Newest EOC member signed anti-public school pledge

Somebody please tell Gervais this is a joke.

Somebody please tell me that the newest member of the Education Oversight Committee is not a signatory of an oath against public education … a pledge that says:

“I proclaim publicly that I favor ending government involvement in education.”

According to this press release (pdf), Julie Hershey of Greer is Mark Sanford’s latest appointee to the Education Oversight Committee, the group charged with supervising our public schools.

But the press release neglected to mention one thing.

Ms. Hershey is a signatory of a pledge against these very same schools, according to the website of the “Alliance of Separation of School and State,” the California-based group that champions the above oath. She’s been a signatory since at least as far back as 2004, according to an archived version of the site.

If this scenario – the governor appointing an anti-public school oath signatory from Greer to the Education Oversight Committee – sounds familiar, there’s a reason.

What the heck is going on here?

House 66: Howard Rich targets Gilda

What’s the best way to surprise your enemy while advancing for a lethal blow?

I have no idea. Go ask a ninja.

But if you’re one of millionaire Howard Rich’s voucher groups, and you want to take out Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, you might try funding a candidate with out-of-state cash after the final campaign finance disclosure, so the public doesn’t know what you’re up to.

You might try that, but it probably won’t work.

According to disclosures filed Monday with the Ethics commission, Rep. Cobb-Hunter’s opponent got over half her campaign funds from Howard Rich and his associates.

Priscilla Robinson, House District 66
$1,000 5/22/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 51 First Avenue LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 Rich & Rich LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste. 507 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 Howard Rich, Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 Bradford Mgmt of NY Inc., 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/20/2008 Joseph D Stillwell, 26 Broadway 23rd Floor NYC
$1,000 5/18/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Rd. 1, Mountain Home, AR
*$1,000 5/31/2008 John Petry, 260 W. 72nd St, Apt. 4D NYC
*$1,000 5/31/2008 Robert Goldstein, 11 West 54th St. NYC
*$1,000 5/31/2008 Joel Greenblatt, 11 West 54th St. NYC
*$1,000 5/31/2008 Charles Ledley, 305 2nd Avenue, No. 516 NYC

* I don’t know who these guys are, but they also helped fund Curtis Brantley’s campaign.

Senate 12: Bright funding kept in the dark

On May 27^th, Senate candidate Lee Bright turned in his final pre-election campaign finance disclosure. Here’s how much out-of-state voucher cash it showed:

$0.00

With just two weeks to go before the primary election, nothing.

Of course, that number didn’t stay at zero for long ... the goose-egg hatched just two days later.

With the coast clear, the out-of-state voucher cash from Howard Rich and associates started flowing like iced tea from the Beacon Drive-In, which may or may not actually be in that district.

Would full disclosure, real disclosure, have made a difference in Lee Bright’s 51%-49% victory over fellow Republican Scott Talley in Senate District 12?

I dunno. But Howard Rich and SCRG sure seem to have thought so.

Lee Bright, Senate District 12
$1,000 5/29/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Bradford Mgmt of NY, Inc., 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 51 First Avenue LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 470 W 166 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Spring, Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 West 14 & 18 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Stilrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Silver & Silver Properties LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Spooner LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Secure Data LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Rich & Rich Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Rich Acquisitions, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Streetrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Springrich Limited Partnership, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Rich & Rich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 123 Lasalle Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Rd 1, Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 5/29/2008 Douglas Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd., Miami Beach, FL
$1,000 5/29/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 28 Broadway NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 John Kirtley, 339 S Plant Ave, Tampa, FL
$1,000 5/29/2008 Kevin Spillane, 2443 Fair Oaks Blvd 191, Sacramento, CA
$1,000 6/11/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 123 Lasalle Inc., 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 28 Broadway NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Rd 1, Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 6/11/2008 Douglas Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd., Miami Beach, FL
$1,000 6/16/2008 Secure Data LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/16/2008 Silver & Silver Properties LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/16/2008 Spooner LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/16/2008 Rich & Rich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/16/2008 Springrich Limited Partnership, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/16/2008 Streetrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/16/2008 Rich Acquisitions, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/16/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/16/2008 Rich & Rich Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/16/2008 Rosemeade Investors LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/23/2008 Paul Farago, PO Box 8907, Asheville, NC

Also Spartanburg-related: Vierdsonian Democracy - Howard Rich's Joey Millwood threatened by Doug Brannon

Public Service Announcement

Howard Rich spent a lot of money on Katrina Shealy

Senate District 23 candidate Katrina Shealy took an incredible amount of money off Howard Rich’s hands in her recent primary loss to Republican Jake Knotts. And I mean incredible.

