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[[File:Nikkihaley.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Nikki Haley has been , 116th Governor of South Carolina]] Nikki Haley is the United States Ambassador to the United Nations. Before accepting this position, she was the [[Republican]] governor of South Carolina since November 2010. She previously served in the General Assembly for the 87th District of South Carolina from 2004 to 2010. <ref name = "About: Governor Bio"> [http://governor.sc.gov/About/Pages/GovernorBio.aspx About: Governor Bio] accessed August 7, 2013 </ref> Haley is also an American Legislative Exchange Council [[ALEC]] alumna, who has pushed many ALEC cookie-cutter policies as Governor. <ref>South Carolina State Ethics Commission, [http://apps.sc.gov/PublicReporting/DisplayCsv.aspx Expenditures: Candidate: Haley, Nikki R, Office: State House Representative, Locale/District: 87], state public disclosure and accountability reporting system, January 1, 2008 to July 1, 2008, accessed July 2012.</ref> Haley maintains a conservative record by voting in favor of voter ID laws, abortion restrictions, lowering taxes, and was even ranked the 21st most conservative governor in 2013 by Nate Silver. <ref> Silver, Nate [http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/16/in-state-governments-signs-of-a-healthier-g-o-p/?smid=tw-share&_r=0 In-State Governments Signs of a Healthier GOP] April 16, 2013 </ref>[[File:Nikkihaley.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Nikki Haley, 116th Governor of South Carolina]]

During her years in the South Carolina legislature, Haley was a member of the right-wing [[ALEC]American Legislative Exchange Council], a secretive organization that pairs legislators with big corporations to fulfill the needs of big-business, at the expense of consumers. <ref>South Carolina State Ethics Commission, [http://apps.sc.gov/PublicReporting/DisplayCsv.aspx Expenditures: Candidate: Haley, Nikki R, Office: State House Representative, Locale/District: 87], state public disclosure and accountability reporting system, January 1, 2008 to July 1, 2008, accessed July 2012.</ref> a group of legislators and lobbyists that meet behind closed doors to produce "model" cookie-cutter legislation that is then introduced in state houses across the country stripped of its ALEC/industry origins. In 2001, the Center for Media and Democracy published ALEC model bills for the first time and they include attacks on unions, the environment and voting. See more at ALECexposed.org. For her possible 2014 re-election bid, a $1,000-per couple fundraiser in South Carolina was held on August 26, 2013, by fellow [[ALEC]] governors, Texas Governor [[Rick Perry]], Wisconsin Governor [[Scott Walker]], and Louisiana Governor [[Bobby Jindal]]. <ref> Beam, Adam [http://www.thestate.com/2013/08/01/2893894/walker-jindal-and-perry-will-raise.html SC Governor gets fundraising help from GOP Govs. Jindal, Perry, and Walker] The State, August 1, 2013 </ref> Haley also released a statement commending fellow [[ALEC]] member, Gov. [[Scott Walker]], after winning his recall election after his attempt to end public sector collective bargaining rights in 2011: <ref> Haley, Nikki [http://governor.sc.gov/News/June2012/Pages/default.aspx Statement from Gov. Nikki Haley on Wisconsin's Election Results] June 25, 2012 </ref>

