Tea Party: Cut Costs! Except For When it Comes to Hiring My Friends.

Amid claims that she was streamlining her office, South Carolina gubernatorial newbie Nikki Haley has given sweeping, huge pay increases to her cronies working for her.

Vote for me!  I'll hire you all on at my office!

"Haley’s deputy chief of staff for communications and legislative affairs – Trey Walker – will be paid $122,775 a year. That’s a 42.3 percent increase over the second-highest paid staffer in the Sanford administration.

Haley’s top lawyer, Swati Patel, will be paid $102,000 a year – which is a 36 percent increase over the $75,000 a year that Sanford paid his top lawyer.

Haley’s other two deputy chiefs of staff, former Rep. Ted Pitts (policy and cabinet affairs) and Katherine Haltiwanger (operations) will be paid $90,000 and $80,000 a year, respectively.

Sanford’s office had just one employee who made a six figure salary – Mark Sanford ($106,078). That salary is set by law and will not change – meaning Haley will also be paid $106,078 a year."

Are you freaking kidding me?  What is with this insane group of people?  They ran on fiscal conservation-- yet request obscene sums in earmarks.  They promise smaller government, yet increase their staff salaries.  The next few years are going to be a hoot as we see these chumps violating their campaign promises and the trust of the public.  Start popping the corn now.

You know what?  This is too entertaining-- this can't be real.  That's it!  She's joking!  She doesn't ACTUALLY think she's running a fiscally conservative platform.  That means that Gov. Haley is OAQ's Comedian of the Week!

Cuz she has to be joking... right?

[FitsNews]