The State on Friday reported that “[o]ut-of-state donors accounted for $57,000, or 41.5 percent, of what Shealy raised.”

But those numbers, as disturbing as they are, did not include the runoff election. Include the runoff, and Shealy got 51% of her campaign funds ($97,000) from out-of-state.

How much of this out-of-state voucher cash were voters aware of on Election Day and Runoff Election Day?

Um, just $5,000.

The rest came during the “blindspot,” the period between Shealy's final public disclosure and the election.

Which means there wasn't much “disclosure” at all.

Katrina Shealy, Senate District 23
$1,000 6/12/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 Spooner LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 Springrich Limited Partnership, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 Trucker 49 LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 Streetrich LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 StillRich LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 West 14 & 18 LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St., Room 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Bradford Mgmt, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Ashborough Investors, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 51 First Avenue LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 4220 Broadway Inc, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Rich & Rich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Rich Acquisitions LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Rich & Rich Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Rosemead Investors LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Secure Data LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Spinksville LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Silver & Silver Properties, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 123 LaSalle Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 123 LaSalle Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Spring Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/09/2008 Silver & Silver Properties, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/09/2008 Secure Data LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/09/2008 Rich Acquisitions LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/09/2008 Rich & Rich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/09/2008 Rich & Rich Associates, 73 Spring St., Room 408 NYC
$1,000 6/09/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/09/2008 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/09/2008 Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/09/2008 51 First Avenue LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/08/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/08/2008 407 W. 166 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/08/2008 Streetrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/08/2008 Spooner LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/08/2008 Springrich Limited Partnership, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/31/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/31/2008 4220 Broadway Inc, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/31/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/31/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/31/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/31/2008 123 LaSalle Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/06/2008 123 LaSalle Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/06/2008 Bradford Mgmt, 73 Spring St. NYC

$1,000 6/11/2008 William A. Wilson, 14024 Woodbury Woods Ct. Fairfax, VA
$1,000 6/11/2008 Douglas H. Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd., Miami Beach, FL
$1,000 6/11/2008 Joseph D. Stilwell, 26 Broadway 23rd Flr. NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Road 1, Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 6/09/2008 Mark W Dane, 1500 Lexington Ave., Apt 23B NYC
$1,000 6/09/2008 William A. Wilson, 14024 Woodbury Woods Ct., Fairfax, VA
$1,000 6/09/2008 Anita Anderson, 1161 Rhode Island St., San Fransico, CA
$1,000 6/09/2008 Paul R Farago, PO Box 8907, Asheville, NC
$1,000 6/09/2008 Alan J. Pomerantz, 767 Fifth Ave. NYC
$1,000 6/08/2008 Joseph D. Stilwell, 26 Broadway 23rd Flr NYC
$1,000 6/04/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Road 1, Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 6/04/2008 Sarah Vanderveen, 301 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach, CA
$1,000 6/04/2008 David Vanderveen, 301 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach, CA
$1,000 5/31/2008 The Stone Creek Group (Kevin Spillane) Sacramento, CA
$1,000 5/31/2008 Paul C Jost, 2640 Jockey's Neck Trl, Williamsburg, VA
$1,000 5/31/2008 Chandler Mgmt (Paul C. Jost) Newport News, VA
$1,000 5/31/2008 Judith T. Wilson, 10424 Woodbury Woods Ct., Fairfax, VA
$1,000 5/28/2008 John Kirtley, 339 S. Plant Ave. Tampa, FL
$1,000 5/28/2008 Kimberly Kirtley, 339 S. Plant Ave. Tampa, FL
$1,000 5/28/2008 Douglas H. Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd., Miami Beach, FL
$1,000 5/28/2008 Carol S Pomerantz, 1185 Park Avenue, Apt 5C NYC
$1,000 5/15/2008 Eric S. Okeefe, 5367 Highway C, Spring Green, WI
$1,000 5/15/2008 E & L Corporation, PO Box 279, Spring Green, WI
$1,000 5/15/2008 Joe A. Pence, 424 Flinthill Place, Mountain Home, AR

