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IN MY OPINION
Restructuring gover ... go ahead ... yawn
This dull but important issue is one that Sanford is eager to achieve
LEE BANDY
The (Columbia) State
Government restructuring. Government reorganization.
Call it what you wish. It's not one of those burning issues that has the public all lathered up. It's what is known as a DBI issue -- dull but important.
It's critical to improving government efficiency.
Gov. Mark Sanford again has asked the S.C. legislature to combine a handful of state agencies and eliminate elections for several statewide officials, including lieutenant governor.
Getting it done will be a challenge.
"I'm jumping up and down," said state Rep. John Graham Altman, R-Charleston, in mocking fashion. "I'm so excited."
Sanford wants joint-ticket elections for governors and lieutenant governors. He also wants future governors to appoint the education superintendent, agriculture commissioner, secretary of state and adjutant general.
That would require a change in the state constitution that voters would have to approve. If they did, the governor in office in 2011 would make those appointments.
On the statewide ballot, voters would be left to choose the governor-lieutenant governor, treasurer, comptroller general and attorney general.
It's a no-brainer.
All legislators have to do is give Sanford's proposal the required two-thirds vote and pass it on to the public for the next election. Let the people decide.
State Sen. Larry Martin, R-Pickens, chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, says it's "a very sensible thing to do" to make some of these statewide elected positions part of the governor's Cabinet.
Then why can't it get done?
"It's all politics," Martin says. "It's that simple."
State Rep. Jim Harrison, the Richland Republican who is chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, notes that the offices in question have their constituencies. Together, the officeholders are able to drum up enough legislative support to defeat any meaningful effort to bring South Carolina into the 21st century.
Republican Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer hasn't helped either. If anything, Bauer has worked to undercut the governor, associates say.
"Andre hasn't lifted a finger to help the governor," former Sanford spokesman Will Folks said.
The governor faces an uphill battle to get the legislature to consider any reorganization in its next session, which begins Jan. 10.
"Quite frankly, I haven't detected a whole lot of traction for it," Martin said.
State Sen. Joel Lourie, D-Richland, says it is not a "front-burner issue."
State Sen. Robert Ford, D-Charleston, says people's eyes glaze over when he talks about restructuring. Property taxes and Medicaid reform are all they want to discuss, he says.
State Rep. Todd Rutherford, D-Richland, opposes any more restructuring.
"It's not necessary," he said. "I think our biggest problem is we have a governor who is a Libertarian. He doesn't believe in government."
One thing you have to admire about Sanford is he is not afraid to throw out a suggestion, even at the risk of having members of his own party reject it.
Lee
Bandy
Contact Lee Bandy: lbandy@thestate.com.
