USC Prof Sues BCB, Haley Responds

In a much-expected action, a state employee has sued the State Budget and Control Board (BCB) over for state employees by 4.6 percent. The move by the BCB affected over 400,000 South Carolina residents.

The interests of those residents will be represented by Thomas A. Bryson, Ph.d, a Chemistry professor at the University of South Carolina. Bryson is listed on the USC website as the director of Graduate Studies.

In a 3-2 vote last week, the BCB circumvented the state legislature, which passed on the opportunity to address the issue in its most recent session. 

Gov. Nikki Haley, State Treasurer Curtis Loftis and State Comptroller Richard Eckstrom cast votes in favor while Hugh Leatherman, the chair of the Senate Finance Committee and Brian White, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, voted against.

Shortly after the BCB's vote, State Democratic Party Chairman Dick Harpootlian said he was looking into legal options and House Speaker Bobby Harrell predicted a lawsuit was inevitable.

The crux of Bryson's suit is that the BCB overstepped its authority by acting outside of the legislature and raising state employees' contributions. The suit is attached, as is letter by the South Carolina Service Employees Association to the BCB on Monday.

Haley responded via her Facebook page:

"We will always work to take care of state employees -which is why i signed off on their raises this year - but I also believe everyone should have skin in the game. The taxpayers of this state should not have to pick up the tab for 100 percent of the increase in the cost of state employees' health insurance. Many in the private sector did not get pay raises, do not have the benefits state employees have, and do not have the extra cash to pick up health increases for other people. Last week, we required employees to share 50/50 in their health insurance increase, and while our action has caused an uproar, this is just common sense and not too much to ask."