Notes:
1. 73 Spring Street, NYC is the address of Howard Rich.
2. Joseph Stilwell of New York is a director of Rich’s “U.S. Term Limits.”
3. Yvonne Rich of Arkansas was a co-director of Rich's “Colorado At Its Best.”
4. Kevin Spillane was the spokesman for Howard Rich’s failed 2006 California Takings Initiative.
5. Bill Wilson is a director of Rich’s “US Term Limits” and “Americans for Limited Government.”
6. Paul Farago is a director of Rich’s "Americans for Limited Government."
7. John Kirtley of Tampa is chairman of a national voucher group with ties to Amway and Wal-Mart.
8. Doug Levine is a director or former director of Rich’s “Legislative Education Action Drive.”
9. Paul Jost is the chairman of the Virginia Club for Growth, which Rich oversees as president of Club for Growth State Action.
10. Anita Anderson was the named sponsor of Howard Rich’s failed 2006 California Takings Initiative.

Nanney: 45% from Rich and Associates

House District 22’s next lawmaker filed her post-election campaign finance disclosure on Saturday, and the good news is that 55% of her money came from “South Carolina,” the triangular-shaped state that surrounds the district.

Only 45% came from out-of-state voucher interests.

But, in keeping with SCRG’s modus operandi, most of the money from Howard Rich and his associates was funneled in after the final pre-election disclosure, so voters had no idea.

Wendy Nanney, House District 22 (won)
$1,000 5/29/2008 834-14 Realty, 73 Spring St NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Rich and Rich, 73 Spring St NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Springs St Rm 507 NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 Kevin Spillane, 2443 Fair Oaks Blvd 191 Sacramento, CA
$1,000 5/28/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 A Partnership, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 51 First Ave LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 470 W 166, 73 Spring St Rm. 406 NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 Bradford Mgmt of NY, 73 Spring St NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 123 LaSalle, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/26/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Rd 1, Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 5/12/2008 Alan Pomerantz, 767 Fifth Ave NYC
$1,000 2/26/2008 John Kirtley, 339 S Plant Ave. Tampa, FL
$1,000 2/13/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 26 Broadway 23rd Fl NYC

Nutt, Whitehurst bankrolled by voucher interests

It would’ve been a lot of money for voters to swallow. But then again, “voters” were never aware of it.

90% of the out-of-state voucher cash that fueled the Roger Nutt and Trey Whitehurst campaigns was pumped in after the final campaign finance reports, so folks wouldn’t see it before heading to the polls.

The only things the voters saw were these quotes in the newspaper:

Spartanburg Herald-Journal, 6/5/08: “Nutt also says it's misleading for critics to categorize him as a puppet of ‘out-of-state interests’ when a relatively small amount of his direct campaign contributions come from people affiliated with Rich…”

Anderson Independent-Mail, 5/28/08: “Regarding receiving money from groups based outside the state, Whitehurst said, ‘I have received a total of $5,000 from out of state, and most of that was from my family.’”

Roger Nutt, House District 35
$1,000 6/01/2008 Newrich, LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/01/2008 188 Claremont LLC 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/01/2008 538-14 Realty LLC 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/01/2008 4220 Broadway Inc. 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/01/2008 332 E. 11, LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/01/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/01/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/01/2008 Bradford Management of NY, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/01/2008 470 W. 166 LLC 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/01/2008 51 First Avenue, LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/01/2008 Dayrich, LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/01/2008 Bayrich, LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 Stonecreek Group (Kevin Spillane), Sacramento, CA
$1,000 5/30/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Rd., Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 5/30/2008 Joseph D Stilwell, 26 Broadway 23rd Floor NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 Alan J Pomerantz, 767 Fifth Ave. NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 Paul R. Farago P.O. Box 8907, Ashville, NC
$1,000 5/30/2008 Douglas H Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd., Miami Beach, FL
$1,000 5/09/2008 123 Lasalle Assoc., 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/09/2008 123 Lasalle Inc., 73 Spring St. NYC

