Comments on: Lawmakers Contradict Themselves On Recorded Votes

By: Sandra

Sandra — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:22:37 +0000

Nikki Haley has shown more courage and passion for the truth than any House or Senate member. She has always put the policy first and personal agendas aside, something that all the WHITE HAIRED MALES have issues with.

By: Gen. Longstreet

Gen. Longstreet — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:53:29 +0000

Sounds like some colts are afraid of the comely filly. And they should be.

By: Red State Watcher

Red State Watcher — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:44:46 +0000

“Huh?” hits the nail on the head. By celebrating the watered-down House rule as a personal victory, Nikki killed all momentum for real transparency reform. She was more interested in making a “name” for herself than helping promote good public policy. And that’s sad.

By: Insider

Insider — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:14:53 +0000

Oh, I might also add after seeing the above post, that while Rep. Haley was able to secure a House Rule, her push for her Transparency bill was already drafted and continuously stiff armed by Rep. Harrell. The fault clearly lies with Rep. Harrell who will not let the bill be heard…strictly out of fear of being shown up…yet again.

By: Insider

Insider — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:10:14 +0000

AND, let’s not forget how “selective hearing” from the Speaker has created several controversial scoffs just this past session alone.

Anyone who thinks that we need processes and steps for recording votes is simply stuck in the dark ages and/or has something to hide. A simple push of a button has proven effective, efficient, and ethical!

By: Huh?

Huh? — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:06:32 +0000

“75 percent of votes taken by the General Assembly were anonymous voice votes despite new rules adopted by the legislature in January. The House recorded votes 31.2 percent of the time in 2009. The Senate recorded votes 15.6 percent of the time.”

Red State Watcher is right — we have been sold a bill of goods by Nikki Haley. Check out this email from her to the unwashed masses on January 14, 2008:

The Haley E-Newsletter – On The Record Voting passes the House!!

Dear Friends,

We Did It! On-the-Record Voting just passed on the floor of the South Carolina House of Representatives by a vote of 115-0!

Click here to read my blog which has more details as well as my thoughts about this significant accomplishment.

Nikki

Well, Nikki, the rule that passed the House last January didn’t — despite your joyous, pompous and self-promoting proclamation — do shit. By settling for this sell-out House rule, you single-handedly took the winds out of the sails of real transparency reform.

By: Bryan Cox

Bryan Cox — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:20:23 +0000

Hawk,
You miss the point. When lawmakers decide themselves what votes are recorded the fox is guarding the hen house. A citizen can’t shout out a roll-call request from the gallery — the only way the public can ensure a vote is recorded is to require they all be.

Too often citizens elect good people, but after a few years of receptions, parties and being constantly told they are special and important, it is easy for even a humble person to forget those trappings are an illusion.

The sole reason we have legislators is to serve the people. Once you remember that this issue becomes very simple.

By: proudofsc

proudofsc — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:16:09 +0000

Red State Watcher,
You are right on it!!

By: Toyota Kawaski

Toyota Kawaski — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:37:23 +0000

Yesah Mr.Rich right away sir’s

By: Hawk

Hawk — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 04:28:55 +0000

This issue is a total waste of time. Any idiot that spends five minutes at the State House can understand that any legislator who is worth his or her salt can request a role call vote on any issue he or she wants. The rules in the House require one to have nine other members for a recorded roll call vote. Any House member who can’t get nine friends, or roughly 7 percent of the body, needs to resign and go home. And people actually spend time on this issue at the Policy Council. What a joke.