Audit a wake-up call, governor says

Governor responds to report citing wasteful spending

By Meg Kinnard

The Associated Press

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Wasteful spending cited in an audit of the Transportation Department should serve as a wake-up call for the need to restructure state government, Gov. Mark Sanford said Wednesday.

Sanford used the report a day after it was released to discuss part of his second-term agenda, saying he wants to make the agency's director a position appointed by the governor.

He said it would help make government more accountable - something he has said should happen before the agency gets any more money.

"You can't have a separate island of government and have accountability in government," said Sanford, who was re-elected last week.

Allowing the Transportation Department to operate as an autonomous agency "probably does not lead to maximizing results for the taxpayer," he said.

Currently, directors of transportation agencies are appointed by governors in 41 states, said Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer.

Sanford tried to restructure government during his four years in office with little success in the General Assembly.

Two Senate subcommittees were set to meet today to hear the council's review and then meet Friday to hear the department's response. On the House side, Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, has said he planned to form a committee to review the audit and make recommendations.

The 70-page report, released Tuesday by the state Legislative Audit Council, said the Transportation Department has been wasting millions of dollars, paying twice as much as necessary to hire temporary employees and prepaying nearly $9 million for projects eliminated from two ongoing contracts.

Sanford would not comment about whether DOT Director Elizabeth Mabry should resign.

Mabry has refused to step down, despite repeated calls from the chairman of the Transportation Commission, which governs the agency.

Sanford, however, said he supported Chairman Tee Hooper.

"I absolutely do, which is why he's my appointee."

Mabry has said there is nothing in the report that would make her consider resigning, but she wished she had a better relationship with Hooper.

Hooper has said the commission will discuss the report at a meeting later this month.