State Treasurer Thomas Ravenel isn't being frivolous when he
calls for a change in state law to give him Saturdays off -- he's
being practical. Ravenel argues there is little reason for the
state's treasurer to be in the office on Saturdays. It's a valid
argument.
Yet because of an archaic, 19th-century law, Ravenel is required
to have office hours from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday. For the
record, Ravenel wasn't in the office on his first Saturday as
treasurer, according to an Associated Press report. But that doesn't
mean he was unable to conduct state business.
Certainly Ravenel should be spending a significant amount of time
in the treasurer's office in Columbia. However, his argument against
required Saturday hours is not an indication that he's not taking
this position seriously.
It probably made sense in 1801 to have the treasurer available
six days a week. But this is the 21st century, and Ravenel is right
to point out the virtues of his "virtual office," which includes his
BlackBerry loaded with 3,000 contacts. Said Ravenel in the AP
report: "I can do business 24-7." Indeed, should the treasurer need
to conduct business on a Saturday -- or any other day he is not in
the office -- he can easily be reached in this technological age.
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When Ravenel makes his official pitch to have the law changed to
no longer require Saturday hours for the treasurer, the Legislature
should listen closely. This state won't suffer for giving its
treasurer two days off a week.
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Greer
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