How Things “Get Done” In SC

For the better part of seven years, S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford has worked to restructure South Carolina’s antiquated, bass-ackwards government so that chief executives and their lieutenants could run on the same ticket – like they do at the federal level and in most other states.

Of course, as with Sanford’s other structural and economic reforms, this effort has been stymied at every turn by status quo lawmakers like State Sen. Glenn McConnell.

Meanwhile, State Sen. Jakie “Ol’ Knocky” Knotts (a longtime Sanford antagonist) has fought for years to get a taxpayer-funded security detail for his best buddy, Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer – only to be stymied at every turn by allies of Sanford (and enemies of Bauer).

In both cases, an impasse had been reached, guaranteeing that neither objective would ever get accomplished (which in the case of a taxpayer-funded security detail for Bauer is obviously a good thing).

Anyway, “reform” works in mysterious ways in South Carolina.

Thanks to Sanford’s “Summer of Love” scandal with Maria Belen Chapur – in which he created a Constitutional crisis by disappearing for five days to frolic in Buenos Aires with his Latin lover – both the structural change being sought by the governor and Bauer’s security detail are part of a new set of proposed state laws sponsored by … wait for it … Glenn McConnell.

Amazing.

Could it be that Sanford is finally “getting things done” by “gittin’ er done?”  Because if so, that could make for an enjoyable legislative strategy for him moving forward.

Meanwhile, if Bauer has a brain (and the jury’s definitely still out on that one) he would immediately recognize this as a golden opportunity to drop his ridiculous quest for a security detail that he clearly doesn’t need.

Seriously … such a nonessential spending request is hard to justify in any budget environment, let alone this one.

Oh, and whatever the reason for its reemergence on our political radar screens, Bauer (like all 2010 gubernatorial candidates) would be wise to embrace the long-overdue notion of governors and lieutenant governors running on the same ticket, which would finally put an end to the nonsensical debate over the transferring of executive “power” in South Carolina.

Finally, another of the “Maria Belen Chapur Bills” to be brought up in 2010 involves a “recall” option that would let South Carolina voters fire the governor if they collect the appropriate number of signatures.

While we have concerns with the current recall mechanism that state lawmakers are advocating, we support a recall component to the State Constitution.

Of course, that mechanism must apply to all elected officials, not just statewide officers …