Harrell Power Grab Faces More Criticism
S.C. House Speaker Bobby Harrell is receiving criticism in his own back yard over a rule change that would allow him to appoint committee chairman in the State House of Representatives.
The controversial proposal – ostensibly designed to “protect Republicans” – is really all about Harrell exacting revenge on a conservative lawmaker, Rep. Nikki Haley, who has questioned the fact that the House does so much of its business in secret.
Anyway, here’s an interesting take on the situation from Lowcountry, S.C. blogger extraordinaire Earl Capps:
We’re concerned these changes will make the legislature less accountable to the public and empower those who wish to operate in the shadows, even if that’s not what those backing the rules desire. These same kinds of tricks had much to do with the upsetting of the scandal-ridden Republican majority in the U.S. House. Once the now-former Speaker Dennis Hastert and others in the Congressional GOP leadership began changing rules, cutting deals for campaign cash, and spending money like drunken sailors, under the excuse of protecting the Republican majority, it was only a matter of time before it hit the fan.
We find ourselves confronted with eerie parallels with what cost Republicans in control of Congress. This puts us at a crossroads and makes us ask ourselves where we’re headed, and how long it will be before voters decide they’re ready for a change.
We hope grass-roots Republicans will be asking their leadership the same questions, as well as holding them accountable for what they’re doing.
Exactly … even if Harrell’s spiteful ploy was really about “protecting Republicans,” it doesn’t change the fact that S.C. Republicans aren’t “protecting taxpayers.”
And haven’t been for a long time.
Clearly, any change that puts a big government liberal like Bill Sandifer in control of a key economic development committee is a sign that Harrell and his crew haven’t learned a damn thing.
Comments
By Too much party first taxpayers last on November 10th, 2008 at 10:11 am
Our elected officials need to first ask what is best for the taxpayers- the voters . We want and should be demanding an open accountable state government – Frankly I do not care if the guys ( since there are no women) running the legislature are republicans, democrats, or klingons – as long as they run an open fiscally responsible government.
Since the bozos we have now do not want to run an open accountable fiscally responsible government and are more concerned about protecting their own personal power it is time for the press to jump on them hard and let the voters get rid of the evildoers.
By Good for the Goose on November 10th, 2008 at 10:17 am
The explanation that the move was intended to weaken the leverage of Democrats is sound: several committee chairs owed their positions to Democrats. And while Haley is getting a lot of the attention, there were some less conservative members jockeying for chairs on other committees, using the Dems as the swing votes (has everyone forgotten Bob Walker already?). So, in that sense, kudos to the Speaker for cutting that movement off at the knees. While some see this move as a bad thing, it could actually bode well for the conservative movement. Even those who would disparage the Speaker should admit that it is better to have him pick the chair than have Gilda Cobb-Hunter do it.
However, there is another solution that should be considered: letting the Republicans on a committee pick the chairman. If the GOP committee members would agree to caucus, figure out who had the majority GOP support within a committee, then stick together and support the consensus GOP nominee for chair, then the same result could be achieved, without the issues raised by the recent moves.
And, for what it is worth, the Speaker’s position should be picked the same way. That position should be elected by the majority party.
The reason the Democrats have such sway in the Legislature is that the Republicans let them have it.
By JJ on November 10th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
How would this affect ways and means. The only two subcommittee chairs with any real chance are Brian White and Tracy Edge with Edge being more conservative and independent and White being the choice of Cooper?
By Dixie on November 10th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
When the rest of the country was thumbing their collective noses at republicans, SC, bless its heart, was holding fast to its historical republican good-ole boy roots and not because the republicans have actually moved this state forward over the past 50 years. SC doesn’t care about transparency. It just wants to wink and nod at the voters while doing whatever it wants. Why? Because it can, thanks to the republican stronghold given them by voters.
By The Jockey on November 10th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Be prepared for a pick for the LCI chair that ain’t Haley or Sandifer. Other names are in the mix, legislators tell me.
By Glenn on November 10th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
That wouldn’t be a surprise. Bobby Harrell will do whatever it takes to put someone else up as well as tell every member that he is putting on LCI that they have to vote a certain way. He is Little Hitler! Is is very scary!