SC governor strikes out “distracting” funding for abuse victims

Gov. Nikki Haley (R-SC)

It’s not just science, equality and art that Republican South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley apparently opposes; it’s also caring for abuse victims:

Late last week, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) vetoed nearly half a million dollars that was slated to go toward domestic violence and sexual assault prevention.

[…]

Haley explained these vetoes in the Department of Health and Environmental Control budget by writing, “Each of these lines attempts to serve a portion of our population for which we extend our sympathy and encouragement, but nevertheless, it is only a small portion of South Carolina’s chronically ill or abused. Overall, these special add-on lines distract from the agency’s broader mission of protecting South Carolina’s public health.”

The blatant wrong-mindedness of that defense immediately triggered my Fail Quote sensor, but I decided that this was more about the despicable act, itself, and less about whatever stupid excuses are used to rationalize it – even if it is as intellectually and morally bankrupt as declaring that funds shouldn’t go towards caring for victims of violence because that would “distract” from healthcare. Go figure.

Tags: Nikki Haley • South Carolina • domestic abuse • rape • South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control