S.C. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mullins McLeod wants to go all Tiananmen Square on lobbyists at the S.C. State House … and God bless him for that.
“Time and time again the lobbyists have run rough-shot over the people,” McLeod said Tuesday. “They run the show in Columbia, and don’t have to answer for their actions. Most of what they do is done behind closed doors and the voters back home never know about it.”
That is so true, people. Smoky back rooms is how Columbia lobbyists and politicians operate. In fact, with the exception of Mark Sanford talking about Argentine tail, virtually nothing unscripted ever happens publicly in state government.
Of course the actual term McLeod was looking for is “ride roughshod” … an expression that means “to treat inconsiderately or harshly” or “to dominate brutally or destructively.” Often mistakenly referred to as “run roughshod” (or “shot,” apparently), the term originates from the medieval practice of arming horses with horseshoes that included metal spikes, which in addition to improving the animals’ footing served as an excellent weapon for finishing off wounded enemy soldiers.
But that’s neither here nor there …
McLeod’s lobbyist crackdown “is what it is,” basically a not-so-subtle effort to remind us that South Carolina’s original, well-heeled special interest lobbyist also happens to be seeking the Democratic nomination for governor. McLeod is trying to score political points against his lobbyist opponent, Dwight Drake, pure and simple.
Of course, if scoring political points leads to the articulation of sound public policy, then we’re all for it. So by all means, “run rough-shot,” Mullins …
Anyway, here are the highlights of McLeod’s plan …
· Registered lobbyists must disclose all of their clients and the amount of money they are being paid within 24 hours of signing a contract. This reporting must be made on-line on the SC Ethics Commissions web site.
· Registered lobbyists must report to the SC Ethics Commission by midnight every night the number of hours they spent on State House grounds that day and the exact times they were present. This information must be reported on-line.
· All registered lobbyists must report to the SC Ethics Commission any and all meetings or interactions with legislators or their aides that pertain to pending legislation. This must be reported on-line on the ethics commission’s web site within 24 hours of such meeting or interaction. A legislator’s constituents will have an option to sign up for email alerts notifying them when lobbyists have made contact with their representative.
· An immediate ban on state agencies using taxpayer money to hire lobbyists. This will include the Governor’s office.
· A ban that keeps Governor’s office staffers from leaving state government and lobbying while the Governor they worked for is still in office.
· A ban on immediate family members of the Governor, President of the Senate and Speaker of the House from becoming lobbyists.
Wow.
That’s like “double secret probation,” people. And pretty heady stuff coming from a Democrat.
Of course in his rush to target one Nelson Mullins’ lobbyist, McLeod neglected to insert a reporting requirement dealing with other Nelson Mullins’ lobbyists “doing the shibbidy dibbidy” with powerful former committee chairmen. Or “shibbidy dibbidiness” between lobbyists and lawmakers in general.
Or perhaps McLeod weighed the benefits of such a reporting requirement against the environmental impact of killing so many trees in the name of compliance.
Maybe that’s why there’s no reporting requirement for post-coital spooning, either.
Oh well, whatever his motivations may be for proposing a lobbyist crackdown, Mullins McLeod has our enthusiastic support for his proposals.
We can’t stand lobbyists … especially those who fail to recognize that sometimes we just want to be held.
By jed September 9, 2009 at 2:28 am
Good for him, whoever he is. We need a change, but Drake kinda scares me. I hear he’s worked for some folks dems tend not to associate with.
By duh September 9, 2009 at 6:55 am
How is the new leadership genius going to pay for all of this? At the end of the day, the average person does not understand what a lobbyist does. He is trying to villify them in hopes of getting at Drake by expanding government oversight of an otherwise legal activity. What is Drake talking about? Jobs.
As much as Drake scares me, at least he is on message.
By rick September 9, 2009 at 7:46 am
Ya mean there’s somebody in this world a Dem won’t work with? Ya learn something new each and every day….
By SC Integrity September 9, 2009 at 8:00 am
Definitely needed, but McLeod’s not the one who will get it done. His efforts on several fronts have proven fruitless and unorganized so far. Looks like another grab for press.
By aeb September 9, 2009 at 8:24 am
I doubt the Ethics Commission could handle all that “work”.
By Todd September 9, 2009 at 8:47 am
That’s funny. The word “work” and Ethics Commission in the same sentence. Their “work” generally includes answering the phone and doing what they are told to do by the powers that be.
By Mincing Words September 9, 2009 at 9:03 am
Interesting proposals, but they fall short. If you require reporting of meetings and time spent only while on State House grounds, would any meetings actually take place there? Hell no. The lobbyists and legislators would just mosey across the street (or to the bar they were headed to anyway). The deals are made in the hallways of the Gressette and Blatt buildings, ’round about closing time. For example, ask any judge how they got elected (assuming, of course, that the candidate was not the current spouse of a legislator. The answer will be that the candidate made rounds in the Gressette and Blatt buildings Tuesdays thru Thursdays, and showed up at the freebie functions held every Monday thru Wednesday nights at the Clarion.
Have the lobbyists report all contacts, not just those at the State House!
By Commonman September 9, 2009 at 9:57 am
There are more lobbyists at the State House now than before Operation Lost Trust. The scary part is that some of these lobbyists wield more power than elected members of the General Assembly. Maybe it is time for another sting.
By Brandon September 9, 2009 at 10:20 am
Wouldn’t term limits solve this whole problem? After all, what real influence do lobbyist have? They can make contributions on behalf of and deliver votes from the groups they represent.
Come to think about it, term limits would solve a whole hell of a lot of problems.
By Mike September 9, 2009 at 10:59 am
I thought my compulsion to constantly correct the shoddy grammar and generally sub-par language used in the discourse here was bad; the “roughshod” bit was nicely played, sir!
By Weighing In September 9, 2009 at 12:31 pm
McCleod is being overly ambitious here. It’s evident he is attacking Drake. Maybe next he will agree to report online all his fee’s that he earns when a state entity or carrier pays, since he’s all about sunshine.
Here’s a tip Mr. Never Gonna be Governor McCleod….stay in Charleston, drive your fancy cars, enjoy your house on the battery, take your yacht for a spin, and when you get out of fantasy world, come back to the rest of SC and tell us how you plan to fix our tax code, our education system, bring in more jobs, and lower the 12% unemloyment… you know, things that really matter and actually make a difference.
By me September 9, 2009 at 7:45 pm
what is this pic of and where is it from?
By fitsnews September 9, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Me,
Thanks for asking. That is a picture of “Old Ironsides,” a.k.a. the United States First Armored Division.
It is taken from the University of Texas Library, a public source.
-FITS
By Freddie Guy September 10, 2009 at 12:07 am
Mullins who? That’s the group from Charleston that puts out press releases in regard to the Governor from time to time that crowds our inboxes.