Not so transparent, after all
REPS. HALEY, BALLENTINE SOUGHT COMBINED $1.44 MILLION IN HIDDEN EARMARKS
In the battle for open government in South Carolina, few individuals have been more visible advocates than State Reps. Nikki Haley (R-Lexington) and Nathan Ballentine (R-Lexington). From press releases to blog posts to statewide tours, Haley and Ballentine have aggressively used transparency to inflate their statewide stature.
But the Haley/Ballentine brand of transparency may apply only to others and not to themselves, according to documents obtained by The Palmetto Scoop.
Signed letters from the Budget and Control Board show Haley and Ballentine requested a combined $1.44 million in competitive grants between 2006 and 2008.
The now-defunct competitive grants program allowed legislators to secretly sponsor earmarks and anonymously flood the budget with pork barrel spending — something that would seem to contradict the transparency rhetoric coming from both Haley and Ballentine over the last six months.
Haley told SCHotline.com in an August 2008 interview, “What I need is for the public to go to their legislators and say ‘we want [roll call voting], we want to see how you’re spending taxpayer dollars, and we know that you want this so that you can go on the record and show us how you’re trying to spend it wisely and not blow it away like everybody says.’”
Yet, only months before that interview, Haley requested a $69,274 earmark for the Orchestra Association of S.C. to launch a marketing campaign welcoming its new director. She also asked for a two earmarks totaling $30,000 for the Lexington County Museum, $85,500 for a nonprofit advertising campaign, and $60,000 for a Columbia College business group.
And those were just her 2008 earmark requests.
Haley’s most paradoxical competitive grant applications were in 2006 and 2007 when she secretly requested $90,000 for Lexington Fun Fest, $25,000 for Lexington Festivals, Inc., and $3,500 for Lexington Community Fun Day. This came prior to her 2008 re-election campaign in which she railed against competitive grants for festivals – including the Gilbert Peach Festival.
All total, Haley sought $668,689 in earmarks, none of which was made available to the public unless they knew the right person to ask.
But Ballentine put Haley to shame when it came to siphoning the surreptitious pork barrel cash. The Irmo Republican requested $775,871 in competitive grant earmarks during the life of the program.
Like Haley, Ballentine’s actions appear to conflict with his recent transparency tirades.
“While everyone has a right to anonymity, I prefer and respect those that say what they mean, mean what they say, and have the courage to be honest and straightforward instead of spinning and covering their tracks,” Ballentine wrote on his blog, mere months after his clandestine, two-year, quarter-million-dollar competitive grant binge.
“Representative Haley and I will continue to stay focused on policy,” he added. “Good policy like open government, transparency, accountability, campaign finance reform, on-line check registries and much more.”
Ballentine’s requests – which have apparently avoided the sunlight he supposedly seeks on his blog – included $100,445 for Project Pet to help homeless pets, $81,119 for office space at the Lutheran Homes of S.C., and $27,485 for water quality monitoring on behalf of the Lake Murray Association.
He also applied for two grants for HOPE Worldwide totaling $400,000 and $91,500 for the Columbia Soccer Club.
Until now, none of these requests have been made readily available to the public.
To view the signed competitive grant application letters, click here [pdf].
dam.. dey’s jus got served.
Why you gotta go ruin everything for us Fogle? Nikki-Nathan seemed like the real deal.
Adam,
Hidden earmarks? How do you describe a member’s signature being on documents as being hidden? I believe you know well enough about government (or I think you do) that “hidden earmarks” are when folks go to the budget for requests, get friends to slide in there, and never have to be held accountable for them. That’s how it worked until the House passed Earmark Reform (rule) which I pushed for last session. (For transparency you can go the video on my website where the Speaker and I talk about this on ETV or see my posts about the prefiling of the bill last year).
I’m glad you contradicted yourself by highlighting there are signed records for the requests I submitted on behalf of my constituents. As you’ve shared on your blog, those requests are available (transparent) on-line.
Unlike the voice votes we do in the House/Senate, these requests have a record of who asked for what with the Competitive Grants program. That is why I continue to push for more transparency in government so that other items in state government can have such records.
