PARENT'S RIGHTS NOW!

SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO BE AUDITED?

Bill Davis writes in the March 5, 2010 edition of South Carolina Statehouse Report:

DSS may be next

Move over DOT, ESC. The next acronymic state agency that might get investigated by the LAC (Legislative Audit Council) may be DSS, or the S.C. Department of Social Services.

Senate leaders reportedly are not pleased with reports that the agency that is charged with assisting and protecting some of the state’s most vulnerable citizens may have to pay between $10 million and $13 million in fines for this year and next year for failing to comply with federal guidelines. The agency is already struggling due to a sudden increase in calls for family assistance as a failing economy has caused major stress on many South Carolina families (emphasis added).

While we do not doubt the accuracy of Mr. Davis' prediction, we do have two observations and one question.

First, the observations: (1)The fact that federal fines are to be assessed against South Carolina is such old news that we are surprised that anyone who covers South Carolina State Government would find this currently newsworthy. (2.) There is no need to perform an audit to determine who is to blame for the Mess at DSS; Larry McKeown and the General Assembly share the blame for the years 1998--2008 inclusive and Dr. Kathleen Hayes, Virginia Williamson, Esq., Larry McKeown, and the General Assembly share the blame for the years 2009-2012 inclusive.

And, now the question: Which Senate Leaders have just now become "not pleased" with a problem that has existed for over five (5) years? After all, this is one of the issues that House Freshmen were demanding answers about last year.