Date Published: June 29, 2006   

Democrats: Eckstrom should OK money for Ethics lawyer

The Associated Press

Two state senators said Thursday that Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom should reconsider his opposition to a plan to provide legal assistance for the State Ethics Commission.

Earlier this month, Eckstrom blocked money that would have paid legal fees for the commission, saying the money is only supposed to be used for emergencies.

The state attorney general has refused to defend the commission in a First Amendment lawsuit in federal court, so the agency turned to the state Budget and Control Board for help. However, that action required an unanimous vote and Eckstrom, a member of the board, rejected it even though the fund in the past has been used to defend the Ethics Commission in legal matters.

On Thursday, Sens. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg, and Phil Leventis, D-Sumter, urged Eckstrom to reconsider.

The law was written to allow the Ethics Commission to defend itself as the agency "prevents political polluters from coming into this state," Hutto said.

"They can't defend themselves unless they have money from this fund," Leventis said.

Eckstrom, a Republican, says he hasn't changed his mind. "This is not an emergency," he said.