Now, because of some roll-call votes that are actually on record, you should also be able to find that I have voted against this same Competitive Grants program repeatedly in my years of office. Yes, my Huose colleagues thought I was crazy for voting against it but the way the program is handled needed overhaul. It is widely known that most legislators just sign and submit and then ask “the powers that be” to approve it. Not once did I ever make a phone call for approval. I turned down several requests and only considered a handful if they met the following criteria which I felt was needed before I would even place my name on such a request.
Here is how I managed this program from my office:
1) Any requests needed to be wider reaching than just one municipality or one county
2) Any requests were required to show how much private money was being used and how much public money they were requesting.
3) Any requests needed to specify where the public funds would be spent
4) Any requests were informed that any money left after the project would be returned to the state
You may be interested to know that I had constituents actually complained to me about “why are you making this so hard?” and “I just picked a figure because it would be good to get it”. I repeatedly went back to those requests that I considered signing and had them provide more information. In one such example, the original request was for 3x as much as I finally agreed to sign.
Lastly, one request was for less than 10% of a project’s budget that would have brought in over 100 families from NC to the Charleston Coast for a soccer tournament for 3 days/nights. After getting data from Charleston tourism offices, we learned the large upside to having that many folks come to our state for 3 days versus the total amount of state expenditures.
I do appreciate what you do as a blogger and thank you for letting me add more insight into your post.
Nathan Ballentine
House District 71
http://www.nathansnews.com
Representative,
First of all, these records are not available online. You have to go to the B&CB and ask for them, give them time to dig them out, and have them scan them and send them to you. That’s assuming you know to look at the B&CB and can tell them what you’re looking for.
Secondly, I don’t recall you once publicly acknowledging that you made these requests (feel free to prove me wrong). Unless someone knew to look for them, they would have never known you made them. I would call that “hidden.”
Third, you can paint this any way you want, but these are earmarks. Three-quarters of a million dollars worth at that. And you went out of your way to hide it.
None of this sounds like transparency to me.
- A.F.
Nathan,
It makes no sense to vote AGAINST a program and then try to use the money from that program FOR you district. If you’re against it, be against it. If you’re for it, be for it. Don’t flip-flop. Oh yeah, it’s also spelled “House.”
-Marty
I am glad the program is not around any longer; however, I dont understand your point. Should we not have roll call voting? It seems to me that everybody is trying to slam these two because they had a good but politically risky idea. They are now paying the price for having the guts to put it out there.
Ah, another swipe at Ballentine by the Qunnie machine….
dont worry nate yours werent as bad as nikki. but you still look a fool. next time dont try to play with the big boys unless you can keep your nose clean.
and marty is right you will forever be branded a flip flopper. is there a way we can get a scarlet letter for your kind?
Representative Ballentine followed the rules to the letteras far as I can tell. There is nothing secret about the awarding of the Competative Grants. That information is, and has been, available online on the Budget & Control Board website all along for the public to read. BTW- I was not a recipient of any of the grant funds, though I did request them through my legislators twice. Nor does either Rep Ballentine nor Rep Haley represent me or my area at the State House. I just think you should get your facts straight before painting with such a broad stroke.
Jim W — The competitive grants themselves are available online. But the legislators who sponsored them are not. Those are well hidden in the depths of the B&CB.
Coker — Transparency is needed. But Ballentine and Haley have muddied the waters and it’s time for someone less conflicted to pick up the ball and run with it.
Marty/turbo — You hit the nail on the head.
Busted!
Speaking of transparency, where are the signed competitive grant application letters? The link just sends me to a page with “Sorry, but you are looking for something that isn’t here.”
You guys can’t stand the thought that they called out the good ole boys. Leave them alone already. Is Harrell that vindictive? I’m starting to think the guy is crazy. Adam, where are the copies? How ironic if you click on the links to see nothing there. I had to laugh because it says you won’t find anything here. We all know Rick Quinn and Bobby Harrell are behind this. You guys are disgusting.
Fixed the link. Copies will work now.
It still rankles Rick that Nate kicked his butt. All that $$$ and he still got beat.
Where is Fogle when it comes to “sunlight” on issues such as the Hunley slush fund for Gen. McConnell . . . . ohh that’s right . . . Rick Quinn’s companies handle all of the Hunley’s fundraising and printing.
