Horry County lawmaker behind South Carolina ‘DOGE’ bill

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WBTW) — An Horry County lawmaker is the architect of a bill that would create a nine-person commission to search out government “fraud, waste and abuse,” in his words.

“Those members will go into everything that the state has, including the budgetary process and legislative oversight,” state Sen. Stephen Goldfinch, R-Murrells Inlet, said a Feb. 13 Senate Finance subcommittee where he introduced the idea.

Modeled after the federal Department of Government Efficiency led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, Goldfinch said South Carolina’s version likely would root out potential bureaucratic roadblocks for private sector growth.

“This is a DOGE bill. I think everybody’s familiar with what’s going on in D.C. right now,” Goldfinch said.

If created, the commission’s membership would include three people each appointed by the state House, Senate and governor’s office — but no sitting lawmakers.

“I don’t suspect we’re going to find hundreds of millions or billions of dollars in fraud, waste and abuse as they may find in the federal government,” Goldfinch said. “I believe where we will find the most things that we can do to help South Carolina will be in overburdensome regulations that cost businesses lots and lots of money.”

President Trump made DOGE a centerpiece of his campaign and more than two dozen Republican governors have publicly signaled their support — including Henry McMaster.

“Our states are successful because we live within our means. We balance our budgets, lower taxes, leverage surpluses, pay down debt, improve the efficiency of state governments, and create an environment where our constituents can build a prosperous future for themselves, their family, and their community,” he said in a Jan. 10 letter sent to Congressional leaders.

Meanwhile, attorneys general from 14 states have filed a federal lawsuit saying DOGE gives Musk access to sensitive data and “virtually unchecked power.”

They asked the court to order Musk to identify ways that “any data obtained through unlawful agency access was used,” destroy “such unauthorized access in his or DOGE’s possession” and bar Musk and DOGE from ordering changes in the disbursement of public funds, canceling government contracts, taking steps to dismantle agencies and more.

State Sen. Margie Bright Matthews, D-Walterboro, asked why existing agencies such as legislative oversight committees, the state auditor and other accountability offices couldn’t have their duties expanded.

“I’m not seeing the necessity for it,” she said of a state DOGE commssion.

Language in the bill would require the panel to submit its first report by Oct. 21. The Senate Finance Committee is expected to approve the proposal this week.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this story.