SC

Todd Atwater’s “Chinese Wall”

ANOTHER STATE LAWMAKER HAS A SERIOUS ETHICAL PROBLEM … Not long after we mentioned him as a possible candidate for governor, special interest insider Todd Atwater of Lexington County, S.C. was mentioned in a so-called “investigative” piece by The (Columbia, S.C.) State newspaper. The article – which has already drawn a…

ANOTHER STATE LAWMAKER HAS A SERIOUS ETHICAL PROBLEM …

Not long after we mentioned him as a possible candidate for governor, special interest insider Todd Atwater of Lexington County, S.C. was mentioned in a so-called “investigative” piece by The (Columbia, S.C.) State newspaper.

The article – which has already drawn a rebuke from our columnist Taylor Brown – noted that since being elected to the S.C. State House in 2010, Atwater has maintained his position as the chief executive officer and president of the S.C. Medical Association (SCMA), a liberal lobbyist principal.

According to him, he built a “Chinese wall” between himself and the organization’s lobbying efforts – and sometimes “chooses not to vote when he thinks there is a conflict of interest.”

Great … because that’s exactly the sort of thing that should be left completely up to his discretion.

Atwater makes $400,000 a year from the SCMA – not counting benefits.  For those of you keeping score at home, that’s a whopping 16.7 times the Palmetto State’s per capita income.

So … how exactly does a state lawmaker get to double-dip as the head of an organization which lobbies himself and other lawmakers?

According to the S.C. State Ethics Commission (SCSEC), everything is on the level because Atwater made all of the SCMA’s lobbying employees contract workers – not full-time employees of the association.

Really?

What a joke.

This is exactly the sort of shady, self-serving scam that state lawmakers – and the special interests who bankroll them – habitually pull on Palmetto taxpayers (and then explain away or cover up).

No wonder this guy thinks he can be governor!

Enough is enough.  Todd Atwater needs to make a decision: He can either continue being the state’s top advocate for socialized medicine or he can continue being one of the S.C. General Assembly’s many fiscally reckless “Republicans.”  He should not be allowed to continue doing both.

In fact this is yet another example of the need for a fundamental rethinking of how state lawmakers are compensated/ regulated.

Will that ever happen?  Don’t be silly …

As long as there is money to be made on the backs of the poor and impressionable, South Carolina politicians and the interests which prop them up will continue finding creative ways to do so.

***

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30 comments

Bible Thumper October 19, 2015 at 10:58 am

Kenny Bingham was also mentioned in The (Columbia, S.C.) State newspaper. Hmmm…

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Will Folks aka Sic October 19, 2015 at 11:19 am

Yup. And they don’t know the half of it. ;)

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tomstickler October 19, 2015 at 11:02 am

Let us add Rep. Alan Clemmons who is Chairman of the National I-73/I-74/I-75 Corridor Association that is constantly pushing for I-73 to Myrtle Beach.

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TroubleBaby October 19, 2015 at 11:02 am

“Atwater makes $400,000 a year from the SCMA – not counting benefits. ”

Pols get elected and become instantly valuable to crony capitalists. If the world was a free market they’d be street beggars.

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The Buzzman October 19, 2015 at 11:48 am

A world with a “free market”, alas, is a fantasy.

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TroubleBaby October 19, 2015 at 12:16 pm

For now. No one can predict what happens in 500 years time.

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500 Years of Bigger Government October 19, 2015 at 1:45 pm

I can predict.

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TroubleBaby October 19, 2015 at 1:55 pm

Let’s hope you’re wrong.

flip October 19, 2015 at 1:57 pm

I hope he’s right! LMAO!!! Bigger EBT balances, oh my!!!

TARevolution October 19, 2015 at 11:15 am

Who is paying FITS to take down Atwater. Who is scared of Atwater being trouble as an opponent?

That’s the ONLY ethical question here? This is DIRTY Politics 101, and FITS news at it’s lowest, but its intended purpose.

