While we agree with S.C. Treasurer Curtis Loftis that new ethics laws are pretty much worthless until our government starts enforcing its existing laws, it’s still nice to see elected officials trying to find ways to make state government more accountable.
It’s also nice to see elected officials (gasp) following through on something they pledged to do during their campaigns. Because that happens way too infrequently in the Palmetto State.
This is why we were pleased to see newly elected S.C. Rep. Beth Bernstein file a pair of ethics reform bills this week – making good on her campaign promises to clean up our corrupt-as-hell state government.
Bernstein’s legislation does the following …
1) Prohibits Leadership PACs.2) Implements a new five-year waiting period for public officials to become lobbyists. (Current law only requires a one-year waiting period)3) Proposes a Constitutional Amendment to eliminate the House and Senate Ethics Committees, giving the State Ethics Commission full authority.4) Requires all candidates to produce receipts for all campaign expenditures.5) Eliminates “blackout period” by requiring candidates to disclose any contribution received in the month of October within five days of receipt.
We support all of those proposals, but as we’ve noted previously Bernstein’s third point – getting rid of the House and Senate ethics committees – is absolutely imperative if we want to make a dent in the rampant corruption currently infesting the S.C. State House. Until state lawmakers give up the right to police themselves, we can’t expect anything but the continuance of our state’s glaring lack of integrity.
Speaking of a lack of integrity, Bernstein’s 2012 opponent – former S.C. Rep. Joan Brady (RINO-Richland) – was a member of the corrupt S.C. House Ethics Committee. Not surprisingly, her reelection bid received considerable financial support from S.C. House Speaker Bobby Harrell – who is currently staring down the business end of a major ethics complaint.
In other words Bernstein has already won one ethics battle …
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48 comments
NO significant ethics legislation will get passed. Mike Rose is no longer in the Senate, and he and Vincent Sheheen were the driving forces getting the Inspector General bill passed (unanimously).
With Mike gone, the Senate is controlled by Courson and Leatherman — “the two faces of corruption,” and the House is controlled by Harrell.
For good measure, to ensure “no good deed goes unpunished,” we’ve got Glenn “protect me” McConnell coordinating all ethics roadblocks in the legislature.
ANYTHING that Nikki Haley supports regarding ethics reform will be beaten back and broken by this cabal of . . . REPUBLICANS.
Enough to make you a democrat, isn’t it?
One reason I support Sheheen all the way in the upcoming gubernatorial election.
Just bought a lottery ticket.
I bet I have a better chance of winning the BIG money than The Weekend has of getting that bill even sniffed much less passed.
Was her campaign promise to be hot while simultaneously looking like she hasn’t slept in three days? If so, mission accomplished.
Man, are you kidding? She is smokin’ hot. What gorgeous hair. She looks like that Botticelli “Venus on a scallop shell” (or whatever).
…. Jimmy, you have excellent taste and a good memory – “Birth of Venus”
I said she was hot. She is hot. But she also looks like a hot mess.
She looks like her hair was styled with a leaf blower – by a blind stylist
Venus was born on an oyster shell, I think.
Not sure what is more laughable: Her thinking anyone will look twice at a rookie-democrat’s bill from a Tainted county’s election…
Or: FITS shilling for yet another leftwing democrat….
Remeber FITS: These democrats only want sunshine directed on Republicans…They hate them like you do…and WE are aware of what you are up to…
You people FOOL no one…
Speaking of a lack of integrity, Bernstein’s 2012 opponent – former S.C. Rep. Joan Brady (RINO-Richland) – was a member of the corrupt S.C. House Ethics Committee. Not surprisingly, her reelection bid received considerable financial support from S.C. House Speaker Bobby Harrell – who is currently staring down the business end of a major ethics complaint.
All that needs to be said. Brady was garbage. You want to trash Bernstein, look at the crap that was there. Brady’s the type that needs to be flushed out of the legislature. The real WE, the ones with sanity, are gunning for Haley next.
Are YOU aware of what goes on in Columbia? Or are you just another knuckle dragger with no brain?
Tainted, huh? Good excuse. I know a president who served 8 years after a tainted election. You remember the Compassionate Conversative Faux Texan from Connecticut, right?
The proven Corrupt Lillian McBride put Bernstein in. It’s how the democrats play…what they cannot get legally…they steal..
You should be ashamed that you are so hard-up for a democrat win, you’ll CHEAT to take it…then accuse someone else of ethics problems…
You’re pretty pathetic…
You were pathetic for 8 years with Bush’s stolen win. But you’re a fool, you don’t get it and you never will. You think Brady was good for South Carolina? Dumbasses like her and you are going to be out out to pasture very soon.
Geez… could you have found a less flattering photo of her?
So she wants 5 years separation to be a lobbyist but not the same for a judge?!! oh yeah, she is a lawyer.
….. that face and that hair — OH, YEH! (another thumbs up to Sic)
….. I want her to wear a Wonder Woman outfit, throw her golden rope around me, and make me — TELL THE TRUTH!
