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| Friday, Feb 14, 2003 |
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Posted on February 12, 2003 McConnell disagrees with governor's closed Cabinet meetings By JIM DAVENPORT Associated Press Writer Gov. Mark Sanford's proposal to give the executive branch more power could face opposition if he continues to close Cabinet meetings to the public, Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell said Wednesday. "I'm more comfortable with the concept of matters being handled in public," said McConnell, R-Charleston. McConnell said their are few reasons Cabinet meetings should be closed, including cases of legal advice, security issues and contract negotiations. But House Speaker David Wilkins, R-Greenville, took a different view of Sanford's closed meeting, saying he thinks it should be left up to the governor whether Cabinet meetings are open. Sanford's decision to close his first Cabinet meeting to the public Wednesday riled observers who recalled the Republican's campaign message promoting "sunshine" as the best way to guarantee government accountability. "I think it's shocking, outrageous that this man should get off to this kind of start," said John Crangle, state director of the watchdog group Common Cause. "His first one and he's starting off with secrecy." But Sanford said he thinks closed meetings promote lively discussion that would not happen with cameras and reporters in the room. "I have a fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers of South Carolina to produce good sausage," Sanford said. "The media, with all due respect, adds little value to the actual sausage-making process. "For me, disclosure is all about after ... debate, after ideas have been kicked around, you come up with a final product. Then let's talk about it." Burnet Maybank, Sanford's Revenue Department director who also served in former Gov. David Beasley's Cabinet, said he liked Sanford's closed session Wednesday. "I think it was more animated without the media there," Maybank said. Sanford and Public Safety Department Director Boykin Rose said the Cabinet talked about budget cuts, including potential layoffs at the Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department. Sanford also divided his Cabinet into subgroups that will work on issues. The state Freedom of Information Act says appointed panels, including those working in an advisory capacity, are public bodies. Sanford would not say whether those groups would meet publicly. "I don't know, I have to kick it around," Sanford said. Columbia media attorney Jay Bender has said state law requires those meetings to be held in the open. "I thought this was the guy that said sunlight is the best disinfectant," state Democratic Party Chairman Dick Harpootlian said of the Republican governor. "Where's the Mark Sanford that ran last year? This is the latest indication that 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' has occurred." Sanford criticized former Gov. Jim Hodges last year, saying the Democrat was stonewalling Freedom of Information requests from the state Republican Party that included demands for minutes of Cabinet meetings. "There were no Cabinet meetings," Sanford said. "They figured it was a gray area ... and they didn't have Cabinet meetings. I think that did a tremendous disservice to the taxpayers of South Carolina." Rose, a Hodges appointee whose term continues for two years, said Hodges did hold Cabinet meetings. |
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