GOVERNOR ALSO URGING HOUSE MEMBERS TO SUPPORT JAY LUCAS
Multiple South Carolina lawmakers – Democrats and “Republicans” – tell FITS they are receiving phone calls from S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley urging them to impeach suspended S.C. House Speaker Bobby Harrell.
Harrell – who voluntarily stepped down from his leadership post pending the outcome of a nine-count public corruption indictment – has been replaced on an interim basis by S.C. Speaker Pro Tempore Jay Lucas. In fact Haley – who has already called on Harrell to resign – is reportedly lobbying lawmakers to support Lucas’ candidacy for the position.
“She wants Bobby gone and Jay in the Speaker’s chair,” one lawmaker who heard Haley’s appeal directly told FITS. “And she’s not being shy about either of those desires.”
Wow … given Haley’s own history when it comes to public corruption, that’s pretty shaky ground for her to be standing on.
Others in the running for the Speaker’s job – should it become open – are powerful House budget writer Brian White and a pair of former majority leaders, Kenny Bingham and Jimmy Merrill. The jockeying for the position – one of the most powerful offices in state government – began almost immediately after Harrell’s indictment was announced.
Lawmakers inclined to support Lucas tell FITS Haley’s involvement in the race is “inappropriate.”
It may also be costing Lucas votes.
“Word on the street is that Nikki will control Jay Lucas,” one lawmaker told us. “That’s why some of us are leery of him.”
Lucas has always struck us as a pretty straight shooter, and we don’t get the sense Haley – or anyone else – would control him. Having said that, we’ve seen nothing from him – or any of the other lawmakers angling for this post – leading us to believe they are any different ideologically from Harrell, one of the big government liberals responsible for the Palmetto State’s “Lost Decade.”
“Heads they win tails you lose,” one of our friends in the S.C. State House lobby noted.
That’s the way it’s always been for taxpayers in the Palmetto State, sadly …
41 comments
(HEAD EXPLODES)
To paraphrase an old saying:
“If your heart ain’t in Dixie, get your ass out.”
Modern translation:
“If your heart ain’t in the Palmetto State, then get your Yankee ass out”.
“Republicans – helping the South since Dixie was a little girl.”
“Wow … given Haley’s own history when it comes to public corruption, that’s pretty shaky ground for her to be standing on!”
Nikki the puppet master, Jay the puppet!
Haley needs to be impeached herself! Our morally, ethicly challenged, sell out, incompetent Governot!
Send her packing TOO!
Ok Sandi/Jenny earn your money. Post one of your hate filled, lying, profanity laced diatribes!!!!!
Online jobs guys
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Thank you Nikki for standing tall and being a great leader. Your pro_traditional marriage and pro_life policies make you God’s choice in November.We will empty the pews and vote for you!
Hahahahaha.
Go jump in a lake, Fudd. Our governor fucks other men in hotel rooms, pockets slush money from companies seeking legislative approval and doesn’t report it, and oversees DSS, responsible for the negligent death of at least 5 kids under DSS care in 2013. She’s counting on votes from morons like you.
“We will empty the pews and vote for you!”
Please do me a favor and give me a heads up as to when the pews are going to be emptied as I already try to stay off the roads around here on Sundays when church lets out – most dangerous time all week to be on the roads. And if God is indeed the co-pilot of those Sunday drivers then God needs to take a driver training class.
Just *try* to get into an IHOP on Sunday morning!
Yes Sir, with Haley we get 4 for the price of one for a Chief Exec. for SC:
Chief LIAR
Chief CHEATER
Chief FAILURE
Chief ETHICS VIOLATOR
She fits in nicely with the rest of this bunch!
Let’s put Bobby on Double Secret Probation. That’ll do it.
Dodeca Secret Probation.
According to the “Art of Lindsey Graham” ….a can of “nine lives” tuna should be consumed to enhance the senses in detecting deceptive licking and purring and bathing one’s self during election season media spin.
Therefor …this action and media spitball is rather expected.
We highly wonder if Wil Folks has taken a stroll along the port facilities lately…!?
