Thumbs up
S.C. Department of Corrections. Thank goodness the agency has seen fit to make concessions in dealing with mentally-ill prisoners, many of whom were abused for years. Now it’s up to the legislature to come up with more than $8 million to pay for the settlement of a 10-year-old lawsuit to improve conditions. More.
Children’s groups. Hats off to those who filed a major civil rights lawsuit against the state Department of Social Services for its inadequate service to children in its care. Let’s hope the judicial system pushes progress by throwing the book at the agency — like it did to the state Department of Corrections last year (above). More.
Kitzman. Congratulations to former state Insurance Commissioner Eleanor Kitzman, who has been named to replace Catherine Templeton at the state Department of Health and Environmental Control, pending Senate confirmation. More.
Wentworth. Hats off to Poet Laureate Marjory Wentworth for sticking to her guns and having the courage to write and disseminate a poem that outlines what a lot of people don’t want to hear about our past.
Thumbs down
Haley. No kudos for generally ignoring more road funding in your state budget plan when legislators and drivers are screaming for solutions. Furthermore, where’s the plan you promised during the 2014 campaign? (Privately, we hear that you thought you could get away without providing one after winning the election. Really? You’d better come up with something … and soon.) More.
Public Service Commission. People are getting awfully hot and bothered about the Uber car service. Where are South Carolina’s laissez-faire regulatory ideals now? More.
Ford. Even though former state Sen. Robert Ford pleaded guilty to this week to misconduct, forgery and ethics violations, he still says he’s innocent. Why? Because he can’t afford to pay for the cost of a trial. Come on. More.
We Can Do Better, South Carolina!