During her campaigning from 2010 onward, Haley has accepted funds from 37 [[ALEC Corporations]] according to a 2013 analysis, with funding amounting to at least $170,000. These corporations include but aren't limited to: <ref> [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/contributor_details.phtml?&c=118228&s=SC&y=2010&summary=0&so=a&p=30#sorttable Contributions to Nikki Haley], Follow the Money, accessed August 9, 2013. </ref>*[[AT&T]]*[[Bank of America]]*[[Boeing]] Co.*[[Comcast]]*[[Geo Group]]*[[Hewlett Packard]]*Philip Morris*Liberty Mutual Insurance*[[Anheuser-Busch]]*[[BP]]*[[GEICO]]Although, [[Coca-Cola]], [[General Motors]], [[General Electric]], [[Kraft]] Foods, [[Wal-Mart]], [[Wells Fargo]], [[Intuit]], and [[Blue Cross Blue Shield]] Insurance are not current [[ALEC Corporations]], all eight of these corporations made donations to Haley while they were members of [[ALEC]] in 2010. As a advocate for big-business and a "GOP rising star," Haley also joined a [[Koch brothers]] meeting in the winter of 2013, to discuss the GOP's failure in the 2012 election. <ref> Confessore, Nicholas [http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/01/us/politics/koch-brothers-plan-more-political-involvement-for-their-conservative-network.html?_r=1& Koch brothers plan more political involvement for their conservative network], The New York Times, April 30, 2013 </ref> <ref> Ken Vogel, [http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/05/big-money-the-koch-brothers-and-me-107225_Page3.html#.WC8guKIrLVo Big Money, the Koch Brothers and Me], ''Politico'', May 29, 2014.</ref> {{about_ALEC}}==Political IdeologiesNikki Haley Changes Tune On Support for Trump== NNikki Haley was an early critic of President-elect Donald Trump. Haley initially endorsed Florida Senator Marco Rubio during the GOP primary election, then threw her support behind Senator Ted Cruz.  When Haley was tapped by Republicans to respond to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address on January 12, 2016, the South Carolina Governor took aim at Trump who at the time was a front-runner in a crowded GOP primary. Haley recounted her family's own immigrant experience in denouncing Trump's hard-line anti-immigration rhetoric, "During anxious times, it can be tempting to follow the siren call of the angriest voices," Haley said. "We must resist that temptation. No one who is willing to work hard, abide by our laws, and love our traditions should ever feel unwelcome in this country."<ref> Greogry Krieg, [http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/12/politics/nikki-haley-sotu-response-donald-trump/ http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/12/politics/nikki-haley-sotu-response-donald-trump/ Nikki Haley to Donald Trump: Turn down the volume], ''CNN'', January 13, 2016.</ref> The day following Trump's proposal to bar all Muslims from entering the United States in December, Governor Haley made a scathing statement calling Trump's plan "unconstitutional" and "embarrassing". The following month Haley said Trump represented "everything a governor doesn't want in a president."<ref> Daniella Diaz, [http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/17/politics/nikki-haley-donald-trump-south-carolina/ Nikki Haley: Anyone but Donald Trump], ''CNN'', February 17, 2016.</ref> In October, 2016 Haley began to soften her tone on the Republican nominee, claiming she would in fact vote for him, but was not a fan. One week following Trump's election Haley appeared with Trump in New York. She is now being considered for a cabinet position in the administration.<ref> Jim Acosta and Daniella Diaz, [http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/16/politics/donald-trump-nikki-haley-transition/ Source: Haley under consideration for State Dept., Trump meeting Thursday], ''CNN'', November 16, 2016.</ref> ==Cookie-Cutter ALEC Policies==

On the recent news portion of the website, Haley continues her surge for bringing to bring new and more businesses to South Carolina by commending the expansions and openings of plants and facilities for Monteferro USA, Tognum America Inc., ZFT Transmission, Standard Textile, and more. Each news release also includes the amount of money included in the investment, and how many jobs each expansion will add to the area. <ref name = "Gov. Nikki Haley: Recent News">[http://governor.sc.gov/News/Pages/RecentNews.aspx Gov Nikki Haley: Recent News] governor's official website, accessed August 9, 2013 </ref> Haley has focused much of her efforts on lowering the unemployment rate in the state. As of July 2013, the United States unemployment rate stood at 7.4% <ref> Bureau of Labor Statistics, [http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS14000000 Unemployment Rate in United States], accessed August 9, 2013 </ref> while South Carolina has an unemployment rate at 8.1% <ref> Bureau of Labor Statistics, [http://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.sc.htm Unemployment Rate in South Carolina], accessed August 9, 2013 </ref>

====Union Busting and "Union Thugs"====

:*"This is typical of union thugs. And I will tell you in, the past week, the Dems have come after me with a racial slur and the union thugs have hit me with a pinata.":*"I'm not going to stop beating up on the unions. I'm not going to stop beating up on the Democrats for wasteful spending.":*"There's a reason South Carolina's the new "it" state and it's because we're a union buster and it's because we continue to be fiscally responsible and business-friendly. And there's nothing the Democrats or the unions can do to make me change that.":*"It just shows the stark difference between businesses and unions and how they handle -- unions tend to bully and they boss and they try and get their way."

