FITSNews Exclusive – Legislators To Recuse Themselves In Payday Debate

HARRISON, SMITH SHOW THAT PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY DO THE RIGHT THING IN POLITICS

FITSNews – February 27, 2008 – In stark contrast to the conduct of State Senators John Hawkins, Brad Hutto, Luke Rankin, Vincent Sheheen and David Thomas – all of whom ignored a flagrant conflict of interest last week by voting on payday lending legislation while they stand to make millions of dollars by suing the industry – two State Representatives who are also participating in a class action lawsuit against the industry said today that they would refrain from voting or participating in debate on the issue in the House.

House Judiciary Chairman Jim Harrison and Subcommittee Chairman Murrell Smith announced today that they would recuse themselves from the issue entirely, a decision the two said they reached together despite the circulation of an advisory ethics opinion saying they could vote on the legislation without running afoul of the law.

“I know what the ethics opinion says, but I’d rather do the right thing than hide behind some sheet of paper,” Rep. Smith said. “People know what right and wrong is, and while there are often shades of gray in politics, this issue is black and white to me. Chairman Harrison and I met at length on this issue, and we both agreed that this is the right thing to do.”

Harrison echoed Smith’s comments.

“In some way, shape or form, almost everything we vote on could be construed as a conflict of interest,” Harrison told FITSNews. “The fact is we are citizens of this state, and the decisions we make naturally affect us on an individual level. Even though we have been advised that we are not obligated to do so – I personally believe that abstaining from voting and abstaining from debate on the payday lending issue is the right thing to do. Others are free to make their own decision, and I won’t criticize them for doing so, but this is my decision as it relates to my involvement on this particular issue.”

It’s unclear how Harrison and Smith’s decision will affect the future of the legislation, which is currently headed to a House subcommittee, but it’s clear that the six other State Representatives involved in these class actions will now face considerable pressure to follow suit. For the record, those legislators are Creighton Coleman, Christopher Hart, Doug Jennings, Todd Rutherford, Fletcher Smith and David Weeks.

State Rep. Nikki Haley, whose subcommittee will get the first crack at the Senate legislation, praised Harrison and Smith.

“They did exactly what I would expect from them,” Haley said. “They did the right thing.”

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• Payday Pundit » Lawmakers conflict of interests front and center in South Carolina payday lending debate