Trey Whitehurst, House District 3
$1,000 6/12/2008 51 First Ave. LLC 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 470 W. 166 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 332 E. 11 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Rd 1, Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 6/12/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 26 Broadway 23 Fl. NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 Bradford Mgmt of NY, Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 Alan Pomerantz, 767 Fifth Ave. NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 Stonecreek Group (Kevin Spillane) Sacramento, CA
$1,000 5/26/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/25/2008 Paul Farago, P.O. Box 8907, Ashville, NC
$1,000 5/02/2008 123 Lasalle Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 4/30/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC

Few: 51% from Howard Rich and Associates

Sheri Few may have lost her runoff election, but she won the distinction of being the GOP primary candidate in House District 79 who took the most cash from Howard Rich and associates: 51% of her campaign was bankrolled by SC's biggest special interest.

Tied for second place were GOP nominee David Herndon (0%) and Republican Tony Lamm (0%).

I've place an asterisk beside the contributions that were not reported on Few's May 25th pre-election disclosure.

Sheri Few, House District 79
$1,000 6/11/2008 123 Lasalle Inc, 73 Spring St Room 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Douglas H. Levine 2760 N. Bay Rd., Miami, FL
$1,000 6/11/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 26 Broadway, 23rd Floor NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 Alan J. Pomerantz, 767 Fifth Ave. NYC
*$1,000 5/22/2008 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
*$1,000 5/22/2008 Silver & Silver Properties LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
*$1,000 5/22/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
*$1,000 5/19/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
*$1,000 5/19/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
*$1,000 5/19/2008 4220 Broadway Inc, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
*$1,000 5/19/2008 470 W 166 LLC 73 Spring St. Room 408 NYC
*$1,000 5/19/2008 51 First Avenue LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
*$1,000 5/19/2008 Howard Rich, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408, NYC
*$1,000 5/15/2008 Douglas H. Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd., Miami, FL
*$1,000 5/10/2008 The Stonecreek Group (Kevin Spillane) Sacramento, CA
*$1,000 5/05/2008 Paul R. Farago, PO Box 8907, Asheville, NC
*$1,000 5/01/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Road 1, Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 4/29/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 4/29/2008 123 Lasalle Inc, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 3/04/2008 188 Claremont LLC 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 3/04/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Springs St. Rm. 507, NYC
$1,000 3/04/2008 Bradford Mgmt, 73 Springs St. Rm 507, NYC
$1,000 2/28/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 26 Broadway, 23rd Floor NYC
$1,000 2/28/2008 John Kirtley, 339 S Plant Ave., Tampa, FL

Notes:
1. 73 Spring Street, NYC is the address of Howard Rich.
2. Joseph Stilwell of New York is a director of Rich’s “U.S. Term Limits.”
3. Yvonne Rich of Arkansas was a co-director of Rich's “Colorado At Its Best.”
4. Kevin Spillane was the spokesman for Howard Rich’s failed 2006 California Takings Initiative.
5. Paul Farago is a director of Rich’s "Americans for Limited Government."
6. John Kirtley of Tampa is chairman of a national voucher group with ties to Amway and Wal-Mart.
7. Doug Levine is a director or former director of Rich’s “Legislative Education Action Drive.”

House 81: Trojan Horse in Horse Country

UPDATE 7/20/08: According to the Aiken Standard, Scott Singer has returned all but $3,000 of the funds sent to his campaign by Howard Rich, noting that he did not feel comfortable getting so much money from a single source.

Scott Singer’s ill-fated campaign for House District 81 didn’t get any contributions from Howard Rich and his associates, except for a lot.

Based on disclosures filed Thursday, SCRG dutifully funneled gobs of Rich's out-of-state money into the open-seat race against eventual GOP nominee Tom Young.

You're going to find this hard to believe, but Howie's SC puppet group made sure Aiken voters had no idea … none of this money was pumped in until after the final ethics disclosure.

Those rascals!

