Legislators Get High Marks From Haley

Mount Pleasant's representation in the South Carolina Legislature is apparently making Gov. Nikki Haley happy.

The three Republicans all got passing grades in a recent report card released by the Governor. Rep. Chip Limehouse received an A, Rep. Mike Sottile also received an A and Sen. Chip Campsen received a B.

Limehouse was initially critical of the report cards in a Reuters story in March when the report card grading system was announced.

"Who are they issuing the report card to, my wife or my mom or what?" said Republican Representative Chip Limehouse. "I vote with the best interests of my district in mind."

Democrats in the state's House have introduced legislation that would require lawmakers to grade the governor's performance.

"I don't think anybody should be a puppet for the governor," said Democratic Rep. John King, a sponsor of the bill. "We are a voice for our constituents and not for the governor."

Rep. David Mack, D-Charleston was one of two legislators who receieved the F score. Both were Democrats.

Democrats, just before Haley released her report card, released their own grades for the Republican governor, according to a Huffington Post story.

Among the categories were "honesty" and "transparency" -- both of which netted F's for the governor. Haley did score an A-plus rating in one area, however: "hypocrisy and pay-to-play politics."

As the governor rates legislators, a suggested that Gov. Nikki Haley is losing favor among S.C. voters.

The Democratic polling firm, Public Policy Polling, based in Raleigh, said Friday that the Lexington politician's favorability rating had slipped to 41 percent in August, with 43 percent disapproving of her job performance.

Haley takes to the town-hall circuit this month. Here's here schedule:

• Aiken: 6:30 p.m. Oct. 5 at Aiken City Hall’s Municipal Auditorium, 215 The Alley.
• Bluffton: 6:30 p.m. Oct. 11 at Bluffton High School, 12 H.E. McCracken Circle. 
• Charleston: 11 a.m. Oct. 15 at Alumni Memorial Hall in Randolph Hall, College of Charleston, 66 George St.
• Duncan: 5:30 p.m. Oct. 17 at District Five Fine Arts Center, Byrnes High School, 150 E. Main St. 
• Florence: 6:30 p.m. Oct. 18 at Francis Marion University Performing Arts Center, 201 S. Dargan St.