More than 130 years after Reconstruction ended, South Carolina’s official Legislative Manual still refers to elected officials from the period with derogatory descriptions.

At the end of the 625 page manual is a list of all former governors, lieutenant governors, and speakers of the State House. Next to some names are parenthetical notations such as “appointed by” and “son of.”

A few others, however, received some not-so-nice descriptions.

Former Speakers Samuel J. Lee and R.B. Elliott, for example, are labeled “Negros” while Franklin J. Moses is referred to as a “Scalawag.” A trio of lieutenants governor were listed with similar notations.

I want to speak directly about the issue that’s doing so much to undermine our whole political process: MPs’ expenses.

I want to start by saying sorry. Sorry that it’s come to this. And sorry for the actions of some Conservative MPs. People are right to be angry that some MPs have taken public money to pay for things few could afford. You’ve been let you down. Politicians have done things that are unethical and wrong. I don’t care if they were within the rules – they were wrong.

Lives today are strung together by fast interactions, prompt responses and immediate results. Naturally, these modern communicative tools are welcomed in the workplace. Cooke, a communication graduate student, explored this in a research paper entitled "Type. Send. Communicate." What began as a project for her communication management seminar revealed how the instant exchange of ideas is reshaping the workforce.

Cooke (pictured here) found that Generation Y workers - twenty-somethings who have depended on cell phones and laptops since high school - use technology to increase productivity at work. Meanwhile, their Generation X managers - born between 1965 and 1980, an era of Pac-Man games and eight-track players - faced challenges as a result.

Over the span of a month, Cooke observed and interviewed workers at a local small business. She asked participants when they preferred digital communication over personal methods, how often they used them and why. "Many of the interviewees admitted using text and instant messaging for everything, from asking questions about projects to where to go to lunch," Cooke says. Next, she conducted several personal interviews with executives in large businesses, including a financial sales manager in Atlanta and a human resources consultant in Columbus, Ohio.

She found that using technology increased proficiency. The young wave of employees who grew up using word-processing and instant messenger accomplished their tasks quickly and, in turn, wanted recognition. "They expected more breaks or to go home when their goals for the day were complete instead of working a traditional 9-to-5 day," says Cooke.

On April 30, 2009, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a shift in its workforce enforcement priorities from the prosecution of illegal aliens working in the United States to the prosecution of employers who knowingly hire them. According to a fact sheet distributed by DHS, only 135 of 6,000 arrests related to worksite enforcement in 2008 were employers. As a result, DHS issued new guidelines to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with instructions to immediately "focus its resources in the worksite enforcement program on the criminal prosecution of employers who knowingly hire illegal workers in order to target the root cause of illegal immigration."

Employers - defined in this context as hiring managers, management, owners, CEOs, supervisors, and other occupational titles - can expect ICE offices to use their full authority when executing investigations such as the use of confidential sources, cooperating witnesses, and undercover agents.

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Dorchester County Council Chairman Jamie Feltner made the motion to put spending records online. Councilman Kenny Waggoner got council to amend it to include salaries of at least $50,000.

"It's the citizens' money, and I have no problem with them seeing where their money goes," Feltner said. "To me that's the only way you're going to get feedback from the public. If we're doing things they don't like, they can let us know."

Dorchester County's resolution cites the example of S.C. Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom, who put the spending of all state agencies on his government transparency Web site in March. The site was updated last week to allow searches of each agency by vendor, Communications Officer R.J. Shealy said.

Anderson County was the first county to put its check register online, in April. The cities of Cayce, Irmo and Turbeville followed suit. Columbia also has been talking with Eckstrom about going online, Shealy said.

While one might hope Governor Sanford would rally the troops, round up some animals from Riverbanks Zoo, and call a press conference demanding accountability and reform, we'd advise you not to hold your breath waiting. A while back, we pointed out how other gubernatorial agencies are out of control, costing taxpayers tens of millions ... and even costing South Carolinians their lives:

In these cases, as well as others, what Sanford doesn't know about his part of state goverment will hurt you in many ways.

This situation continues to head downhill as Sanford faces a budget process where he has no influence and no relevancy. With the budget soon to arrive at the Governor's desk, where it will likely be vetoed, we will soon be subjected to more of the usual complaints from Governor Sanford about the irresponsbility of this state's politicians to oversee state government and manage how it's tax dollars are spent.

