12 Nov Ethics Reform
I just do not understand why our state legislature cannot pass ethics reform. If you have been following the series of stories in the Post and Courier over the past month or so you may find it is amazing what some members of the general assembly do with the money they raise for their re-election campaigns. Some hire each other as political advisors; some buy gifts for constituents from family and friends; some pay their gas bills even though they are given mileage and per diem; some but tickets and pay for travel to athletic events and more.
I have been thinking about whether the city of Beaufort should have an ethics package that covers elected officials and senior staff. I am not aware of any abuses but sometimes guidelines and reporting help keep people strait. Any thoughts? BK
Study: South Carolina the ‘Wild West’ of loose ethics
THE POST AND COURIER / GLENN SMITH / NOVEMBER 9, 2021
Lax ethics laws, sloppy enforcement and resistance to reform helped land South Carolina among the nation’s bottom-dwelling states when it came to government accountability and transparency, according to a new report.
The second State Integrity Investigation gave South Carolina a grade of D-minus, up a hair from the failing grade the Palmetto State earned in 2012. But the authors cautioned that the results were not directly comparable due to changes in methodology. The investigation was a joint effort by The Center for Public Integrity and Global Integrity, two Washington, D.C.-based nonprofits.