Legislators funnel nonprofit donations through state universities
Updated 11:06 p.m., May 31, 2008
The Post and Courier
South Carolina legislators are using some of the state's public universities as funnels, quietly channeling nearly $2 million in tax dollars to their favorite charities during the past three years, a Post and Courier investigation found.
Some legislators sent this money to nonprofit groups with which they have direct ties. For instance, state Rep. David Mack, D-North Charleston, has sent $700,000 through South Carolina State University to a Columbia-based nonprofit organization where he works and receives money.
But it was far from an isolated case. The newspaper's analysis found that legislators funneled money through most of the state's major public institutions of higher learning.
The practice raises questions about conflicts of interest and how legislators distribute public money.
"It looks like a way to camouflage money to do something they can't do or don't want to do directly, something that might be politically embarrassing," said John Crangle, director of the government watchdog group Common Cause of South Carolina.
Here's how it works: state legislators take money from the state budget and tuck it into universities' state appropriations - sometimes without the schools' prior knowledge. The universities then hand over that money to the charities.
The Post and Courier requested information, through South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act, from six of the state's largest public universities about money legislators had them pass through their budgets to charity groups over the past five years. Legislators used all of them except the College of Charleston and The Citadel to funnel tax dollars.
Read more in tomorrow's editions of The Post and Courier.
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Comments
zoomru (anonymous) says...
Well...Well.....
Thank You Post and Courier! Who wrote this article.....ah ..DIANE! Hmm..I wonder if you and TENISHA have a running bet going on?
Well...I'm adding this BAT to my campaign DUG OUT!
Legislators...... you are going to wish you were waterboarded !! This is conduct un-becoming a South Carolinian. It is UN-ETHICAL.
I Want Names...Amounts ..universities.....charity board members names and family members, phone numbers, email, tag number, and DNA !!! SCUM BAGS that do this don't deserve to be in public office. No wonder hard working people don't get elected. You funnel money to yourself to campaign against them. You probably funnel funds to these enviro wacko charities to block the legislation that you put forth to make you look good to the voters your robbing....YOU IDIOTS !!!
Editors ...if you can't take the heat to publish this information then pass it to TENISHA and I'll get it from her!! I will take each one to the WOODSHED if your owners of your newspapers don't have the GUTS to.
No wonder there is no money for FIRE HOSES !!
Mayor Riley....I hope the City doesn't do the same thing!!!!
May 31, 2008 at 1:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
carolinadude (anonymous) says...
Amen Zoomru!
This has to be stopped along with the Competitive Grants Program run by the budget and control board which is the primary legislative slush fund used for "earmarks" to "non profits" in SC. I agree with you that this program of "taxpayer funded politics" aka pork barrell spending is unethical and needs to cease, but WE MUST VOTE THE INCUMBENT RASCALS OUT" and publicly tell them why we're sending them home. The majority of these "scalawag incumbents" dare to refer to themselves as "conservatives" in public. VOTE THEM OUT ON JUNE 10TH. NO POLICITAL PARTY SHOULD BE SPARED BY THE VOTERS! WE NEED A "HOUSE CLEANING" IN COLUMBIA AND WASHINGTON.
May 31, 2008 at 7:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
carolinadude (anonymous) says...
Attn zoomru!
Your note stating, "mayor riley, i hope the city doesn't do the same thing!!!" reflects great perception on your part as a citizen. The cities and counties do indeed do the same thing using funds raised from the "accomodations tax". It's their own slush fund used to donate taxpayer dollars to non profits which is again "taxpayer funded politics" aka pork barrell spending at the local level. It tends to make "the power of incumbency" even stronger. VOTE THE RASCALS OUT!!
May 31, 2008 at 8:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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