Governor Haley Talks Hacking, Politics at Easley Rotary

During her second stop in Pickens County Tuesday, Gov. Nikki Haley talked about what makes South Carolina a great state. 

Recruitment of new business and jobs took top priority in this conversation, as Haley talked about the success that the state had not only in recruitment, but in retention of businesses.

She told the success stories of BMW, Boeing, Bridgestone, Michelin and Continental and said other governors have asked "how South Carolina is doing it."

Haley said it's a secret she plans to keep to herself.

But Haley said most of it is about relationships and keeping those relationships once those businesses get here.

The next attraction to South Carolina is the state itself, with Charleston being named the No. 1 vacation spot in the world above Florence and Sydney earlier this year.

"We live in a great state," Haley said. "And for a long time people put our state down, but we are so blessed."

Haley said despite what happened in the recent presidential election, her goal continues to be to push South Carolina lawmakers thinking past one year at a time and to get the state on a building plan for stability and security despite changes in Washington.

Haley also touched on the recent cyber-security breach at the Department of Revenue.

"Anyone hear about hacking lately," Haley asked the crowd. "Because I dream about it."

The governor admitted that South Carolina could have done a better job keeping the data protected but pledged vigilance moving forward.

Haley said she is also working with governor's in other states to make them aware of what happened in South Carolina and how to prevent it from happening in their states. She emphasized that South Carolinians were informed in as timely a fashion as possible while the investigation was ongoing.

See Patch's complete coverage of the security breach HERE.

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Haley answered questions from the audience regarding federal programs Medicare and Medicaid, credit monitoring, healthcare costs increase for state employees and the elimination of the TERI program.

Haley started her day in Pickens County at Liberty Elementary School talking to kids about an anti-bullying campaign. Before her arrival a parent volunteer was taken into custody for allegedly making threats against the governor.

Haley also made a suprise visit to the Pickens Department of Motor Vehicles, where she said wait times for service had been about one minute prior to her arrival.