Cuts Will Show If S.C. Lawmakers Have Learned Lessons
You’d think that after blowing a $1.7 billion surplus last year that state lawmakers might have squirreled a little of that cash away, or (God forbid) given some of it back to South Carolina families and small businesses whose income levels weren’t growing at the government’s astronomical pace.
You’d think so, but this is South Carolina – where the vast majority of lawmakers are inbred knuckledraggers whose sole purpose in state government is to get bought off by the “Republican” leadership with scraps of pork while the real left-leaning GOP powerbrokers – Hugh Leatherman, Bobby Harrell, Dan Cooper, Harvey Peeler, Harry Cato, etc. – go fry the big special interest fish.
Rep. Keith Kelly? We’re talking about morons like you … lawmakers who are just too stupid to see how badly they get played year-in, year-out so their fat cat leaders can count the special interest ka-ching while they face tough reelection fights.
In such ways billions are blown, and in such ways shortfalls are sown – not that you can really call what we’re dealing with a “shortfall” given the 41% explosion in government growth South Carolina has seen over the past three years … with absolutely nothing in the way of progress to show for it.
But hey, after all that, these minor RINOs are set to go along for another ride as leaders Leatherman and Harrell are proposing we pick ourselves up from the present failure of government with … wait for it … more government.
And God help any of them that get out of line …
Against this backdrop, South Carolina lawmakers are likely headed back to Columbia later this year to deal with “budget cuts,” a nice way of describing the unmitigated clusterfuck their Socialist vision of government has inflicted on our state.
And while it’s doubtful that the pittance lawmakers will trim from a still-bloated budget ends up making much of a real difference to anybody, it will be a chance for them to once again show their priorities … or, if recent history is any indication, their asses.
To get a sense of what should be cut, we talked to a few Representatives yesterday who have consistently distinguished themselves as taxpayer heroes. More often than not, these lawmakers are voting against the RINO-Democratic majority (usually in vain) to restore some semblance of sanity to a state budgeting process that’s come to resemble the interior of a crack den.
“Competitive grants, all state sponsored advertising programs, all state funded lobbyists,” Rep. Kris Crawford says, rattling off his top three budget cut items.
Obviously, none of those programs were directly harmed by the recent across-the-board cuts passed by the legislatively-controlled Budget & Control Board, which is itself another symptom of the larger problem we’re facing as a state.
But other stuff did get cut – like money for cops and prison guards, which last time we checked was more important than money for pecan festivals, balloon rallies and vacations for German lawmakers.
“If we had saved anything two years ago when we had a $1.7 billion surplus, we would be in a much better position to deal with this economic slowdown,” says State Rep. Mick Mulvaney. “We might at least have enough money to buy gas for school buses.â€
Exactly … but lawmakers didn’t do that.
Like Crawford, Mulvaney also puts the “competitive grant” slush fund and taxpayer-financed lobbying at the top of his slash list. He also says he hopes that lawmakers will not continue trying to hide their votes from the taxpayers on key fiscal issues when the emergency session reconvenes.
Mulvaney knows the importance of such transparency, as it was his insistence last session that a back-door pay increase for lawmakers (which passed on a voice vote) be recorded so that the public could see which legislators were voting to pad their own pockets.
Faced with having to put their names on the proposal, lawmakers quickly reversed themselves and voted against the pay increase.
Our suspicion is that legislative leaders like Leatherman will fight to keep the slush fund intact, however – in large part because it’s a critical cog in their ongoing efforts to effectively bribe other lawmakers into helping them further their own socialist, status quo, special interest agenda.
And let’s not forget that $10 million of the fund has already been awarded … which has no doubt purchased considerable loyalty from the Kellys and Cromers of the General Ass-embly – members who are, again, too stupid to realize that they sold out for a song.
It’s a debilitating freak show that keeps going and going, but like it or not the circus is coming back to town again this year.
Maybe this time they’ll exercise a little common sense, but we’ll probably have to wait until the ushering in of a more conservative legislature next session before the taxpayers have anything resembling a fair fight in Columbia.
Comments
By Ed Mc on September 30th, 2008 at 8:16 am
The only way to make this type of seesion work is for someone to figure out how to make cuts in health areas of the budget. Without those cuts the other agencies will have to triple their cuts. Do you think cooper can do that?
By James on September 30th, 2008 at 9:40 am
Slickster – my good friend ROCK IN DE will be quite pleased that you’ve found good use for his “inbred knuckledragger” word play. The shoe certainly fits in this context and all I can add is that we should all be thankful McConnell has sired no offspring lest his offspring bleed to death from a paper cut.
By Tired on September 30th, 2008 at 10:39 am
I think the first cut should be legislative pay. They are elected to do one job….pass good legislation. They are incapable of doing that. The budget bills are always a joke. If you don’t do your job in the “real world” you don’t get paid.
Just like the federal economic situation….the lawmakers are solely to blame. Nobody else can have a finger pointed at them….not the Governor…..not any of the constitutional officers….nobody but the legislature…..and we all know the way our legislature works…..the leadership of both houses twisting the arms of the younger rank-and-file members to get their way. Well we see where that type of failed leadership has gotten us.
It is time for Bobby boy and the rest of the big government communist jokers to go. They alone are to blame for this mess. We had the cash. We told them to set aside money for a rainy day. Their answer…..spend spend spend…..oh and create even more government…no part of which knows how to do their job efficiently and effectively.
Bobbys reign of terror is quickly coming to an end. He is against these much needed targeted cuts the same way he is against transparency. He talks out of both sides of his mouth continuously. He has no spine.
