Politics & Government

Dems Criticize Use of State Plane for Nullification Advocates

Plane flew in a professor and a separate witness was allegedly paid $7,500 to testify.

For the second time in two weeks House Democrats are up in arms over the conduct of their Republican colleagues.

At a judiciary subcommittee hearing on Wednesday regarding H.3101--otherwise known as the Obamacare Nullification Bill--Democrats noted controversy tied to two of the witnesses.

First, the Democrats learned that Dr. Walter Williams, a professor at George Mason University and radio talk show host, was flown to Columbia from Northern Virginia on a state plane so he could speak in support of the bill.

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Rep. Bill Chumley (R -Spartanburg), lead sponsor of the Nullification Bill told Patch he authorized the use of the plane and cleared it with the Ethics Committee before approving it.

"It's a good use of state dollars because this bill is good for the state of South Carolina," Chumley said. 

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The estimated cost for the flight to taxpayers is roughly $6,000.

In addition, Kent Masterson Brown, who also testified, said he was paid $7500 to appear.

Rep. James Smith, (D - Richland) a member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Constitutional Laws, released the following statement in response:

“This is the height of hypocrisy and politics at its worst. For taxpayers to be forced to foot the bill so that an out-of-state political zealot can push his extreme agenda is not only a dereliction of his duties as a public servant, it is just fundamentally wrong.  During his testimony, Dr. Walter Williams espoused the abuses of government spending and intrusion while engaging in precisely the same behavior. While we work to make health care more affordable and accessible to our citizens, Representative Bill Chumley, would rather frivolously spend tax dollars to fly Tea Party ideologues down to South Carolina on the state airplane. I call on Representative Chumley to immediately reimburse the taxpayers for his reckless and irresponsible decision to spend tax dollars to promote his own extreme Tea party agenda."

Last week Rep. Kris Crawford (R - Florence), said he voted against expanding Medicaid in South Carolina because, "It is good politics to oppose the black guy in the White House right now."

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