Bikas Says He Was Not Paid

Eric Bikas, who represents District 26 in the South Carolina House, which covers parts of Greenville and Pickens Counties, claims he was not paid for legislative sessions he did not attend. The Nerve reported on Thursday that Bikas was paid more than $12,500 in salary and expenses, even though he missed the bulk of the legislative term.

Patch . At the time, Bikas attributed his absences to a variety of factors, from a rift with House Speaker Bobby Harrell, to the inability to run the restaurant he owns and to the fact his district had been drawn out of existence.

The story made national news.

When contacted by Patch about whether he had been paid this legislative term, Bikas, responding via email, said that the allegation about his pay was, "False."

Bikas said that he would have to sign in as being present in order to receive pay. He elaborated, saying his absences, were "relating to the growth of my business (which IS my income). I did not receive pay for the work that I did not do at the State House."