From his own website we read “To keep taxes low, we must also run our state government with increased efficiency. That means we must look for every opportunity to eliminate government waste and duplication.
We must wisely manage the dollars contributed by hardworking South Carolina taxpayers and, as a government, practice principles of responsible stewardship. We need to make every dollar go as far as it can, always be conscious of the bottom line, and increase accountability in government spending.
Unlike our counterparts in Washington, here in South Carolina we practice fiscal conservatism. Every year we pass a budget that is balanced and serves the citizens of our state, not the special interests groups.”
It goes without saying that he practices NONE of that. He is a damn liar to both his constituents and his fellow members of the house…..few of which actually have the spine to stand up to him and get the right thing done.
Bobby….you are JUST like your counterparts in Washington…..in fact…..they could have used you yesterday to get that big government bailout passed! That is the kind of leadership that we can count on you for buddy!
$1 billion dollar surplus. That is what this state had last year. Did Bobby boy preach the fiscal constraint he preaches on his website. Hell no. He cut deals to get shit like the Made in SC money put into the budget…..along with hundreds of millions of dollars worth of pork barrell spending that could have been set aside so that now….when we dont have any money….we cound have had some in reserve.
Why would we as members of the general public sit by and let this go on? Is it too hard to beat the status quo? Not so! Just look at what Nathan Ballentine and Nikki Haley are doing along with a handful of “good” lawmakers.
Despite personal threats and attacks from Bobby himself and other house leadership they are pushing forward with what will prove to be the best piece of legislation this state has passed in 30 years…..that says a lot considering recording votes seems to be so common sense. With recorded votes, our situation should never return to this. Our legislators will be held accountable for voting for waste…..and there wont be as much bullshit double talk like that of Bobby Harrell and his goons.
It is time for real change in SC. It starts with removing Bobby Harrell as speaker…..that can be done…..better hurry though……rumor is he might change party affiliation if Barack Obama wins and there is a Democratic surge in the House. He has to retain his “power” you know and from his website we read “Through the years, he (Bobby) has earned a reputation for bipartisanship…” There is no place for Big Government Bobby and his double speak in the SC House any longer.
By George Bush on September 30th, 2008 at 10:45 am
I am not voting for any incombents they all need to go
By Ron on September 30th, 2008 at 11:38 am
I agree with the above comments and that Mr. Harrell should be history and that goes for the confederate general across the hall who is mostly talk with very little leadership except when it comes to spending untold millions on the Hunley.
Also the state competitive grants program should be terminated. Last year approximately $48 million dollars was collected from the taxpayers to be given away as grants (pork barrell projects) at the whim of legislators in order to get re-elected to office. And these lawmakers can’t seem to comprehend why the general public “does not trust government”!!
By Draven on September 30th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
The lesson should have been learned last time. It wasn’t. A billion in new money — zero savings. That was when they proved they didn’t learn.
By Stroker Ace on September 30th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Tired -
I think part of problem is pay. By only paying these guys 10,400 plus a stipend, means that unless you live w/in and hour of Columbia, it’s hard to make a living. So what you have is people that are:
A) wealthy (small %)
B) retired (better than average %)
C) Live w/in an hour (probably 35-40+)
D) People that really have nothing else to do
What I am saying is that you get people that can either afford to be here, live close by and can work, or you get a fella/female that has an extremely leniant office policy on missing days. The reason more people don’t run is they aren’t willing to run for such a pittance while losing money back home and taking the crap that comes with this job. So in essence you get a lot of 2nd & 3rd tier, and in some cases 4th & 5th tier candidates, because the liked guy/gal back home that is likely to be a great rep/senator simply won’t do it for the money and the crap that comes with it.
By Format killing comments on September 30th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
The new format seems to be cutting comments on individual stories, probably also reducing the nimber of stories viewed per visit. Nobody comes to hear your thoughts is the lesson?
By fitsnews on September 30th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
We’ll check that out. God forbid our “nimber” go down.
-FITSNews
By nope on September 30th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
I think that too.
By Tired on October 1st, 2008 at 9:59 am
Stroker Ace,
I agree that our legislature is made up of woefully underqualified “inbred knuckle draggers” as Fits would put it…..but pay is not the reason.
Think back to your history lessons on the American founding. John Adams, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson…et al….all sat around a table and literally argued over whether or not to pay elected officials.
The reason was that serving as an elected official was never meant to be a full time job. Granted, they recieve $10,400, that is supposed to cover their travel to and from Columbia. I think that covering the expense of travel to and from Columbia should be covered as long as they do their job. When they cannot even pass a balanced budget then they should bear the burden of travel to get their asses back and fix the problem.
The bottom line is this….public service should not be viewed as one’s life goal….it should be entered into upon the conviction of one’s beliefs. A belief that they can actually do some good….not that they want “power.”
The problem with our legislature is that it is made up of a bunch of idiots who cherish their percieved power and will do anything to protect it……even going so far as to screw the very people who continue to elect them to office, then go home and lie to those very same people. Its a joke.
Theres not much we can do about that, but we can affect their lives in Columbia. Exposing these idiots for what they are is step one in that process. Fits does a great job of that…..even though he likes to cheapen his website from time to time with big breasted women….not that I am against that just not on a website aimed at exposing lawmakers and effectuating real change within the Echo Chamber.
In summary…..its only a matter of time before these jokers are eliminated….if not at home then we will get them voted out of their percieved power positions here in Columbia. If the kids dont have their toys anymore then maybe they will begin to act right.
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