April 26, 2025 • 18 mins
Money, politics, and constitutional powers collide in this eye-opening conversation with South Carolina Senator Shane Martin about the recent controversy surrounding State Treasurer Curtis Loftis and a $1.8 billion accounting discrepancy.
Senator Martin provides a refreshingly straightforward explanation of what initially appeared to be missing funds but has since been revealed as an accounting error during the state's transition to a new financial system. "The money's not missing," Martin clarifies, likening the situation to writing a check and making a deposit without recording it properly. Two separate audits have confirmed no intentional wrongdoing occurred.
The conversation takes a fascinating turn as Martin delves into the rarely-used constitutional mechanism being employed to potentially remove an elected official from office. This process has only been attempted once before in South Carolina's 150-year history – also involving a state treasurer. Martin explains the required two-thirds majority vote, the right to defense, and the uncertain path forward as the House of Representatives decides whether to pursue the matter.
Beyond the procedural details, Martin offers thoughtful insights into the political dimensions driving the controversy. He suggests personality conflicts and policy disagreements may have fueled the push to remove Loftis, despite the absence of financial impropriety. The case raises profound questions about governmental accountability, the relationship between elected officials, and the balance of power in state government.
Have you ever wondered what happens when political tensions clash with financial oversight? Subscribe to More Than Medicine for more thought-provoking conversations that explore the intersection of governance, ethics, and public service.
https://www.jacksonfamilyministry.com
https://bobslone.com/home/podcast-production/
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to More Than Medicine, where Jesus is more
than enough for the ills thatplague our culture and our
country.
Hosted by author and physician,dr Robert Jackson, and his wife
Carlotta and daughter HannahMiller.
So listen up, because thedoctor is in.
Dr. Robert Jackson (00:24):
Welcome to More Than Medicine.
I'm your host, dr RobertJackson, bringing to you
biblical insights and storiesfrom the country doctor's rusty,
dusty scrapbook.
Well, I'm delighted today tohave as my guest Senator Shane
Martin, and we're going to talka little bit about some of the
goings-on in the South CarolinaSenate this last week.
(00:44):
Senator Martin, welcome to MoreThan Medicine.
Sen. Shane Martin (00:48):
Dr Jackson, thank you for having me and,
more than anything, thank youfor sayinga prayer before we got
started.
Dr. Robert Jackson (00:53):
Sir, Well, I'm always delighted to do that.
Well, first of all, I want youto tell my listening audience a
little bit about yourself andwhat you do and the district you
represent and how long you'vebeen in the Senate.
Sen. Shane Martin (01:08):
All righty Well.
As he said, shane Martinrepresents Senate District 13 in
the South Carolina Senate livein Spartanburg County and it
encompasses eastern and southernSpartanburg County, the western
five-eighths, including part ofthe city of Union, and four
precincts over in greenvillearound the five forks bells
(01:28):
crossing area that's a bigdistrict yes, sir, I got elected
in 2008 and I've been servingin the senate since since then,
so I finished my 16th year andI'm starting my 17th year.
How?
about that I'm on the financecommittee in the Senate and
medical affairs subcommittee,chairman of both of them, and
(01:49):
then I chair the corrections andbiology committee in the state
Senate.
Dr. Robert Jackson (01:54):
I got you.
I got you what you do for aliving.
I know you don't make a livingserving in the Senate.
Sen. Shane Martin (02:00):
Well, no, sir , I'm luckily, you know, and
that's something that we've beentalking about a little bit you
know I'm an engineer, I've gotmy own engineering business and
thank the good Lord that I'mable to be a business owner.
I can move my schedule aroundto where I can serve in the
Senate, unless you're anattorney and own retainer or
(02:22):
you're kind of independentlywealthy.
So for those of us that work alot and juggle, I enjoy doing it
, but I'm glad to make adifference.
Dr. Robert Jackson (02:33):
Well, we appreciate your service.
I want you to know that,because we know it's difficult,
all right.
Well, let me ask you this nowSome of my listeners don't know
what's been going on with CurtisLoftus.
Sen. Shane Martin (02:51):
And tell me exactly what his position is.
Well, Curtis Loftus is ourtreasurer.
He's one of the I think wemaybe have nine constitutional
officers in the state.
