State Employees Attorney: 'It's Not About the Money'

The attorney for the USC chemistry professor who filed suit against the State Budget and Control Board (BCB) yesterday said the basis of the filing is not about that resulted from the BCB’s decision.

Michael Medlock, a lawyer based in Edgefield, said he filed the suit because he thinks the BCB broke the law.

“Whether it’s fair or not that state employees pay more of the health care doesn’t matter,” Medlock said. “It’s about the branches of government and the system of checks and balances that is in place.”

The defendants in the suit were served with papers today, according to Medlock.

He said he does not understand why Gov. Nikki Haley did not include the health care hike among her 81 vetoes, which would have forced the legislature to address the matter. “I can’t think of a case like this before,” Medlock said. “It’s like a second bite at the apple.”

Medlock went on to say that the law specifically permits only the Public Employee Benefits Authority to make reviews—not decisions—after July 1.

“(Haley) went against the recommendations of the BCB’s own staff,” Medlock said. “I’m very confident this suit will prove successful.”