Thumbs up
Big payoff. State officials rightly patted themselves on the backs this week for paying off a $1 billion unemployment debt about five months early, which saved taxpayers $13 million in interest costs. The state’s unemployment agency had to take on the debt during the recent Great Recession to write unemployment checks as joblessness climbed. More.
In the middle
Body cameras. Perhaps there will be more accountability for police in risky situations now that Gov. Nikki Haley has signed a bill into law to help local governments purchase body cameras for patrol officers. Prediction: Some bad behavior will remain. Why? Cameras can be turned off.
Abortions. The number of abortions in South Carolina is down 11.7 percent over the last five years, mirroring a national trend, according to a nationwide study. Note to culture warriors: the number would go down even more if you would provide more sex education and birth control (free condoms?) to high school students instead of waging dumb battles like the 20-week abortion ban, which would impact only a few births a year. More.
Thumbs down
Pettiness. A big thumbs down to some S.C. Republican women for removing the name of Walter Scott, the unarmed North Charleston man slain by a police officer caught on a video that led to a national outrage, from a body camera bill originally bearing his name. Their reasoning: He was behind in child-support payments. Really? The man’s dead. You could have made your point in some other way that wouldn’t have made you dishonor him and make you look like pure jerks. More.
Dumb DHEC. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again. Thumbs down to the state Department of Health and Environmental Control for approving seismic testing for oil and natural gas exploration off the South Carolina coast. Listen to the dozen of coastal cities that say this is a dumb idea. More.
Road funding. Because state legislators didn’t deal with road funding this year, some county roads may face real threats. Get the job done. More.
We Can Do Better, South Carolina!