It was a moot point after Democrats in the S.C. House of Representatives refused to support the issue, but S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley’s watered-down government restructuring legislation was also defeated on Tuesday by the “Republican-controlled” S.C. Senate.
Haley supporters led by Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler fell six votes shy of receiving the two-thirds majority they needed to take up the bill – which was the focus of a major constitutional drama earlier this month. Two-thirds majorities of both the House and Senate were required to consider the bill because lawmakers are in a special session devoted to passing the state budget and drawing new legislative and congressional districts.
Barring some sort of Lazarus-style miracle, that means there will be no S.C. Department of Administration – or government restructuring of any kind – this year.
Obviously, that’s a major defeat for Haley – who cut a backroom deal with Senate Finance Chairman Hugh Leatherman in the hopes of getting a quick win through the S.C. General Assembly this year. It’s also a major defeat for taxpayers – who saw their hopes for real reform go up in smoke due to Haley’s desire to cut a deal and claim a purely political victory for herself.
Furious over the collapse of her agreement with Leatherman, Haley called lawmakers into an emergency session earlier this month and demanded that they pass her version of the bill. The S.C. Supreme Court blocked Haley’s effort, though, a process that strained her relationships not only with legislative leaders – but also with fiscally conservative Republicans in the S.C. Senate.
In fact, multiple lawmakers tell FITS that Haley blatantly misled them during the special session drama.
On this issue we’re much less concerned with the political drama and more concerned with the policy, though … and on that count, Haley lost this battle before it even began.
For starters, the Haley-Leatherman plan preserved the existence of the S.C. Budget and Control Board – a quasi-executive, quasi-legislative entity that performs the majority of the state’s executive branch functions. It would have also taken agencies that ought to be in the governor’s cabinet – like the State Energy Office – and handed them over to commissions of unelected bureaucrats beholden to specific special interests.
Some of those special interests, not coincidentally in our opinion, have been lining Haley’s pockets with campaign contributions in recent months.
In contrast to the Haley-Leatherman plan, S.C. Sen. Tom Davis has been consistently pushing a strong restructuring bill that does eliminate the S.C. Budget and Control Board and restore key executive functions to the governor’s cabinet.
Davis tells FITS he will be pushing these same reforms when the bill comes up for debate again – which at this point is looking like it will be next January.
While we opposed Haley’s watered-down administrative reforms, we supported her efforts to pass a pair of other recycled Mark Sanford reforms – the right of governors to appoint their lieutenant governors and superintendents of education. In fact, we would once again strongly urge the S.C. Senate to pass these two pieces of legislation – which have already cleared the S.C. House.
Lawmakers and Haley have gotten precious little accomplished this year – and it would be nice to get a pair of common sense reforms signed into law before the session ends.
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By Disappointed June 21, 2011 at 6:42 pm
“For starters, the Haley-Leatherman plan preserved the existence of the S.C. Budget and Control Board – a quasi-executive, quasi-legislative entity that performs the majority of the state’s executive branch functions.”
It’s a pity that the state’s largest bordello remains in existence.
And we citizens continue paying for legislators — like Leatherman — to “use” it.
By Hal June 21, 2011 at 6:55 pm
The most important issues before the state and general assembly were:
1. Pension reform,
2. Budget reform leading to a smaller budget,
3. Meaningful government restructuring.
Of course Haley has ended up with none of the most important stuff. Most of what she did get originated in the general assembly. So she can claim all the victory she want…but the truth is they shut her out. They did what they wanted and pretended to listen to her.
By Eastbound and Down June 21, 2011 at 6:56 pm
I wonder if they could hear her screaming in anger from the Paris Air Show
By James June 21, 2011 at 7:17 pm
Speaking of the Paris Air Show…who all went?
Haley, Hit, Leatherman…who else? What other state officials went??
I want to know!
By eggaday June 21, 2011 at 8:02 pm
no governor needs any more rights. our past governor took too many rights, therefore end of story
By Longtime Republican June 21, 2011 at 8:22 pm
I love it. One more tea party eye wash bill down the drain. Here’s to RINOs.
By Common Sense June 21, 2011 at 8:46 pm
And then there is Tom Davis. The mouth piece for good, transparency, and superior intellect in the state government of SC. The man who voted the wrong way on every vote. A man who wants to run for re-election but first wants the public to pay off his prior loans. What are we missing here?
Here is his history of integrity. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkFfX4xlfRc
By courier72 June 21, 2011 at 8:56 pm
Will Christian Soura, Mr. Fixit, hang around for another year to see if he gets his gig at the DOA? With the way others may perhaps be considering jumping ship, will he stay around?
By clean boy shorts June 21, 2011 at 9:06 pm
The last Gov. did not need more power, Beasley did not need more power, Hodges did not need more power, this Gov more than any of these, definately needs not even what she has.
Is everyone blind and deaf as to how the Federal Govt works?
haley’s plans would make the State even more corrupt, irresponsible, wasteful and beaurecratic!
I am in a small business, when I place an order it comes FedX, or United parcel Service in a few days. I recently placed an order from a location where my orders come in 3 days. For some unknown reason, they shipped United States Post Office this order, same weight, shipped from same location, did not take the usual 3 days, took 12 days. Amtrak, SS, Medicaid, medicare, $500 dollar govt hammers, $1,000 govt toilet seats, billions wasted and loss. yea let’s give this Gov more to screw up. Look at her record, after only 5 and 1/2 months. No thanks, I’ll stick with status quoa, UPS and FEDX, won’t ride AMTRAK; but, I will sell the hammers and toilet seats to Haley!
