GoUpstate.com

This is a printer friendly version of an article from www.goupstate.com
To print this article open the file menu and choose Print.

Back
Article published Feb 2, 2005
One win for restructuring

ROBERT W. DALTON
Staff Writer

COLUMBIA -- After a schizophrenic two-hour debate, the state House on Tuesday approved a bill that will allow voters to decide whether the secretary of state and the state superintendent of education should remain elected or whether the governor should appoint them.Secretary of State Mark Hammond, a Spartanburg Republican, found irony in the decision."All over the world, people are dying to secure the right to vote," Hammond said. "In South Carolina, we're asking them to vote to give up the right to vote."The House first approved an amendment pulling the secretary of state out of the original bill -- which also included the commissioner of agriculture. That was followed immediately by an amendment removing the commissioner of agriculture and putting the secretary of state back in the mix.An amendment to restore the bill to its original form was tabled by a 60-57 vote, and an amendment adding the adjutant general to the list was voted down 82-35.The amended bill passed by a 90-30 vote. Because the proposal requires a constitutional change, it had to receive a two-thirds majority to pass.After the formality of a third reading today, the bill goes to the Senate. If approved, there it would appear on the ballot in 2006, and any changes would take effect in 2010.Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, originally an opponent of the restructuring proposal, argued for passage of the bill and wanted to include all four offices. She said she changed her mind because having the governor appoint the positions was the best chance to encourage diversity in state government."No one who looks like me will ever win a statewide race in South Carolina," said Cobb-Hunter, who is black.But Cobb-Hunter eventually voted against the bill because it didn't include all of the offices.Rep. Scott Talley, R-Spartanburg, said he also wanted to see the commissioner of agriculture and the adjutant general on the ballot."If we're serious about restructuring, then we should have done more," Talley said. "This is a good start, but at the end of the day if the goal is to restructure state government instead of just letting people vote on the secretary of state and the superintendent of education, then we have a long way to go."Gov. Mark Sanford, who has pushed for restructuring as a way to create a more efficient state government, also called the bill a good start. But he said he wants to see more."Whether it's the governor and lieutenant governor running on the same ticket or appointing the adjutant general or commissioner of agriculture as they do in most other states, we're hopeful that the Senate will add -- not subtract -- when it comes to the number of offices put up for a voter referendum," Sanford said.State Rep. Mike Anthony, D-Union, said he voted for the bill because it gives the public the opportunity to decide the shape of state government, not to be supportive of Sanford."We're not doing it for this governor, although it will be in his legacy," Anthony said. "Hopefully it will be a four-year legacy."House Democrats also were upset with the speed at which such a critical issued passed. House Majority Leader Jim Merrill, R-Daniel Island, called for cloture -- limiting debate on amendments to six minutes and on the bill to two hours -- after about an hour.It's the second time in as many weeks that the Republicans have invoked cloture, the first coming during the debate over creation of a statewide charter school district."That's two major issues that have gone to cloture," said House Minority Leader Harry Ott, D-Matthews. "With issues this important, we need to take our time and be able to debate."Merrill said he asked for cloture because the Democrats were trying to stall the bill."When you're debating the issues, that's one thing," Merrill said. "But when you're trying to use the debate as a de facto filibuster, it's ridiculous. They just got caught with their pants down because they didn't expect us to work today."Robert W. Dalton can be reached at 562-7274 or bob.dalton@shj.com.