State Leaders Call for Two Investigations Into Governor Sanford’s Travel

August 14, 2009 by senatormcconnell

South Carolina’s governor is back in the spotlight amid accusations of misusing state property and tax payer dollars.

“He continues to be dogged by these controversies, and rather than us moving on, here comes more stuff out,” State Senator Glenn McConnell said.

The latest controversy is over the governor’s travel. The state attorney general is asking for an investigation by the state ethics commission into whether the governor or his staff used state aircraft to travel on unofficial business. Meanwhile, the state senate’s leader, Senator Glenn McConnell, is calling for a separate investigation by the State Legislative Audit Council to look into the Department of Natural Resources. He says they were flying the governor with their planes and had no right to.

“Why was DNR being used? Those are law enforcement planes. We’ve got budget shortfalls all across state government. How does DNR have that much money that they can fly the governor around?” McConnell said. Read more

Senate is wrong choice for Sanford investigation

August 13, 2009 by senatormcconnell

Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, is urging a senator investigating Gov. Mark Sanford’s possible misuse of state resources to proceed with caution.

In a letter to Sen. David Thomas, R-Greenville, McConnell wrote that Thomas risks tainting any potential jury through his Senate investigation.

Thomas’ Senate Finance subcommittee is looking into whether Sanford misused state planes or used state money to visit his Argentinean lover.

Thomas concluded Monday that Sanford broke state law in flying business class on overseas economic development trips.

“In plain terms,” McConnell wrote, “investigative hearings by the Senate open the institution to the charge the jury pool has been compromised.”

McConnell said other, more appropriate groups should pick up the investigation.

McConnell suggested the House of Representatives, where any impeachment proceedings against Sanford would have to begin, or the State Ethics Commission would be better choices to investigate Sanford than a Senate subcommittee.

“I believe these investigations should begin as soon as possible,” McConnell wrote.

The State

Senator McConnell continues pushing spending caps during economic decline

August 10, 2009 by senatormcconnell

A real-life experiment in limiting government is under way in South Carolina.

The recession has downsized state government in a major way with agencies spending nearly $1.5 billion less than they did a year ago. Government is operating more efficiently by just about everyone’s standards, but it has shed a lot more than bureaucracies. Read more

McConnell Appoints Association of Taxpayers President To TRAC Commission

August 5, 2009 by senatormcconnell

South Carolina Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell announced today the appointment of Don Weaver to the South Carolina Tax Realignment Commission (TRAC). Weaver is the President of the South Carolina Association of Taxpayers a position he has held since 1998. He is also a realtor with RE/MAX Advantage Group and the Founder and CEO of Prime Financial Services.

Don Weaver has worked for over ten years on issues regarding the tax laws in our state through his work with the Association of Taxpayers and has seen the impact of those laws on people and businesses in his professional life. Mr. Weaver worked diligently on efforts to reform our state’s property taxes and to lessen the burden of state and local taxes on our citizens.

“Don will be an independent voice on the Commission who will bring his long proven fiscal conservatism and common sense to the discussion of reforming our tax laws. He will be the voice of the homeowner who has long shouldered the heaviest burden in our current tax system. I am sure he will make sure that homeowners are not sacrificial lambs to the special interests and status quo in Columbia,” Senator McConnell said in making the appointment.

McConnell concluded “Don will be someone who, like he has done for over a decade, makes sure that this Commission looks out for the Taxpayers and not the Tax Collectors.”