MARY TINKLER: “ONLY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CAN BRING ABOUT ETHICS REFORM”
Yesterday, I welcomed the news of the South Carolina Supreme Court’s decision that Attorney General Alan Wilson has the authority to investigate and prosecute public corruption. We have heard too much recently of our public officials doing bad things. The opinion dealt a blow to the legislators who believed that they alone had the ability to determine whether they could be criminally investigated by the Attorney General for corruption. It is a step in the right direction.
However, the courts can only do so much. Only the General Assembly can bring about the ethics reform that is truly needed. One of those changes that I strongly support is an elimination of the ethics committees that have the exclusive oversight of our legislators’ activities. Allowing legislators to police themselves creates an environment ripe with conflicts of interest, where legislators are influenced to protect their fellow legislators from scrutiny. Placing that oversight authority in the hands of the State Ethics Commission is necessary to restore our faith in our elected officials.
Of course, other changes are necessary. Legislators must be subjected to more stringent disclosure requirements when they report their sources of income and their campaign finances. Transparency is the most effective way to keep our public officials honest and working for us.
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6 comments
Ethics law are a waste of time. The powerful get around them and the less powerful get snared in them.
As the masses take comfort in the faux-reform, the crooked do as they please.
Life in SC government, especially at the top of it, is just fine and dandy, as long as you are crook.
Harrell and Jean Toal are corrupt to the core. Toal is trying to give the appearance she has bailed on Harrell, but insiders say it is a ruse. FBI, do y’all still have an office in South Carolina or not? I mean, the Keystone Cops of Chesterfield County could made a Federal case against these two. Oh, that’s right. Toal funded Bill Nettles’ children’s trust funds……
Corruption cost Dems their supermajority in Calif (the FBI brought down over 27 members of the legislature there). Corruption is going to cost Republicans the same in South Carolina. Ladies and Gentleman, it is my belief that the FBI is snooping around into Jeal Toal. Harrell, and their friends – perhaps even Nettles, himself.
Tinkler, Tinkler, little star,
how I wonder what you are.
Up above the electoral sky,
With no chance to be elected nigh
When Harrell’s blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon
Then you show your little light
Tinkler, Tinkler, ok, alright…
Bobby paid 2 of his lawyers $ 80,000 on 4.28.14 . Bart Daniel 37,000 and Gadney Howe 43,000
out of his campaign account!!!!!
I would believe it if Harrel signed on for comprehensive ethics reform and his vote was recorded.
His statement is just “smoke and mirrors”.