6 Stories In SC Politics This Week: Booze, Sex Toys & AR-15s

SC lawmaker: “Booze, beer, and wine is powerful stuff. It’s like sex. It’s really powerful stuff that causes people to do things that they ordinarily don’t do.”

1. SC Legislature allows guns in bars (but still no drinking and carrying)

Via southcarolinaradionetwork.com

Drunk cowboys still won't be able to carry in South Carolina bars, but their begrudgingly sober sidekicks can. All that is needed now is Gov. Nikki Haley's signature to legislation that allows CWP holders to carry their weapons into bars and restaurants. Haley has said she will sign any legislation so long as it does not infringe on gun rights.

There wasn't much opposition to the bill (it passed the Senate 90-18). State Rep. Walt McLeod, D-Little Mountain, made it clear he was a reluctant “yes” vote, questioning the wisdom of the bill. “Booze, beer, and wine is powerful stuff. It’s like sex. It’s really powerful stuff that causes people to do things that they ordinarily don’t do.”

And in case you were wondering what happens when you try to drink and handle guns at the same time ...

2. Biggest government restructure in recent SC history -- yet everyone yawns?

Via southcarolinaradionetwork.com

Sorry folks, there's just no way to sexy this up but, listen, it is really, super-duper important. To make it more interesting, here's the basics, followed by a classic gif:

- Goodbye Budget and Control Board, hello Department of Administration. Basically a bunch of bureaucratic agencies are now under the governor's control. Like building maintenance.

- Some of the BCB's agencies go to independent commission and authorities -- like the Confederate Relic Room (yeah, we have one of those) and the Rural Infrastructure Authority.

- And if you're looking for the real drama, wait to see how this one plays out: it gives House and Senate more investigative powers over the executive branch.

3. SC has chance to reopen historic Jim Crow-era execution case

Via southcarolinaradionetwork.com

A South Carolina court has the chance to forget the past, repeat history or re-write it altogether.

The 1944 execution of a 14-year-old black boy in rural South Carolina got a closer look this week -- but no word yet on whether or not the case will be reopened for a chance to exonerate George Stinney Jr. of the murder of two white girls.

A circuit court judge has allowed another week for the opposing attorney to prepare against new evidence.

The case is fraught with racial overtones and has once again put South Carolina in the spotlight -- and not in a good way.

One question that kept coming up during the two-day hearing was: why did the family wait so long to exonerate Stinney? Why not in the 1950s? The family responded by saying racial climate played a factor.

4. More ethics charges for embattled Charleston senator

Via southcarolinaradionetwork.com

Ethics charges are every where so far this month. Now we have ethics charges ON TOP OF ethics charges.

Former state Sen. Robert Ford resigned his position last year after allegations that he used campaign funds to buy sex toys, male enhancement pills and other things that we forgot about once we read that he allegedly bought sex toys and male enhancement pills.

But his story has continued. The new complaint claims that Ford used campaign money for personal use and misreported campaign expenses during his quarterly reports on July 10 and October 10, 2013.

No word yet on what he bought this time.

5. Child deaths investigated at the Statehouse

So what's going on at the Department of Social Service? Who's to blame for 40-plus children dying in cases where DSS was involved within the last year?

Well, turns out, that's not such a simple question. During a Senate hearing this week, DSS officials were unable to answer much of the allegations that they held responsibility due to open investigations. Also, we learned that county level directors have a revolving door, making a tough case tougher to resolve.

A lawmaker described testimony from family members affected by alleged bungling by DSS as "like scenes out of a horror movie."

6. And you know you're a South Carolina politician when ...

Via thestate.com

... you raffle a semi-automatic, military-style rifle as a campaign fundraising tool.

In case you missed it, state Sen. Lee Bright, running against incumbent US Sen. Lindsey Graham, announced this week he would raffle an AR-15, a military-styled rifle.

The drawing for the rifle is 5 p.m. Feb. 15.