The cabinet agency focuses on protecting children from abuse and neglect, but has been stiffly criticized in recent months by legislators concerned over growing reports of an unresponsive agency amid the deaths of hundreds of children under protective services.

Apparently, those concerns had merit, according to the LAC’s investigation, which yielded 44 substantive recommendations. Read the report.

The report includes five main summary points:

1.      DSS staff has not ensured a well-qualified and compensated staff in line with nearby states.

2.      Child welfare caseloads are excessive and inequitable from county to county.

3.      There is not an adequate system for screening, investigating, treating and placing children safely in cases of reported abuse and neglect.

4.      Data on child “maltreatment deaths,” especially those with previous agency involvement, is not reliable.

5.      “Not all violent, unexpected, and unexplained child fatalities are being reported and reviewed as required by law.” 

What led to today’s report

The investigation came as the result of a legislative request from several politicians, including state Rep. Jenny Horne (R-Summerville). Past LAC investigations and findings have led to several agency overhauls, including one in recent years at the state Department of Transportation.

“It’s worse than we thought,” said Horne, who received a copy of the report Thursday and said she spent the evening reading it. By Friday morning, Horne appeared at a Senate subcommittee hearing to give further testimony.

This came on the heels of a DSS lawyer attempting to have Horne, a lawyer, removed from an earlier hearing as she is representing several clients in lawsuits against the agency.

Neither the agency’s current interim executive director nor its spokesman were available this morning for comment, as they reportedly were both at the same Senate hearing as Horne.

The blame game

Horne prefiled a bill in 2013 calling for the agency’s overhaul at the beginning of this year’s legislative session, but it didn’t get out of subcommittee. Horne said she felt “confident” that her bill would gain more traction in the upcoming legislative session’s agenda.

When asked, in light of the LAC’s findings, what DSS has done right, Horne was terse: “Apparently nothing.” When asked what portion of the blame should be laid at the feet of Gov Nikki Haley, a fellow Republican, Horne said, “Well, it is a cabinet agency.”

DSS troubles may become a political brickbat this year, as Democratic gubernatorial candidate state Sen. Vincent Sheheen (D-Camden), has already made an issue of Haley’s management after scandals at DSS, the state Department of Health and Environmental Control, the state Department of Revenue and other cabinet agencies.

Friday morning requests for comment from Haley’s office went unanswered.

Independent Republican Tom Ervin, who jumped into the governor’s race because of the mess at DSS, said the state needed new leadership at the top because of the problems at the agency.

“Not only is DSS unable to protect our vulnerable children, it forces some children to remain in harm's way,” he said in a press statement. “The gross negligence of Gov. Haley's DSS poses a real threat to the safety of the children they are charged with protecting. Now we are learning that 152 child fatalities were never reported to SLED.

“While the council's findings are now being revealed, the statistics are not new; more than 250 children have perished under Gov. Haley's watch. At what point will she recognize the danger this negligent agency is to our children?”

Other developments

Friday’s report also came on the heels of an announcement Thursday from DSS that it would be hiring hundreds more caseworkers and giving raises to current employees at a cost of more than $6 million. Some in state government wondered, “With what money?”

As it turns out, the money will come from cash that had been held at the Department of Health and Human Services, another cabinet agency. DHHS agency head Tony Keck said Friday morning his agency has “reserves” and its normal operating budget that can cover the new hire spending.

DSS has been an embattled agency for the better part of a year, with legislators, especially state Sen. Joel Lourie (D-Columbia), calling for major changes. One of the changes that has already occurred was the resignation of the agency’s former director, Lillian Koller, after repeatedly failing to come to Senate hearings.

Bill Davis is senior editor of Statehouse Report.  He can be reached at:  billdavis@statehousereport.com.

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• 9/26: Down-ballot state races don't get much attention
  9/19:  2015 might be the year for tax reform
• 9/12: Bipartisan group seeks to transform S.C. House
  
• MORE NEWS: Archives
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There are lots of meetings going on next week:

• Education. The Higher Education Efficiency, Effectiveness and Accountability Review Committee will meet 1 p.m. Oct. 6 in 105 Gressette for its first meeting, which will include electing a chair. The meeting is expected to be broadcast online. Agenda.
  
  
• Transportation. The Joint Transportation Review Committee will meet 3:30 p.m. Oct. 6 in 207 Gressette to discuss screening of former state Rep. Ronald Townsend of Anderson. Agenda.
  
  
• Domestic violence. The House special Criminal Domestic Violence Ad Hoc Committee will meet 9:30 a.m. Oct. 7 in 101/110 Blatt. Agenda.
  
  
• Bonds. The Joint Bond Review Committee will meet 10:30 a.m. Oct. 7 in 105 Gressette to discuss various projects. Agenda.
  
