Lawsuit illegal?
Full school board needed to OK suit, attorneys say
December 15, 2006
By
BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer
Several attorneys, including an open-meetings law expert, say
select Greenwood School District 50 officials might have acted
illegally in authorizing a law firm to file a $50 million
countersuit without first seeking the full school board’s
consent in the form of a public vote.
Board vice chairman Frank Coyle has told The Index-Journal that
District 50 told Childs & Halligan to “handle” the
lawsuit filed by Henry Johnson, former owner of the Rental
Center, along with the South Carolina Public Interest Foundation
Nov. 3 against District 50, its installment purchase bond plan,
superintendent Darrell Johnson and former chairwoman Dru James.
The action stems from a private “officers meeting” that
was conducted without the knowledge of several school board
members. The full school board has neither discussed nor approved
the countersuit in a public vote, which attorneys indicate is a
necessary legal step.
Coyle said he wasn’t aware of the $50 million countersuit
for damages until Childs & Halligan’s representatives
told him, board of trustees chairwoman Miller and Darrell Johnson
on Dec. 6 — two days after the countersuit was filed.
Jay Bender, South Carolina Press Association attorney and Freedom
of Information Act expert, said the board has to vote in public
to authorize its attorney to file a countersuit.
The board of trustees cannot take action unless it first meets as
a board, where it has to give notice and convene in public,
Bender said.
“Frankly, I think it’s an outrage,” he said.
He said the countersuit is not a defense, but a separate suit
that would need the full board’s approval.
Bender said no lawyer would file a countersuit without the
express approval of his client. He added it was poor politics for
a public body to claim to have been legally injured.
“(It’s) foolish to say a citizen can’t resort to
court to test the legality of what the district wanted to do,”
Bender said.
District 50 officials and some board officers refused to speak to
The Index-Journal about the countersuit, instead referring all
questions to Childs & Halligan. Section AR BDG-R of the
Greenwood school board policy says, “The attorney reports to
the district board.”
The Index-Journal has learned the district’s attorneys
Childs & Halligan filed the suit on behalf of the district,
but it is not known who within District 50 initiated and
authorized the countersuit. Darrell Johnson and Miller referred
all questions to Childs & Halligan.
Johnson’s administrative assistant Nelva Temple told The
Index-Journal that there weren’t any notes taken between
some of District 50’s board members, District 50
administration and Childs & Halligan during an “officer
meeting” from which the countersuit arose.
Attorneys representing Greenwood County and City Council agree
with Bender.
Chuck Watson, Greenwood County attorney said that, under the
Freedom of Information Act, all actions of a public body have to
be taken in public.
“No public body can instruct their attorney to file a
lawsuit except in open session at a public meeting,” Watson
said.
He said anything done in a private session is completely void. A
lawsuit would be the decision of a governmental body, such as
Greenwood County Council or Greenwood School District 50.
“The presiding officer has no more authority than any other
board member,” Watson said.
County manager Jim Kier said the county’s attorney would
make a recommendation to the council rather than take action on
his own.
“I wouldn’t expect our county attorney to take any
action without consultation from council,” he said, adding
that in the lawsuits the county has been in before, the attorney’s
actions have been directed by the council.
Stephen Welch, city attorney for Greenwood City Council, said
that any legal action the city takes goes before the council,
including lawsuits.
City manager Steven Brown said no one can initiate a lawsuit
without Greenwood City Council’s opinion. He said the
council’s attorney couldn’t do that because it was
beyond the normal budget activity for the attorney.
“I would think in legal matters the only people who can
speak on behalf of the city is the mayor and city council,”
he said.
He said city council sets policy.
Nonprofit group OKs school bond resolution
December 15, 2006
By
BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer
The nonprofit corporation designed to help Greenwood School
District 50 with its bond installment purchase plan was
officially created Thursday night.
The formal bond resolution also was approved at the meeting.
District 50 trustees approved the issuance of bonds at their Oct.
24 meeting, but the nonprofit corporation’s directors are
the ones who actually approve the bonds, bond attorney Bill
Hirata said.
Greenwood Fifty School Facilities Inc., the name of the new
nonprofit corporation, has elected its first board of directors
and its officers.
