Senator suggests quicker approval

AIKEN - State Sen. Tommy Moore introduced a bill Thursday that would bring the South Carolina House and Senate together earlier in the appropriations process.

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"It's an effort to reform, it's an effort to shorten the session and it's an effort to get more public review," said Mr. Moore, who has introduced similar bills twice before to no avail.

The Clearwater Democrat said his bill would in effect reverse the current process. Under the existing system, the House Ways and Means committee drafts a budget proposal and then puts it before the full House for review and approval. The budget then goes to the Senate Finance Committee, which reviews it and puts it before the Senate for approval.

Both sides then appoint three of their own members who hash out the details of handing out money. The process can be contentious and has been rigorous in recent years with the state's slacking revenues.

"Everything crashes together," Mr. Moore said. "In two, three weeks after the conference report you say, 'Wait a minute, did I do that?' "

Too often, Mr. Moore said, the Senate and House are left to iron out the budget at the last moment, which leads to haste and a lack of oversight.

The senator's proposal got mixed reviews from his Republican counterparts in the House.

Rep. Roland Smith, R-Langley, said he liked the idea because he has urged the Senate to shorten the legislative session in the past.

"Common people, at some point in time, sit down to resolve issues," he said. "We do it now, but we wait till May.

"If we could agree on a process, what we're going to fund and how much were going to fund, this could cut down on the time."

The budget process already might move faster this year because Gov. Mark Sanford submitted an organized and balanced budget, said Rep. Robert "Skipper" Perry, R-Aiken.

He said he wasn't sure whether Mr. Moore's proposal "would solve any problems."

"We've already started our budget process," he said. "It's a little late to be introducing bills unless you're trying to grandstand for something."

State Sen. Greg Ryberg, R-Aiken, said he suggested something similar last year.

"There's no sense in us waiting until later," he said.

Reach Josh Gelinas at (803) 279-6895

or josh.gelinas@augustachronicle.com.

--From the Friday, January 30, 2004 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle