Mark Sanford's election as governor was a mandate for a change in the way that South Carolina is governed, and he has recommended an ambitious program for greater responsibility, frugality and effectiveness. The clock is ticking, but the Legislature still has time to adopt some of the key elements of his agenda.
Gov. Sanford on Thursday reminded lawmakers of that mandate by delivering a "Checklist for Change" that outlines his primary initiatives, and the legislative action needed to accomplish them before the Legislature goes out of session. The priorities include administrative restructuring of executive functions and the Budget and Control Board under a Department of Administration; the merger of the state's various health care agencies; and a vote on the selection of constitutional officers.
"As our government is presently structured, the authority of the executive branch is diffused amongst nine constitutional officers and 55 boards and commissions," the governor's memorandum states. "As a result we aren't able to perform that [the executive] role effectively or efficiently and the cost of government in South Carolina is 130 percent the national average."
Unfortunately, one important proposal apparently already has died in the Senate. A committee scuttled the governor's proposal to allow voters to decide whether most constitutional officers, now elected, should be appointed by the state's chief executive.
In effect, the governor is attempting to complete the restructuring started under Gov. Carroll Campbell that strengthened the state's weak chief executive. At the least, voters should be given the right to decide whether the governor should be given the power he needs to make him truly accountability for the operation of the executive branch.
His plan for administrative reform is further acknowledgment of the difficulties created by the state's cumbersome governance system. The governor has recommended the merger of state health agencies, and the creation of a Department of Administration that would assume responsibilities for personnel, property management and procurement now held by the state Budget and Control Board.
Despite the lateness of the session, there is some reason for limited optimism. The Senate Finance Committee, for example, approved a modified income tax relief proposal submitted by the governor, aimed at attracting more businesses to the state. And the House of Representatives approved an anti-bobtailing resolution that would establish a joint rule to prohibit non-germane amendments from being tacked onto pending legislation.
State Treasurer Grady Patterson has underscored the importance of legislative action on the Fiscal Discipline Act supported by the governor. If the Legislature doesn't quickly pay off a $155 million deficit it incurred in 2002, it faces a downgrade in its AAA bond rating, which could cost the state millions in increased interest costs for future borrowings.
Gov. Sanford cites a number of other initiatives, including regulatory relief and low-interest loans for small businesses, school funding flexibility, provisions for school choice, tort reform, character education and teacher protection.
Clearly, the Legislature has to act on the deficit spending bill in order to forestall a decline in the bond rating. Otherwise, the Legislature should take the time remaining to concentrate on the reorganization of state government to promote effective, fiscally responsible and accountable leadership.
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