Scott Singer, House 81
$1,000 6/30/2008 4220 Broadway Inc, 73 Spring Street, Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 Silver & Silver Properties LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 51 First Avenue LLC, 73 Spring St, Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 Bradford Mgmt of NY Inc, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St., Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 470 W 166 LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 123 Lasalle Inc, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Road 1 Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 6/30/2008 Douglas H Levine, 2760 N. Bay Road, Miami Beach, FL
$1,000 6/30/2008 Paul R. Farago, PO Box 8907, Asheville, NC
$1,000 6/30/2008 Joseph D Stilwell, 26 Broadway, 23rd Floor NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 Alan J Pomerantz, 767 Fifth Avenue NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 The Stonecreek Group (Kevin Spillane) Sacramento, CA

Roach: 69% from Howard Rich and associates

If you ever wanted to know what lawmakers were thinking when they passed a certain bill, a good place to start is a little blurb they call the “Whereas Clause.” Most of the time, the “Whereas Clause” is right at the beginning of the bill.

Usually it goes something like, “WHEREAS, there aren’t enough different types of license plates in South Carolina…”

If you're nerdy enough to look at the “Whereas Clause” of our state ethics laws, you’ll see that lawmakers wanted to “to improve the disclosure of contribution sources in reasonable and effective ways” and “to reduce the influence of large contributors with specific financial stakes in matters before government.”

But enough with the Civics lesson… let’s check in on the disclosures filed Thursday by Ken Roach, who lost his open-seat GOP primary against Mike Forrester on June 10^th.

In that race, Roach got 69% of his campaign contributions from New York millionaire Howard Rich and associates. But, of course, voters in Spartanburg County had no idea, because all this cash came in after the final public disclosure. In fact, it came in after the election itself.

Deficit spending to avoid disclosure… you gotta love it, people!

Ken Roach, House District 34
$1,000 6/19/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 Rich and Rich LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste 507 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring Street Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 Howard Rich, Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 Bradford Mgmt of NY Inc, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 51 First Avenue LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 470 W. 166 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 332 E. 11 LLC, 73 Spring Street Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 4220 Broadway Inc, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 Joseph Stilwell 26 Broadway 23rd Floor NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 Douglas Levine 2760 N. Bay Road Miami, FL

Long: 40% of primary funding from Rich & friends

Optometrist Deborah Long, the Republican nominee to replace Mick Mulvaney, seems to share Mick's affinity for Howard Rich's voucher cash.

According to disclosures filed Tuesday with the State Ethics Commission, Long got 40% of her primary campaign funding from the libertarian millionaire and his associates.

Voters in District 45 didn't know this, though, because the vast majority of this cash came during the blind spot (optometry pun!) between her last public disclosure and the June 10th election.

Of course, hindsight is 20/20.

Deborah Long, House District 45
$1,000 6/02/2008 188 Claremont LLC 73 Spring Street Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring Street Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 The Stonecreek Group (Kevin Spillane) Sacramento, CA
$1,000 6/02/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 123 Lasalle Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Joseph D Stilwell, 26 Broadway, 23rd Floor NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Road 1, Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 6/02/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/19/2008 Bradford Mgmt of NY, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/18/2008 123 LaSalle Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/18/2008 Alan J. Pomerantz, 767 Fifth Ave., NYC

House District 2 disclosures in

According to disclosures filed Tuesday with the State Ethics Commission, Howard Rich and his associates funded about 65% of the unsuccessful primary campaign against Rep. Bill Sandifer (R-Oconee).

Rumsey might rhyme with clumsy, but the financiers of Ed Rumsey's campaign were downright skillful when it came to keeping all this private school voucher cash hidden from the view of voters.

SCRG funneled most of the out-of-state cash into the campaign after the final pre-election finance report.

Deceptive? Sure. Underhanded? Yep. Contrary to the purpose of our state disclosure laws? Of course.

But it's what we've come to expect from the purveyors of "sewer politics" in South Carolina.

