Lt. Gov. thinks it might mean cold, hard cash

December 3, 2003

You can’t say South Carolina Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer isn’t always thinking.

You can say that maybe that’s not such a good idea.

His latest proposal for consideration is that the state should give thought to selling public buildings, or at least selling the right to name them, to commercial enterprises. In the realm of keeping things honest with regard to those things that taxpayers’ funds fund, that seems like the same thing but we’ll let the semantics go for now.

Now combating our financial problems with innovative thinking is one thing; selling our souls or our state buildings to the highest bidder — well, some people have said for years that government is on the auction block. This would prove it.

If Mr. Bauer’s idea is seriously considered (and we seriously doubt it should be or would be), our lawmakers might find themselves discussing legislation in the Cowboy Steakhouse Statehouse. The Sanford home might be the Gateway Governor’s Mansion. (Since Gov. Sanford once asked for private donations to maintain the mansion, it may already be named, but that’s a chance Gateway computers will have to take if the company is interested.)

Highways could carry the names of NASCAR sponsors, which wouldn’t be a real stretch if one considers the capability of most of our drivers to emulate those with a need for speed. Mr. Bauer is in fact an ideal candidate to select the company that will sponsor streets in downtown Columbia. You might remember his mad dash to open the legislature that led to a brush with the law and his inability to properly define "reckless" when it comes to operating a motor vehicle.

A spokesman said Mr. Sanford is open to all ideas to save money, but you might notice he didn’t get too specific in naming what those ideas might be. We suppose the governor is trying to show support for the lieutenant governor while at the same time reserving judgment on the validity of Mr. Bauer’s suggestion. One might note he has, however, suggested strongly that the governor and lieutenant governor should run on a single ticket. It’s good to know what you’re getting for your second in command.

One has to wonder what kind of advisors the lieutenant governor has, and if those advisors are aware that government is supposed to be free of commercial obligations. Apparently Mr. Bauer isn’t. While it’s true some colleges and universities are opting to seek commercial sponsorship (and we don’t agree with that concept either, if they are tax-supported institutions) these days, especially in South Carolina, public institutions of higher learning are seeing less and less support from the state level. Money is hard to come by.

And of course our public schools, the funding of which the legislature has continually chipped away at over the years, could be "purchased" by any number of companies. They might want to stay away from those that push credit cards — too, too tempting for basic needs — and any store that sells clothing, as that could lead to fashion trends that change too quickly for the average parent to finance. After all, if you go to Gap Middle School where else will the students be obliged to shop?

In all fairness, Mr. Bauer isn’t the first one to suggest that things formerly held sacrosanct be financed by commercial means. Small-town police departments have allowed company names on patrol cars for the last couple of years, presumably, one would hope, not those companies that might be "doing business" with the law.

Sure, there are no such things as commercial-free zones when it comes to professional sports stadiums and college bowl games. Even the Olympic Games have "official" everything from soft drinks to foot powder.

But the Homestyle Soup Elementary School or Grand Slam Denny’s Baseball Stadium at Famous Amos High are just a little too commercial for our taste.

Copyright 2003, Anderson Independent Mail. All Rights Reserved.