Larry Jackson, former president of Lander University, was named
as chairman of the board, while Raymond Perkins, a retired
District 50 educator, was named vice-chairman. Robert Saul, who
works at the Greenwood Genetics Center, was named
secretary-treasurer as corporation officer.
Directors have terms that last three years, while the corporation
will probably last the lifetime of the bonds, Hirata said.
Some directors didn’t know they were on the board until
Thursday’s meeting.
Jackson said he thought the meeting was about supplying
information, not about going forward with the bond resolution
with himself on the board.
“So, I’m feeling uneasy,” Jackson said.
He was worried about being sued, but Hirata said Jackson could
only be sued in an official capacity.
The nonprofit’s purpose is help fund the district’s
installment purchase bond plan, which will leverage as much as
$145 million over a 25-year period to pay for construction of
three elementary schools, and renovations and modifications to
the rest of the schools in the district.
District 50 won’t be the main beneficiary for the nonprofit,
which will only be used for educational and charitable means,
Hirata said. The nonprofit issues bonds on behalf of a government
agency, such as District 50, Hirata said.
The bond plan has been thrown into question after Henry Johnson,
former owner of the Rental Center, and the South Carolina Public
Interest Foundation, sued District 50, superintendent Darrell
Johnson and former chairwoman Dru James for the plan Nov. 3. The
district’s attorneys, Childs & Halligan, countersued
Johnson for $50 million Dec. 4.
The legality of that move, which was not approved by the full
school board in a public vote, has been questioned by local
attorneys, as well as Jay Bender, the South Carolina Press
Association’s attorney and renowned Freedom of Information
Act expert.
The bond resolution will continue despite the litigation, with a
possible temporary bond loan of $150,000 from Dexia bank, which
will be absorbed into the cost of the issuance of the bonds.
“I think this is not going to cost them any more than this,”
Hirata said.
He said the nonprofit’s by-laws say trustees and District 50
administration can’t elect members to the board of directors
and that no director gets a salary.
In the Facilities Purchase and Use Agreement, the key document in
the bond resolution passed by the board of directors Thursday,
District 50 agrees to transfer real district property and the
improvements the system will make to the nonprofit. Then the
district will buy back improvements and property a piece at a
time over the 25-year life-span of the bonds, Hirata said.
Saluda tax relief moves forward
Council a step away from repealing contentious reassessment
December 15, 2006
By
CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer
SALUDA — Major property tax relief might be
on the way for Saluda County residents.
County residents recently received a shock when they received
property tax notices, which had increased astronomically since
last year because of a new tax assessment.
Saluda County Council held a called meeting Thursday night for a
second reading on Ordinance 10-06, which is an ordinance that
would rescind the 2006 reassessment. The second reading was
approved by the council.
That means there will now be a third and final reading on the
ordinance at the 6 p.m. Jan. 8 council meeting. According to the
council, if that reading passes, the property tax bills citizens
received will be repealed and the county will issue new ones.
When the second reading of the ordinance passed Thursday night,
the overflow crowd in council chambers at the Saluda
Administration Building issued a thunderous applause.
It has been a tumultuous week for the county council. On Monday,
more than 400 citizens attended the council’s regular
monthly meeting. Many stood up to voice their opinions, and
several heated exchanges occurred.
On Wednesday night, a called “informational meeting” at
Saluda High School drew more than 700 people. More citizens
voiced their opinions at this meeting, which was even more
animated. One person came dressed as Santa Claus and held a sign
that said, “Santa’s bag is empty because he has to pay
Saluda County taxes.” Many in attendance brandished signs
and stickers that read “
Lessons in Gratitude
December 15, 2006
By
CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer
Lakelands-area teenagers are in the giving spirit this
Christmas season.
Students from Prakash Elston’s senior economics class at
Greenwood High spearheaded a donations drive during the last
month to benefit the local Blue Star Mothers chapter. The Blue
Star Mothers are a group of mothers and family members of troops
stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The group announced in November it would be taking various
donations to put in care packages to send to the troops.
The Greenwood Red Cross has been the public donation drop-off
point for the drive.
