tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30435188748734086312009-07-13T18:12:12.680-04:00Reflections by South Carolina Comptroller General Richard EckstromRichard Eckstromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11672654399668604738noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043518874873408631.post-39869734113088091972009-07-09T09:22:00.003-04:002009-07-09T09:35:29.545-04:00

Across the state, there’s a growing movement that will result in greater government efficiency and accountability.Several local governments have begun putting their monthly check registers on the Internet. By doing so, they are empowering taxpayers with click-of-a-mouse access to details about how their hard-earned tax dollars are spent… and helping create a new era of transparency in South

Richard Eckstromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11672654399668604738noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043518874873408631.post-79649892140712684422009-07-02T07:13:00.004-04:002009-07-02T07:20:38.729-04:00

(From Greenville News. Photo: Ron Dekett)Greenville city and county so far have not heeded state Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom's call for local governments to post their spending details online. Mayor Knox White said the city of Greenville isn't sure if its computer system can put check registers online, as Eckstrom advocates, in addition to annual budgets and financial audits. County

Richard Eckstromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11672654399668604738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043518874873408631.post-2335251054037970262009-06-26T18:52:00.002-04:002009-06-26T18:55:20.194-04:00

Since being appointed as the state’s “stimulus watchdog” earlier this year, I’ve often been asked how much of the federal stimulus money we’ve received so far. I thought I’d take this opportunity to answer that question and to explain how it’s being used.At the time of this writing, the State of South Carolina has received just over $332 million in federal stimulus money. Seven state agencies

Richard Eckstromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11672654399668604738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043518874873408631.post-91861483762895448612009-06-18T12:38:00.003-04:002009-06-18T12:43:27.838-04:00

Sunday, June 14 was one of our nation’s often overlooked holidays.For many, it passed quietly. There were very few ceremonies, and lots of people didn’t even know it was a holiday.But to the patriotic among us, it was Flag Day, a day set aside to commemorate the adoption of the flag of the United States.For more than 200 years, the flag has been a stirring symbol of strength, hope and freedom –

Richard Eckstromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11672654399668604738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043518874873408631.post-63950834561468587042009-06-11T10:53:00.003-04:002009-06-11T17:07:04.589-04:00

A couple weeks ago I accepted an invitation to appear on the cable news channel C-SPAN, which was doing a special feature on the federal “stimulus” package approved by Congress. Our state has established itself as a national leader on spending transparency, the producers told me, and they felt viewers would be interested in what we are doing to track federal stimulus dollars to ensure they are

Richard Eckstromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11672654399668604738noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043518874873408631.post-77225777505816486172009-06-11T10:48:00.002-04:002009-06-11T10:53:09.747-04:00

Returning to the Columbia Metropolitan Airport from Washington D.C., the terminal was packed with adoring greeters -- some active military, many veterans. There were lots of families, at least one of which with four generations on hand. There were law enforcement personnel and troops of Boy Scouts. There were balloons, signs, banners, flags, and salutes. Some wept. An Army band played patriotic

Richard Eckstromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11672654399668604738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043518874873408631.post-56918645942655711762009-05-29T13:57:00.001-04:002009-05-29T14:00:19.138-04:00

By Richard EckstromComptroller GeneralTwo important holidays recently passed. One probably passed relatively quietly, while the other was marked by barbecues, parades, speeches, flag-waving and remembrance.May 16 was the 60th celebration of Armed Forces Day. The holiday was created in 1959 as a salute to the men and women who serve in the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard. (Each

Richard Eckstromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11672654399668604738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043518874873408631.post-41578654498526971532009-05-21T19:11:00.002-04:002009-05-24T11:39:29.981-04:00

It seems you can’t open a newspaper or turn on the television these days without being bombarded with “bad news” -- news of skyrocketing unemployment, a deep recession, political strife, and partisan posturing and finger-pointing in Washington. It’s an unfortunate fact that positive developments are too often overlooked.Yet there is plenty of “good news” happening all around you: Churches are

