More Jim Rex Ethics Antics

The Voice has never been shy about calling out “Dropout Jim” Rex for using taxpayer funds to reward and retain his loyal political consultant, Zeke Stokes (or f0r personal politicking)

In fact, after posting the numbers on how much Rex was paying his former campaign manager, questions from several news sources had Rex scrambling to show just how invaluable his consultant was in educating children in South Carolina.

Now, South Carolinians can see more of Rex’s financial dealings with his trusted consultant.

On Rex’s most recent Ethics Commission filing, the following shows up as a “contribution” from Zeke Stokes-

On the same filing, under “Expenditures,” Rex lists a payment to Zeke Stokes for $30.69 for “Printing 2010″-

That’s funny, it’s the same amount!

Department of Education Spends $333,791 on Consultants in May

“Of course everyone gets a fair deal!”

The month of May came, went, and left behind a $333,791.00 tab in consultant and contractor fees for the taxpayers of South Carolina, courtesy of the Department of Education.

Thankfully this is a decrease from April, when Rex’s department spent almost $400, ooo on non-state employee “education and training services.”

Despite a steady stream of complaints from administrators about how budget cuts are forcing the Department of Education to do its work on a “bare bones” budget, the bureaucracy has managed to find enough money to continue paying out political consultants and contractors. Teachers have been cut, but spending has been maintained for former employees of political campaigns.

• January-$296,526
• February-$358,398
• March-$366,996
• April-$397,876
• May-$333,791
• YEAR-TO-DATE: $1.7 million to consultants and contractors

Department of Education Increases Spending on Consultants (again)

Parents and teachers will be gratified to know that consultants and contractors are still getting their fair share of the SC Department of Education’s spending.

In fact, the $397,876 spent on”Non-State Education and Training Services” in April was a significant increase from previous months!

Even economic stress and uncertainty did not keep the SC Department of Education from spending $30,000 more on consultants  in April  than was spent in March, and $39,000 more than was spent in February!

Who Are These People, Why Are We STILL Paying Them

Consulting: why fix a broken school system when you can profit from its failures?

The economic forecast is still calling for rain, and public education officials have not been shy about the need for more money.

Despite gloomy predictions about massive cuts cutting out classroom teachers, State Superintendent Rex has been placed in the awkward position of explaining large amounts of spending on education “consultants” and contractors.

Especially uncomfortable was Rex’s attempt to portray payments to former campaign manager Zeke Stokes- and various other holdovers from Inez Tenenbaum’s administration- as vital expenses for improving education in South Carolina.