SC Speaker Doesn’t “Get” Transparency
In one of the most ill-advised damage control moves we’ve ever seen, S.C. House Speaker Bobby Harrell took to the pages of the Greenville News this morning to defend his record on government transparency and attack a conservative think tank for “purposely and unfairly” misrepresenting the issue.
Honestly, we thought Harrell was smarter than this. Not only does his attempt to “push back” on the transparency issue devolve into a maze of indecipherable insider-ese, it comes off once again as bitter overreaction to a legitimate complaint.
Seriously, who the hell is advising this guy?
“The research done on roll call voting in the General Assembly was not at all up to the quality of work expected when the Policy Council’s name is on a document,” Harrell writes in his op-ed before launching into a litany of technical definitions of “roll-call voting” that had us snoring by the third paragraph.
But it’s the constant pot shots at the Policy Council we don’t understand, particularly seeing as they do nothing but move what could be a persuasive (if not inadvisable) reactionary piece into the realm of personal vendetta.
“The South Carolina Policy Council has enjoyed a reputation as a real player in shaping South Carolina’s future over the years,” Harrell writes. “There is a real danger to how the public views them if this kind of inaccurate research becomes the norm. Frankly, the work on this report was either just plain sloppy or it was just grandstanding and pandering in an effort to get a bigger headline.”
We look forward to getting a response from the Policy Council on this, but in the meantime we think Harrell is just upset that the organization is no longer playing ball with the wasteful policies (and lack of transparency) that’s emblematic of the current “Republican” leadership in Columbia.
Comments
By Unreal on October 13th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Sic Willie for Speaker of the House.
Anyone reading Harrell’s “op-ed” knows that Harrell’s research is once again off. This is exactly the kind of “short minded” and “ignorant” attack that one has come to expect from the kids in charge of our Republican General Ass-embly.
We will see how much Harrell “supports” transparency when the vote comes up this year…..and believe it….it will be a roll call vote.
By More dreck from the speaker on October 13th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
I remember when Bobby took to the floor of the House a couple of years ago to passionately defend the legislature against the governor’s charge that it was spending beyond its means. He spouted lots of fancy numbers to support his argument. Well, turns out he was wrong about the overspending, and he’s wrong about this, too.
By Stephen on October 13th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Missed the op-ed, but if he responded trying to justify himself he’s more of an ass than I thought.
By Ron on October 14th, 2008 at 1:40 am
Good morning fits!
Your last paragraph,
“but in the meantime we think Harrell is just upset that the organization is no longer playing ball with the wasteful policies (and lack of transparency) that’s emblematic of the current “Republican†leadership in Columbia.”
No longer playing ball indicates to me that perhaps you feel that the previous policy council administration “played ball” with the general assembly. I AGREE. GREAT ARTICLE.
By fitsnews on October 14th, 2008 at 2:06 am
Ron,
We think both the current and previous administrations of the Policy Council have done amazing work. The current administration is certainly more aggressive, which we like, but we have always been fans of “the McMuffin.”
He’s good peeps, and he did a good job at the helm over there.
-FITSNews
By Fashizzle on October 14th, 2008 at 9:16 am
The retort to Bobby is simple – lawmakers gave themselves a raise then flip-flopped when the vote was recorded. That resonates with the public regardless of his efforts to divert their attention. His attack on the Policy Council just goes to show they are effective and he is feeling the pressure.
By nope on October 14th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
It was a bad op-ed. He needs better advisors. And a better writer.
By Gregory on October 14th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
At no point in the op ed does he say what part of transparency he is for. He admits he is for transparency, but never admits he is committed to the Haley bill. Which is the only way to show true transparency, unfortunately it is an all or nothing situation. He does a lot of talking but, again, is he committed to true transparency or just what HE thinks should be transparent.