A letter from South Carolina State Senator Wes Hayes, Chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee to his fellow senators titled “Reimbursements from Campaign Accounts – - Lodging, Meal and Travel Expenses Defrayed by Subsistence and Mileage Allowances” was clearly inspired by the actions of someone in the senate.
Remember, this is done in accordance with and are to be measured against the criteria referenced in Senator Wes Hayes’ letter and, of course, the state “Code of Laws:”
No candidate, committee, public official, or political party may use campaign funds to defray personal expenses which are unrelated to the campaign or the office if the candidate is an officeholder nor may these funds be converted to personal use.
District 23 Senator Jake Knotts who is, interestingly, one of Mark Sanford’s most virulent adversaries, has his own curious spending.
Senator Knotts’ expense records for the first three quarters of this year include
- Almost $2,500 for mobile phone expenses.
Really? Are all these business AND campaign-related?
- $120 for Lake Murray Residents Association membership
Wait. “Residents?” Does that sound personal to you? Well, it’s not the first time Senator Knotts has paid for membership dues from campaign funds.
- $7 for a parking ticket?
OK… not much, but funny.
- $79 for “District 23 Hotel Room” in Mt. Pleasant.
- On March 21, two stays in the Raleigh, NC Sheraton for “District travel.” $61
Not campaign travel, mind you, district travel. No place in the state of North Carolina is in Senator Knotts’ district.
- Nearly $3,000 for gas.
Remember, these are campaign funds, not personal or for travel to and from the capitol for legislative sessions.
- “Constituent meetings” in Camden and Murrell’s Inlet. About $45.
JUST a little outside District 23.
- One “constituent meeting” – in his district – was at Goodfella’s in Lexington – $132 – on New Year’s Eve.
There are some mighty civic-minded folk in District 23.
- Parking fees at the Doubletree in Charleston. $27
Senator Knotts parked at the Doubletree, but, apparently, didn’t stay there because there was no hotel bill for there or anywhere in Charleston. No gas or meals either. That was the only expense in Charleston. Odd, yes?
- $46 at a Waffle House in Dillon under “travel expense.”
How much must you eat to run up a $46 tab at a Waffle House?
- $501 for “District 23 Flowers for Fallen Soldiers Family Recognition Banquet.”
Now, I’m all for support to our troops and the families of those lost or wounded in battle, but for these monies to come from campaign funds seems a little unseemly to me. Did Senator Knotts make this contribution out of a personal feeling of gratitude or as a more crass campaign promotion?
Out of the nearly $17,000 in the three-quarter expense reporting period, these items don’t seem like much. And, to be fair to Senator Knotts, this kind of “fudging” (if, indeed, that is what it is) is not unique to him, especially when it comes to things like cell phone expenses.
But… BUT … if Senator Knotts or any other legislator is gonna go gunning for Mark Sanford for marginal ethics issues, then they got some reading to do – something about a speck in your brother’s eye…
NEXT: Somebody Got Some ‘Splainin’ To Do
I am shocked that the fat tick also known as Sen Jakie Knotts only ate $46.00 worth of food at the waffle house.
Obviously, it was a mid afternoon snack…and not a full porker meal.
Did the wind talk to Jakie and give him a warning??
Keep after that blowhard, Knots. The folks in Lexington need to grow some brains and vote him out!
Porky Knotts is at it again?
I should have known. I could expect no better from him: South Carolina’s premiere fascist pig.
Jake Knotts is the best argument there is for post-birth late, late term abortions.
He is a scourge and the very embodiment of everything that is wrong with the Republican party in South Carolina. Good ole boys need to be sent to “live on the farm” so some real conservatives can actually do the right thing and restore this once great state. Oh, and, BTW, Joe Wilson is a good ole boy too. Just look at who runs his campaigns and his recent statement of support for nancy-boy lindsey graham… ’nuff said.
Do people really want this tub-o-lard to represent them? Really? His elections have to be rigged because if the people in his district were really that stupid there would be perpetual car wrecks, infinite fire department calls from people “trapped” in their own homes, and a general implosion that would make 12 monkeys look like the teletubbies.
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As a Lexington resident, I would be more than happy to vote ol’ Jakie’s fat fanny out of office. When I went to the polls last election, however, he was the only one on the ballot. He won by default.
@Anna Next time, write in Mickey Mouse.