May 5, 2014 •
South Carolina Governor Rejects Ethics Proposal
Gov. Nikki Haley has rejected a proposed compromise on ethics oversight by the House ethics reform panel. The panel unanimously advanced a proposal in House Bill 3945 to create an independent investigative commission.
The commission would consist of 12 members selected by all three branches of state government and have the power to investigate allegations of violations by officials and candidates. Power to punish violations would remain with the existing House and Senate ethics committees. The governor has also rejected the panel’s previous attempt to create an omnibus commission with the power to investigate, judge, and punish.
The panel is attempting to find compromise between the House version containing a combined ethics committee and the Senate version maintaining separate ethics committees. The investigative committee proposal will go before the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, May 6, 2014.
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