  
• Disabilities. The Health and Human Services subcommittee of the Senate Finance Committee will meet 1 p.m. Oct. 7 in 207 Gressette to hear from Beverly Buscemi, director of the state Department of Disabilities and Special Needs.
  
  
• Animal welfare.  A select committee on animal welfare of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee will meet 7 p.m. Oct. 7 in Florence at Florence-Darlington Tech. More. The committee will also meet Oct. 14 in North Charleston.
  
  
• Expungement. A joint study committee on expungements will meet 9 a.m. Oct. 8 in 105 Gressette. Agenda.
  
  
• Ethics reform. The Investigation and Enforcement subcommittee of a special House committee on Freedom of Information Act will meet 1:30 p.m. Oct. 8 in 516 Blatt. Agenda.
  
  
• Procurement. The state Procurement Review Panel will meet 9:30 a.m. Oct. 10 in 108 Blatt. Agenda.

Programming note: Statehouse Report Editor and Publisher Andy Brack is a guest on the current televised edition of Carolina Business Review. It features a discussion of governmental relations between states and municipalities with Charlotte Mayor Dan Clodfelter. The show will next be broadcast at 5 p.m. Oct. 8 on ETV World, 6 p.m. Oct. 10 on ETV World and in November on ETV. But you can watch now online here.

It looks like candidates -- at least on the majority GOP side of the House -- for new speaker of the House are down to one -- Acting House Speaker Jay Lucas, R-Hartsville.

This week, two challengers -- former Majority Leaders Kenny Bingham R-Cayce, and Jim Merrill, R-Daniel Island --  joined in a letter throwing their support to Lucas. 

While it looks likely that Lucas will become speaker, who knows? Two things to consider:

• Harrell is only “suspended.” House Speaker Bobby Harrell remains in office, but in suspended status. That means he is actually still speaker -- and if his troubles go away before the House organizing session, he could run for the top job. Chance of that? Very unlikely. But keep in mind that his picture and a message from him continue to be the opening Web page for the S.C. House online. Click here.
  
  
• The Leon factor. Meanwhile, somebody’s started a Facebook effort to urge moderate Democratic state Rep. Leon Stavrinakis to run for speaker -- click here. That, however, may be nothing more than a wily attempt by folks in Charleston to try to keep Stavrinakis from running for mayor next year.

OCT. 3, 2014 -- So it’s a month away from the general election and Democratic gubernatorial challenger Vincent Sheheen brings up the Confederate flag. Coincidence? Smart strategy? Or desperation for relevance?

It certainly isn’t a coincidence. Trying to shift debate to more favorable ground during elections is what politicians do. But in this instance, it’s probably a blend of a smart campaign tactic and a last-ditch effort to secure victory to issue a call to remove the Confederate flag from the Statehouse grounds.

“This is something I’ve been planning to do for quite some time,” Sheheen told us this week. “It is the right thing to do at the right time. 

“If you want to make a real difference in the state, you only have so many opportunities to do that. The eyes of the state are on me. I wanted to lift it up as a major issue. We are in a point in time in South Carolina where we can accomplish this goal.”

Down 10 points in a new Winthrop Poll and four points in another survey, Sheheen needed to do something to focus his campaign on the differences between his values and those of incumbent GOP Gov. Nikki Haley. 

The flag -- an old issue propped up throughout the years -- also may help energize his African American base, which some say is lukewarm because of the alternative offered by a potential spoiler, common-sense talking, independent Republican Tom Ervin. But with more people moving into the state over the last few years, many may wonder why we’re still talking about the Confederate flag. That may get them to the polls and send them to Sheheen or Ervin.

Some background: Back in 1962, the legislature voted put the flag on top of the Statehouse. Some say it was raised as part of the 100th anniversary of the Civil War. Others counter it was really hoisted to remind people of South Carolina’s opposition to the national struggle over civil rights. The flag, however, didn’t come down after the end of the anniversary celebration. 

In 1996, GOP Gov. David Beasley called for the flag’s removal. Later he amended his position but by then the whole thing didn’t sit well with enough people that by 1998, it became a reason Beasley didn’t win re-election. By 1999, calls intensified for the flag’s removal. The next year after thousands marched from Charleston to Columbia to protest the flag, lawmakers reached a compromise that took the banner off the Statehouse dome, but placed it on a pole in a memorial in front of the building -- a place where many critics complained it actually had a more prominent position.

Today, Sheheen rebuffs criticism by Haley’s supporters that seeking to remove the flag is desperate. Haley, who could lose votes from her conservative base if she agreed with Sheheen, could not be reached for comment about whether the flag should stay or go. Her press aides, as usual, did not return calls and other outreach.

