The South Carolina House Republican caucus on Wednesday called for Governor Sanford’s resignation. House Speaker Bobby Harrell did the same the day before.A letter, signed by Majority Leader Kenny Bingham, was hand delivered to the Governor today(Wednesday).

Bingham says caucus support for the letter was sufficient, with 61 of the caucus’ 72 members supporting it. 

Representative Nikki Haley is among those who did not sign the letter. She says the leadership of the General Assembly is merely stoking the fire created by Sanford’s scandal, keeping it going. She says they’re doing so for their own political posturing.  Haley is running for governor. She says state lawmakers shouldn’t kid themselves into thinking that Sanford’s departure would make things better.

Bingham says the caucus has been placed in a very difficult position.  But he says its members know that the focus of the state needs to be in some place other than the governor’s scandal. [Read more...]

Governor Sanford’s business travel record is currently under review by two groups: the state Ethics Commission and a subcommittee of the South Carolina Senate Budget Committee.The chair of the Administrative Subcommittee, Greenville Senator David Thomas, says that the governor’s practice of taking business-class trips overseas is a major issue since state law only allows for purchase of the cheapest tickets available. Sanford asserts that taking business-class trips has been a common practice among all recent governors, going back to Carroll Campbell and possibly beyond.

But Thomas says that Sanford’s response on that point will be considered, even though he has referred to the practices of past governors. “One can argue that.  It’s a mitigating argument.  Anything that can help him is fine and I’ve asked him to submit it.  And we’re looking at things that won’t help him.  A full complement back and forth is what we’re working on.”  [Read more...]