SC Senate Passes Ethics Reform After 4-Year Push

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — After years of debating, the South Carolina Senate has passed a package of ethics reforms.
The bills passed Wednesday allow the State Ethics Commission to investigate all claims of ethics violations against any public official in the state. Currently, House and Senate members do investigations on their members.
The proposal revamps the State Ethics Commission to eight members – four picked by the governor, two picked by legislative Democrats and two by Republicans.
A second bill requires lawmakers to disclose all sources of income. It doesn’t require them to release how much they’re paid.
The House and Gov. Nikki Haley have fought for ethics reforms for four years, only to see them die in the Senate.
The House and Senate will now work out their differences on the current bills.