Your Gubment’s Got A Secret …
SHHHH … SOUTH CAROLINA LAWMAKERS ARE BLOWING YOUR TAX DOLLARS
FITSNews – August 6, 2008 – When state government grows by more than forty-percent over a three-year period, you better believe that the people responsible for the spending orgy did more than a little “track-covering.” Pork-hungry lawmakers have no problem blowing your tax dollars, you see, they just don’t want you to watch them while they’re doing it.
According to a report released today by the S.C. Policy Council, South Carolina lawmakers vote out in the open just five percent of the time , a “pork curtain” that must be lifted if we’re ever going to have a government that actually serves the interests of the people, not the politicians. From the report:
In 2008, when voting on passage of a General Bill or Joint Resolution:
* The South Carolina House of Representatives called roll 8 percent of the time
* The South Carolina Senate called roll 1 percent of the time
* On average, the South Carolina General Assembly called roll 5 percent of the timeMost states in the Southeast mandate roll call votes for their legislatures:
* Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi mandate roll call voting on final passage of all bills
* Tennessee requires roll call voting on every bill including bills making appropriations of public dollars
* North Carolina mandates roll call votes on second and third reading of revenue bills
* Currently, South Carolina mandates roll call voting only on elections by the General Assembly, taking up the Governor’s vetoes, contested Supreme Court elections, removal of officers and amendments to the state ConstitutionHouse Bill 5019 was introduced in April. That bill, called the “2008 Spending Accountability Act†would have required a roll call vote for all bills with a fiscal impact. House lawmakers objected to immediate consideration of HB 5019, and the bill was diverted to the Ways and Means Committee where no action was taken.
Of course lawmakers “objected” to this bill … God forbid somebody actually peel the scab off of their festering special interest favor factory.
We commend Rep. Nikki Haley for sponsoring this long-overdue legislation, but to be honest we don’t think what she’s proposing goes far enough. After all, the taxpayers do pay for every vote that these nimrods take, and forcing the mouth-breathing knuckle-draggers in our General Ass-embly to go on the record 100% of the time would not only root out a lot of wasted money, it would also eliminate all the Mickey Mouse bullshit these redneck jerkoffs waste our time on every single day they’re in session.
For example …
Q: Who’s the doctor of the day?
A: Who the fuck cares …
Q: What high school wrestling team made it “all the way to state” this year?
A: Who the fuck cares …
Q: Which septuagenarian state employee is retiring after decades of drawing a six-figure salary for sitting around with their thumb up their ass?
A: Who the fuck cares …
Q: What bumblefuck town that nobody’s ever heard of has its mayor seated up in the gallery today?
A: You get the point …
It’s simple, people … cut the pork, cut the bullshit and cut the secrecy. Oh … and cut our friggin’ taxes while you’re at it …
Comments
By Philip Branton on August 6th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Don’t get me started ..SIC !!
These PORKIN…. RAVENEL’ers !!!!
GRRRRR !!!
By Philip Branton on August 6th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
SIC !
GRESHAM comes down here to talk about …WHAT ??
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080806/NEWS01/80806006
Its the ENERGY…… “PRETTY” BOY !!
By rick on August 6th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Only worthwhile column today, Congrats 1 out of 5 is as good as South Carolina Government does. Maybe tomorrow will be better, 2 value added stories out of 5 pleaseeeeeeee.
By Reader on August 6th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Rick, the artwork rocks with 70’s-ish warm fuzzies though!
Didn’t read. No comment on content. There is no hope for this bass-ackwards place.
By Say No to Frap on August 6th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
I think the endless number of BS joint resolutions such as those honoring the Newberry HS Marching Band, the Pendleton 4H Club, and Aunt Sarah’s Pancakes – which are passed unanimously — are dragging down the average. Not that spending time on frip-frap is a good thing – just saying.
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