they know better.
Loftis has this Investment panel all riled up. I have never seen educated people attack a politician so personally. It seems to me, and I must say I know little about it, that Loftis must be right on the issues other wise they would not be attacking him so viciously. I hope he stays the course. I hate government thugs that waste my money.
Or, it could be that good honest people are outraged that a second rate, poorly educated, fiscally ignorant politician is second guessing their fine efforts. If I were on that Commission that is how I would react as well.
Jim Merrill is a good man. I am sure when he learns the truth his opinion of Mr. Loftis will more resemble that of Mr. Ryberg. Mr. Loftis is an egocentric bully.
Back to Curtis’ friend Mallory Factor…we wouldn’t know Mallory was in SC, but for his calls to SCRS investment firms on Curtis’ behalf.
Factor was a NYC bundler for George Bush and raised money for Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint…that’s 2 establishment GOPer to one (before that one went off the deep end when that black man got elected).
Factor and real estate guy Tommy Hartnett, very SCGOP establishment, on at least 2 boards together.
So, given Factor’s deep GOP establishment history and his connection to Loftis, is Loftis really NOT a closeted establishment guy?
Ryberg goose-stepped out of the Senate!