Okay, no, maybe not.
Anyway, he's one of our severalconstitutional officers in the
state.
Dr. Robert Jackson (03:04):
And his position is an elected position.
Sen. Shane Martin (03:08):
Yes, sir, it's a statewide elected
position.
He's elected at the same timethe governor, lieutenant
governor, the treasurer, thesecretary of state, comptroller
general, the attorney general,commissioner of agriculture.
Yes, commissioner ofAgriculture, and I hope I don't
(03:31):
forget any more, but they're allelected at the same time.
Dr. Robert Jackson (03:32):
So that's an important position that he
holds and the issue that Iunderstand it is there's a
budget deficit or shortfall ordiscrepancy of $1.8 billion.
Is that correct?
Sen. Shane Martin (03:47):
Well, that's correct, and I think when it all
started, nobody knew if it wasa discrepancy or a deficit, or
if the money was really thereand what was going on with it.
So I'll go ahead and lead intoeverything.
It's been going on for a coupleof years.
So I'll go ahead and lead intoeverything.
It's been going on for a coupleof years.
They've had, you know, we hadour Comptroller General.
(04:07):
Let me take another step back,dr Jackson.
Dr. Robert Jackson (04:10):
Yeah, go back.
You mentioned that.
Explain all that so mylisteners will understand Well I
do.
Sen. Shane Martin (04:14):
but I want to give the listeners another
piece of this puzzle as well.
Back when Nikki Haley wasgovernor, she was touting that
we were going to reform and makethe Department of
Administration and get rid ofthe evil Budget and Control
Board.
Well, the Budget and ControlBoard is the governor, the
comptroller general, thetreasurer, the chairman of
Senate Finance and the chairmanof House Ways and Means.
(04:36):
Under this new thing where theyeliminated the Budget and
Control Board, they call it theState Fiscal Accountability
Authority.
But guess what?
It's got the same five peoplethe governor the comptroller
general, the treasurer, thechairman of Senate Finance and
the chairman of House Ways andMeans.
So that's what frustrates mesometimes in Columbia, when
(04:58):
we're going to have thisso-called reform but nothing
really happens, but a few deckchairs get rearranged.
So that's one of the thingsthat, if you think about it,
that's one of five on the votewhen they have those meetings.
So the comptroller generalresigned, so the governor
appointed, so there hadn't beenanother election yet.
(05:19):
But if the treasurer were goneand the governor appointed, then
you'd really have the governorhad three people on there
himself, think about it.
So that that's one thing thatnever really even came up in any
these hearings.
But so they go in and they findout that the Comptroller
General evidently made a lot ofmistakes, or a lot of mistakes
to be made.
(05:40):
But there was a new computersystem.
I'm not making excuses, I'mjust trying to tell the
listeners really what's beengoing on but when they came out
with this $1.8 billion, theyclaimed it was missing or
something like this.
So they had to get to thebottom of it, which is the
correct thing to do.
Well, through all this, fastforward the good thing for
(06:00):
people that don't want to listall the way to the end.
The $1.8 billion is mainly adiscrepancy in accounting
procedures, and the way it wasexplained in the hearing we had
this past Monday on April 21st,was somebody wrote a check.
They said they complained thisto you at the house, like if you
(06:21):
wrote a check for $100, butthen you put in a deposit for
$100, but you never made notethat you put in the deposit of
$100, when you should have been.
Even you would look like youwere negative $100.
That's what happened here.
So they showed email to wherethe treasurer was instructed to
(06:42):
do this by the comptrollergeneral and they did a really
good job of explaining it as towhy that discrepancy got done.
In the meantime they switchedover to a new accounting system
in the state and that justcompounded the problem.
So the short answer is themoney's not missing.
(07:03):
But at the time when thisreally started going going,
treasurer Loftus told a Senatecommittee, told a senator that's
no longer with us that, yes, hecould, he could show him that
money, he could withdraw it andlet him feel it, and that's what
got people thinking.
I think that maybe thetreasurer was not knowing what
(07:25):
he was doing or somethinghappened.
So that's kind of how we got towhere we were.
Monday they held a hearing, andI was glad they held a hearing
because they asked me in anotherinterview if I thought it was a
waste of time and I said no,it's not a waste of time when
something's been going on forover a year and there's finger
pointing and blame and shifting.
