The end of the 2024 legislative session and now the beginning of 2025 has been rattled with the loss, misplaced or fully ignored $1.8 billion dollars in the SC State coffers. I was even accused of spending this non existent money in the election last year with a fake check being sent out to each constituent in the amount they were going to get back when I lost the election. Jimmy and I both got one of those checks so like 100,000 others in District 23 we are waiting on our checks. Since I told the truth and said all the time it was just an accounting error, I sure am glad I didn’t spend that money.
Now, all that being said, the State Treasurer has been under fire which I will agree this error should have been found sooner but crucifixion maybe isn’t in order. What is in order is changing the way we put people in the position of Treasurer, Comptroller General and Superintendent of Education. These are all positions that one should be qualified to hold. There needs to be certain education and experience standards in the respective field that should be met for each of these positions.
Shouldn’t the Treasurer who is charged with being the State’s Banker have a degree in Finance? Shouldn’t there be some financial experience tied to this very important position. It certainly should not be a popularity contest that comes and goes at the whim of the party in control. I think the same holds true of Comptroller and the Superintendent of Education. They need to be Accountable of the work they do but you can’t hold someone accountable who is doing on the job training. The State of South Carolina certainly does not need to hire another high salaried bureaucrat to babysit elected officials. This was the latest suggest from a committee member today. Let’s just throw more money at a problem?
We already have salaries for the positions we want to now have a keeper why don’t we just “hire” qualified people to fill these positions in the first place.
We have 170 Elected Legislators, some who are qualified and some who are not. We have some legislators who are only there for one purpose and it’s not for all South Carolinians but we also have some great Legislators. If the State would actually Participate in elections, and be informed when they do we would have many more great legislators.
There are just some positions we do not need to elect!
WHILE I BREATHE 