The Times and Democrat - TUESDAY'S EDITORIAL

Gov. Mark Sanford won a major victory at the polls in November. His critics, who included some fellow Republicans, had to be surprised when the governor coasted to a win over Democratic Sen. Tommy Moore.

Sanford had been criticized by those within the Legislature and by many in the press, including this newspaper, for failure to work more closely with lawmakers. His libertarian views often clashed with what the GOP-dominated Legislature said was practicality.

With the electorate, Sanford capitalized. Whether practical or not, Sanford’s ideas about smaller government in nearly every aspect resonate with voters.

When the November electoral smoke cleared, Sanford and lawmakers appeared to have made peace.

Senate leader Glenn McConnell forecast that Sanford and lawmakers would get along better now that the governor doesn’t have to worry about opinion polls and how his plans play with the public.

And House Speaker Bobby Harrell said: “I think what’s been written about disagreements between the governor and the General Assembly has frankly been overblown.”

The most recent words ahead of today’s opening of the General Assembly session for 2007 show that any peace was short-lived.

When the governor presented his budget this past week, Harrell and legislative leaders were quick to say they’d largely ignore it and go about the regular process of developing a state spending plan.

Harrell was particularly irate about a line in the Sanford proposal accusing House Republicans of deciding to ignore their pledge to return money to taxpayers a year ago.

“It’s totally unnecessary in this document,” Harrell told The (Columbia) State. “He’s intent on not working with the Legislature.”

Then came the annual S.C. Press Association legislative workshop that brings together selected lawmakers and members of the state’s press corps.

From the other side of the Statehouse came an assessment from GOP Sen. Harvey Peeler that Sanford seems to be at a crossroads. He can create a record of greatness in a second term or be remembered as the “little-toe, little piggy, the one that just says wah, wah, wah all the way home.”

“If you think the relationship with the General Assembly and the governor is any better this year and you think we’re getting along better this year, then you probably can watch ‘Gone with the Wind’ and think that Rhett and Scarlet had a pretty good marriage,” the Gaffney senator said. “It’s been a challenge for the last four years dealing with our governor.”

Remember, these are GOP leaders clashing with a Republican governor. This is not about partisanship.

For his part, Sanford says the criticism is not personal; it’s about principles and ideas.

Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer said the budget only points out the fact “the House said it was going to live within a spending limit and it chose not to do so.”

The criticism isn’t personal. “We just don’t do that. We talk about ideas on their merits,” Sawyer said.

But the way the governor and his people choose to criticize their GOP comrades in the General Assembly is making him no friends. Harrell cites a problem with rhetoric and the tone of comments from the governor.

Enough of the squabbling. The Legislature has its mission and the governor has his. There is room for compromise that is political reality in governing a state with diverse needs and regional interests.

Sen. Harry Ott of Calhoun County, the Democratic leader in the House, offers sound advice for the governor that he may find himself repeating to House colleagues as the session goes on: “You catch more bees with sugar than vinegar.”

E-mail this page

Print version

Comments:

Add Your Own Comments ?