(07:47):
Then having a hearing to get tothe bottom of everything I
think is healthy.
Dr. Robert Jackson (07:51):
Yeah, yeah.
Well now weren't there twoseparate audits held that
exonerated the previouscomptroller and Mr Loftus, the
treasurer?
Sen. Shane Martin (08:06):
Yes, I think everybody was cleared of doing
anything like.
I don't want to say wrong,because there were mistakes that
were made, but nobody didanything with intent to deceive
or like they were trying tosteal any money.
That was not happening.
Dr. Robert Jackson (08:24):
Right right.
Sen. Shane Martin (08:25):
And that came up in the hearing as well.
That got discussed a lot duringthe hearing.
Dr. Robert Jackson (08:32):
Now why are folks so up in arms and angry at
Mr Loftus if it's plain andobvious that there was nobody
trying to steal or deceive?
Sen. Shane Martin (08:49):
I think and again, this is probably it's
going to seem weird in my answer, but I couldn't have answered
this question before thishearing but me as an engineer,
looking at it, it almost lookslike okay, the comptroller
general has some problems, heresigned.
They appointed somebodydifferent.
I think that certain members ofthe General Assembly wanted the
(09:14):
treasurer to resign and acceptblame so everybody could move on
.
Well, the treasurer was likewait a minute, I wanted to work
with everybody.
I was willing.
If there's three or four peopleinvolved or three or four
offices involved, I'm willing tosay hey, I'll accept 25%.
But let's all pull together andwork together and figure out
(09:34):
what happened, instead of fingerpointing and trying to get
people fired or gone.
And I think that's what happened.
And then, on a personal level,I think you probably had some
people that wanted to make apoint.
You probably had the treasurerthat was tired of some of what
he thought was a witch hunt andhe probably said a few things in
(09:57):
a certain way that got peoplemad and it just came down to
that.
But once the hearing was thereand all the facts were presented
, it was clear to me that therewas no way I was voting to
remove him from office,especially an office that the
entire state elected him to.
Dr. Robert Jackson (10:13):
So his position is an elected position
and he's elected by all thevoters in South Carolina.
Sen. Shane Martin (10:20):
Yes, sir, he's on the statewide ballot,
the same as those the governorand the attorney general and all
the ones I mentioned earlier inthe podcast.
Dr. Robert Jackson (10:27):
Well, now can the legislature legally oust
a person elected by theelectorate.
Sen. Shane Martin (10:35):
Well, and again, I wasn't aware of that, I
didn't think we could.
But you know, someone can beimpeached, but that starts in
the House.
But here's what.
And, dr Jackson, I'm not anattorney, so I want to read this
to you on your podcast becauseI wanted to know what was
actually used.
And here is what the ones thatfiled the resolution to remove
(10:59):
the treasure.
I'm just going to read this.
Okay, this is not, this is notme.
Where my words?
I'm reading this okay the southcarolina constitution provides
for the removal of officers byjoint resolution Okay cause
which shall not be sufficientground of impeachment.
The governor shall remove anyexecutive or judicial officer on
(11:34):
the address of two-thirds ofeach house of the General
Assembly, provided that thecause or causes for which said
removal may be required shall bestated at length in such
address and entered on thejournals of each house, and
provided further that theofficer intended to be removed
(11:55):
shall be notified of such causeor causes and shall be admitted
in a hearing in his own defenseor by his counsel or both,
before any vote of such addressand in all cases the vote shall
be taken by yeas and nays and beentered into the journal of
each house and it saysrespectively 1970, all the code
(12:19):
sections it was in in theprocess for the removal.
So that's how they got there.
It didn't warrant animpeachment, but some people
felt that it warranted doing itthis way, so that's how they
were able to do the task thatway.
Dr. Robert Jackson (12:37):
Well now do you think that there are issues
with Mr Loftus that precededthis whole event?
Sen. Shane Martin (12:47):
Yeah, I mean, I think there's been some
issues.
I think there's been somepersonality conflicts.
But, like I said, I'm friendswith the guy.
I talked to him that nightduring one of the breaks.
We were talking about what I do.