Richard Eckstromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11672654399668604738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043518874873408631.post-65389170590018028102009-05-14T15:28:00.002-04:002009-05-14T15:56:22.977-04:00

Those who served our country during World War II and other wars deserve our profound appreciation. It is because of our war veterans that we remain strong as a nation, and we enjoy many of the freedoms we all-too-often take for granted,The World War II Memorial in Washington, DC is a sacred place of remembrance, solace and reflection for those who served in uniform during this war. While no

Richard Eckstromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11672654399668604738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043518874873408631.post-44397181613396316942009-05-07T16:08:00.003-04:002009-05-07T16:14:57.778-04:00

I traveled to Washington D.C. last week to discuss South Carolina’s vigorous efforts to track the federal “stimulus” funds coming into our state and to ensure those funds are used wisely.In March, Governor Sanford asked me to lead the South Carolina Stimulus Oversight Task Force. Although I’m a hard-liner like he is when it comes to government spending, I felt it might be good to also include

Richard Eckstromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11672654399668604738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043518874873408631.post-67002329724853255482009-05-02T19:46:00.001-04:002009-05-02T19:54:10.547-04:00

My office learned last week that the state of South Carolina has again been recognized for outstanding reporting of its finances.Each year, my office puts together the state’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, or CAFR. It’s a detailed presentation of the state’s financial condition and economic outlook which is used by legislators, state agencies, bond rating services and taxpayers.(Because

Richard Eckstromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11672654399668604738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043518874873408631.post-75881648990404248392009-04-23T11:58:00.002-04:002009-04-23T12:01:27.819-04:00

By Richard EckstromComptroller GeneralSomething special happened on Wednesday, April 15: Tens of thousands of South Carolinians from all walks of life assembled for “tea parties” at dozens of locations across the state. Their rallies, of course, came on a day many people have come to dread -- Tax Day.From the Lowcountry to the Upstate, ordinary citizens gathered at modern versions of the Boston

Richard Eckstromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11672654399668604738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043518874873408631.post-12571571801235471162009-04-17T12:40:00.001-04:002009-04-17T12:47:03.276-04:00

By Richard EckstromEven in the best of times, it’s important for those who have enough to meet our own needs to share our blessings with those who do not. Helping others is our highest calling in life.I don’t have to tell you that these are not the best of times. We’re facing the greatest recession of a generation, and more and more South Carolinians are losing their jobs every week. We recently

Richard Eckstromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11672654399668604738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043518874873408631.post-34625304383705653792009-04-11T19:59:00.003-04:002009-04-11T20:04:23.702-04:00

By Richard Eckstrom I probably don’t have to tell you that South Carolina faces huge challenges -- chief among them the economic recession, rising unemployment and deep government budget cuts brought about by reduced revenue collections.It’s been noted many times that if there’s a silver lining to this crisis, perhaps it’s in rediscovering the common-sense notion of living within our means…the

Richard Eckstromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11672654399668604738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043518874873408631.post-49736693677656121442009-04-06T08:12:00.001-04:002009-04-06T08:14:37.709-04:00

By Richard EckstromS.C. Comptroller GeneralWhat do the town of Irmo and the county of Anderson have in common?Both want taxpayers to see how their hard-earned dollars are being spent.Anderson County and Irmo have recently begun posting their spending details on the Internet, empowering their constituents with click-of-a-mouse access to information about how public money is being used. In doing so

Richard Eckstromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11672654399668604738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043518874873408631.post-66662799722726767072009-03-25T23:15:00.002-04:002009-03-25T23:20:42.810-04:00

You could be forgiven for being uneasy about the “stimulus” bill approved by Congress last month. It’s heavy on new spending, and it’s light on tax cuts that have been proven to stimulate the economy. It’s laden with “pork” projects that have nothing to do with economic activity, and it represents an unprecedented, massive shift of resources from the private sector to the government sector.And

Richard Eckstromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11672654399668604738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043518874873408631.post-46758837980624467782009-03-19T11:10:00.002-04:002009-03-19T11:16:27.408-04:00