Elston’s class on Thursday officially made its donation to
the group on behalf of Greenwood High School. The donation drive
was dubbed Operation Gratitude. With Blue Star Mothers
representative Mona Johnson and Greenwood Red Cross operations
manager Barbara Turnburke in attendance, students donated several
large boxes filled to the brim with donations for the troops.
“I can’t say enough about the work you all have done,”
Johnson said, addressing the class. “You guys have no idea
how much the troops appreciate this. You are the hometown heroes
to them.”
Turnburke was thrilled with the size of the donation.
“These students have collected as much as the whole
community combined,” Turnburke said, a broad smile on her
face. “We have been pleased with what we had collected, but
what we’ve gotten here today has blown us away.”
Greenwood senior Ashley Teddard headed up the project on the
student level.
“We made posters and put them up all over school,”
Teddard said. “And , honestly, we were surprised by how much
we got. We got some financial contributions, as well.”
Elston said she was planning for her class to do a service
project during the holidays, saying she encourages her students
to be responsible citizens. When she heard about the Blue Star
Mothers and their cause, she thought it would be the perfect
cause for Project Gratitude.
Elston said it was Teddard’s idea to take the project
schoolwide.
Johnson said the large donation the GHS students made impressed
her.
“It really speaks volumes to the character the students have
here,” Johnson said. “It shows how they feel about our
country, and how they feel about the men and women in the service
from the Greenwood area.”
Eddie Baer
Edwin
A. “Eddie” Baer, 69, died Sunday, Dec. 10, 2006 at
Shoreham Nursing Home, Marietta, GA. Born in St. Joseph, MO, he
was a son of the late Charles Franklin and Irene Waggner Baer. He
was the former owner of Baer Sign Company and Interstate Sign and
had worked with Rainbow Sign Company. He served in the SC
National Guard and was Methodist.
Surviving is his wife, Joyce Foxworth Baer of Lakeland, FL; two
daughters, Bonnie McBrayer of Kennesaw, GA, and Nicole Carter of
Columbia; a son, Edwin A. “Ed” Baer, II of Kennesaw,
GA; a sister, Rosann Rinaldi of Sarasota, FL; three brothers,
Charles H. “Spanky” Baer, Phillip J. Baer and Billy
Baer, all of Greenwood; and five grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Harley Funeral Home
Chapel, with the Rev. Randy Ouzts officiating. Burial will be in
Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Reggie Moore, Frankie Baer, Andy Rinaldi,
Jake McBrayer and Tyler Baer.
Honorary escort will be the retired employees of Rainbow Sign
Company.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday
from 7 to 9 p.m.
The family is at the home of his brother, Billy Baer, 306 Crosby
Road, Greenwood.
Memorials may be made to the Faith Home, PO Box 39, Greenwood, SC
29648.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.
Charlie Berry
BUFFALO,
N.Y. — Charlie Berry, formerly of Ninety Six, SC, passed
away Tuesday, Dec. 12. He was a son of the late Ada Berry
Robinson and the late Amos Robinson Sr. Services will be held
Friday at 11 a.m.
Thomas Edwards Funeral Home, 995 Genesee St., Buffalo, NY is in
charge.
John Funke Jr.
John
Funke Jr., 87, of 1110 Marshall Road, husband of Olive Cox Funke,
died Thursday, Dec. 14, 2006, at Wesley Commons.
The family is at the home in the Tree House at Wesley Commons.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation
Services.
John Bunyan Harris III
GEORGETOWN
— John Bunyan Harris III, 54, passed away Dec. 11, 2006.
Born Jan. 9, 1952, in Greenwood, South Carolina, he was the son
of John Bunyan Harris Jr. and the late Marian Leake Harris.
John was raised in Greenwood, South Carolina and graduated from
Greenwood High School in 1970. He graduated from Clemson
University in 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts, with a double major
in economics and history. He then attended The Johns Hopkins
University’s School of Advanced International Studies, where
he received a Master of Arts in International Relations in 1977.
In 1980, he also received a Master of Business Administration in
International Finance from The George Washington University.