He knows what I do for a livingbecause I know the guy we were
just talking about that.
He seemed in good spirits.
(13:07):
I think there's been somepersonality issues in certain
places for some years now.
Dr. Robert Jackson (13:16):
Not just personality issues, but perhaps
policy issues that preceded thiswhole issue.
Sen. Shane Martin (13:22):
And it could have been.
There could have been somethings that I wasn't aware of
that preceded it, but you know Ican't really speculate on that.
Dr. Robert Jackson (13:32):
Yeah, I understand all that.
I do.
Well, all that's veryinteresting to me and I think my
listeners have heard a lot oftalk-talk in the community about
this whole issue and I wantedto hear from a senator that was
there and get a senator'sperspective.
Sen. Shane Martin (13:54):
Yes, sir, and again, I don't want anybody to
feel that the hearing we had onMonday was a waste of time.
I think it was a time for thosewho were saying he should be
removed for them to presentreasons why staff were able to
(14:16):
actually present things thatweren't just in a Senate hearing
to where he was there byhimself or with somebody else
and was kind of at thediscretion.
You know, you've been in ahearing that I've chaired.
I mean, we've given you plentyof leeway, but still you
wouldn't argue that you were incharge, right?
Dr. Robert Jackson (14:36):
That's correct when I'm chairing that
meeting.
Sen. Shane Martin (14:40):
Me and the committee are in charge.
Dr. Robert Jackson (14:41):
That's correct.
Sen. Shane Martin (14:42):
But now when I run a committee meeting, I
don't treat it that way.
But what I'm saying is when thetreasurer came into that
hearing, there were rules ofthat hearing and he had the
floor and he could say what hewanted to and you weren't able
to just ask questions or cut himoff.
He had the right to be heardand that's why I think that was
healthy.
Dr. Robert Jackson (15:02):
I got you.
I got you.
Well, now, this will have to goto the House now and they will
hold a separate hearing.
Is that correct?
Sen. Shane Martin (15:12):
Well, it can.
Now it goes to the House.
The House can choose to donothing or the House could take
it up.
The House, the way I guess therules are.
They could take this up nextweek.
They could decide to come backon August 15th and take this up.
They could come back on October7th and take this up, but
(15:36):
they're not obliged to well,they're not obliged to take it
up, but in in the taking it up.
They don't actually have to bein session to take it up.
They could come in and if theythought they needed to do
something, the speaker couldcall them back into session and
they could take that up I gotyou all right.
(15:57):
Well, I haven't heard anybody, Imean, but I've heard no
indication other than some ofthe ones that were the
prosecutors, if you will, atthis hearing on the Senate side.
They felt like that the Housemight want to take it up, but I
have I've not heard that myselffrom anybody in the House.
Dr. Robert Jackson (16:15):
I got you.
I got you.
Well, it's a very interestingand unique situation in the
history of South Carolina,wouldn't you agree?
Sen. Shane Martin (16:24):
I think it is .
I think it is.
I think the way they explainedit to us was this has only
happened one time, and it was150 years ago, and it was with
the current.
It was with the treasurer atthe time.
Dr. Robert Jackson (16:36):
Oh really.
Sen. Shane Martin (16:36):
What they're telling me.
I didn't go look it up, I justtook their word for it.
Dr. Robert Jackson (16:39):
Yeah.
Sen. Shane Martin (16:41):
To use the process in this manner that they
did.
Dr. Robert Jackson (16:43):
Yes, sir, I got you All right.
Well, senator, I appreciateyour perspective.
I appreciate your time.
I know you're a busy man, but Ido appreciate you giving us
some inside perspective oneverything that happened.
Sen. Shane Martin (17:00):
Any inside perspective on everything that
happened.
Any last comments?
No, I just want to say thatanytime that anybody has a
question or wants to knowsomething, I'll be glad to come
back on your show.
I'm always, as you know, youand I text together and I just
want to thank you for all yourhelp, especially when we're
trying to get good conservativelegislation passed or working on
issues.
I want to thank you for alwaysbeing there to testify and just
(17:20):
help us with data and research.
Dr. Robert Jackson (17:23):
Well, thank you, sir.
You're mighty kind.
I always appreciate yourwillingness to allow me to
insert a conservative medicalperspective on issues All right.