The Governor works for you. So does your local county administrator, your mayor, your legislator and the superintendent of your school district.This means you have a right to know how each of them spend your tax dollars and how they arrive at decisions that affect you.This week, March 15-21, is National Sunshine Week. Its purpose is to celebrate -- and raise awareness of -- laws that grant

Richard Eckstromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11672654399668604738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043518874873408631.post-17253858504557462042009-03-13T04:23:00.002-04:002009-03-13T04:33:59.704-04:00

Just days before the new president took office, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was above the 9,000 point mark.As I sit here on a Saturday night penning this community newspaper column, I realize that during the last two months the Dow has dropped steadily to about 6,600 -- its lowest level in more than a decade. Nervous experts and investors are now questioning when the decline will hit

Richard Eckstromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11672654399668604738noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043518874873408631.post-24823660191478620312009-03-08T11:06:00.005-04:002009-03-13T07:58:28.933-04:00

(Editorial re-published from the Feb. 25 edition of the Charleston Post & Courier.)Washington is embarking on a record spending spree aimed at stimulating the economy and saving the banking industry. Considering the immense stakes, taxpayers must know how that money will be used. President Barack Obama, during Tuesday night's speech to Congress, again acknowledged the federal government's

Richard Eckstromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11672654399668604738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043518874873408631.post-1756754952747929112009-02-26T11:48:00.008-05:002009-03-13T07:59:30.082-04:00

When those in positions of public trust operate in full view of the people they represent, we’re all better off. Transparency is the key to sound governance.We’re entering a new era of transparency in South Carolina. The S.C. House of Representatives recently adopted a new policy that will require legislators to take more votes on the record, so the folks back home can know where their elected

Richard Eckstromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11672654399668604738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043518874873408631.post-90656229968888344502009-02-21T08:21:00.002-05:002009-02-21T08:29:56.503-05:00

Transparency & accountability in 'stimulus' spendingBy Richard EckstromComptroller GeneralIn pushing his massive spending bill, the new president more than once reminded Congressional Republicans that it was he who won in November. And indeed, Barack Obama won decisively in the presidential election.But the president should remember that the Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives were

Richard Eckstromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11672654399668604738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043518874873408631.post-77915744781666198092009-02-12T12:43:00.002-05:002009-03-13T08:00:23.381-04:00

Government is necessary. Big government is not. Like our Founding Fathers, many of us believe that the proper role of government is to do only those things that people cannot do for themselves.Today many have come to consider government as a foe, rather than a friend. America’s government rose out of a glorious vision of freedom, opportunity and individual liberty. But it has increasingly become

Richard Eckstromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11672654399668604738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043518874873408631.post-52009455362786358502009-02-05T08:24:00.013-05:002009-02-05T08:44:41.992-05:00

Someone once asked Winston Churchill why he was such an optimist. “Because,” he replied, “it doesn’t do much good to be anything else.”Like Churchill, I’m optimistic about our future here in South Carolina. In particular, I’m optimistic about the chances for real, meaningful government reform – changing the way we do things in Columbia to make our system of government more accountable, more

Richard Eckstromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11672654399668604738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043518874873408631.post-31096258595084833922009-01-29T17:33:00.006-05:002009-01-29T17:46:28.139-05:00

Increasing government transparency at the local levelBy Richard EckstromA few months ago my office unveiled the state’s first spending transparency Web site for state government. Visitors to the Web site can find detailed spending information for more than 80 state agencies. Think of this as a sort of online check register. Visitors can see, for example, that in December the Election Commission

Richard Eckstromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11672654399668604738noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043518874873408631.post-70378204590492915902009-01-22T09:58:00.005-05:002009-01-22T10:08:03.599-05:00

Regardless of your political philosophy, his message of looking forward is one we all need to hear.By Richard EckstromGovernor Sanford set a positive tone for the coming year with his annual State of the State address.In his Jan. 14 speech, the Governor sounded some familiar themes, emphasizing the need to reform government, rein in spending and impose greater accountability. He spoke of the need

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