The Quinn revenge idea explains Ballentin but not Haley. Why go after her McFogle? Either way this is a harsh blow McFogle.
The only thing transparent @ this blog is a big dose of convoluting reality. I don’t expect you to publish my comment, seeing as how you like to squelch them. You personify government by contortion — and your desperation is almost pitiable.
Very enlightening story, Adam. Looks like Haley and Ballentine can be lumped in with the “good ole boys” as they like to call them. I just cannot believe the hipocracy of it all. Sickening. I can’t wait to hear their spin…good luck explaining asking for all that pork considering their newfound platform. Nsthan’s first shot needs a little tweaking by his friends.
Frankly, I am a bit surprised Rick, the chairman of the the Policy Council’s board let you post this. Seems you are a bit more unbiased than I thought.
I looked at all. Feel if the money has been set aside for the grants even if i didn’t vote for it they should try and bring as much to their votes as they can. I only seen one that i may not endorse.
Seems like the reforms they are fighting for would have enabled them to be found out a whole lot easier? Any politician that isnt proud enough to have their vote on public record probably shouldn’t be voting at all.
Hardly a story, these are from 2006 and a couple from 07. Point is it seems they have seen the way things really are done and are now changing things. I am certain that they would be more than willing to creat a bill that would make each of these items more transparent and easier to find than the B&C Board. Weak attempt Fogle!
A quick google search shows all requests on-line to everyone.
http://www.thestateonline.com/news/misc/competitive_grants.xls
Some real eye-openers! If you really want full transparency there it is.
I just scanned through the first 170 lines out of 1600!! Counted 35 House Members names and 21 Senators already. I would imagine they all asked for something since there were that many officials listed in just 10% of the requests I cared to review. I just wonder how hard some pushed for them?
Notice some requests near the end of the 1600 line items are listed as “A House Member” or “A Senator”. That’s pretty interesting. Now that’s hidden!
I imagine you have some beef with Reps. Haley and Reps. Ballentine and are trying to bring them down for their push against the establishment. Not sure but if one looks at the full 1600 lines available online, I don’t see how these requests were hidden.
Using “Fogle Logic” Haley/Ballentine are bad because they cast voice votes in the past. In QuinnWorld you aren’t allowed to do the best for your constituents under the current system while trying to change it for the better.
A good start…but missing the bigger point. There is more out there about how certain proponents of on-the-record voting have taken active steps to keep stuff OFF the record. And not just Nikki and Nathan.
Keep looking.
After reviewing the spreadsheet provided by “Steve” i did a quick sort by Legislator/Senator. Fail to see the story here, except that the real spenders, the ones who requested the most and the ones who got the awards, are those in leadership.
Higglytown Heros with kids…..where are the Taxpayer Heros? Emma asked if I wear a cape to StateHouse. 8:16 AM Jan 3rd from mobile web
Really? Twen ty-seven comments in six hours? Most from people I’ve never heard of?
This post is really red-hot!
Or something else is going on.
I would not have known about this were it not for this blog. Very few people would. I believe most people will agree when they find out what a disappointment these two Representatives are. I think that ids quite newsworthy.
Well, I’ll admit, this one has some meat on it. Obviously this post is a hatchet job on behalf of the Speaker, an RQA client. But, it sure made the hit dog yelp. Perhaps this sets a new standard–still an RQA machine, but at least skipping the spin cycle.
Fogle, why don’t you just state the obvious on your homepage. This site is a branch of Quinn inc. and will attack any politician that is currently, has been or will be an opponent of a Quinn client (especially if they are a Shealy client). This is a professional political site, admission is the first step.
I cannot wait for the follow up story where all of the RQA’s roster gets their ‘hidden earmarks’ disclosed.
Senator McConell is a supporter of recorded votes, too. Will he be getting a separate story?
Please tell me Rick is smelling a come back against Nathan in the next cycle.
That would be fun, Nathan would cream Rick! Although I’m not even sure Rick lives there anymore.
I’m thinking Rick lives in Lexington now.
