Sixth District Congressman and House Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn did not vote for a bill to curtail the work of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

In a statement today after the vote for passage of the bill in the house, introduced by 1st District Rep. Tim Scott, Clyburn said the board is charged with protecting workers’ rights.

“As the former director of an independent agency — the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission – I know firsthand that such agencies come under fire when decisions they make are not popular. I don’t agree with the NLRB’s case against Boeing, but I believe in the purpose of the agency and its independence from political influence.” Clyburn said. “The current House action is an attempt to meddle in work of this independent agency in order to gain political points. I don’t support the NLRB’s Boeing complaint, and I don’t support this political gamesmanship. That is why I voted against the legislation.”

Attorney General Alan Wilson

The city of North Charleston sent a letter of intent last month to sue several state agencies in federal court. North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey says the state went against its agreement signed in 2002 that places rail on the southern end of the Port of Charleston. The state wants to place rail now on the northern end–a community Summey has worked at redeveloping.

Now, the state has filed a petition to question the constitutionality of North Charleston’s intent. Attorney General Alan Wilson–

We’re not seeking to undo the MOU, the Memorandum of Understanding. It will be in its entirety, fully maintained, this will not affect the integrity of that agreement betweent he city of North Charleston and the State Ports Authority. This is a constitutional issue. Can a sub-agency in executive branch of government without legislative authority bind the entire state? Our answer to that is it cannot. [Read more...]

A South Carolina woman has been convicted for breach of trust after she falsely claimed her daughter had cancer and collected sympathy donations for her “treatment.”  Angela Chapman, age 36, of Whitmire has been ordered to pay restitution of $1,849.85 dollars in 30 days.

Chapman was arrested May 25 after people reported differences in the woman’s story about her 15-year-old daughter needing treatment for cancer at St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

Newberry Sheriff Lee Foster says an investigation found her story to be a scam and says Chapman had even gone so far as to drive her daughter to Memphis, Tennessee to take pictures of her outside the facility in order to perpetuate the fraud. The sheriff says that $1,500 in donations were cash, thus making it difficult to return the money to individual donors. He says that if restitution is made, the money will be donated to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.