The S.C. Senate Is Kinda Sorta Transparent
Although it wasn’t everything that a handful of courageous reformers in the S.C. House have been championing, the South Carolina Senate did take some discernible steps toward greater transparency in government yesterday, drawing some rare praise from Gov. Mark Sanford and the S.C. Policy Council.
The Senate’s measure – which came in the form of a rule change, not a new law – was ironically approved by a voice vote, but the good news is that it will require recorded (or roll call) votes on a whole host of new items including any bill with a fiscal impact of more than $10,000.
“Some may say it was a small step by the Senate, but I view it as a giant leap for transparency,†said Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler, who may or may not have been channeling Neil Armstrong on the moon at the time he gave that quote.
“Government reform breeds economic growth,” Peeler added, coming back to earth. “This is just the first of many steps we will take in 2009 to change the way South Carolina government operates.â€
We can only hope that turns out to be true, because prior to this reform passing, South Carolina had the most secretive government in the entire nation.
And some people, like S.C. House Speaker Bobby Harrell, seemed dead set on keeping it that way.
Frankly, we don’t think our legislative process will be truly “transparent” until all votes are recorded votes – and more specifically, until recorded votes are taken on specific sections of the state budget, which neither the House nor the Senate is currently showing any appetite to do.
That’s sad, because budget sections are where the rubber truly hits the road when it comes to how your tax dollars are spent in Columbia.
Senators claim voting on budget sections would take too much time, though.
In fact, many predicted that the transparency reforms passed yesterday would create a “morass” in a deliberative body that’s already known for moving about as fast as a drunk slug.
We’ve got a solution for that though – cut the crap and work faster.
Most importantly, though, the Senate (like the House) should not content itself with a mere rules change, as codifying a broader transparency initiative into state law is clearly what the situation requires.
Specifically, the transparency bill drafted by Rep. Nikki Haley should be approved by both chambers and signed by the governor this session.
Still, the Senate got a lot of love from two of its longtime antagonists for the actions it took. Which was sweet, really.
Look, while we certainly respect the governor and the Policy Council for wanting to start the 2009 session by playing nice, both groups missed an opportunity in our opinion to continue insisting on the true transparency that taxpayers deserve.
It’s good that the Senate took a “small step,” though, and even though we tend to be “praise Nazis” around here, we can certainly give them a modicum of credit for that.
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Comments
By Fashizzle on January 14th, 2009 at 9:40 am
Just another example of Bobby getting his ass handed to him by a smarter politician. Remember Leatherman suckering him on the budget last year?
Bobby’s comments about the Governor and Policy Council just make him look like an idiot now. Both released statements praising the Senate, which totally refutes his strategy of painting them as impossible to please. Now he can either introduce similar rules in the House and admit he got served, or be left holding the bag as the transparency opponent all session. Either way, his days are numbered.
By Workin' Tommy C on January 14th, 2009 at 11:47 am
We can’t let up until we have total transparency.
The fact that Bobby Harrell and Glenn McConnell have teamed up to hijack the issue and pass rules instead of laws that only make some preselected votes transparent is an indicator that they’re not going to give up the power to hide their corruption without a fight.
POWER TO THE PEOPLE!
By This Was So Predictable on January 14th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
These jokers don’t even know what’s in their own self-interest, much less the peoples. Trusting them with our taxpayer money is like trusting Bill Clinton to babysit your underage niece. Did anyone really expect anything more to happen?
By Jack on January 14th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Talk is cheap, my friends. Until Bobby Harrell and Glen McConnell are retired from public life, true reform of South Carolina’s government structure will continue to be subject to these sham “reform efforts” that fall short of the needed goals. Now is the time to put your money and your votes to work to get rid of both Harrell and McConnell.
Recruiting and funding true conservative choices in the 2010 elections will lead to change in SC. Anything else remains a signal to our politicians that the public is willing to put up with these charades.
By blah blahhhhh.... on January 14th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
thats definitely not any better. they should do more! why cant it be fully transparent? that tells us something about our government people!
By friend of a friend. on January 19th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
Well…at least it’s a start?
I don’t know about a “giant leap” for transparency as multiple accounts under $10,000 can safely continue to be hidden, but maybe that will be realized soon.
At least i hope so….