Harrell’s Transparency Charade
Heading into the most critical organizational session of his legislative career, it certainly appears that embattled South Carolina House Speaker Bobby Harrell has adopted a new motto …
“If you can’t beat ‘em, pretend like you’re joining them.”
After spending months doing everything within his power to drive a burning stake through the heart of government transparency legislation, Harrell is now attempting to position himself as the architect of on-the-record voting in a chamber with more secrets than a Harry Potter novel.
In an e-mail sent to House Republicans (but not to his fellow Democrats) last night, Harrell endorsed a plan put forward by Senate President Glenn McConnell that would essentially substitute sweeping transparency legislation with a temporary, loophole-infested “rules change” that would be subject to extinction anytime enough members of the majority party felt like it.
“I believe that the Senator’s plan is a solution that we should move forward with in the House,” Harrell’s e-mail to the Republican Caucus says.
Of course that’s what he believes … rather than passing a law requiring everything to be recorded, Harrell is creatively carving up which votes should and shouldn’t be any of the public’s business.
In other words, like pretty much every other proposal pushed by this big government blowhard … it’s a complete and total sham, designed specifically to take the legs out of meaningful transparency legislation while simultaneously creating the illusion of reform.
“Too little, too late,” said one of the Republican lawmakers who forwarded us Harrell’s e-mail.
Actually, “too little, too late” is a giving this proposal a compliment it doesn’t deserve.
Anyway, stay tuned to FITS for more specifics on this scam as well as other news from today’s two-session GOP organizational meeting.
We hear this little bait and switch isn’t the only trick that Secretary … err, Speaker Harrell has up his sleeve …
Comments
By GnuBerry on December 2nd, 2008 at 1:40 am
What does that mean, “Secretary … err, Speaker Harrell?”
By rick on December 2nd, 2008 at 9:13 am
As i said on another post on the Haley story: Harrell operates like this. He will oppose something, and its always a conservative idea, until he figures out that he had better support it. Then instead of signing on to the matter that has been pushed for months or years by a particular member, he will suddenly bring out his own plan (stealing the idea) as if its always been his idea.
As I also said on the other post, he will throw the main school choice sponsors over the cliff at some point so HE can be the savior and author of school choice.
By Fashizzle on December 2nd, 2008 at 9:14 am
Maybe if he’d given the transparency bill lip service rather than spending the last three months calling it pandering the Speaker would have some credibility here. Everyone within a mile of the Statehouse knew he’d try this bait and switch at some point, and it won’t fly. The bill and its 30 cosponsors aren’t going away.
By fitsnews on December 2nd, 2008 at 9:27 am
“Secretary …” as in General Secretary.
Of course it could also be a reverse reference to the fact that Harrell enjoys telling powerful female leaders like the Policy Council’s Ashley Landess to “make copies” for him.
We’re just building a mystery here, people. One reference at a time …
By Toyota Kawaski on December 2nd, 2008 at 9:39 am
powerful female leaders like Ashley Landess now that is funny
By Cloak and Dagger on December 2nd, 2008 at 9:40 am
Perhaps Ms. Landess could make the Speaker a few copies of the article she wrote skewering him as a big-spending phony who was fighting transparency. Just on the off chance he missed that one! Keep up the good work, Sic. I am sure whatever plan Harrell has it will be as superficial as he is.
By Gene E. Nowak on December 2nd, 2008 at 11:09 am
The Speaker and the legislature has survived decades with bait and switch politics why change a good thing is their position.
Tort Reform,tougher DUI laws and balanced budgets are prime recent examples of rhetoric and turf protection as practiced by our esteemed legislators.
By NotforHire on December 2nd, 2008 at 11:24 am
It’s simple. If our representatives don’t want to stand up and have their votes counted, then they are not representing, and they have no place in our state’s legislature.
Then again, we could always cancel this whole democracy thing.
By Cooter Brown on December 2nd, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Scalawags! E’ery one of the damned rascals! Hell, I got’s to tell Mrs. Cooter Brown e’ery wear I goes an’ e’ery thng I says– day’s no better dan ol’ Coot.
Dese ain’t men! Men takes a stand an’ declare what they do an’ what dey says wit pride an’ konfidense. Youngin’ hide, mens stan-up an’ are counted.
My how dis once free an’ proud state has fell! I caint believe mens lik Calhoon an’ Hampton once governed dis here people!
By Gen. Longstreet on December 2nd, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Colonel Harrell, now that’s a flanking maneuver old Stonewall would be proud of!
By James on December 2nd, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Harell’s (stolen) transparency bill is pathetic and fluff. We’ll wait for the real bill, Rep. Haley’s, to come to the floor this session. At least this is an acknowlegment and credit due to Rep. Haley for bringing this to the forefront.
By BIN News Editorial Staff on December 2nd, 2008 at 11:02 pm
More cr@p from sic(k) willie and stooges. sic(k) willie, you bore us.
BIN News Editorial Staff
Flair and Balanced