Author: Paul Gable

Ethics Reform – Not So Fast

Ethics at the SC Ethics Commission

A recent story in The Nerve detailed the internet publication’s difficulties in obtaining a letter from the SC Ethics Commission to Gov. Nikki Haley.

According to the story, a freedom of information request was sent September 5, 2013 to the commission requesting a copy of an August 28, 2013 letter commission attorney Cathy Hazelwood wrote to Gov. Nikki Haley directing the governor to reimburse the state for travel costs incurred by her and her campaign staff during a June trip to North Carolina.

Initially, commission executive director Herb Hayden responded by saying no such letter was sent.

Continue Reading →

Properly Funding Coast RTA

Local funding for Coast RTA has been a topic of discussion, sometimes heated, for over a year.

The desire of Horry County Council to have more membership on the Coast RTA board almost cost the authority one-fourth of its funding from the county in the current fiscal year.

We are hearing a move may be made by some council members to substantially cut Horry County funding to Coast RTA in the 2014-15 fiscal year budget currently in its early stages of consideration by the county.

Continue Reading →
Fiscally Responsible Alternative to I-73

Fiscally Responsible Alternative to I-73

The I-73 project is back in the news as our local group of politicians is hoping to get a permit for the project from the federal government.

In these economically difficult times, fiscal responsibility, less spending, smaller government and lower taxes, is the refrain being sung by “conservative” politicians. If this is such a good idea, is it too much to ask our local politicians to practice what they preach, especially when it applies to big government projects like I-73?

Since the mid-1990’s, local politicians and business leaders have been saying the Grand Strand needs an interstate highway connection in order to sustain and build tourism. If you don’t believe it, just watch the advertisements, paid for by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, on local television stations telling us just that. If they say it, it must be so.

Continue Reading →

Lindsey Graham on Target on Iran

Sen. Lindsey Graham is right on target regarding the recent agreement between world powers and Iran on Iran’s nuclear development program.

Graham called the deal a “huge lost opportunity”. He said the deal allows Iran to remain on the edge of a breakout for producing nuclear weapons.

Graham is not alone. The governments of Saudi Arabia and Israel are both critical of the agreement, albeit for different reasons.

Continue Reading →

More Attacks on Curtis Loftis

S.C. Treasurer Curtis Loftis was subjected to another attack by the good ole boys at the S.C. Retirement System Investment Commission last week when staffer and former state senator Greg Ryberg went on a 20 minute rant against him during a commission meeting last week.

SCRSIC chairman Reynolds Williams would not allow Loftis to respond to Ryberg’s mouthing off, which seems to be a new tactic to attempt to wear Loftis down.

Loftis is the only member of the commission who questions the expenses and results of the SCRSIC, so he is the only member who is truly representing the citizens of South Carolina.

Continue Reading →

Committee Recommends Flow Control Amendment

The Horry County Infrastructure and Regulation Committee voted unanimously Thursday to remove construction and demolition waste from regulation under the county’s solid waste flow control ordinance.

The amended ordinance will now go to full council with a recommendation for approval. It will take three readings from council to make the amendment law.

The committee vote is a victory for small business and a reigning in of large, monopolistic government regulation of private business.

Continue Reading →

Judicial Doctrine of Irreparable Harm

By Paul Gable Buried in a decision yesterday in which the U.S. Supreme Court allowed a restrictive Texas abortion law to be enforced, while the constitutionality of the law is decided, is the concept of irreparable harm to states. Specifically, the concept is stated from a 2013 Supreme Court decision […]

Continue Reading →

Horry County to Amend Flow Control Ordinance

The Horry County Council Infrastructure and Regulation Committee will consider an amendment to the county’s solid waste flow control ordinance at its meeting Thursday.

According to a source familiar with the change, the amendment will remove the requirement for construction and demolition debris to be disposed at the Horry County Solid Waste Authority landfill on Highway 90.

If the amendment is favorably reported out of committee to full council, which is expected, a three reading ordinance amendment will have to pass county council to make the change official.

Continue Reading →

“Big Talk” Show Expands With Lunch Club

The “Big Talk” television political talk show is expanding its offerings after just two months on the air with the addition of the Big Talk Lunch Club.

Produced by Lucky Dog Television Productions, “Big Talk” features no holds barred discussions on local, state and national political topics of the day.

“Big Talk” is taped at noon each Monday at the Soho Restaurant located at 1300 Hwy 544, Conway. The show features discussion by Jon Bonsignor, Jack Murphy and Paul Gable.

Continue Reading →

Sheheen Pushing Ethics Reform

Sen. Vincent Sheheen got in the middle of the ethics reform debate in South Carolina with a letter to Sen. Luke Rankin, chairman of the S.C. Senate Ethics Committee.

In his letter, Sheheen, a Democrat who is expected to oppose Gov. Nikki Haley next fall in a rematch of the 2010 gubernatorial election, advocates stopping “constant abuses in order to clean up our state government.”

Specifically Sheheen advocates barring the use of the state airplane, state cars or any other state vehicles from being for political purposes including carrying political staff to events or for conducting fundraising activities.

Continue Reading →
1 … 116 117 118 119 120 … 172