SC Ranks Dead Last In Recorded Voting
The story that South Carolina legislative leaders wish would just go away instead gathered additional steam today.
A newly-released report from the S.C. Policy Council shows that South Carolina is the worst state in the nation when it comes to requiring “on the record” or “roll call” voting.
“South Carolina is one of just five states that do not require lawmakers to record their votes when passing bills,” the report concluded. “South Carolina (also) has the nation’s most burdensome requirement for requesting a recorded vote among the five states that do not require them.”
Making matters worst, attempting to fix this problem within the secretive, special interest-driven S.C. General Assembly is apparently hazardous to your political health.
Apparently, left-leaning S.C. Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell doesn’t want his big government agenda derailed by transparency, and he’s launched quite the petty, personal jihad against the two women who are insisting on it (read about those efforts here and here).
Still, the coalition for reform is strong.
A bill to force “on the record” voting sponsored by State Rep. Nikki Haley currently has 25 House co-sponsors as well as public support from the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Comptroller General, Senate President Pro Tempore and Senate Majority Leader.
Click here to read the latest S.C. Policy Council Study.
Comments
By Ron on November 12th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
We need rapid action on this legislation for roll call voting and accountabiltity. Those that vote for no accountability and back room “politics as usual” should most definetly have opposition in 2010. THROW THE BUMS OUT BEGINNING WITH HARRELL IN 2010. Right now i’d like to see Nikki Haley run for governor in 2010.
By Ron on November 12th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Or better yet, she could move to Charleston and run against Harrell! lol
By Upstate Democrat on November 12th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
If Bobby Harrell was smart — and there is considerable evidence that he is not all that bright — the best thing he could do would be to champion this legislation, get it passed, and get on to attending to business that might, you know, actually make a positive impact in the lives of our state’s families and businesses.
With this off the table, it would remove the biggest weapons our ineffective, do-nothing governor has in what has been the only thing he has accomplished during his tenure: beating up on the legislature. If Sanford actually had to talk about issues and policies and the 1 million people in our state who have no health care and his pathetic economic development record, something might actually get done in this state.
By Rylyn on November 12th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
If this were the only thing we were Dead Last in it would be a novelty! If we had more women in political office I bet we would have more accountability but of course we are Dead last in that too!
By Mike Honcho on November 12th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Upstate Democrat – no idea where you find those fictional numbers on the uninsured – but even the cigarette tax increase crowd doesn’t use that number.
Maybe you should spend some time complaining about the 800,000 people on Medicaid or how more than half of all children born last year did so on the program.
Real issues my ass – stop taking our money.
By Eric on November 12th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
4th from the bottom, hey….that ai’nt so bad. We are usually dead last!
By From Chuck-town on November 12th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
It’s kind of hard to have a roll-call vote on anything when, as a member of the GOP Caucus, you are told how to vote, or else! The members of the General Assembly are accountable to the voters of their Districts, NOT the House or Senate leadership.
By James the Foot Soldier on November 12th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
South Carolina politics – bringing up the back of the line in EVERY meaningful quality of life measure.
And to think – there is serious talk of a South Carolinian being chosen to head the Republican National Committee!
RINOs in the state house and a RINO heading the Republican National Commmittee all charged with trying to figure out why the biggest RINO of them all got his ass handed to him by a politician with the thinest of resumes.
It’s going to be a bleak winter troops.
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