Harrell’s alliances a concern to some

Key Democrats won seats on budget panel after backing Republican in House speaker race

By AARON GOULD SHEININ

asheinin@thestate.com

Charleston Republican Bobby Harrell has worked hard during his 20 months as House speaker to gather support and minimize resistance from Democrats.

He’s sought their opinions, listened to their concerns and appointed them to powerful committees.

That’s left some Democrats worried the kindnesses have co-opted key members of an already weak minority.

In June 2005, it appeared Harrell would face tough opposition from within his own party for the speaker’s post. However, he coasted to victory, thanks in large part to support from Democrats, including House Minority Leader Harry Ott, D-Calhoun, Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, and Rep. Joe Neal, D-Richland.

Since winning that race, Harrell has granted Ott and Neal coveted seats on the Ways and Means Committee, which writes the annual multibillion-dollar state budget. Cobb-Hunter has been on Ways and Means for 15 years — much of that alongside Harrell, who rose to chairman before becoming speaker.

Did Ott and Neal receive their new committee assignments as a reward for supporting Harrell?

Has Harrell’s decision to appoint Ott and Neal to Ways and Means affected how critical they have been of actions supported by Harrell?

Rep. Walt McLeod, D-Newberry, isn’t sure, but he has noticed some changes.

“I view them (Ott and Neal) as legislators who continue to be committed to the Democratic agenda, but they’re not as vocal as they have been in the past,” he said.

McLeod and others like Harrell’s olive-branch approach and say it’s a welcome change from how his predecessor conducted business.

“It’s a more enjoyable place to work,” McLeod said about the difference in the House under Harrell’s leadership compared with that of former House Speaker David Wilkins, R-Greenville. “There may be an abundance of partisanship, but there’s far more pleasantness. And I’m appreciative of that.”

Democrats are outnumbered 51 to 73 by Republicans. That means they have limited ability to stop the Republican majority from pushing through its own agenda, but they do retain the power to force Republicans to publicly defend their positions.

Some Democrats say their party leaders now are slower to question GOP-backed legislation and rules changes. Most of those Democrats, however, would not speak about their concerns on the record. Some said they didn’t want to air the caucus’ dirty laundry in public, and others feared losing their leaders’ support on specific bills.

Rep. Ken Kennedy, D-Williamsburg, said he’s giving Ott, Neal and others the benefit of the doubt — for now.

“I’m anxious to see how it develops, and I’ll be watching,” he said.

The issue has become more important, Kennedy said, now that Rep. James Smith, D-Richland, has been deployed with his S.C. Guard unit. Smith was one of the Democrats’ most outspoken members and often led the party’s fight on the House floor.

Kennedy wants to see how Ott and others respond.

“Are they going to raise the questions where questions should be raised?” Kennedy said. “I don’t know, but I’ll be watching.”

Ott and Neal say their relationship with the speaker has not compromised their ability to act as critics.

“That is not an accurate assessment,” Ott said.

He said that when he succeeded Smith as minority leader in late 2004, he was clear with his fellow Democrats.

“I said that where I can work with the Republican leadership, I would,” Ott said. “When we disagree, we’ll take it up and take our stand.”

Neal, who was in the same 1992 freshman class as Harrell, said the committee appointment won’t change his instincts or affect his approach.

“Being on Ways and Means gives me an opportunity to build some relationships and educate people about issues that are important to the state that may not historically gotten the kind of emphasis I would have loved to see,” he said. “I have no plans not to speak on things that I care about.”

Neal has long been critical of Republican-produced state budgets. He has routinely accused Republicans of giving short shrift to the state’s poor.

“It won’t change,” Neal said.

There are signs that Harrell’s close relationship with top Democrats could have positive effects for the minority party.

Veteran lobbyist Sue Berkowitz said social issues that Democrats have long championed are getting new attention.

“It wasn’t terrible under Wilkins,” said Berkowitz, director of the S.C. Appleseed Legal Justice Center. But, she said, now there are ongoing talks about issues such as health care and insurance for the poor.

“We couldn’t even get those discussions going before, and now there are real bipartisan discussions going,” she said.

Harrell said having Neal, Ott and Cobb-Hunter on Ways and Means should produce less divisive fights over the budget on the House floor. Having three of the Democrats’ most outspoken members working on the spending plan in committee makes sense, he said.

“I would expect less argument on the floor, because people are involved in the process,” Harrell said.

He said Democrats who question Ott’s and Neal’s loyalty are likely disappointed on a personal level. “You’re probably hearing frustration from people who wish they had the positions,” Harrell said.

Cobb-Hunter used stronger terms.

“I think those folks who have raised the issue are probably jealous more than anything else,” she said. “Jealousy is alive and well in these halls.”

Kennedy already is on Ways and Means. McLeod said he asked for, but did not receive, a seat on the budget committee.

Still, Cobb-Hunter said, Ott’s easy-going nature can be problematic.

“He’s just a really nice guy, a decent guy,” she said. “He likes to get along with everybody, and quite frankly, he tries too hard to get along and sometimes it’s a detriment. Just in his caucus, his attempts to appease everybody is in not in his best interest sometimes.”

Cobb-Hunter, Neal, Ott and others say Harrell includes more people in discussions about legislation on the front end.

Ott said that’s a change from Wilkins’ style.

“Bobby includes Democratic leadership in the decision-making process,” Ott said. “Before, you basically were called in and told what the decision was going to be.”

Harrell doesn’t disagree but said the outcomes are the same.

“I believe everybody represents 33,000 people and they have a right to their opinion being heard in the process,” Harrell said. “But the majority still rules.”

Reach Sheinin at (803) 771-8658.