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Article published Apr 20, 2003
Restructuring bill would improve state government
but has gaps
State House and Senate leaders joined Gov. Mark
Sanford last week to introduce a bill that would move the process of government
restructuring further along, but which has significant gaps.
Government
restructuring began under former Gov. Carroll Campbell. A Cabinet was created
for the governor by moving several state agencies under his control. But many
state agencies stayed under the control of independent boards run by those
ap-pointed or elected by the General Assembly.
Sanford pushed more
restructuring in his campaign. He called for more agencies to be moved into the
Cabinet. These changes allow the governor to actually work as the administrator
of state government, as the people expect him to do.
It also builds more
accountability into state government. Citizens can hold the governor accountable
for the performance of state government rather than looking to a vague
commission made up of people of whom they have never heard.
The bill
announced by House Speaker David Wilkins and Senate president pro tem Glenn
McConnell last week is another small step in restructuring. It would move many
of the functions of the Budget and Control Board into a new Department of
Administration under the governor.
It would also allow the governor to
appoint the secretary of state, superintendent of education, state treasurer,
agriculture commissioner and comptroller general. This would be a welcome
development. The governor should be able to appoint people to these jobs who
will work to carry out his agenda for the state.
As far as it goes, the bill
would make positive changes in the design of state government. But it doesn't go
nearly far enough.
For instance, the adjutant general's position would remain
an elected position. That makes no sense. The adjutant general makes the state's
preparation for emergencies. The governor is expected to control the state
during emergencies. He should be able to control its preparations. That's why
every other state in the nation has an appointed adjutant general.
The
legislation also leaves out several agencies that ought to be included in the
governor's Cabinet. The Transportation Department is one. The Department of
Commerce and the Department of Transportation should work together in the
Cabinet to coordinate the growth of industry and infrastructure.
This bill is
a welcome step toward continuing the work of government restructuring, but it is
a small step.