Does he stop to ask himself since Obama beat his war drum last nite…..what type of pro-active tasks have been taking place all over our military sites in the last 3 months alone..?
Dare to see a list of planes Graham has been on……and WHERE.?
Speaking of Lindsey, he called for boots on the ground today. I vote he is the 1st to go.
HI PHILIP, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE LINDSEY GRAHAMS LIST OF PLANES, WANNA SEE LINDSEY GRAHAMS LIST OF NAMES? WE CAN PLAY LINDSEYS FAVORITE GAME, ‘I’LL SHOW YOU MINE IF YOU’LL SHOW ME YOURS.’
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bxwz9jLzLz5EOTRVaHBIMWdfOGM/edit
don’t even think about it will, don’t.
http://www.thebryancrabtreeshow.com/bobby-harrell-has-suspended-his-post-as-speaker-of-the-house-in-sc/
Bravo…Bravo…Bravo…….
…the theme from DALLAS….!!! Great turn of the knife Brian….!!!
+ 15 points and a personal Vanity plate: “Ewing 1340”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLwQTJHwcoQ
Way to go ……..DALLAS….!!!
For Christ’s sake, where are his meds?
Can a State Legislator even be impeached?
I know a Judge or an official elected statewide can be,but is there any specific law allowing those elected from individual Districts to be?
This is why we need recall elections in this State!!!
If NIMRATA is backing this person for the seat, that would be the only reason needed to vote against him.
Ya’ll leave the
queengubernor alone. If it gets rid of Harrell, I’ll take her hypocrisy.And we all want Haley impeached.
That face, ugh!!!!!! What were you thinking Will?
God, Will, hope you had the lights off.
And a bag over her head! Even one over your’s in case her’s fell off!
Its OK Nikki, Harrell has plenty of dirt on you….
Would hopes he has a big shovel, and ain’t afraid to use it.
YOU BETCHA!
Haley and Leatherman have been involved in this Harrell thing the whole way through. Haley is allowing Leatherman to take control of the state, which he wants and she is getting money, and being left alone by SLED, the AG and the Senate, which is what she wants. Sweet deal for those two. Bad deal for us.
My bet is the cesspool of the State House will be further exposed and more will be charged. Thank God the FBI can track down those poor stressed out elected officials.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5tgrssDn1w
I made my mistakes, but in all my years of public life, I have never profited from public service. I’ve earned every cent. And in all of my years in public life I have never obstructed justice. And I think, too, that I can say that in my years of public life that I welcome this kind of examination because people have got to know whether or not their President is a crook. Well, I’m not a crook. I’ve earned everything I’ve got.
— Richard M. Nixon, press conference, November 11, 1973
***
Bobby, you hold in there.
Your friend,
Tricky
I’d like to urge the lawmakers to impeach Haley!!!!!
Let’s review Haley’s record at pickin’ super star leaders,…Turner, (incompetant)……Templeton (TB non reporting scandle)……Koller,….(more dead kids)….. Stanton (closing of rural workforce offices, persoanally sued )…Methinks the lady should stay out of the pickin’ leaders for anyone business.
You left out Elinor Kitzman and Marsha Adams! They destroyed many competent, working amd viable offices which actually provided jobs, safe water and solved health issues to the people of SC!
So sorry. You’re right of course. Some governors choose leaders who make them look good because of the good they do. Nikki choose leaders who are so incompetant, they make her look good by comparison. She’s surrounded by a lot of Mississippis.
The Harrell scandal is far from over … there are more that should be investigated and indicted with him. And there should be more Harrell indictments coming soon, I pray.
“Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
– Lord Acton
>>>>>
The Post & Courier
Friday, September 12 2014
Indicted House Speaker Harrell suspends himself from leadership post and office
By Jeremy Borden and Schuyler Kropf
House Speaker Bobby Harrell suspended himself from office Thursday, a day after he was indicted on nine ethics and misconduct charges – a move that raised more questions about the future of the once-powerful Charleston lawmaker.