Ed Rumsey, House District 2
$1,000 5/30/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 123 LaSalle Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 470 W 166 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 507 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 The Stonecreek Group [Kevin Spillane], Sacramento, CA
$1,000 5/30/2008 Paul Jost 2640 Jockey's Neck Trl, Williamsburg, VA
$1,000 5/30/2008 Paul Farago P.O. Box 8907 Asheville, NC
$1,000 5/30/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 26 Broadway 23rd Floor NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 Doug Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd, Miami Beach, FL
$1,000 5/30/2008 John Kirtley, 339 S. Plant Ave., Tampa, FL
$1,000 5/30/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Rd, Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 5/12/2008 Bradford Management, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 5/12/2008 LaSalle Associations, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 5/12/2008 Alan J. Pomerantz, 767 Fifth Avenue NYC

Notes:
1. 73 Spring Street, NYC is the address of Howard Rich.
2. Joseph Stilwell of New York is a director of Rich’s “U.S. Term Limits.”
3. Yvonne Rich of Arkansas was a co-director of Rich's “Colorado At Its Best.”
4. Kevin Spillane was the spokesman for Howard Rich’s failed 2006 California Takings Initiative.
5. Paul Farago (actually of Oregon) is a director of Rich’s "Americans for Limited Government."
6. John Kirtley of Tampa is chairman of a national voucher group with ties to Amway and Wal-Mart.
7. Doug Levine is a director or former director of Rich’s “Legislative Education Action Drive.”
8. Paul Jost is the chairman of the Virginia Club for Growth, which Rich oversees as president of Club for Growth State Action.

House District 122 still belongs to Howard Rich

According to disclosures filed Monday, the most influential address in House District 122 (Beaufort, Hampton, & Jasper Cos.) is still libertarian Howard Rich’s SoHo apartment.

For the last two years, the seat has been occupied by Curtis Brantley, elected in a 2006 campaign that was funded 84% by Howard Rich and friends. This year, more of the same: Brantley got at least 65% of his funding from Rich and associates.

But the sole member of the legislative black caucus to vote for vouchers isn’t an idiot…

Like Republican Dee Compton, he waited until after the final pre-election disclosure to let Howard Rich slather his bread with copious amounts of New York butter.

After all, what the voters don’t know, won’t hurt ‘em.

Curtis Brantley, District 122

$1,000 5/28/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 123 Lasalle Inc., 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 405 49 Associates 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 4220 Broadway Inc. 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 470 W 166 LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 51 First Avenue LLC, 73 Spring St., NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 Howard Rich, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 Bradford Mgmt. of NY Inc., 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 Rich & Rich Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 Rich Acquisitions LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 123 Lasalle, Inc., 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 26 Broadway NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC

$1,000 5/28/2008 The Stonecreek Group [Kevin Spillane] Sacramento, CA
$1,000 5/28/2008 Paul Farago, P.O. Box 8907 Asheville, NC
$1,000 5/28/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 26 Broadway NYC
$1,000 6/23/2008 Yvonne Rich, 21111 West Rd. Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 6/19/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 26 Broadway NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 Doug Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd., Miami Beach, FL

Dee Compton funded by Howard Rich

If you ever wondered how many entities NYC libertarian Howard Rich uses to get around our state’s contribution limits, look no further than candidate Dee Compton’s latest ethics disclosure, filed Saturday with the State Ethics Commission.

Seriously, the last time an out-of-state millionaire discretely lavished this much money on someone, Julia Roberts was nominated for an Academy Award.

Per SCRG's standard operating procedures, voters in the primary had no idea … all this voucher cash was given during the blind spot between the candidate’s final public disclosure and the election.

Dee Compton, Senate 10

$1000 6/20/2008 Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Rich & Rich Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Rich & Rich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Newrich, LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Dayrich, LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 470 W 166 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 51 First Ave. LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Bradford Mgmt of NY, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Secure Data LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste. 507 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Spooner LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Silver & Silver Properties LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 123 Lasalle Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Rich Acquisitions LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste. 507 NYC
$1000 6/11/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1000 5/24/2008 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 406 NYC
$1000 5/24/2008 Springrich LP, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1000 5/24/2008 Streetrich, LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste. 408 NYC
$1000 5/24/2008 West 14 & 18 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/26/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC

And, of course, Rich's associates:

$1000 6/20/2008 Alan J. Pomerantz, 73 Spring St., Rm. 507 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 W. Rd. 1 Mountain Home, AR
$1000 6/20/2008 Joseph D. Stilwell, 26 Broadway, 23rd Flr. NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Paul R. Farago P.O. Box 8907 Asheville, NC
$1000 6/20/2008 Paul C. Jost, 2640 Jockey's Neck Trl. Williamsburg, VA
$1000 6/20/2008 Kevin Spillane, 2443 Fair Oaks Blvd 191 Sacremento, CA
$1000 6/20/2008 Anita Anderson, 1161 Rhode Island St., San Francisco, CA
$1000 5/24/2008 John Kirtley, 339 S. Plant Ave., Tampa, FL
$1000 5/24/2008 Douglas Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd. Miami Beach, FL

