Lawmakers must work together to protect region

Upstate lawmakers should combine their efforts to make sure the interests of this region are not overlooked in Columbia.

When the General Assembly reconvenes, the three most powerful figures in state government will be coastal-area lawmakers: Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell, President Pro Tem of the Senate Glenn McConnell and Gov. Mark Sanford.

The Upstate lost critical influence when David Wilkins of Greenville left to become ambassador to Canada.

And now, at least one Lowcountry lawmaker, Sen. Scott Richardson, R-Hilton Head, is calling for the formation of a coastal caucus to maximize the political clout of the Lowcountry.

Richardson says he wants to make sure the coast gets its fair share of state funding.

He makes a reasonable point when he argues that the coast has additional transportation needs associated with the tourism industry. These needs are not fully addressed if transportation funding is allocated only on the basis of permanent population.

But Richardson also wants more education money for Beaufort County. He complains that his county receives only a fraction of the state funding that other counties receive because of its huge property tax base.

Of course, what that really means is that Beaufort doesn't get more state money because it doesn't need more state money.

The county is already getting more than it should under the state funding formula because coastal lawmakers were able to override the formula. If Richardson has his way, more state money would be taken from poorer counties to fund wealthy Beaufort County schools. This would exacerbate the state's existing problem with education funding equity.

It is fine for coastal lawmakers to demand their fair share of state resources, but they cannot be allowed to gather more than their fair share.

Upstate lawmakers must work together to make sure this area of the state isn't neglected. Coastal efforts to gain more resources can't be allowed at the expense of the Upstate or poorer areas of the state.

An active Upstate caucus may not be a bad idea.