So, when are you going to come clean about Ricky’s association with the trial lawyers? Oh, right — never. While you are at it, you could also tell the truth about running over that dude’s foot at Bar None. Vierdsen’s not holding his breath about that, though.
After reading through all of these comments, I agree with survivorwoman that this is an important story. Simply because these letters were sent 1 or 2 years ago does not make it any less news-worthy, the same goes for the argument that the information was burried in a spreadsheet tucked away on some website. Did any of you all know about it until this post? No? Then it is news-worthy.
I guess these are more politicans that you cannot trust. It seems now that Haley and Ballentine wanted to appear to be “above it all” when really thay are just as bad as the rest. I will not vote for my representative Nikki Haley again! I sick and tired of it.
hottest post on SC blogs, wonder why SCHotline hasn’t linked
There is no half in half out here folks. You’re either transparent or you are not! No excuses, No B.S., No back peddling allowed! They had their shot at credibility! Haley and Ballentine are hypocritical just like their bosom buddy Sanford. The people of this state should be long tired of this type of “Do the right thing not as I do” crap! Hey Haley and Ballentine, why don’t you stand up and yell Transparency a little louder—that might work—-righhhht!
Harrell a “Quinn client”? I don’t think so. I heard they don’t even talk anymore and that relationship is OVER. I love how this post is trying to be tied back to Bobby, I think you guys give him too much credit.
Bottom line is evident from Nathan”s “I’m not so transparent” post. Why would you go at great lengths to defend yourself on this, when the fact is you beat of the grants program called for it’s abolishment all the while asking for money from it. Your criteria doesn’t matter. You try to paint yourself as in the interest of the people, but in reality you are just the same as the rest. It’s take a while to earn trust, but only a second to lose it…you have lost it. Doesn’t make you a bad guy or a bad Representative, just a hypocrite, which most of the time is worse.
And really people, it’s no secret this site has ties to the Quinn’s, just like Will Folk’s site has ties to Sanford and Waldorf and their people. Not sure why that is even an issue….either they requested the money or they didn’t. The documents say they did. Nice work Scoop -
Jack, I can assure you Nathan IS NOT a hypocrite.
[Witness no longer needs protection. Witness armed and...capable.]
Take a look at who Nikki’s been paying to do her PR. Her disclosure for April 10, 2008 (pages 3 and 4) show her paying Will Folks money. No wonder his blog is so supportive of the “girl wonder.”
Voter person, all girls are a wonder to Will. What? You didn’t know that?!?
Mrs. Sic already has three children: Shorty, BabyFolks, and the other one.
Nathan is the biggest hypocrite in the House. Mr Goody Goody Two Shoes got it up his rear and he deserved it. He is the biggest do-nothing House member there is and a fake at that.
That’s not very nice, scgop.
The SCGOP may just be a tad riled-up about his not marching goose-step with them into bankruptcy.
Huh:
Okay, so it’s a hatchet job for Lord Vader, a.k.a. Rick Quinn. Whatever.
Let’s review—Ballentine/ Haley support/sign applications for Competive Grants.
Same duo trashes program at behest of Darth Sanford.
Fogle outs these two flip-floppers.
How does that egg taste Reps?
Otis, don’t steal my reference–it’s gauche.
So lets get this straight. We have to overlook them being hypocrites just because someone close to Quinn broke this story. So if Ballentine was caught by Rick Quinn robbing a bank it would be ok with yall for him to rob it because Quinn was the one catching him. That is stupid thinking by stupid people. Ballentine tries to be a pompous jerk and cut down his House colleagues when he is doing exactly what he accuses them of doing. Thats why no one in the House likes him and why he can’t get anything done. He will never accomplish a thing. What an ass.
I read the requests on The State a while ago. I can’t believe you guys are trying to make an issue out of Reps. making legal requests which are available to anyone who is interested? This all stinks of Koon/Quinn/Harrell. I really thought better of this blog.
It’s all a distraction. We the people want transparency in the state legislature and there are a LOT of power-brokers who want to keep the status quo.
BTW: Backstabber McConnell is on the record as wanting to control who and what is transparent and when. He’s afraid that we the people may interfere with his”legislating” if we have legal recourse to bring them to their knees when they try to hide their corruption in the future.