S.C. Workers’ Comp Nominees Put Law Before Governor’s Orders

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford’s nominees to the Workers’ Compensation Commission say they would follow what the law requires and not bow to executive orders issued by a governor.

The Senate Judiciary Committee recently approved Avery Wilkerson for a six year term and Andrea Roche as the commission’s chair and sent their nominations to the Senate floor.

Both said during their confirmation hearings that executive orders do not trump state law.

An executive order from Sanford last summer caused problems after some saw it as requiring commissioners to decide payments in workers’ comp cases using standards the Legislature had rejected.

That issue is now before the state Supreme Court.