Transparency Report Released
Proving that the fight for government transparency in South Carolina is going to be a much broader battlefield than anyone previously suspected, the S.C. Policy Council today unveiled one of the most comprehensive reports on the subject that we’ve ever seen – a sweeping overview of numerous processes and multiple government entities that proposes equally extensive reforms.
Simply put, the report is as meticulously-researched and well-conceptualized a road map for bringing South Carolina out of the dark ages as you’re going to find, and we urge that all of its recommendations be adopted immediately.
Offering “clear guidance for implementing government transparency,” the report focuses on five areas of public policy – online checkbooks, open records reform, taxpayer-funded lobbying, on-the-record voting and enhanced lawmaker income disclosure – and offers specific policy initiatives designed to enhance transparency and accountability in each area.
“It is time for reform,” the report reads. “South Carolina must embrace government accountability and
transparency, and should look to the many working examples in place today throughout the nation in other states.”
And in a nod to the much more aggressive direction the organization has taken over the last year, no bones are made as to the philosophical underpinnings of the debate.
“The role of government in a free society is to establish the framework for the free market and then allow individuals to operate unfettered within these established boundaries,” it reads. “South Carolina has strayed far from the vision of our nation’s founding fathers by injecting government into nearly all aspects of life.
Incorporating essential transparency reforms would establish a foundation of good government principles upon which to build a strong economic recovery.”
Hell to the yeah.
The depth of research put into this report is simply amazing, as is the fortitude shown by the leadership at the Policy Council, which has for better or worse had a target painted on its back by S.C. Speaker Bobby Harrell – one of the preeminent defenders of the status quo in South Carolina.
With this report, the Policy Council has not only refused to back down from Harrell’s threats, it has redefined the ongoing debate over this issue.
Now it’s time for those of us who support these long-overdue reforms to accompany these new battle lines by drawing a line of our own in the sand – and compelling lawmakers to choose a side.
Ask anyone at the State House and they’ll tell you they want greater transparency and accountability in government, but do they? Really?
We’ll have to see which side of the line they come down on …
WEB EXTRA:
Comments
By StupidShouldHurtMore (SSHM) on February 3rd, 2009 at 5:53 pm
The big issue is never addressed …
Read over that Policy Council Transparency Report. The real story is what is NOT printed. Look specifically at pages 3 and 4 about the cost of transparency.
Quoting from the report:
“The public is clearly aware that today’s modern technology makes it easy for government to provide real-time spending information and legislative bodies across the nation have responded in force. South Carolina has a clear opportunity to embrace the coming transparency revolution by being proactive and expanding its transparency requirements now to include local governments and school districts.”
What the public clearly ISN’T aware of is the major discrepancies and fiefdoms of technology that litter state and local governments. While modern technology does afford those opportunities, the state and its various political subdivisions have NOT standardized on technology – thus the perceived leverage in modern technology is just that – perception and not reality.
If memory serves me correctly, I think it was the Legislative Audit Council, sometime in the early-to-mid 1990s, completed a study on the “cost of inoperability” between the various IT structures in state government. That study revealed the staggering cost to exchange information between different state agencies.
If the SC Policy Council and your “news” group want to continue to push for transparency, stop speaking in platitudes and put a real plan to paper. Here – let me give you a start:
1.) Standardize on SAP for Public Sector for all state agencies.
2.) Provide funding to South Carolina’s various political subdivisions to convert to SAP for Public Sector.
3.) Withhold state funding to political subdivisions if they fail to convert.
One system – linked – instant access.
Now just call it Skynet, make it self-aware, and …
Next time you’re over at the Policy Office, convey my disappointment at Cox for just pointing out examples and not providing a solution in this report. If you are going to be a think tank, by God, be a think tank.
- SSHM
By BIN News Editorial Staff on February 3rd, 2009 at 7:49 pm
SC Policy Council; Club for Growth; Voice for Voucher Scams; Another Voice for Voucher Scams; Carpet-Buggers for Voucher Scams; Midlands Elected Officials for Voucher Scams with Strom Problems; Families of Poor Little Black Girls Paid off by the Gub’ner with Voucher Scams; SLED Beat Down Teams with Strom Problems.
BIN News is no longer impressed by bogus PACS fronting as grass roots groups.
sic(k) willie, you and your buds are such frauds. Everyone knows it.
By Dell on February 3rd, 2009 at 9:43 pm
To be fair, SSHM, the report points out that in most cases the districts that are posting check registers are doing so at little to no cost. What more examples do you need? Put your check register online!
Oh, and Bin, who exactly are you a fraud for? Clearly not Howie Rich, an independent man who spends his own money to fight for better schools in SC. No, BIN….you are the front man for the people who don’t want to change one thing about their schools, including posting check registers online. Actually, Ross. YOu aren’t doing bad spin, but no one is buying it anymore. But then, if we spent the education dollars that went to you on programs we needed, who knows what would have happened?
Public wants this, guys. Policy Council ain’t playing on this one.
get ready for some fireworks! I hear all kind of things are gonna be flying around this year…..
By Silence the Noise on February 4th, 2009 at 2:50 am
SSHM….or scott malryck…..stop schilling for converse…..he is done.
By StupidShouldHurtMore (SSHM) on February 4th, 2009 at 7:25 am
@Silence the Noise
Are you going to address the issues I have posed or are you intent on attacking the poster (for what reason I am not sure). It’s all factual.
- SSHM
By Richard on February 4th, 2009 at 11:10 am
It’s all talk unless there are concrete “bills” signed into law. Harrell, Merrill, Bingham, Cooper, McConnell and Leatherman are status quo of the worst SC has to offer. Surely we can do better than these crooks.
By Fashizzle on February 4th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
The report clearly defined its purpose is to illustrate examples of what other states are doing in terms of transparency. South Carolinians can then examine what works elsewhere and discuss how to implement best practices here.
It’s very interesting that the best criticism Policy Council detractors can muster (i.e. SSHM) is that the report “only” offers five great suggestions. If SAP would contribute to the solution then why haven’t you fought for it?
I’ll give you one. Under my math that makes it 5-1 Policy Council. Your move. Wow, we’re making progress already.