PARENT'S RIGHTS NOW!

The Associated Press has reported Former DSS official to plead guilty. This is a sad story. But the sadder story is that of the mounting fines related to the inability of SCDSS to implement the federally-mandated computerized child support tracking and collection system.

Once again we ask: "WHY SHOULD LARRY MCKEOWN NOT BE STANDING IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT LINE?"

Back on June 2, 2009, we called for closer transparency of the financial records of Family Courts and Sheriffs. And that was before we learned Former Clerk of Court Elizabeth Smith arrested, incarcerated at Beaufort County Detention Center, released on bond, Ex-Greenville County court clerk faces embezzlement charge and, County official in SC resigns amid audit.

Hopefully, audits will establish that these three individuals are guilty of nothing more than carelessness and any missing funds can be recovered. But, regardless of the outcome of these cases, they serve as a reminder that greater transparency of the financial records of Court Clerks and other agencies that process fines and taxes is warranted.

Back in February, Earl Capps posted State House freshmen demand answers from SC DSS.

We wonder how this inquiry is progressing. The last we heard, South Carolina was still the only State in the United States lacking a computerized child support tracking and collection system. Yet, not only did the Legislature seem unconcerned about the mounting fines and child support arrearages, but diverted over $500,000 from DSS's budget to a failed abstinence-only education program.