After graduation from business school, John worked as a
consultant for numerous government agencies in Washington, DC,
including the Overseas Private Investment Corporation from 1979
to 1982. In 1985, he co-established Greenwood Research, Inc., an
investment management firm originally based in Washington, DC.
In 1988, John began a parallel career in real estate development.
He co-managed numerous residential projects, including Ocean Park
at DeBordieu and Lakeside at Litchfield by the Sea.
John has served on numerous committees and boards of Clemson
University, including two terms on the University Foundation
Board (1990-1998). He has continuously served as Chairman of the
Wallace Pate Foundation, which manages Clemson’s
conservation easement properties in DeBordieu. He also served as
Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the
Lowcountry Day School.
John is survived by his wife, Anne C. Harris; his two daughters,
Emily of New York, New York and Ashley of Atlanta, Georgia; his
son, John of Bethesda, Maryland; his father of Greenwood; two
stepsons and one stepdaughter; and two brothers and one sister.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 17 at
the Harris residence in DeBordieu, with The Rt. Rev. Fitz Simons
Allison officiating.
Memorials in John’s name may be made to Clemson University’s
John Harris Student Center at DeBordieu (c/o Betty McClellan;
P.O. Box 1889; Clemson, SC 29633) or the Lowcountry Day School’s
John Harris Memorial Fund. Mayer Funeral Home in Georgetown,
South Carolina is in charge of the arrangements.
John will be remembered for, among many other things, his love of
the Clemson orange, lowcountry living, his affinity for music and
his love for his family.
Paul Hazel
WATERLOO
— Paul Eugene Hazel, 94, of 265 Lake Overlook Road,
Waterloo, widower of Sara Starnes Hazel, died Wednesday, Dec. 13,
2006 at NHC of Clinton.
Born in Newberry, he was a son of the late Sidney Lee and Dessie
Troutman Hazel. He was retired from J.P. Stevens and Burlington
Industries. He was a Shriner and was of the Baptist faith.
He was preceded in death by three sons, Leland Hazel, Sidney
Hazel and Louis Hazel; sisters, Mattie Holt and Elizabeth Ott; a
brother, James Moates and a grandson, Richard “Round”
Mason.
Surviving are four daughters, Joyce Pitts of Newberry, Jolene
Mason of Joanna, Carol Sluder of Seneca and Phyllis Powell of
Greenwood; a son and daughter-in-law, Arthur “Artie”
and Anne Hazel of the home; 20 grandchildren; and 30
great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Greenwood Memorial
Gardens, with the Rev. Barry James officiating.
The family will receive friends at Harley Funeral Home on Friday
from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
The family is at Paul Hazel’s home, 265 Lake Overlook Road,
Waterloo.
Memorials may be made to Hospice House, c/o HospiceCare of the
Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.
Jack Hopkins
Jack
Tyrus Hopkins, 75, of 1222 Ninety Six Highway, husband of Nelly
“Mickey” Bowling Hopkins, died Thursday, Dec. 14, 2006
at Hospice House.
Born in Greenwood, he was a son of the late William Fred and Emma
Chastain Hopkins. He was retired from Abney Mills, Grendel Plant.
He was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Surviving is his wife, a daughter, Vickie Lynn Hopkins and a son,
Tyrus Lee Hopkins, all of the home.
Services will be at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Harley Funeral Home
Chapel, with burial in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday
from 2:30-3:30 p.m.
The family is at the home.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.
Julius ‘Buddy’ King
ABBEVILLE
— Julius Hamilton “Buddy” King, 80, resident of
365 Bulls Horne Road, husband of Jean Bradberry King, died
Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2006 at Abbeville Nursing Home.
Born in Abbeville Co., SC, he was a son of the late Benjamin H.
and Bessie Ervin King.
He was a World War II Navy veteran. Buddy was retired from the
United States Postal Service in Greenville, SC. He was a Mason
and a member of the Spartanburg Lodge. He was an active member of
New Hope Presbyterian Church, where he served as a deacon and
elder of the church. He was also the former Superintendent of the
Sunday School Classes.