Sen. Shane Martin (17:33):
Well, I really appreciate it, and you
have a good evening, sir.
Dr. Robert Jackson (17:36):
Yes, sir, you're listening to More Than
Medicine.
I'm your host, dr RobertJackson.
My guest today is Senator ShaneMartin.
We'll be back again next week.
Till then, may the Lord blessyou real good.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
Thank you for listening to this edition of
More Than Medicine.
For more information about theJackson Family Ministry, Dr
Jackson's books, or to schedulea speaking engagement, go to
their Facebook page, instagramor their webpage at
jacksonfamilyministrycom.
This podcast is produced by BobSlone Audio Production at
(18:11):
bobslone.
com.
Welcome to More Than Medicine, where Jesus is more
than enough for the ills thatplague our culture and our
country.
Hosted by author and physician,dr Robert Jackson, and his wife
Carlotta and daughter HannahMiller.
So listen up, because thedoctor is in.
Dr. Robert Jackson (00:24):
Welcome to More Than Medicine.
I'm your host, dr RobertJackson, bringing to you
biblical insights and storiesfrom the country doctor's rusty,
dusty scrapbook.
Well, I'm delighted today tohave as my guest Senator Shane
Martin, and we're going to talka little bit about some of the
goings-on in the South CarolinaSenate this last week.
(00:44):
Senator Martin, welcome to MoreThan Medicine.
Sen. Shane Martin (00:48):
Dr Jackson, thank you for having me and,
more than anything, thank youfor sayinga prayer before we got
started.
Dr. Robert Jackson (00:53):
Sir, Well, I'm always delighted to do that.
Well, first of all, I want youto tell my listening audience a
little bit about yourself andwhat you do and the district you
represent and how long you'vebeen in the Senate.
Sen. Shane Martin (01:08):
All righty Well.
As he said, shane Martinrepresents Senate District 13 in
the South Carolina Senate livein Spartanburg County and it
encompasses eastern and southernSpartanburg County, the western
five-eighths, including part ofthe city of Union, and four
precincts over in greenvillearound the five forks bells
(01:28):
crossing area that's a bigdistrict yes, sir, I got elected
in 2008 and I've been servingin the senate since since then,
so I finished my 16th year andI'm starting my 17th year.
How?
about that I'm on the financecommittee in the Senate and
medical affairs subcommittee,chairman of both of them, and
(01:49):
then I chair the corrections andbiology committee in the state
Senate.
Dr. Robert Jackson (01:54):
I got you.
I got you what you do for aliving.
I know you don't make a livingserving in the Senate.
Sen. Shane Martin (02:00):
Well, no, sir , I'm luckily, you know, and
that's something that we've beentalking about a little bit you
know I'm an engineer, I've gotmy own engineering business and
thank the good Lord that I'mable to be a business owner.
I can move my schedule aroundto where I can serve in the
Senate, unless you're anattorney and own retainer or
(02:22):
you're kind of independentlywealthy.
So for those of us that work alot and juggle, I enjoy doing it
, but I'm glad to make adifference.
Dr. Robert Jackson (02:33):
Well, we appreciate your service.
I want you to know that,because we know it's difficult,
all right.
Well, let me ask you this nowSome of my listeners don't know
what's been going on with CurtisLoftus.
Sen. Shane Martin (02:51):
And tell me exactly what his position is.
Well, Curtis Loftus is ourtreasurer.
He's one of the I think wemaybe have nine constitutional
officers in the state.
Okay, no, maybe not.
Anyway, he's one of our severalconstitutional officers in the
state.
Dr. Robert Jackson (03:04):
And his position is an elected position.
Sen. Shane Martin (03:08):
Yes, sir, it's a statewide elected
position.
He's elected at the same timethe governor, lieutenant
governor, the treasurer, thesecretary of state, comptroller
general, the attorney general,commissioner of agriculture.
Yes, commissioner ofAgriculture, and I hope I don't
(03:31):
forget any more, but they're allelected at the same time.
Dr. Robert Jackson (03:32):
So that's an important position that he
holds and the issue that Iunderstand it is there's a
budget deficit or shortfall ordiscrepancy of $1.8 billion.
Is that correct?