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Will Folks aka Sic October 19, 2015 at 11:19 am

Good God … “take down Atwater?” Please ….

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The Buzzman October 19, 2015 at 11:52 am

GT and pogo/flip pose as true conservatives, but the fact is there is not a single RINO crony capitalist corporate whore crook for whom they won’t go to the mat. Um … unless said perp disses their precious rebel flag. I think they are still torn over Hayley. Love her one day, hate her the next. Maybe there is some ground there for you to relate to them. ;)

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flip October 19, 2015 at 1:44 pm

I volunteer for Bernie Sanders. I make the rest of the conservatives here look bad so more people will vote for him. He is such a great leader.

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TARevolution October 19, 2015 at 2:32 pm

Please quit trying to be me. You are SO bad at it, and you’ll NEVER succeed. You just don’t have the talent – or the intelligence – for it. And it’s not something you can fake (as you are attempting) using someone’s mind.

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TARevolution October 19, 2015 at 2:30 pm

He’s a simple House rep. Why all of the sudden the prediction he wants to be Gov. then attack, attack, attack.

Remember: People will assess you by WHAT YOU DO…not by what you say your are doing.

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Who Is Paying FITS? October 19, 2015 at 1:41 pm

You are, fatboy, with every last click you give him.

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TARevolution October 19, 2015 at 2:33 pm

You so much want to say something of substance. You want to be relevant. You’re just too stupid to think of anything, aren’t you?

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Paco October 19, 2015 at 11:55 am

Keep in mind, Will is paid a monthly “retainer” by Kirkman Finlay to promote him as a candidate for governor.

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J. Wellington Wimpy October 19, 2015 at 1:32 pm

I’ll gladly post on my blog for you Tuesday for a hamburger today.

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9" October 19, 2015 at 2:45 pm Reply
tomstickler October 19, 2015 at 11:57 am

Remember that you read it here first: look for a third-party candidate for Governor in 2016.

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Heckuvajob brownie October 19, 2015 at 12:19 pm

Just what we need. A Chinese Governor. Well, why not. We have a “Sick!”

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James October 19, 2015 at 12:21 pm

Didn’t you write a piece awhile back, about some kind of child abuse investigation, and an Atwater? There was a previous complaint, that was hushed up, and then another current one? Was it this creep or a relative? Not talking about Sally Atwater slapping a special needs student. A male Atwater, under DSS investigaton…..?

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jimlewisowb October 19, 2015 at 12:35 pm

Pulling down $400,000/yr. for sucking Cockroach dick doesn’t sound like a bad gig

Especially if you are a dick who likes dick

Reply
fred fatkel October 19, 2015 at 4:24 pm

How about adding that scumbag Don Wells as well to this list. This guy borrows money from a felon and has paid only a very small piece of this money back while his constituents are still waiting for their money. Isn’t Wells on the Ethics Committee?

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HD October 19, 2015 at 4:39 pm

Todd Atwater has more class and character than Will Folks could dream of having.

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Mom October 19, 2015 at 6:10 pm

A lobbyist and a state legislator – Ain’t South Carolina great?!

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HD October 20, 2015 at 9:01 am

Atwater isn’t a lobbyist. He’s President and CEO of a professional association. While the potential for a conflict may be somewhat higher for one in that position, the fact is that there is no legislator who has served, or ever will serve, who has no potential for a conflict of interest. What matters is how one deals with an actual conflict. If you can cite an example where an actual conflict has been dealt with inappropriately, do it. If not, STFU.

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Waverunning October 20, 2015 at 4:58 pm

Rumor been flying for months that pompous Atwater wanting Shane Massey’s Senate seat. Could be Slick Shane is behind these articles. Atwater knows he’s in trouble in his district since he has shit on his business base, has his kids in private school school while extolling virtues of public education, and his campaign manager and fundraiser are Columbia insiders. Kick this ass to the curb.

Reply

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