McConnell’s Constitutional Tap Dance?
Would you give up being one of the most influential lawmakers in a legislatively-dominated state to assume a part-time role in one of the nation’s weakest executive branches?
Of course not.
Apparently neither would S.C. Senate President Glenn McConnell, although that’s precisely what the State Constitution would prescribe in the event S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford were to resign his post in the wake of the scandal surrounding his admitted affair with an Argentine woman.
Obviously, everyone knows that S.C. Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer would become governor of South Carolina if were Sanford to step down, but what isn’t as widely-known is the procedure for filling the Lt. Governor’s office.
According to the State Constitution, the S.C. Senate President Pro Tempore (i.e. McConnell) would be required to move “up” to the Lt. Governor’s office in the event of a vacancy there, which would in turn prompt a vacancy in that top Senate post – and an election within the Senate to name a new President Pro Tempore.
Obviously, McConnell has no interest in becoming Lt. Governor – and every interest in remaining South Carolina’s most powerful State Senator.
In fact, according to our sources, a plan is already in place to essentially circumvent the Constitution and allow McConnell to remain at his powerful perch.
How would it work?
Easy.
McConnell would resign his position as Senate President Pro Tempore sometime (i.e. immediately) prior to the governor’s resignation, thus moving someone else (we’re hearing the names of two RINOs – Sen. David Thomas or John Courson) into the Pro Tempore’s spot – but only long enough for this person to fulfill the Constitutional duty of becoming Lt. Governor.
Once that bit of business is accomplished, McConnell would then reclaim his old title – and all the power that comes with it.
Crazy, right?
A ridiculous conspiracy, right?
Well, as crazy as it sounds, sources tell FITS that McConnell may have in fact already provided Bauer (or Senate Clerk Jeffrey Gossett) with a letter of resignation, which could very well be hiding in a desk somewhere in anticipation of Sanford stepping down.
Pursuant to that tip, on Friday FITS submitted Freedom of Information requests to Lt. Governor Bauer, Sen. McConnell and Jeffrey Gossett, the clerk of the Senate, in an effort to obtain such a letter.
We’ll obviously let you know what we’re able to uncover …
Obviously, none of this matters unless Sanford resigns or is somehow forced from office.
Comments
By Hal on June 27th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Same old insider trading. Do whatever it takes to get what you want…
By Silence Dogood on June 27th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Glenn could be giving up a chance at the Governor’s office by doing so. Let’s face it, if anyon thinks for a minute that Bauer can’t get himself (a) thrown in jail (b) killed or (c) so disgraced that he has to resign also (d) all three, within just a short 18 months – they are kidding themselves and really don’t know Andre that well.
By For real on June 27th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Pretty clever move, and one that I believe all 46 members if the Senate would persue if they were in his position. He doesn’t want to be Lt. Gov, he is content as Judiciary Chair and being a Charleston Senator.
I could easily see Thomas as the choice who unsuccessfully ran the time before last, and then there is Courson who blames his Comptroller loss on everyone but himself (of course spending more than $5 on your campaign might have helped) and the other possibility I could see would be Larry Grooms…for 2 reasons, bolster his gubernatorial aspirations, but also because his district next go round, although very Republican will be a lot heavier in Mt. Pleasant and if someone from there runs….he could be in trouble.
Just my observations.
By PandaChris on June 27th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
I noticed your filed a Freedom of Information Act to find out if this purely political move is taking place.
You would think that you guys would be more interested in seeing how many tax dollars the Luv Guv spent in wooing his Latina honey!
Of course, that would require principle.
How many Freedom of Information Act requests have you made to uncover Sanford’s use of taxpayer funds?
By Not Sayin', Just Sayin' on June 27th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
Unless he didn’t move up, as was the case after Gov. Russell resigned to become a member of the US Senate and Lt. Gov. McNair became governor. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate stayed up, and we had no lieutenant governor.
By BIN News Editorial Staff on June 27th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
sic(k) willie will get that letter the minute after he names the Midlands’ elected official he claims has a Strom problem, or two minutes after he gets the gub’ners laptop under his last FOI request, or exactly three minutes after U.S.C. wins a National title or Hell freezes over.
Which ever comes first.
sic(k) willie should know FOI requests like this are a foolish waste of time. But, that’s all he has. Foolish time.
BIN News Editorial Staff
Flair and Balanced
By PEEP on June 27th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
I don’t know. It would make sense to me, to take the Lt Governor position, if only to build name recognition statewide in order to eventually run for Governor. Of course, if McConnell has no ambition to be Governor, you could be very much right. However, something tells me McConnell is the ambitious type.
By lou on June 28th, 2009 at 7:06 am
Does the state answer FOIA requests?
The feds don’t.
By Joshua on June 28th, 2009 at 7:39 am
Have been on the road with the Connor campaign, and have heard two other names in the mix on this – Larry Martin and Ronnie Cromer.
I suppose the more interesting question is, no matter which Senator winds up in the LG Chair, do they run for “re”-election, or simply stand in for the remainder of the term? In Thomas’ case, does he take the LG job for a year while running for Congress in the 4th?
Of course, if Sanford holds out, this is all merely an intellectual exercise…
By Jeffy on June 28th, 2009 at 9:14 am
There is our ever bitter and jealous BIN! Dungeons and Dragons conference must be over?
By scgop on June 28th, 2009 at 9:18 am
They will pick a harmless Dem in order to gain a seat in a special election.
By Mr. Roo on June 28th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Hard to describe any of this legislative scurrying being in the spirit of upholding our Constitution.
Wish our elected officials spent as much brain power figuring out ways to reduce our spending.
Any time a citizen asks our government for documents via the FOIA, it is a good thing.
By Guest on June 28th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
McConnell would never run for Governor, he’d have to explain why he’s never been seen with a woman.
By Jeffy on June 28th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
guest…..BIN has never been seen with a woman either, except mom. Aww
By Toyota Kawaski on June 29th, 2009 at 8:16 am
This article has enough BS in to pass for Man-d crap.Did she(im) write this?
By Checking In on June 29th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
McConnell would never give up the power that he wields as Pro Tem and Judiciary Chair…just wouldn’t happen
By scgop on June 29th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Read carefully. they are looking to install Dick Elliott or Glenn Reese as Lt Gov so they can pick up a Senate seat. Having one more GOP Senator is more important than have a GOP Lt Gov for a year.