He is survived by: his beloved wife of 59 years, Jean Bradberry
King of the home; 1 daughter, Sandy Harper of Abbeville, SC; 2
sons, Michael King and his wife, Aggie, of Easley, SC and Mark
King and his wife, Susan, of Abbeville, SC; 1 brother, Allen King
of Abbeville, SC; 1 sister, Jean McCalla of Iva, SC; 4
grandchildren, Ashley King, Jeremy King, Heather Rico and Abby
Abner; 1 great-grandchild, Reagan Rico.
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, Dec. 16, 2006 at 2
p.m. from New Hope Presbyterian Church, with Mr. Pat Hodge and
Mack Cason officiating. The burial will follow in Midway Baptist
Church Cemetery. The family is at the home, 365 Bulls Horne Road,
Abbeville, SC.
The body is at The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home where the family
will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday evening.
Memorials may be made to New Hope Presbyterian Church, 1484 Hwy.
28 Bypass, Abbeville, SC 29620.
Online condolences may be made to the King family by visiting www.chandlerjacksonfh.com.
The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home, Abbeville, SC, is in charge of
arrangements.
Carroll ‘Calvin’ Martin
WARE
SHOALS — Carroll “Calvin” Vincent Martin,
36, of 306 Turkey Creek Road, died Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2006.
Funeral services are 1 p.m. Saturday at Springfield Baptist
Church, Level Land Community, by the Reverend Rudolph Green;
burial in the church cemetery. The body is at Robinson-Walker
Funeral Service and will be on view Friday beginning at noon and
will be placed in the church Saturday at noon.
The family is at the home.
Robinson Walker Funeral Service, Ware Shoals, SC, is in charge of
the arrangements.
Alta T. Self
PARKSVILLE
— Mrs. Alta Talbert Self, 86, of Church Street, died
Thursday, Dec. 14, at Self Regional Medical Center.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Dec. 16, at 11 a.m. at
Parksville Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the church
cemetery.
Mrs. Self was a native of McCormick County. She was a member of
Parksville Baptist Church and was a homemaker.
Survivors include 2 sons, Gary Keith (Becky) Self, Simpsonville,
SC, Lathen (Judy) Self, Parksville, SC; special relative Mac
Winn, Plum Branch, SC; 4 grandchildren, Gary Self, Angie White,
Todd Self and Toni Kirkland; 5 great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends Friday, Dec. 15 from 6-8 p.m. at
Parksville Baptist Church social hall.
Edgefield Mercantile Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Joe Syrkett Jr.
Joe
Syrkett Jr., 68, of 136 Singleton St., husband of Mary Lockhart
Syrkett, died Dec. 12 at his home. Born in Greenwood Co., he was
a son of the late Joe Syrkett Sr. and Ruth Mosley Syrkett. He was
a member of Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church and retired from Grede
Foundry and was a veteran of the US Army.
Surviving are his wife of the home, three sons, Anthony Lamont
Mathis of Ninety Six, Gregory B. Syrkett and Orlando Syrkett of
Greenwood, four daughters, Martha Thomas, Joann Hurley and Jackie
Morton of Greenwood and Minister Darlene Saxon of Greenwood, one
sister, Martha S. Fernandes of Greenwood, 23 grandchildren and
nine great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. from Mt. Pisgah
Baptist Church with Rev. Otis Cunningham officiating. Burial will
be in Evening Star. The family is at the home. Percival-Tompkins
Funeral Home is assisting the Syrkett family.
pertompfh1@earthlink.net.
Wildcats rumble
Six pins help lead Ninety Six to victory
December 15, 2006
By
RON COX
Index-Journal sports editor
NINETY SIX — Spurred by six pins and one
major decision, the Ninety Six High School wrestling team rumbled
past Greenwood, 43-27, Thursday night in Ninety Six.
“It’s always nice to beat big, old Greenwood,”
Ninety Six coach Brian Neal said. “Greenwood’s
definitely improving every year and this is becoming an intense
rivalry. The kids look forward to this one.”
Bates Nunamaker keyed the Wildcats’ victory by picking up
one of the team’s six pins, winning in the 215-pound
weight-class match over Greenwood’s Nick Mountz.
Mountz, who normally wrestles at 189, took control early in the
match, jumping out to a 7-1 lead after the first period.