Notes:
1. 73 Spring Street, NYC is the address of Howard Rich.
2. Joseph Stilwell of New York is a director of Rich’s “U.S. Term Limits.”
3. Yvonne Rich of Arkansas was a co-director of Rich's “Colorado At Its Best.”
4. Kevin Spillane was the spokesman for Howard Rich’s failed 2006 California Takings Initiative.
5. Paul Farago (actually of Oregon) is a director of Rich’s "Americans for Limited Government."
6. Anita Anderson was the named sponsor of Howard Rich’s California Takings Initiative.
7. John Kirtley of Tampa is chairman of a national voucher group with ties to Amway and Wal-Mart.
8. Paul Jost is the chairman of the Virginia Club for Growth, which Rich oversees as president of Club for Growth State Action.

Happy 4th of July

From the Bridges Family to your family...

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

1260 mph down I-26

$18,000.

According to disclosures filed Wednesday with the State Ethics Commission, that’s how much money libertarian Howard Rich spent in a single day (May 27th) in a single House District (#31) trying to oust Rep. Harold Mitchell in the June 10th primary.

That’s 18 times the South Carolina contribution limit for an individual. In a single day.

For a little perspective, if there was a similar loophole in our speeding laws, Rich could travel 1260 mph (Mach 1.6) down Interstate 26.

All told, Rich funded 65% of the campaign to unseat Mitchell. Factor in his associates, and it’s more like 76%.

Voters didn’t know about this because, in true SCRG style, the voucher cash was tucked into the race during the two-week “blind spot” between the final disclosure and the election.

Here’s the breakdown from the Ethics Commission, for those of you keeping score at home:

Candidate Raymond Russell, Total Contributions: $27,500
$1,000, Springrich Limited Partnership, 73 Spring St., Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000, 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000, Silver & Silver Properties LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000, Rich Acquisitions LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste 507 NYC
$1,000, 332 E11 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000, Bradford Mgmt of NY Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000, 123 Lasalle Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000, 188 Claremount LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000, 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000, 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000, 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000, 470 W. 166th LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000, 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000, Rich & Rich Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000, 51 First Avenue LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000, Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000, Howard Rich Sole Proprietor, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000, Newrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000, Joseph D. Stilwell, 26 Broadway, 23rd Floor NYC
$1,000, Paul R. Farago, P.O. Box 890, Asheville, NC
$1,000, Douglas H. Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd., Miami Beach, FL

Howard Rich, SCRG targeted Rep. Jackie Hayes

“House incumbent Rep. Jackie Hayes is truly one of the most conservative members of the House Minority party,” according to a recent endorsement from the SC Chamber of Commerce.

So why would a group like SCRG, who says its goal is to “implement and sustain conservative policies,” target Hayes (D-Dillon) by funneling tons of out-of-state money to try to oust him in his June 10^th primary?

Probably the same reason any lawmaker is targeted by SCRG: because he doesn’t support New York libertarian Howard Rich’s voucher agenda.

According to disclosure filed Monday, 88% (Update: 96%) of Hayes’ primary opponent’s contribution total for the election cycle was from out-of-state. 48% was from Howard Rich's own entities at 73 Spring Street, New York City.

Voters at the polls didn’t know this, mind you, because all this out-of-state voucher cash was funneled by SCRG during the “blind spot,” the period between the final disclosure and the election. (Hayes still managed to squeak by with 78% of the vote.)