===Education Reform:"If history has proven anythingSchool Choice, Vouchers, and Businesses===Even though she herself and her children attended public schools, Haley sees [[ALEC]] supported school-choice programs, also known as voucher programs, itas a necessary fix to South Carolina's struggling school system: <ref> [http://www.fitsnews.com/2011/03/31/nikki-haley-parents-deserve-choice/ Nikki Haley: Parents Deserve Choice] March 31, 2011 </ref> :“Parents should be able to decide where they send their kids to school,” Haley said. “So, I have said the second they can get that there bill to my desk, I absolutely will sign it.”{{#ev:youtube|vdsa3zVu8sU|250|left|Gov. Haley on education reform|frame}}In May 2012, Haley signed H. 3241, the Charter Schools bill, another [[ALEC]] piece of model legislation, and said of the new law: ""It is a great day in South Carolina. We will no such thing as a temporary entitlement programlonger settle for what we think education has to be, we will lead in this country on what education should be -- and as House Republicans recognizethat means options, ObamaCare will be as bad a policy three years from now as it is todayinnovation and creativity. " <ref> Haley, Nikki Haley [http://governor.sc.gov/News/March2013May2012/Pages/default.aspx Haley, Zais, Owens Celebrate Charter Schools Bill Signing] May 14, 2012 </ref> Haley also met with corporations like [[AT&T]], an [[ALEC]] corporation member and state co-chair of six states, to talk education reform on July 31, 2013. Pamela Lackey, president of [[AT&T]] of South Carolina said South Carolina needed education reform to "meet the needs of today's businesses." <ref> Beam, Adam [http://www.thestate.com/2013/07/31/2892219/gov-nikki-haley-meets-with-business.html Gov. Nikki Haleymeets with business leaders to discuss education reform] The State, July 31, 2013 </ref>{{clear}}==="War on Women", Coverage of Contraception, Pro-Life Stance===Haley says her pro-life stance does not come from her Republican ideology, but of her difficulty to have children, and her husband's adoption as an infant. She also says the mandating of organization to include contraception in their coverage in the Affordable Care Act should not be under government jurisdiction. <ref name = "CNN: The Situation Room"> [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1204/05/sitroom.01.html CNN: House GOP fighting The Situation Room] April 5, 2012 </ref> In July 2012, Haley also vetoed $500,000 to protect SC be used for rape crisis centers, calling them "special add-on lines [that] distrct from fiscal disaster the [Department of Health]'s broad mission of protecting South Carolina's public health," <ref> Strasser, Annie-Rose [http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2012/07/10/513736/south-carolina-gov-vetoes-abuse-and-rape-prevention-funding-calls-it-a-distraction/ South Carolina Gov Vetoes Abuse and Rape Prevention Funding, Calls It a Distraction] Think Progress, July 10, 2012 </ref> despite much opposition because the state's rate of sexual violence is higher than the national average, and has been for the last 30 years. <ref> South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault [http://www.sccadvasa.org/facts/sexual-assault-facts.html Sexual Assault Facts] </ref> In terms of Medicaid expansionthe "war on women" by GOP legislators during the 2012 election, Haley says the idea is simply a "distraction" used by the [[Barack Obama] March 12] campaign to avoid discussing his first term record.  :"Well, I mean how many times can we say the word "distraction"? That's what President Obama is doing. He doesn't want us talking about his record. He doesn't want us talking about how he has raised more debt in three years than President Bush has in eight. He doesn't want us talking about the fact that he said if we would take the stimulus money we would never get above eight percent unemployment. So this is a President that is trying to create distractions. There is no war on women. Women are doing well." <ref name = "FOX News: O'Reilly Factor"> [http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/oreilly/2012/04/10/gov-nikki-haley-no-spin-zone Gov. Nikki Haley: no spin zone] Fox News: O'Reilly Factor transcript, April 9, 2013 2012 </ref>

In 2011, Haley signed a law similar to SB 1070 <ref> Arizona Legislature, [http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/2r/bills/sb1070s.pdf SB 1070] accessed August 9, 2013 </ref> from Arizona that allows authorities to check the immigration status of any person who is arrested or stopped. <ref name> Mustufa, Asraa [http://colorlines.com/archives/2011/06/south_carolina_governor_signs_anti-immigrant_bill_into_law.html South Carolina's Gov. Nikki Haley Makes Good on Anti-Immigrant Promises] Colorlines, June 30, 2011 </ref> The law was blocked in December 2011 by a federal judge. <ref name = "Judge blocks parts of South Carolina's immigration law"> Brown, Robbie [http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/23/us/judge-blocks-parts-of-south-carolinas-immigration-law.html Parts of Immigration Law blocked in South Carolina] The New York Times, December 23, 2011 </ref> Haley said through her spokesperson, Rob Godfrey, that the state has to address illegal immigration because immigration laws are not being enforced on the national level. <ref name = "Judge blocks parts of South Carolina's immigration law"> Brown, Robbie [http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/23/us/judge-blocks-parts-of-south-carolinas-immigration-law.html Parts of Immigration Law blocked in South Carolina] The New York Times, December 23, 2011 </ref>

In August 2010, Haley was endorsed by the [[Gun Owners of America ]] during her run during the gubernatorial election. Haley said of the endorsement:

===Education Reform: School Choice, Vouchers, and Businesses===Even though she herself and her children attended public schools, Haley sees She also has an "A" rating by the [[ALECNational Rifle Association]] supported school-choice programs, also known as voucher programs, as a necessary fix to South Carolina's struggling school system: . <refname = "Rep. Nikki Randhawa Haley Bio"> [http://wwwweb.fitsnewsarchive.comorg/web/201120071219073547/03http:/31/nikki-haley-parents-deserve-choicewww.scstatehouse.net/members/bios/ 0735227185.html Rep. Nikki Randhawa Haley: Parents Deserve ChoiceBio] March 31, 2011 Official site </ref> ===The "Nightmare" Affordable Care Act===With the federal expansion of Medicaid underway, Haley commended South Carolina House right-wing legislators for their work opposing Medicaid expansion, which she called a "looming public policy nightmare and fiscal disaster."

:“Parents should be able to decide where they send their kids to school"If history has proven anything,” Haley said. “So, I have said the second they can get it's that bill to my desk, I absolutely will sign it.”{{#evp:youtube|vdsa3zVu8sU|Gov. Haley on education reform|left|210}}In May 2012, Haley signed H. 3241, the Charter Schools bill, another [[ALEC]] piece of model legislationthere is no such thing as a temporary entitlement program, and said of the new law: ""It is a great day in South Carolina. We will no longer settle for what we think education has to beas House Republicans recognize, we ObamaCare will lead in this country on what education should be -- and that means options, innovation and creativityas bad a policy three years from now as it is today." <ref> Nikki Haley, Nikki [http://governor.sc.gov/News/May2012March2013/Pages/default.aspx Gov. Nikki Haley, Zais, Owens Celebrate Charter Schools Bill Signing: House GOP fighting to protect SC from fiscal disaster of Medicaid expansion] May 14March 12, 2012 2013 </ref>

Haley also met with corporations like [[AT&T]], an [[ALEC]] corporation member Due to her opposition and the state co-chair 's House rejection of expansion, South Carolina will not participate in the federal expansion of six statesMedicaid. Instead, the House voted to allocate $88.5 to hospitals and medical providers for support when uninsured residents come under their care. <ref name = "SC House Republicans reject Democrats' effort to talk education reform on July 31expand Medicaid"> Brown, Kirk, [http://www.independentmail.com/news/2013/mar/12/sc-house-republicans-reject-democrats-effort-expan/ S.C. Pamela LackeyHouse Republicans reject Democrats' effort to expand Medicaid program], Independent Mail, March 12, president 2013 </ref> Many supporters of [[AT&T]] the expansion, including South Carolina Hospital Association, the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, and the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce, said it would add 40,000 jobs to the state, and the money will go to other states if South Carolina needed education reform to "meet the needs of todaydidn's businessest take it." <refname = "SC House Republicans reject Democrats' effort to expand Medicaid"> BeamBrown, Kirk, Adam [http://www.thestateindependentmail.com/news/2013/07mar/3112/2892219/govsc-house-nikkirepublicans-haleyreject-meetsdemocrats-witheffort-businessexpan/ S.html GovC. Nikki Haley meets with business leaders House Republicans reject Democrats' effort to discuss education reformexpand Medicaid program] The State, July 31Independent Mail, March 12, 2013 </ref>

