Did SC’s Senate finance chairman sneakily push for $2M lawmaker raise?

By Rick Brundrett | The Nerve

In last week’s Senate Finance Committee meeting, Chairman Hugh Leatherman at first acted somewhat surprised about a proposal to increase lawmakers’ pay by a collective $2 million annually.

“You mentioned in-district expenses, did you not?” Leatherman, R-Florence, quizzed Mike Shealy, the committee’s longtime budget director, after Shealy quickly read the proposal.

“Yes, Mr. Chairman,” Shealy replied.

What Leatherman didn’t disclose, however, was that he himself proposed the 100 percent increase in “in-district” expense payments at a recent closed Senate Republican Caucus meeting, several legislative sources, who asked that their names not be used, confirmed this week when contacted by The Nerve.

at The Nerve.