Anyway, here’s the breakdown, from the State Ethics Commission:

Candidate Zina Manning, Total Contributions: $8330
$1000 (5/29) Joseph D Stilwell, 26 Broadway 23 Floor NYC
$1000 (5/29) Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Rd. 1, Mountain Home, AR
$1000 (5/29) Kevin Spillane, 2443 Fair Oaks Blvd, Sacramento, CA
$1000 (5/29) Paul Farago, PO Box 8907, Asheville, NC
$1000 (5/29) 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 (5/29) 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 (5/29) 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 (5/29) 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC

Notes:
1. 73 Spring Street, NYC is the address of Howard Rich.
2. Joseph Stilwell of New York is a director of Rich’s “U.S. Term Limits.”
3. Yvonne Rich of Arkansas was a co-director of Rich's “Colorado At Its Best.”
4. Kevin Spillane was the spokesman for Howard Rich’s failed 2006 California Takings Initiative.
5. Paul Farago (actually of Oregon) is a director of Rich’s "Americans for Limited Government."

More on SC's fake conservation group

Gervais decided to delve a little deeper into South Carolina’s first bogus conservation group, “Citizens for Sound Conservation,” this weekend.

I figured the best way to learn about the group, and perhaps win its endorsement in my upcoming general election contest (Chesterburg Co.) was to fill out their “candidate questionnaire.” (pdf).

It consisted of 13 yes/no questions and one essay question:

1. Do you support the use of incentives over government regulations when it comes to balancing growth with environmental protection?

Yes, incentives are better. I think a good incentive would be, “If you dump this here, we’ll fine you thousands of dollars or take away your permit.” Wait, that’s a regulation. But, in the interest of getting this endorsement, I’ll stick with “yes.”

2. Do you believe environmental goals can be met via market driven reforms rather than government mandates?

The free market has done wonders for the environment (that’s why there’s no pollution!) so let’s give it a whirl.

3. Generally speaking, do you believe the business community is doing a good job in advancing environmental protection initiatives?

Most business leaders want to take care of the environment, either because of common sense or because they realize South Carolina’s natural beauty is one of its biggest selling points. In fact, there's only one anti-conservation website in the whole state.

4. Recent studies indicate that the average consumer may pay $100 or more on their monthly electric bill if utilities are required to include renewable energy options. Do you support renewable energy mandates even if consumers are forced to pay more?

My last electric bill was $131, so it sounds like my costs would go down in this hypothetical situation. But thanks for looking out for the consumer, Ralph Nader.

5. Do you support efforts to place a moratorium on the construction of coal plants for energy production?

No. I support a "less-atorium," a word I just made up to hide the fact that I don’t know what “moratorium” means.

6. Do you support South Carolina based offshore exploration for natural gas?

Only as opposed to on-shore exploration.

7. Do you support the renewed focus towards nuclear energy?

I support nuclear energy if it powers my laptop. But the focus should probably be on renewable energy.

8. Do you believe the State Ports Authority, through its permitting and voluntary efforts with DHEC, is taking appropriate management actions to ensure cleaner air and water is achieved with port expansion?

I have reason to doubt “port expansion” can achieve cleaner air and water. But if it can, let’s make the whole coast a port.

9. With regard to conservation and the economy, do you believe that sound, proven science should be the predominant factor in drafting regulations for a statewide water plan?

If “sound science” is anything like “sound conservation,” I’ll say no.

10. Do you support imposing impact fees on home buyers to pay for government services associated with new residential development?

Maybe I just fell off the turnip truck, but I thought impact fees are imposed on developers, not “home buyers.” And of course the developers should have to pay for government services for new developments.

11. Do you support establishing regional planning bodies with land use and planning authority over and above those powers already exercised by county and municipal governments?

I don’t know. Municipalities and counties are already expensive enough for developers to co-opt, so I think another layer of authority to purchase might make development cost-preclusive.

12. Do you believe that property owners should be compensated as a result of land use regulations or ordinances that devalue their property (also known as “regulatory takings” or “just compensation”)?

I think there are better ways to cripple a community's ability to plan land use.

13. Regarding energy policy, do you support the philosophy of some environmental groups who believe that limiting supply and increasing cost is the best approach to energy conservation?

Personally, I’m sick of these environmentalists nagging me to turn off the bathroom light. What if I’m going right back in there? Okay, so I’m not. I’m sorry. Yes, we can watch Desperate Housewives.

14. What do you believe is the most important environmental issue facing our state and what is your approach to solving that issue?

Conservation, by conserving land and water.

Gervais says, I’m pretty sure I’ve got this endorsement locked up.