The Greenwood senior went up 12-3 with less than a minute in the
second period before Nunamaker turned him around in position for
the pin.
“One thing about Bates is he’s not going to stop,”
Neal said. “He might be outmatched athletically, but he’s
going to keep coming at you.”
The six-points Nunamaker picked up for his team with the pin put
the Wildcats up 37-15 with just four matches remaining.
“The 215 match was big,” Greenwood coach Greg Brewer
said. “Nick usually wrestles at 189 and the extra weight
might have been too much for him and that’s my fault.”
Greenwood’s Detravious Ross, at 275, followed by pinning
Ralph Wilson. Ross led 11-0 before locking Wilson to the mat with
10 seconds left in the match.
Gary Hepler locked up the Wildcats’ victory by pinning Cody
Pippin in 1 minute at 103, giving Ninety Six a 43-21 lead.
The Eagles were able to close the gap behind back-to-back pins
from Andy Greer, at 112, and Michael Hellman, at 119.
“They’re real tough at 130. They’re real tough at
152. They’re real tough at 171 and 189 and we knew that
coming in,” Brewer said. “We just tried to bump people
around to match up and have an opportunity to win.”
The Eagles jumped out to an early 12-0 lead behind two straight
pins: a first-period pin by Al Ward, at 125, and a third-period
one from James Long, 130.
But Ninety Six won the next two matches to pull to within two.
After Will McClam pinned Greenwood’s A.J. Hinen, Ninety Six’s
Michael Rounds picked up a major decision in 140 over Rakimme
Long, who usually wrestles at 135.
The closest match of the night came at 145. Greenwood’s Matt
Carroll and Ninety Six’s Shaun Richards went back and forth
for the first two periods. Carroll took control late in the
second and came away with a 15-8 decision, giving the Eagles a
15-10 advantage.
But that lead disappeared one match later when the Wildcats’
Chris Curreri pinned Anthony Maggard in the first period.
It was the first of five straight wins for Ninety Six.
At 160, Tyler Neal and Greenwood’s Chris Abeyta, who
normally wrestles at 152, were all tied at 2 heading into the
final period. Neal opened the third by escaping from the opening
hold to earn the go-ahead point. Neal went on to win 8-2.
Ninety Six’s Chris White and Eric Abney followed with
back-to-back pins.
Tough
road ahead ... again for federal court nominees
December 15, 2006
Senator
Lindsey Graham, R - S. C., got a lot of attention a while back
when he helped broker a bipartisan agreement that would allow for
a Senate vote on judicial nominees. All of that attention wasn’t
positive, though. Graham’s effort earned him some choice
criticism from some who objected to how the agreement came about.
Still, had something not been done to facilitate the process, you
have to wonder if John Roberts and Samuel Alito would now be
Chief Justice and Associate Justice respectively of the U. S.
Supreme Court. Others have taken their seats on the federal bench
since then, too.
NEVERTHELESS, FROM ALL appearances Graham may
yet have to redeem himself with some constituents. With Democrats
taking control of both the U.S. Senate and House, he is likely to
have another battle to fight, too.
Senator Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, will be the new chairman of the
Judeiciary Committee. He’s said he intends to “repair
real damage done to our system of government over the last few
years.” That’s a sure indication that the President’s
judicial nominees will have a hard time just getting an up or
down vote in that Committee, let alone the full Senate.
As the chief counsel of one group, the Concerned Women for
America (CWA) said, “Leahy continues to make the same old
unconstitutional power grab of the President’s authority to
nominate judges. If he wants bipartisan cooperation, he should
stop acting as if he’s co-President. The Senate’s duty
in the appointment role is to vote on the President’s
nominees. Senators have no authority to-co-nominate.”
THAT COULDN’T - OR SHOULDN’T - be
clearer. Still, the system works to allow Senators to obstruct
the process. That’s been demonstrated many times, especially
since this president has been in office. With Democrats in the
majority it will take a Herculean effort to get judicial nominees
approved.
Senator Graham, rightly or wrongly, broke the logjam when his
party was in power. That got some needed justices on board.
If he can do that with Democrats calling the shots, he just might
win back some of the former supporters he alienated in the past.
Maybe.