Haley, Wilson Unveil Separate Ethics Reforms

Gov. Nikki Haley sought to take a stand on ethics reform Wednesday, introducing five bullet points that she wants to see accomplished in 2013.

The list includes issues like streamlining ethics oversight, total income disclosures and freedom of information — topics where the governor has faced criticism and challenges in the past year, including a House Ethics hearing on claims against her as a House member.

"Through everything I've been through in the past year, I don't want any other person to have to go through I had to go through," she said. "This is protecting those in political office to know they did the right thing and, if questioned, having one avenue on how that goes forward."

Attorney General Alan Wilson joined Haley on the tour, but focused his comments on trying to address enforcement issues regarding political abuse.

Haley's plan also calls for equitable treatment of incumbents and challengers in campaign filing. Hundreds of candidates were forced off the primary ballots earlier this year because of a filing requirement that exempted incumbents.

"We want to make sure the filings are the same. This is about getting more people involved," Haley said. "This is not about incumbent protection."

The governor's proposal also called for mandatory conflict of interest disclosures. "Bottom line, we think the people of South Carolina deserve better," she said.

Wilson proposed a public integrity unit that will allow agencies to collaborate investigation efforts on day one, including state law enforcement, Department of Revenue, the Ethics Commission and the inspectors general office.

"A lot of times you have duplicative efforts," he said. "There's not a sharing of intelligence. There's not a sharing of resources."

It wouldn't be a new department, but an understanding between departments that they would work together in ethics cases.

Wilson noted he has been working with ethics leaders in the General Assembly on the ways to improve enforcement. "I'm happy to say there is a commitment to reforming ethics laws in our state," Wilson said. "We're all working on many issues of ethics reforms."

Haley said she expects that the House and Senate will come up with their own plans, but she wanted to lead with her own, independent proposal for reforms.