In his letter to House Clerk Charles Reid, Harrell said he was opting to suspend himself as both House speaker and as the representative for House District 114, which includes parts of Charleston and Dorchester counties. The letter did not say he was resigning.
* PDF Speaker Harrell letter
“I am proactively taking this step because I believe it is the right decision for the South Carolina House of Representatives, its members and the people we represent,” Harrell wrote. “I have great respect for this institution and the people of South Carolina.
“I have always sought to act in their best interest and continue to do so now by taking this action and suspending myself from office.”
Harrell did not talk to reporters for a second straight day, and his statement left open several questions, including:
* Is anyone representing his district? State lawmakers aren’t expected to do much until they reconvene for a new session in January, though some county delegations can meet to make appointments and tend to other matters.
* Can Harrell reinstate himself? State law says the suspension without pay remains in effect until the public official is acquitted, convicted, pleads guilty, or pleads no contest. In the case of a conviction, the office must be declared vacant. Officials who are acquitted or see their charges dismissed can be reinstated and receive back pay.
* Was his move legal? Two House Democrats sought an S.C. attorney general’s opinion that cast doubt on whether the speaker can suspend himself, but it’s unclear if they intend to press the legal question.
The suspension — which came less than a day after a Richland County grand jury handed down its indictments — means that House Speaker Pro Tempore Jay Lucas, R-Hartsville, temporarily takes over the leadership post.
The S.C. Attorney General’s Office opinion, which was requested by two Democrats from Columbia, Reps. Todd Rutherford, the House minority leader, and James Smith, said that Harrell cannot suspend himself because that could then allow him to reinstate himself as well.
Opinions from the Attorney General’s Office are not binding and are not seen as official directives. Smith said he was assured all the proper steps had been followed.
Lucas later called the legal point moot in light of Harrell’s action, adding he regretted “this unfortunate circumstance” surrounding Harrell’s decision.
Harrell’s campaign team said he still plans to run for re-election Nov. 4 against Democrat Mary Tinkler and Green Party hopeful Sue Edward on Nov. 4. But Democrats said they now have a heightened interest in winning the seat.
“The events surrounding Rep. Harrell’s indictment and suspension have put this district in play, and we intend to devote all available resources to make sure Mary Tinkler is the next representative from District 114,” House Democratic Caucus spokesman Tyler Jones said.
The District covers much of northern West Ashley in Charleston County and parts of Summerville in Dorchester County.
Harrell is accused of a string of misdemeanor violations of state law, including charges that he doctored his personal airplane flight records, reimbursed himself for flights that he didn’t take and unlawfully paid himself tens of thousands of dollars from his campaign account.
The charges were filed by 1st Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe, who inherited the Harrell case just weeks ago from S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson.
In all, the allegations cover seven violations of the state Ethics Act for improperly using campaign funds for personal expenses, while the two remaining charges cover allegations of misconduct in office.
While all the charges are misdemeanor, one of the misconduct in office charges carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in state prison. If convicted on all counts, Harrell faces a maximum sentence of 18 years in prison and close to $40,000 in fines.
Harrell said Wednesday he “never intentionally violated any law, and I still strongly believe that statement to be accurate.”
He has been speaker since 2005. Shortly after the indictment was announced, Gov. Nikki Halley and others called on him to step aside to address the charges.
Keywords
corruption
ethics
indictment
Bobby Harrell
David Pascoe
Alan Wilson
Election 2014
Mary Tinkler
Jay Lucas
Nikki Haley
Tyler Jones
Most Popular News Story:
Indicted House Speaker Harrell suspends himself from leadership post and office
She’d better be careful. Throwing a guy under the bus who has all the dirt on you is not a safe step.
Let’s impeach the Speaker, but for the people who let convicted felons kill kids – that department – no change. She’s got’s to go Petey. She’s got’s to go.
Well, well looks like South Carolina politicians didn’t learned a thing from Operation Lost Trust in 1990. Time for Operation Lost Trust 2.0….and begin the investigation at the Governor’s office, continue on to the State Legislature, and other elected officials at the county and local level. Turn the lights on and watch the roaches run!