Sen. Shane Martin (03:47):
Well, that's correct, and I think when it all
started, nobody knew if it wasa discrepancy or a deficit, or
if the money was really thereand what was going on with it.
So I'll go ahead and lead intoeverything.
It's been going on for a coupleof years.
So I'll go ahead and lead intoeverything.
It's been going on for a coupleof years.
They've had, you know, we hadour Comptroller General.
(04:07):
Let me take another step back,dr Jackson.
Dr. Robert Jackson (04:10):
Yeah, go back.
You mentioned that.
Explain all that so mylisteners will understand Well I
do.
Sen. Shane Martin (04:14):
but I want to give the listeners another
piece of this puzzle as well.
Back when Nikki Haley wasgovernor, she was touting that
we were going to reform and makethe Department of
Administration and get rid ofthe evil Budget and Control
Board.
Well, the Budget and ControlBoard is the governor, the
comptroller general, thetreasurer, the chairman of
Senate Finance and the chairmanof House Ways and Means.
(04:36):
Under this new thing where theyeliminated the Budget and
Control Board, they call it theState Fiscal Accountability
Authority.
But guess what?
It's got the same five peoplethe governor the comptroller
general, the treasurer, thechairman of Senate Finance and
the chairman of House Ways andMeans.
So that's what frustrates mesometimes in Columbia, when
(04:58):
we're going to have thisso-called reform but nothing
really happens, but a few deckchairs get rearranged.
So that's one of the thingsthat, if you think about it,
that's one of five on the votewhen they have those meetings.
So the comptroller generalresigned, so the governor
appointed, so there hadn't beenanother election yet.
(05:19):
But if the treasurer were goneand the governor appointed, then
you'd really have the governorhad three people on there
himself, think about it.
So that that's one thing thatnever really even came up in any
these hearings.
But so they go in and they findout that the Comptroller
General evidently made a lot ofmistakes, or a lot of mistakes
to be made.
(05:40):
But there was a new computersystem.
I'm not making excuses, I'mjust trying to tell the
listeners really what's beengoing on but when they came out
with this $1.8 billion, theyclaimed it was missing or
something like this.
So they had to get to thebottom of it, which is the
correct thing to do.
Well, through all this, fastforward the good thing for
(06:00):
people that don't want to listall the way to the end.
The $1.8 billion is mainly adiscrepancy in accounting
procedures, and the way it wasexplained in the hearing we had
this past Monday on April 21st,was somebody wrote a check.
They said they complained thisto you at the house, like if you
(06:21):
wrote a check for $100, butthen you put in a deposit for
$100, but you never made notethat you put in the deposit of
$100, when you should have been.
Even you would look like youwere negative $100.
That's what happened here.
So they showed email to wherethe treasurer was instructed to
(06:42):
do this by the comptrollergeneral and they did a really
good job of explaining it as towhy that discrepancy got done.
In the meantime they switchedover to a new accounting system
in the state and that justcompounded the problem.
So the short answer is themoney's not missing.
(07:03):
But at the time when thisreally started going going,
treasurer Loftus told a Senatecommittee, told a senator that's
no longer with us that, yes, hecould, he could show him that
money, he could withdraw it andlet him feel it, and that's what
got people thinking.
I think that maybe thetreasurer was not knowing what
(07:25):
he was doing or somethinghappened.
So that's kind of how we got towhere we were.
Monday they held a hearing, andI was glad they held a hearing
because they asked me in anotherinterview if I thought it was a
waste of time and I said no,it's not a waste of time when
something's been going on forover a year and there's finger
pointing and blame and shifting.
(07:47):
Then having a hearing to get tothe bottom of everything I
think is healthy.
Dr. Robert Jackson (07:51):
Yeah, yeah.
Well now weren't there twoseparate audits held that
exonerated the previouscomptroller and Mr Loftus, the
treasurer?
Sen. Shane Martin (08:06):
Yes, I think everybody was cleared of doing
anything like.
I don't want to say wrong,because there were mistakes that
were made, but nobody didanything with intent to deceive
or like they were trying tosteal any money.
That was not happening.
Dr. Robert Jackson (08:24):
Right right.
Sen. Shane Martin (08:25):
And that came up in the hearing as well.