“She refuses to answer the question because she’s not a leader,” Sheheen jabs, noting that Haley is 43 percent or below in the new polls. Most observers would agree that it is dangerous for any incumbent to be in the low- to mid-40s just a month out from the election.

Ervin, the independent Republican, agrees with Sheheen. "The flag should not be flown in front of the Statehouse,” he said in a statement. “The flag has a place in the history of South Carolina. For some. it is a symbol of oppression and for others. it is a symbol of states' rights.

“A symbol this divisive should not be flown in front of the Statehouse. Rather, it should be placed In our State Museum so we can remember our past and look to our future."

Whether Sheheen’s call for the flag’s removal will be effective will be seen in the days ahead. One thing he has to worry about is that this new message is off-script. For weeks, he’s been blasting the governor with ads that say she can’t be trusted for one reason or another. And regardless of what you think about the Confederate flag, it’s not about trust.

Andy Brack is editor and publisher of Statehouse Report.  He can be reached at:  brack@statehousereport.com.

• 9/26:  Broaden the tax base
• 9/19:  Why we vote on Tuesdays
• 9/12:  Legislature not corrupt, but has work to do
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• FEEDBACK:  feedback@statehousereport.com
  
  

By Emile DeFelice
Special to Statehouse Report

OCT. 3, 2014 -- I am running for commissioner of agriculture to rein in [current Commissioner] Hugh Weathers's spending spree and provide true leadership.

I ran in 2006 after originally supporting Hugh when he was appointed by Mark Sanford. I was quickly disillusioned. Farming and food are my passions, not politics, and Hugh quickly revealed himself to be just another ordinary politician, preserving the status quo that enriches him and his friends. Having run successful farms and markets, I know we can do much better with much less of your money. Being a leader means tackling tough problems and taking brave positions. Other than 'Keep Hugh Weathers,' Hugh isn't bringing much to the table, and his big-government philosophy belongs in China, not South Carolina. 

My priority is to privatize the state farmers' market system, drastically reduce spending and to be a leader instead of a gate-keeper. Having run a private, successful farmers' market for 10 years, I understand how to operate without taxpayer handouts. Hugh Weathers has single-handedly destroyed the Columbia market, and spent $100 million to relocate it on top of a landfill miles away from its customer base, who have predictably abandoned it.

Moreover, he allocates millions of dollars per year to advertise it and S.C. agriculture. The largest, most successful industry in the state can take care of itself -- we have more dignity than that. Hugh Weathers never got the 'fiscal conservancy memo' from the GOP. His private and public career is based on government subsidies and handouts to a small circle of co-conspirators. Gains in production have come at the cost of reducing the number of farms and farmers. I will cut these costs entirely and restore fiscal common sense to the SCDA. 

Here's what I will do:

1) Implement privately funded strategy to reverse the appalling plan and execution of the Columbia State Farmers' Market.

2) Privatize all three state markets -- the government has no business running these, especially so poorly.

3) Eliminate advertising and wasteful spending (such as Hugh's $17,000 office makeover) -- cutting the S.C. Department of Agriculture budget in half.

4) Work toward making the commissioner of agriculture an appointed position with staff to cover core functions of government such as food and plant lab testing, and biological security.

5) Outsource the weights and measures division -- again, the private sector will do a better job for less money.

People are tired of the two-party gridlock and politicians enriching themselves with no accountability, and I am thankful for the bi-partisan effort made by Jim Rex and Oscar Lovelace to create the American Party, on behalf of normal people wanting normal things. Like term limits. Like financial transparency. Like if you commit a felony or ethical transgression, you can't run again. Or if you plain old embarrass the state, voters have the right to recall you from office.

Mine is a one-term proposition with concrete, achievable goals. Ask yourself: Is Hugh the best we can do?

Please consider voting for me in November. I won't let you down. 

Emile DeFelice, a former farmer, runs two Columbia businesses. Now a candidate for the American Party, he ran for commissioner of agriculture in 2006 as a Democrat.

To the editor:

We have a residence in Mount Pleasant, S.C. , currently a second home.  We have sold our principal residence in Sapphire, N.C., and will likely make a permanent move to Charleston County.

So the tax consequences are important. [Brack, 9/26: "Broaden the base"].  I practiced cardiology/ administration in Anderson for 20 years after my 28 years of military service. Thanks for helping me to stay aware of SC Issues.

A second interest is providing healthcare for the needy of my state of residence. I was a free clinic volunteer for 28 years in Anderson and hospital board member and volunteer physician in Brevard, N.C.

-- Dr. Frederic G. Jones, Mount Pleasant, S.C.

Sheheen. Congrats on calling for removal of the Confederate flag to a place of honor. It might not be enough to win, but it’s good to inject this back into the debate.