While S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley struggles to get her watered down government restructuring proposals on the front-burner again, fiscally-conservative State Sen. Tom Davis (R-Beaufort) rolled out an updated amendment that would completely abolish the S.C. Budget and Control Board (B&CB).
Davis – who has previously championed the elimination of the B&CB – rolled out a new amendment that would further enhance government accountability by placing additional executive functions within the governor’s cabinet.
“After more than six decades, the Budget and Control Board — an unaccountable and dysfunctional state agency that has long outlived its usefulness — is on the ropes,” Davis said in a statement, adding that the Senate “owes it to the people of South Carolina to finish the job.”
For those of you unfamiliar with the way government works (or rather, doesn’t work) in South Carolina, the B&CB is the quasi-executive, quasi-legislative agency that administers the majority of South Carolina’s executive branch responsibilities. It’s one of many components of state government designed to limit the authority of South Carolina governors- and thus choke off the most direct line of public accountability.
Instead, these executive functions are handed over to unelected boards and commissions – most of which are comprised of appointees selected by legislative leaders.
Obviously, that arrangement has not served our state well – which is why reformers like Davis are trying to do away with this agency completely and route the majority of its functions into the governor’s cabinet.
Unfortunately, they haven’t gotten a lot of cooperation in this effort from Haley – who after campaigning on getting rid of the B&CB has chosen instead to cut a backroom deal with Senate Finance Chairman Hugh Leatherman that would preserve it. Worse still, Haley has agreed to “reforms” that would further splinter accountability by taking agencies from the B&CB and handing them over to legislatively-dominated boards.
Davis’ amendment would prevent that from happening. Among other reforms, it would overturn a key component of the Haley-Leatherman deal by moving the State Energy Office within the S.C. Department of Commerce – where it belongs.
Under the Haley-Leatherman deal, the State Energy Office would have been placed under the control of the Office of Regulatory Staff – which is a legislatively-dominated agency that is beholden to the state’s electric cooperatives.
Why did Haley agree to this deal? One reason could be that these co-ops are currently bankrolling her 2014 gubernatorial campaign.
Obviously, we’re glad to see Davis expanding on the reforms that he offered – and successfully pushed to include – during the most recent Senate debate on this legislation.
Hopefully he’ll get some help from Haley’s office this go-round … although judging by who’s paying her bills, we doubt it.
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By CNSYD June 16, 2011 at 10:41 am
Another pimp article for carpetbagger Davis. More grandstanding by Davis that will amount to what it usually does, nothing.
FITS, why not tell us about the Davis-Ryberg-Sanfraud carpetbagger plans for SC? Do they plan on being the plantation owners and the rest of us the serfs?
By Frappy June 16, 2011 at 10:43 am
well if it isnt ole retard mouth!!!
By This Guy June 16, 2011 at 10:56 am
I don’t remember that scene from Forrest Gump.
By Big T June 16, 2011 at 11:08 am
Isn’t this the Dumbass who talked Haley into trying to blow the Amazon deal???
This interloper SOB is gouging transplants in the Lowcountry, who are intoxicated by the marsh and Spanish moss, yet he wants to rip the chance to support a family from the people in the Midlands.
Carpetbagger or Dirtbag. Unles he can explain himself on that one, better than what I’ve heard, I have NO repsect for this clown.
By Not exactly June 16, 2011 at 11:15 am
Good god, stop with the “or rather, doesn’t work.” Really. Stop.
I don’t think Tom Davis is a bad guy. I think he doesn’t study. He could be ok if he’d look into more things instead of adopting a party line.
By Alabaster II June 16, 2011 at 11:23 am
Wow all that Tom Davis bashing! Guess it must be you don’t have Mark Sanford to kick around anymore.
By This Guy June 16, 2011 at 11:41 am
Sanford did give us “the Tom Davises of the world”.
By Big T June 16, 2011 at 12:09 pm
Sorry: But actions have consequences.
I will NEVER forget the people who tried to sink the Amazon deal. Especially when we give EVERY other section of the state the chance to incubate industry. To try and cripple Cayce and West Columbia is inexplicable.
Haley and Davis need to profusely apologize. And the Tea Party is either stupid, or they let the Liberals use them.
Either way, that particular incident sullied a lot of people, imo. It showed what they are and that we cannot depend on them to represent us.
By Micael Weissenfeld June 16, 2011 at 12:52 pm
Man, it’s funny when people call Sanford “Sanfraud.” ‘Cause — you get it? — Sanford was a fraud and they just put “fraud” instead of “ford” in his name. Sanfraud. See how they do that? It was funny back in 2005 when I first started seeing it in the comments section of blogs, and it’s STILL funny in 2011.
You know Ellen Degeneres? I heard sometimes people call her Ellen Degenerate. You get it? She’s degenerate, so instead of calling her Degeneres, they call her . . .
By Frappy June 16, 2011 at 2:48 pm
I saw this movie with Tom Davis it was called Liar Lair?
By confederateliberal June 16, 2011 at 3:04 pm
The amendment to the Restructuring Bill (H3066) that would abolish Budget And Control Board was initially sponsored by Senators Sheheen and Massey. Davis signed on to it after it appeared to getting some momentum. Give credit where it is due.
By Bogart June 16, 2011 at 3:04 pm
Heard Davis went with Sanford on some of those blowing off steam trips and they always prayed about it when they got back.They can’t be all bad if they gave thanks for the loving kindness of others and others and others and others.
By Jeffy01 June 16, 2011 at 5:13 pm
I hate to agree with Sin Shitty.. But he is right. (ugh that hurt).
By CNSYD June 16, 2011 at 6:51 pm
Jeffy01, See, there are topics we can agree while we argue over others.
By Peter O June 16, 2011 at 6:51 pm
Wow. All the hatred on this post for Davis just because he wants to move the Energy Office into the Dept. of Commerce.
By eggaday June 16, 2011 at 7:29 pm
read the comments and weep Sanfraud. Tom Davis is a wanna be Sanfraud
By Nostradamus June 16, 2011 at 7:36 pm
Micael Weissenfeld – you are one dumb shit if you think ANYONE can’t figure that out for themselves!!!!
By Common Sense June 16, 2011 at 8:28 pm
The man has not a clue. Replace him in 2012. A killer of jobs idiot.
We need a smart business person in that position. His canned speeches are boring and full of smoke and hogwash.
By strongerthandirt June 16, 2011 at 8:44 pm
Your coverage needs more focus on the topical content of the lower third of your article. Other than that, I will plant a big thank-you kiss on the lips for plugging away and drawing attention to the wholly unaccountable and forever unregulated SC electric cooperatives and their mother ship, Santee Cooper. Lots more attention will be needed before anything will happen to help the consumer in this state.
By Alabaster II June 16, 2011 at 10:15 pm
Interesting, was Tom there when Mark first met Chapur?
By Old Bike Dude June 17, 2011 at 7:02 am
I thought Davis was focused only on the Jasper port, another idea folks have been working hard to bring about for over 20 years. Then suddenly it was his idea…for a moment anyway. Bottom line is that he has over $100,000 of his own money “invested” in his senate seat. Can’t expect him not to want some real return on that investment.
By Cancerman June 17, 2011 at 7:39 am
Tom Davis is a lying fuck that covered for Sanfraud.
By Common Sense June 20, 2011 at 9:47 am
One has to wonder what Senator Davis true motivation is. The job pays $11,000.00 a year. He must have big family money. Isn’t he an attorney?