GoUpstate.com Quick Links GoUpstate.com requires users to complete a free, brief registration form before accessing articles • Register now

Thursday, May 22, 2003			Search recent stories:				Subscribe to the H-J
Home Find and Shop Job Listings Featured Jobs Cars Classifieds Physicians Guide Upstate Living Top Stops News Sports Stroller Obituaries Opinion Business Escape Life Photos Palmetto Recruiting Weather Fun Stuff Crosswords Astroblobs Flash Trivia Herald-Journal Subscribe Advertising Page Reprints Photo Reprints H-J Archives About the H-J Newspapers in Education Celebrate Community Contact Us Regular Mail PO Box 1657 Spartanburg SC 29304-1657 E-mail us Circulation Classifieds Letters / Opinion The Stroller General Phone 864.582.4511 Staff listings			ARTICLE OPTIONS:  E-mail this article  |  print this article Posted on May 18, 2003 It won't happen unless General Assembly changes the system Gov. Mark Sanford announced a comprehensive package of reforms last week aimed at restoring customer service to the Division of Motor Vehicles. But those reforms won't happen unless the Senate passes legislation to restructure the DMV, pulling it out of the Department of Public Safety and putting it in the governor's Cabinet. Under the legislation, the DMV would be a separate department of state government. It would be headed by a director appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. That would give the governor control of the agency. He would be able to institute the reforms he announced last week. They include an Internet system that would let motorists renew their driver's licenses and complete other routine DMV tasks online without visiting an agency office. The governor also would institute Saturday hours at some DMV offices. He would establish greeters at busy offices to channel motorists to the right lines and make sure they had the proper paperwork. He would also, among other reforms, remove telephones from the work stations of DMV workers so they aren't interrupted while dealing with customers. These are worthwhile changes that should ease the infamous waits that motorists suffer through when dealing with the agency. And they demonstrate the value of government restructuring. Placing the DMV in the governor's Cabinet makes him responsible for the agency. He is accountable for its performance. If the service at the DMV doesn't improve, voters know who to blame. Otherwise, as is the case with many state agencies, voters don't have a clear idea who is responsible for the performance of various sectors of state government. Many agencies are run by commissions and boards appointed by the legislature. The lines of accountability are much more vague. Sanford has shown with his plan to improve service at the DMV that government restructuring can work. The House has already passed the bill restructuring the DMV. The Senate should pass it quickly so it can be enacted this year. If not, senators should be held accountable for any continued poor service from the agency. Then lawmakers should evaluate other government restructuring proposals and determine whether they can enhance the effectiveness and accountability of the rest of state government.				Also in Opinion • Letters • Editorials • Perspective In Perspective Trend of 'mega-schools' should end Small neighborhood schools could be making a comeback in South Carolina if a bipartisan coalition of legislators, including several from the Upstate, has anything to do with it. Task force eyes balanced growth and protection of resources As South Carolinians, we are blessed with an exceptional quality of life: healthy communities, a diverse cultural heritage and abundant natural resources. Although these blessings have been ours to enjoy for many years, they now are threatened by the deleterious impacts of unbalanced, poorly managed growth. County is facing serious challenges to manage growth, sprawl Growth represents the greatest challenge that Spartanburg County faces in trying to maintain and improve the quality of life for its residents. Much of blame for rising malpractice premiums rests with insurance industry In writing this opinion regarding so-called tort reform in America, please remember it is offered from a unique perspective. I'm not one to tout the party line, and as complex as the problem is, it would be an insult to do so. Those who push for tort reform are basing their arguments on fiction, not fact Spartanburg County is no paradise for jury verdicts -- unless you are a defendant. In fact, the conservative nature of our juries is consistent with the rest of the state. So why all this rush to limit recovery of victims who suffer at the hands of others? Without liability reform, health care availability will be in jeopardy If meaningful, significant medical liability reform is not enacted soon, this country and our state will face seriously limited access to care such as we have never known before.

		All material ©2003 Spartanburg Herald-Journal