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Critics fear ESG factors could diminish state pension investments
By RICK BRUNDRETT Two major investment management firms that handle a large chunk of South Carolina’s pension plan for state retirees are big proponents of the controversial environmental, social and governance (ESG) movement, The Nerve found in a review of pension and other records. Of the approximately $39 billion market... -
Serious business: How ESG mandates can hurt small SC firms
By RICK BRUNDRETT In a letter last year to Cromer Food Services, one of the Anderson-based company’s hundreds of customers – a foreign-headquartered corporation – said it was drafting a “Business Partner Code of Conduct that expresses all our essential requirements for sustainable cooperation.” The letter asked the company to... -
Officials warn ESG movement heading to SC amid ‘woke’ power play
By RICK BRUNDRETT Imagine a small business applying for a bank loan and being rejected despite having an excellent credit rating and strong revenues. The reason? Its “ESG” score was too low. If you’ve never heard of ESG, you’re probably not alone. But the corporate and financial worlds are well-acquainted... -
State law keeps judicial income hidden from public
By RICK BRUNDRETT Under state court rules, judges must avoid even the “appearance of impropriety” in all of their activities, and “minimize the risk of conflict” with their official duties. Citizens, however, typically have no easy way of determining whether the income sources of many South Carolina judges or their... -
Judicial department releases staff salaries after legal pressure
By RICK BRUNDRETT More than three months after ignoring The Nerve’s written requests, the S.C. Judicial Department has released an updated salary list of state judges and other higher-paid court staff, which shows 141 employees making at least $100,000. The third branch of state government responded to The Nerve only... -
Lawmakers secretly nominate ex-legislator for judge’s seat
By RICK BRUNDRETT As expected, the Horry County legislative delegation last week nominated former House member Alan Clemmons as the county’s master-in-equity judge. But House and Senate members who make up the delegation didn’t nominate Clemmons – who had been a longtime delegation member – during a public meeting in... -
Judicial panel hiding behind secrecy law
By RICK BRUNDRETT A legislatively controlled committee isn’t saying publicly why it found a longtime circuit court judge unqualified – and state law requires the secrecy. The six-legislator, 10-member Judicial Merit Selection Commission (JMSC) on Dec. 1 voted 9-0 not to qualify Horry County circuit judge Steven John, who has... -
Ex-House member top candidate for judgeship?
By RICK BRUNDRETT Next month, the Horry County legislative delegation could recommend one of three master-in-equity judicial candidates to the governor for appointment to the six-figure seat. One of the candidates is former state Rep. Alan Clemmons, a Myrtle Beach attorney who was a longtime member of the Horry County...