Many of these complaints will be dead-on, but you can bet nowhere will Sanford accept his share of the blame for what has been going on. Which is unfortunately, because such candor would be a refreshing break from the usual games of finger-pointing and buck-passing that Sanford and many others engage in. Such a move may help strip the political cover reform opponents are hiding behind and start the long-overdue process of reforming and streamlining state government moving forward again.

The Spartanburg County Republican Party is pleased to announce that Mr. Ed Nixon, the brother of President Richard Nixon, will be our featured guest speaker for lunch and a book signing on Wednesday, May 27, 2009, 12:00 noon at the Marriott at Renaissance Park in Spartanburg. The event, including lunch, is $25 per person. Mr. Nixon will be available after the event to sign his book The Nixons: A Family Portrait. The books will sell for $25 each (not included in the lunch price).

“What an honor to have Mr. Nixon with us to share profound insights of his family and his brother—to give us a glimpse into political history from someone who lived it up close and personal,” said LaDonna Ryggs, chairwoman of the Spartanburg County GOP.

For more information, contact LaDonna Ryggs at ryberta@yahoo.com or call her at 864-906-5574.

• Representatives Carl Gullick, a long-time friend, and Anton Gunn were, as usual the most cordial and eager to say hello.
• Senators Paul Campbell and Larry Grooms - just as friendly and willing to drop whatever they were (or weren't) doing to talk for a few minutes.
• Reps. Boyd Brown, Alan Clemmons, Shannon Erickson, Jenny Horne, Chip Limehouse, Tim Scott, and David Umphlett.
• The policy people are always some of the most informed, and always take a few minutes to chat and keep me updated on their issues of concern, including Michael Covington, Tony Denny, Wes Donehue, Jason Puhalsky, and Darrell Scott.

With two graduations to attend, Friday was a busy day in the Blogland.

For lunch, it was the Community Healthcare program, by which the Lowcountry Workforce Investment Board (which I serve on) funds and operates a Certified Nursing Assistant program, filling much-needed vacancies with local employers (in spite of a recession, many healthcare-related positions are yet unfilled). This program, taught by an RN with a Master's in Education, offers those who are often working in jobs near minimum wage an opportunity to learn the skills necessary to increase their wages by fifty percent or more, as well as give some the needed push to pursue nursing programs.

As a board member, I take pride in seeing this cost-effective initiative filling needs and creating new opportunities for them willing to pursue them. That's real economic stimulus, folks.

For dinner, it was down to the Sotille Theatre at the College of Charleston to attend the graduation of Master's degree candidates, for my first graduation as a member of faculty. To be among the faculty who led the processions both in and out of the theater, among those who did much to nudge and guide me along in my own studies, was one of the biggest honors I've ever had. But even more important was the pride I took in seeing two friends graduate:

• Anna Fiona Cooke, one of the stars of the program (and fellow recipient of the Carolina Communication Association's Jarrard graduate research award), who now has her MA in Communication. Pictured with her parents and sister, she was wearing my Master's hood (and looked darn good in it), which she needed to borrow due to a goof-up in her Master's attire order. She'll be taking a little downtime before planning her next move.
  
  Her work in the graduate program was outstanding, and whether she goes to work or to pursue a doctorate, she'll make outstanding contributions. I was honored to share several classes with her while I was still in the program, as well as to be among those who watched her win the Jarrard award last fall, making the CofC graduate program a winner both times its grad students competed for the award.
  
  
• Kolo Rathburn, who was the President of the Graduate Senate this past school year, where I formerly served as a committee chair. Pictured with his mother, he received his MS in Marine Biology, in what is arguably the College's most outstanding graduate program. After some downtime, he'll be off to a public policy job in DC.
  
  Kolo is a hard worker in a tough program. His leadership in helping bring the college's Graduate Student Association into being, as well as leading it in its second year of existence, was outstanding. His balance and cheerful nature will open a lot of doors in the future, both in his career as well as for those he will work with.

• The convention will be boring and needs to be livened up.
• This would give me a brief platform to plug the blog and my issues of concern.
• It would be a way to respect my readers and thank them for their encouragement.

• It could stir up negative sentiments at the convention.
• It could upset the presumptive next Chair.
• It may facilitate hate trips for Floyd opponents.
• People may not take me seriously in the future.