I agree with every word of this article, especially the point about getting rid of the House and Senate ethics committees if we want to get serious about ethics reform. State legislators must not be allowed to continue policing themselves regarding ethics complaints. When Speaker Harrell’s own PAC contributes money to the campaign coffers of the members of the House Ethic Committee that is supposed to be investigating him, that is a rank conflict of interest and gives those members every incentive not to investigate him.
As to the photo of Rep. Bernstein, it is the one she posted on her own FB page regarding the filing of this legislation.
Amy, it does not bother you in the least that a woman placed into office by a corrupt ballot, is now claimin gto pound the drum for ethics…
You liberals crack me up…and you are an attorney…
When law jockeys are this lacking in a demand for truth, it is no wonder we are in the mess we’re in…especially in Washington…
Please let’s not import this level of corruption to S.C. Especially on the heels of Hillary Clinton perverting justice just yesterday…
C’mom libs…you are better than this…I know you are…
BigoT…. you are as bad with history as you are with predictions. Bernstein beat Rino(plasty) Brady by over 2,000 votes and 13 percentage points. McBride had no impact whatsoever.
“…if we want to get serious about ethics reform”. That’s a big “if”, Amy. Remember where we live.
You make an excellent point, Andy. It is a huge “if.” There will be no semblance of reform until Speaker Harrell is gone, and even then, it will be an uphill battle to say the least.
You are in the party of Reid, Benjamim, John Edwards, Alvin Greene, Toal, Obama, McBride, Pelosi, and Clinton…
It’s laughable for you to lament about ethics, until you are honest about what you are.
Just look at the Speaker’s PAC and other legislator’s PACs and contributions received and made and you can see why ethics reform like Bernstein’s is imperative.
The Speaker has to either go or answer for his ethically challenged manner of doing work. He will stop any ethics reform without loopholes big enough for him to fly his plane through. A Speaker with a PAC is repulsive and sleazy.
or better yet Amy until you go back on the road with the Indigo Girls
I understand there may be some rumblings about some BIG Ethics breaches w/ some Ds who are talking about running for Gov…Stay tuned (Hahahaha)…..
Can’t wait to see Bernstein go after Harrell…and the hose gets turned back on them…Somebody’ll take this little neophyte out REAL quick…This ain’t little league anymore…
Rs will play pretty til you quit the gumming and bite w/ teeth…So get prepared to get ripped apart..
The fact that no Ds (other than Vick) get called out, is no accident…
Shut up and play pretty..and your little secrets may stay safe…Get jiggy…and see what may happen…LMAO….
Beth, honey, please come by office (up here at the SH complex) and I will lend you a brush. You have great hair, but please learn to keep it under control. We girls love your suits and shoes.
Who the hell is “we” Will? You and Your alter ego who kicked down the door on your poor girlfriend? You are a joke.
I am waiting on Beth’s bikini pictures. Anyone? Anyone?
forget it,Fits…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-736eE_pDs
That Cody Kilby is one bad ass guitar picker. Ricky has a keeper in him.
Can you be any more overt in blowing your lover kisses toyota?
How much did she pay FITS to shill for this futile bill????
Bigger, more influential and more Conservative have put forth BETTER legislation…this bill will go directly to the scrap heap…except for the FITS liberals…
You continue to be SC’s #1 idiot! Congrats!!! Continue the stupid work, dummy!
I’ve been told by an candidate that FITS charges for play on this website…That explains his lack of any core and/or credibility…
Talk about an ethics issue…
Set up your own site instead of trolling this one and getting kicked off others.
Christ, if you don’t like it, leave. You said you would if Obama won, but here you are. No job, no girl, no life. Just the Internet.
Come up from the basement or come out of the closet. Get outside. Do something productive instead of sucking from the government teat.
I wish i had Beth’s nose full of nickles i would never wok again in my life
….. If a wac is a woman in the army and a wave is a woman in the navy, then what is a wok?
…. who remembers the Honda motorcycle ad from some years back?
lmao @ shifty
“You meet the nicest people on a Honda.”
…… to ?: you’re the winner, but “You get more nookie on a Suzuki”
Holy pencil trolls.
Good reforms, but good reforms won’t pass, unfortunately.
I’ve had good experience with Pat Maley, the State Inspector General regarding complaints he’s allowed to investigate. That man does not have to look over his shoulders and is a good investigator. I suggest more money for his staff (three people).
I don’t like the idea of prohibiting PACs. Is a Leadership PAC some kind of a special PAC or is this PACs by state congressional leadership? I could see the prohibition on PACs by congressional leaders, at the same time I would like to see prohibition of taxes being used by municipalities and county governments for lobbyists.
If this Ethics CRUSADER demands that Hillary Clinton and Barck Obama come clean about Benghazi, or Eric Holder is honest about Fast and Furious…
She may look like something besides a Cheap and Stupid Hack…
Coming from a democrat..she could REALLY make our state proudn by DEMANDING answers related to likely Criminal and Deadly offenses by democrats…
I’ll wait to see if she steps up to the plate…
………. you just made my day – I’ve been looking for an appropriate word to describe potus and you provided a terrific one – “BARCK”
That one came from the Swedish Chef linguistics manual Shifty. You’re giving T more credit then he deserves.
You really need to educate yourself.
When used in combination with “bork” it’s quite elegant sounding.