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Article published Apr 4, 2003
Senate approves PSC
overhaul
JIM DAVENPORT
Associated
Press
COLUMBIA -- Lawmakers' spouses would be banned from holding
high-paying utility regulation jobs under a bill passed Thursday by the Senate
overhauling the state Public Service Commission.
The bill also would require
anyone serving on the commission to have at least a four-year college
degree.
The House has passed a similar overhaul bill, but still allows
spouses to hold the jobs and requires only a high school diploma or its
equivalent.
But senators say that education level is inadequate to handle the
complex issues of electric, telecommunication and other utility regulation.
A
year ago, a legislative panel screening candidates for the commission
recommended changes in the education requirement and other areas. The Senate
quickly passed a bill making the changes, but the House let that legislation
die.
Under the Senate bill, elections will be held for commission seats next
year using the new standards, including that candidates have "background of
substantial duration" in a field useful to utility regulation and rate issues,
such as engineering, statistics or law.
The House bill calls for elections
this year and requires only a high school diploma and says the screening
committee can consider experience in fields related to PSC work.
Family ties
to candidates were the only issue debated Thursday as the Senate bill passed
unanimously.
The 25 candidates for the $76,000-a-year jobs include incumbent
Commissioner James Atkins, son-in-law of the late Sen. Ed Saleeby, D-Darlington;
Dick Richardson, husband of House Ethics Committee Chairwoman Becky Richardson,
R-Fort Mill; John Drummond, son of longtime Sen. John Drummond, D-Ninety Six,
and Dan Hamilton, son of Rep. Glenn Hamilton, R-Taylors.
Sen. Scott
Richardson, R-Beaufort, said the Senate's family language singled out Richardson
and her spouse.
All immediate family members should be excluded from
consideration for the jobs, he said.
"I think we've got to take a pure view
on this one way or the other," Richardson said.
Senate President Pro Tem
Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, said the exclusions were meant to keep lawmakers
from benefiting financially.
A spouse would contribute to the lawmaker's
household income unlike an adult child or other relative.
The House and
Senate will have to work out differences in their versions of the bill in a
conference committee.