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Article published May 30, 2004
Senate hasn't voted on income tax reduction and may not do
so
The S.C. Senate has not been able to bring itself to vote
on Gov. Mark Sanford's proposal to lower the state income tax, and it looks as
if that vote may not be taken this year.How can that be when most of the state's
senators are on the record as supporting the plan?Because Democratic senators
are filibustering the bill. They are trying to talk it to death. They refuse to
end the discussion of the issue and let the Senate take a vote.They know that if
it comes to a vote, the plan will pass. They don't want to give in to the
democratic process. They don't want the duly elected representatives of the
people to do their duty and vote. They are more intent on getting their way.So,
once again, the Senate has allowed itself to be obstructed by minority rule.The
body needs to change its rules. Many issues were lost this year because the
Senate wasted so much time in the filibuster of a bill that would allow primary
enforcement of the state's seat belt law.A few senators opposed the bill and
refused to allow a vote on it. The Senate continued to debate the bill.
Senatorslove to boast that theirs is the more deli-berative of the two bodies,
but the debate over the bill degenerated into a discus-sion on the merits of
different types of cheese.As this nonsense took place, no action was taken on
important legislation. Now, a minority of senators is again keeping the majority
from voting on a crucial gubernatorial proposal.There is no excuse for this
inaction in the Senate. There is no reason for the democratic process to be
thwarted in favor of arcane and obsolete Senate rules.Senators keep the
filibuster rules in place because they never know when they may need to use
them. They like the idea that one senator can block legislation and shut down
the entire body. They like that power, and they don't want to give it
up.Meanwhile, the state suffers, and democracy is denied.The Senate should
change its rules. Senators should do the job for which they were elected -- vote
on proposed legislation.