That got discussed a lot duringthe hearing.
Dr. Robert Jackson (08:32):
Now why are folks so up in arms and angry at
Mr Loftus if it's plain andobvious that there was nobody
trying to steal or deceive?
Sen. Shane Martin (08:49):
I think and again, this is probably it's
going to seem weird in my answer, but I couldn't have answered
this question before thishearing but me as an engineer,
looking at it, it almost lookslike okay, the comptroller
general has some problems, heresigned.
They appointed somebodydifferent.
I think that certain members ofthe General Assembly wanted the
(09:14):
treasurer to resign and acceptblame so everybody could move on
.
Well, the treasurer was likewait a minute, I wanted to work
with everybody.
I was willing.
If there's three or four peopleinvolved or three or four
offices involved, I'm willing tosay hey, I'll accept 25%.
But let's all pull together andwork together and figure out
(09:34):
what happened, instead of fingerpointing and trying to get
people fired or gone.
And I think that's what happened.
And then, on a personal level,I think you probably had some
people that wanted to make apoint.
You probably had the treasurerthat was tired of some of what
he thought was a witch hunt andhe probably said a few things in
(09:57):
a certain way that got peoplemad and it just came down to
that.
But once the hearing was thereand all the facts were presented
, it was clear to me that therewas no way I was voting to
remove him from office,especially an office that the
entire state elected him to.
Dr. Robert Jackson (10:13):
So his position is an elected position
and he's elected by all thevoters in South Carolina.
Sen. Shane Martin (10:20):
Yes, sir, he's on the statewide ballot,
the same as those the governorand the attorney general and all
the ones I mentioned earlier inthe podcast.
Dr. Robert Jackson (10:27):
Well, now can the legislature legally oust
a person elected by theelectorate.
Sen. Shane Martin (10:35):
Well, and again, I wasn't aware of that, I
didn't think we could.
But you know, someone can beimpeached, but that starts in
the House.
But here's what.
And, dr Jackson, I'm not anattorney, so I want to read this
to you on your podcast becauseI wanted to know what was
actually used.
And here is what the ones thatfiled the resolution to remove
(10:59):
the treasure.
I'm just going to read this.
Okay, this is not, this is notme.
Where my words?
I'm reading this okay the southcarolina constitution provides
for the removal of officers byjoint resolution Okay cause
which shall not be sufficientground of impeachment.
The governor shall remove anyexecutive or judicial officer on
(11:34):
the address of two-thirds ofeach house of the General
Assembly, provided that thecause or causes for which said
removal may be required shall bestated at length in such
address and entered on thejournals of each house, and
provided further that theofficer intended to be removed
(11:55):
shall be notified of such causeor causes and shall be admitted
in a hearing in his own defenseor by his counsel or both,
before any vote of such addressand in all cases the vote shall
be taken by yeas and nays and beentered into the journal of
each house and it saysrespectively 1970, all the code
(12:19):
sections it was in in theprocess for the removal.
So that's how they got there.
It didn't warrant animpeachment, but some people
felt that it warranted doing itthis way, so that's how they
were able to do the task thatway.
Dr. Robert Jackson (12:37):
Well now do you think that there are issues
with Mr Loftus that precededthis whole event?
Sen. Shane Martin (12:47):
Yeah, I mean, I think there's been some
issues.
I think there's been somepersonality conflicts.
But, like I said, I'm friendswith the guy.
I talked to him that nightduring one of the breaks.
We were talking about what I do.
He knows what I do for a livingbecause I know the guy we were
just talking about that.
He seemed in good spirits.
(13:07):
I think there's been somepersonality issues in certain
places for some years now.
Dr. Robert Jackson (13:16):
Not just personality issues, but perhaps
policy issues that preceded thiswhole issue.
Sen. Shane Martin (13:22):
And it could have been.
There could have been somethings that I wasn't aware of
that preceded it, but you know Ican't really speculate on that.
Dr. Robert Jackson (13:32):
Yeah, I understand all that.
I do.
Well, all that's veryinteresting to me and I think my
listeners have heard a lot oftalk-talk in the community about
this whole issue and I wantedto hear from a senator that was
there and get a senator'sperspective.
Sen. Shane Martin (13:54):
Yes, sir, and again, I don't want anybody to
feel that the hearing we had onMonday was a waste of time.
I think it was a time for thosewho were saying he should be
removed for them to presentreasons why staff were able to
(14:16):
actually present things thatweren't just in a Senate hearing
to where he was there byhimself or with somebody else
and was kind of at thediscretion.
You know, you've been in ahearing that I've chaired.
I mean, we've given you plentyof leeway, but still you
wouldn't argue that you were incharge, right?
Dr. Robert Jackson (14:36):
That's correct when I'm chairing that
meeting.
Sen. Shane Martin (14:40):
Me and the committee are in charge.
Dr. Robert Jackson (14:41):
That's correct.
Sen. Shane Martin (14:42):
But now when I run a committee meeting, I
don't treat it that way.
But what I'm saying is when thetreasurer came into that
hearing, there were rules ofthat hearing and he had the
floor and he could say what hewanted to and you weren't able
to just ask questions or cut himoff.
He had the right to be heardand that's why I think that was
healthy.
Dr. Robert Jackson (15:02):
I got you.
I got you.
Well, now, this will have to goto the House now and they will
hold a separate hearing.
Is that correct?
Sen. Shane Martin (15:12):
Well, it can.
Now it goes to the House.
The House can choose to donothing or the House could take
it up.
The House, the way I guess therules are.
They could take this up nextweek.
They could decide to come backon August 15th and take this up.
They could come back on October7th and take this up, but
(15:36):
they're not obliged to well,they're not obliged to take it
up, but in in the taking it up.
They don't actually have to bein session to take it up.
They could come in and if theythought they needed to do
something, the speaker couldcall them back into session and
they could take that up I gotyou all right.
(15:57):
Well, I haven't heard anybody, Imean, but I've heard no
indication other than some ofthe ones that were the
prosecutors, if you will, atthis hearing on the Senate side.
They felt like that the Housemight want to take it up, but I
have I've not heard that myselffrom anybody in the House.
Dr. Robert Jackson (16:15):
I got you.
I got you.
Well, it's a very interestingand unique situation in the
history of South Carolina,wouldn't you agree?
Sen. Shane Martin (16:24):
I think it is .
I think it is.
I think the way they explainedit to us was this has only
happened one time, and it was150 years ago, and it was with
the current.
It was with the treasurer atthe time.
Dr. Robert Jackson (16:36):
Oh really.
Sen. Shane Martin (16:36):
What they're telling me.
I didn't go look it up, I justtook their word for it.
Dr. Robert Jackson (16:39):
Yeah.
Sen. Shane Martin (16:41):
To use the process in this manner that they
did.
Dr. Robert Jackson (16:43):
Yes, sir, I got you All right.
Well, senator, I appreciateyour perspective.
I appreciate your time.
I know you're a busy man, but Ido appreciate you giving us
some inside perspective oneverything that happened.
Sen. Shane Martin (17:00):
Any inside perspective on everything that
happened.
Any last comments?
No, I just want to say thatanytime that anybody has a
question or wants to knowsomething, I'll be glad to come
back on your show.
I'm always, as you know, youand I text together and I just
want to thank you for all yourhelp, especially when we're
trying to get good conservativelegislation passed or working on
issues.
I want to thank you for alwaysbeing there to testify and just
(17:20):
help us with data and research.
Dr. Robert Jackson (17:23):
Well, thank you, sir.
You're mighty kind.
I always appreciate yourwillingness to allow me to
insert a conservative medicalperspective on issues All right.
Sen. Shane Martin (17:33):
Well, I really appreciate it, and you
have a good evening, sir.
Dr. Robert Jackson (17:36):
Yes, sir, you're listening to More Than
Medicine.
I'm your host, dr RobertJackson.
My guest today is Senator ShaneMartin.
We'll be back again next week.
Till then, may the Lord blessyou real good.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
Thank you for listening to this edition of
More Than Medicine.
For more information about theJackson Family Ministry, Dr
Jackson's books, or to schedulea speaking engagement, go to
their Facebook page, instagramor their webpage at
jacksonfamilyministrycom.
This podcast is produced by BobSlone Audio Production at
(18:11):
bobslone.
com.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Ridiculous History
History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.