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.

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SAWYER ‘DEPRIVED MAN OF RIGHT TO NOT HAVE ASS KICKED BY COPS’

Three months after one South Carolina trooper was acquitted for using excessive force on a fleeing criminal, another has plead guilty.

Ex-Highway Patrol officer John B. Sawyer pleaded guilty Monday to depriving a man of his right to be free from the use of unreasonable force by a police officer, according to U.S. Attorney Walt Wilkins. In other words, the guy was caught red handed (screen cap above) kicking a dude in the head for no reason.

Sawyer was indicted in July after the Department of Public Safety released a video that showed him kicking a man in the head after a 2006 highway chase. The video released after media requests was one of several showing South Carolina troopers acting aggressively.

Sawyer was placed on leave and later resigned from the highway patrol. Sawyer had pleaded not guilty in July. He’ll be sentenced later. [AP]

If I were Sawyer, I would just say I was practicing for the big family reunion football game. His colleagues would have probably make fun of him for being the kicker, but it sure as hell would have beat prison. Especially when you’re a cop. I hear all the stuff from the movies is true.

GOVERNOR TO BE INVOLVED IN RACE TO REPLACE HIM, MCMASTER MOST LIKELY TO WIN ENDORSEMENT

The blossoming friendship between Gov. Mark Sanford and Attorney General Henry McMaster has almost cost me my lunch on a few occasions, so reading John O’Connor’s piece in The State today about the 2010 governor’s race truly tripped my gag reflex.

That’ because Sanford said he will be actively involved in the campaign to choose his predecessor. The governor told O’Connor it’s “very, very important” who succeeds him.

As if that weren’t bad enough, O’Connor points out that Sanford has good reason to not endorse three of the four Republican candidates.

Sanford has history with two of the candidates — [Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer] and [Carroll Campbell III], the son of the late Republican governor — that suggests he will not support them. Last year, Sanford removed Campbell from the S.C. State Ports Authority board, prompting Campbell to sue. The lawsuit later was dropped.

O’Connor further noted that Congressman Gresham Barrett has been very critical of Sanford. That leaves McMaster as the most likely candidate to win Sanford’s endorsement, and it leaves me wishing I had never gotten out of bed this morning.

RNC CHAIR HOPEFUL INKS ENDORSEMENTS FROM TWO MORE DELEGATES

Just prior to Christmas, South Carolina GOP Chair Katon Dawson landed a big endorsement from New Mexico chairman Allen E. Weh in his bid to lead the Republican National Committee. And while the rest of us were enjoying the holidays, he added a few more.

Alabama Republican Party Chairman Mike Hubbard and North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Linda Daves both said they would vote for Dawson when the RNC members vote on Jan. 29.

By my count, that’s nearly a dozen confirmed votes for Dawson from all over the country. And with a crowded field of candidates squabbling over only 168 votes, every one of those endorsements is vital.

With these endorsements, Dawson now has a majority of the delegates from three states — the threshold for getting on the RNC chair ballot. At least two of the three voting members of the RNC from South Carolina, North Carolina, and Iowa have announced their support of Dawson.

Rivals Ken Blackwell and Saul Anuzis have also put together a strong list of supporters.

WBF LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS FOR JAN. 24 EVENT

In just three short weeks, beer drinkers from all over the world will descend on Columbia for the World Beer Festival.

A celebration of all things frothy goodness, this Jan. 24 event will feature two sessions at which participants can sample beers from all over the world — coupled with music and food — for between $45 and $75. But if that price is a bit much for you, then you can volunteer to help out at the festival.

Why volunteer?
You’ll help a good cause - a portion of the proceeds from the WBF go to support two Columbia non-profits, Columbia Opportunity Resource (COR) and The River Alliance.

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SOUTH CAROLINA DEFEATS NO. 19 BAYLOR ON THE ROAD, 85-84

University of South Carolina head basketball coach Darrin Horn must have read The Palmetto Scoop earlier this week when I noted that he needed to turn things around — and fast — because that’s exactly what he did tonight.

The Gamecocks defeated No. 19 Baylor on the road 85-84 in a season-changing upset that propelled the school to 10-2 on the season.

Led by Devan Downey’s 23 points, the Gamecocks trailed for the entire game until getting its first lead midway through the second half. The game went back and forth from there, with Baylor grabbing a one-point lead with with 12.9 seconds left.

South Carolina battled down court and guard Zam Fredrick scored the game’s final field goal with five seconds left to put the Gamecocks ahead for good.

All five South Carolina starters scored double-digit points. The Gamecocks face Wofford on Monday at 7 p.m. in Columbia.

CONGRESSMAN WILL GIVE PAY RAISE TO CHARITY… NO WORD ON BILLIONS IN BAILOUT PORK

While millions of Americans are out of work at the height of one of the worst economic periods in U.S. history, Congress has decided that it deserves a pay raise for all that nothing they do on a regular basis.

Lawmakers voted to allow an automatic pay raise to take effect for this session which increased salaries by nearly $5,000. For Rep. Gresham Barrett though, this made for a wonderful opportunity to save a little face after flip-flopping all over the Congressional bailout bills.

Members of Congress are now slated to receive salaries of roughly $170,000 in 2009, up from not quite $140,000 ten years ago. Meanwhile, Barrett is making his opposition to the pay raise clear by giving all $4,700 of his salary increase to charity.

“I will continue to press for repeal of automatic pay raises, and this year I will be donating my salary increase to Anderson Interfaith Ministries,” Barrett said. “AIM is an organization made up of churches and individuals that provides assistance to the needy while guiding the people it serves to live independently within their own resources.” [Upstate Today]

Well, isn’t that just lovely. He’s going to give his extra cash to the starving children. But why stop here? What about some of the billions of dollars in pork that were stuffed into the previous bailout bills Barrett voted against, then for, then against again? Or, hell, how about giving away some of the rest of that posh Congressional salary?

CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA BOTH FALL IN NEW YEAR’S DAY BOWLS

The first day of 2009 wasn’t very kind to the two schools from South Carolina competing in New Year’s Day bowl games. Both Clemson and South Carolina were defeated to begin the year and end their season.

The Gamecocks faced Iowa in Tampa, Fla., in the Outback Bowl where they quickly found themselves down 14-0. Things only got worse from there as the Hawkeyes delivered South Carolina their third straight loss by a final of 31-10.

Following the game, Defensive End Eric Norwood and Cornerback Captain Munnerlyn both announced that they would join safety Emanuel Cook in entering the NFL draft. Tight end Jared Cook said he is also considering going pro.

A couple hours later and only a few miles down the road in Jacksonville, Fla., Clemson found themselves in a close matchup with Nebraska. The Tigers jumped out to an early lead in the Gator Bowl, but the Cornhuskers fought back from down eleven points in the second half to win 26-21.

Both Clemson and South Carolina finished the season with a 7-6 record.

(Photo: Reuters)