statehouse watch

South Carolina taxpayers have shelled out more than $50,000 to send 27 lawmakers to “educational” conferences.

Travel records show most of them didn’t specify the reimbursed expenses on their annual income-disclosure reports nor are they required to under state ethics laws.

Besides receiving taxpayer-funded junkets, legislators are wined and dined annually at expensive getaways by special interests with business before them.

Both the House and Senate have plenty of taxpayer money to send their members on pricey trips, given their fat budgets and reserves. The Nerve in September reported that the 124-member House had a $25 million general-fund surplus as of July 1 – nearly $2.9 million more than its fiscal 2018 budget – while the 46-member Senate carried over $6.1 million into this fiscal year – 43% of its 2018 budget.

Asked if any caps were on reimbursed conference expenses, Senate Clerk Jeff Gos-sett in an email said senators “generally are limited to a maximum of 3 conferences per year,” noting they are “allowed basic reimbursement costs,” such as transportation, hotel and daily meals.

House Clerk Charles Reid said conference expenses are capped at $1,900 per lawmaker, which would come to a total of $235,600 if every House member claimed the maximum taxpayer-funded benefit.

The cap last fiscal year was $1,700, according to a letter from House Speaker Jay Lucas, R-Darlington, to House members.

Lucas’ letter said the reimbursements were for expenses “incurred to attend educational legislative conferences,” including “registration fees, travel expenses, lodging and meals at rates established by state law.

Travel records from the Comptroller General’s Office under the state Freedom of Information Act show that the House and Senate in 2018 spent $52,919 for 27 lawmakers to attend 10 out-out-state conferences from Boston to San Francisco.

Expenses connected to the National Conference of State Legislatures’ conference in Boston in August 2017 were covered for 22 of the 27 lawmakers. Directly paid or reimbursed costs per legislator ranged from $625 to $3,429, records show. 7 lawmakers had various expenses paid for 2 or 3 taxpayer-funded trips last fiscal year.

The destinations offer plenty of pampering for lawmakers. The Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, where the NCSL conference was held, boasts on its website:

• Breathtaking views of Boston Seaport.

• Innovative chefs are eager to customize something to surprise and delight you.

Records show that several lawmakers stayed at higher-end hotels in the area.

The Senate covered the $625 registration fee for Sen. Hugh Leatherman though records show no reimbursements for other expenses. Leatherman’s income-disclosure statement to the State Ethics Commission showed he received another $1,000 from the NCSL as a “travel stipend” gift.