==Political Controversies=====Outside Constitutional Authority===In early June 2011, Haley issued an executive order requiring the state legislature to reconvene, however she was challenged by a 13-page lawsuit from the former Senate leader and current lieutenant governor, Glenn McConnell (R-Charleston). The lawsuit claimed her order was outside her power as an executive, and breached the separation of branches. Despite McConnell's claim about its unconstitutionality, Haley claimed she held that right because "War on Womenexercising this constitutional power rests in the Governor's sound discretion."<ref> Fox News, Coverage of Contraception[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/06/07/sc-supreme-court-says-gov-nikki-haley-acted-outside-constitutional-authority/ SC Supreme Court says Gov. Nikki Haley acted outside constitutional authority] June 7, Pro2011 </ref> The court ruled in a 3-Life Stance2 vote in favor of McConnell. ===Ethical Charges===After her time as a state representative, claims against Haley says her pro-life stance does not come from her Republican ideologysurfaced that she had illegally lobbied, but of her difficulty in addition to have childrenbreaking other ethics laws, during her term. Lexington Medical Center and Wilbur Smith Associates were the alleged recipients of her husband's adoption as lobbying efforts. During this time, Lexington Medical Center was trying to gain state approval for an infantopen-heart surgery center. She Haley was also says accused of accepting funds and gifts from lobbyists and corporations for the mandating hospital. <ref name = "Haley cleared of organization illegal lobbying"> Smith, Gina, [http://www.thestate.com/2012/05/03/2259361/haley-cleared-of-illegal-lobbying.html Haley cleared of illegal lobbying], The State, May 3, 2012 </ref>The six-member House Ethics Committee began meeting behind closed doors for over a month. Committee members did say the South Carolina law regarding lobbying and ethics were vague, and open to include contraception in their coverage in the Affordable Care Act should not be under government jurisdictioninterpretation. Haley's attorney, Swati Patel, added similar investigations might ensue if action was taken against Haley. <ref name = "CNNHaley cleared of illegal lobbying"> Smith, Gina, [http: //www.thestate.com/2012/05/03/2259361/haley-cleared-of-illegal-lobbying.html Haley cleared of illegal lobbying], The Situation RoomState, May 3, 2012 </ref>Senate Democratic Caucus director, Phil Bailey, pointed to an August 2008 email to Lexington Medical chief executive Mike Biediger:<ref name = "Haley cleared of illegal lobbying"> Smith, Gina, [http://transcriptswww.cnnthestate.com/TRANSCRIPTS2012/05/120403/052259361/sitroom.01haley-cleared-of-illegal-lobbying.html CNN: Haley cleared of illegal lobbying], The Situation Room] April 5State, May 3, 2012 </ref>

In July 2012, Haley also vetoed $500,000 :“We have some work to do not only to be used for rape crisis centers, calling them "special add-switch votes (on lines [that] distrct from the [Department of Health]'s broad mission of protecting South Carolina's public health," <ref> Strasser, Annie-Rose [http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2012/07/10/513736/south-carolina-gov-vetoes-abuse-and-rape-prevention-funding-calls-it-a-distraction/ South Carolina Gov Vetoes Abuse and Rape Prevention Funding, Calls It a Distraction] Think Progress, July 10, 2012 </ref> despite much opposition because heart center) but to hold the state's rate of sexual violence is higher than the national average, and has been for the last 30 yearsones we have. <ref> South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence We are as close as we are going to get and Sexual Assault [http://www.sccadvasa.org/facts/sexual-assault-factscan’t afford to leave one stone unturned.html Sexual Assault Facts] </ref>… Fingers crossed!”

The committee ultimately voted 5-1 in favor of not investigating Haley further. ===Hate-Group Affiliated Staffer===In terms May 2013, the [[Southern Poverty Law Center]] accused a Haley grassroots steering committee member of belonging to the "war on women" during the 2012 election Council of Conservative Citizens, designated by GOP legislators, Haley says the idea is simply [[SPLC]] as a "distractionwhite nationalist hate group." used by the <ref> Reilly, Molly, [[Barack Obamahttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/26/nikki-haley-volunteer_n_3340433.html Nikki Haley Volunteer Steps Down Amid Controversy]] campaign , The Huffington Post, May 26, 2013 </ref> Committee member Roan Garcia-Quintana was asked to avoid his record during his 1st termstep down by Haley's administration a week after calls for her resignation were made, through a statement: <ref> Pearson, Tim, [http://columbia-sc. patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/nikki-haley-asks-controversial-volunteer-to-resign-he-does Haley asks controversial volunteer to resign], May 31, 2013 </ref>

:"WellWhile we appreciate the support Roan has provided, I mean how many times can we say were previously unaware of some of the word "distraction"? That's what President Obama is doing. He doesn't want us talking about his record. He doesn't want us talking about how statements he has raised more debt in three years than President Bush has in eight. He doesn't want us talking about had made, statements which do not well represent the fact that he said if we would take views of the stimulus money we would never get above eight percent unemployment. So this is a President that is trying to create distractionsGovernor. There is no war on women. Women are doing wellplace for racially divisive rhetoric in the politics or governance of South Carolina, and Governor Haley has no tolerance for it." <ref name = "FOX News: O'Reilly Factor"> [http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/oreilly/2012/04/10/gov-nikki-haley-no-spin-zone Gov. Nikki Haley: no spin zone] April 9, 2012 </ref>

Haley was born in Bamburg, South Carolina, and is the daughter of Indian immigrants. She graduated from Clemson University with a bachelor of degree in accounting, and worked as an accountant for a private company, after keeping the books for her family's clothing store.

'''Office of the Governor ''' <br>