By Andy June 21, 2011 at 9:10 pm
Good deal. A good ole bitch slappin from the good ole boys. Gee, never saw this coming.
By Recall Haley June 21, 2011 at 9:40 pm
Sick of the Republicans (even though I’m one), I’m going to turn into a big democrat, throw money at them, support their every issue and the hell with the Republicans.
By Easy Rider June 21, 2011 at 10:20 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eCtRXIcbvc
Wyatt, Billy and George shove off for the Budget & Control Board.
By CriticalMass June 22, 2011 at 1:57 am
You got dat right, Hal.
But we did get that collard bill through, right? That Offishul State Vejable thing. That’s in stone now, ain’t it?
Guess that means another license plate design will be available soon. Important stuff first, indeed.
By Cancerman June 22, 2011 at 7:15 am
Haley said there is going to be trouble if they dont pass her bill?
Well fuck her and her friend in florida that want to get their hands on the state pension funds.
By Common Sense June 22, 2011 at 7:52 am
Bet the So Called Tea Party is proud of their choices.
Will Tom Davis run again if he can’t pay off his prior loans to get elected?
Who should replace him?
By eggaday June 22, 2011 at 8:37 am
Are any legislators in line to ” GET BURNED”. Remember she said that once upon a time….
By Big T June 22, 2011 at 8:40 am
B-O-R-I-N-G….
Obama is WRECKING (has wrecked) our Country. First Things, First…This Stupid Crap can wait.
By alwaysamazed June 22, 2011 at 8:59 am
What’s this failure to pay off prior loans about? Any links?
By rainwater June 22, 2011 at 9:44 am
Egg, last weekend, someone told me “Be careful. She swings with an axe. She is very revengeful”. This was a very disturbing thing to hear.
By Michael J. Stefonick June 22, 2011 at 9:58 am
Someone mentioned above that there are bigger issues to contend with. While I do agree in some respects and yes the President is destroying our economy and American Dream with his czars and socialist mantra. I learned a long time ago the way you eat the Elefphant is one bite at a time. Elephants don’t bite but mosquito’s kill people. We have to start solving issues in own back yard. Real Estate taxes in Hilton Head are going up. Government does not listen to it’s constiuants and our local Senator does not know anything about business and only works to build his image of Freedom and Liberty. Tiring for sure. We need leaders who know business and are not in it to just move up the political ladder such as Tom Davis.
Is there anyone out there who would like Tom Davis job? Step up we need a change.
By clean boy shorts June 22, 2011 at 10:38 am
I can tell you, she is VERY revengeful and will play to your face and cut your throat when you turn your back. Ask the legislators and staff. She has let them know in no uncertain terms.
the excellent employees she has run off and gotten rid of. I just herd yesterday of another soon to leave. She will dance with the Devil in the pale moon light. I have herd rumors of the agreements with certain lawmakers, based solely on a vendetta.
So she and a certain lawmaker base State policy on personal vendettas. Is this Soviet Russia or Red China or just some other little Banana Republic, with a dictator for a Governor and her corrupt, vengeful, evil followers?
In 1860 James Pettigrew stated, “SC is too small to be a Republic and too large to be an insane asylum”.
We may be too small for a Republic; but, an insane asylum, we have become, with this kind of leadership. A very, very corrupt insane asylum!
By rainwater June 22, 2011 at 11:13 am
Yes, and just why did Wilbur Smith hire her? My old co-worker had a fling with her boss. She never got fired, even though her work was shoddy. Why? Because she threatened to tell his wife. And that’s the way it goes.
By Huhhh??? June 22, 2011 at 1:55 pm
Common Sense, thank you. Hadn’t seen that in a while.
Makes me want to toss my cookies at all the BS from Mark’s “blowing off steam”. “crossing the line” buddy.
But, hey, more on the loans, please.
Big T, you done hit the wrong tab, AGAIN!!! And, they’ve reorganized and eliminated to make it easier to get to the right one!! Umh….umhh…umhh!!
By shrink June 22, 2011 at 3:33 pm
Will the state’s pension fund money end up in Canada, the Punjab, off-shore(Turks and Caicos), or in Switzerland. I smell a rat.
By Ralph Hightower June 22, 2011 at 3:40 pm
At least we’re not getting the Department of Administration AND keeping the Budget and Control Board, which is what SC Governot Nikki Haley’s deal would’ve done. She’s not reducing state government; she’s growing it!
Either keep the BCB, or create the DOA AND eliminate the BCB!
If only South Carolina citizens could recall their politicians …
By Mrs. Ethel Krabitz June 22, 2011 at 5:54 pm
hmmmmmmmmmmm, so much for all these loudly-heralded “brilliant” politcal moves. face it, doubters…..this isn’t a Governor. This is a joke in a tight skirt.
By CriticalMass June 22, 2011 at 6:26 pm
Does anyone know how one of the most efficiently run states does it? C’mon… someone’s got to be doing it right… right?
By Michael J. Stefonick June 23, 2011 at 7:25 am
Check out the state of Texas website. They have it figured out.
http://www.texaswideopenforbusiness.com/
By Bemused June 23, 2011 at 9:32 am
Check out the facts — Perry’s figures on how well Texas is doing are badly distorted. Texas has not figured it out.