Ripping the GOP apart
February 15, 2008 | Filed Under State Politics, The Chaser, Top Shelf News
Written by The Shot
We feel bad for Katon.
Seriously, we really do.
If you are the SCGOP Chairman and you see the national split in the party and a pumped Democratic Party, you have to be concerned. But then you look at your state and see a Governor and GOP controlled legislature who can’t get along, you have to be freakin’ out. In the end, its not Katon’s fault that we have a Governor who likes to communicate with his Republican colleagues through press releases rather than sitting down at a table and hammering out a compromise.
South Carolina really could go places if our Governor’s goal was to get good legislation passed. But instead he just wants to get good news stories. Quite frankly, it’s insulting. As for Katon, he’s got to be pulling his hair out. He’s smart enough to know that when the GOP controls everything, and all the public hears are stories of political fighting in Columbia, the public knows where to place the blame. As for us who pay attention on a daily basis, we too know where to place the blame…with Governor Mark Sanford.
Here’s the latests from the Governor’s Office:
Dear Friends,
As we all know, there are fairly unending biases toward more spending in governmental circles, and given our shared concerns on this front, I thought that the following news was of note and wanted to pass it along to you. Earli er today, the House of Representatives approved a $250 million five-year commitment to both additional and new spending. Keep in mind that this new spending is being done before we’ve even entered the heart of budget season, which by all accounts will be very difficult this year given that we start this budget year with $270 million in long-term programs and needs that were funded with one-time money.
It again highlights the need for each one of us to make our voices heard on the issue of spendin g here in Columbia. We sent out the following press release, which goes into more detail concerning today’s $250 million spending commitment. I think it’s worth taking a look at if you have a minute, and if you get the chance, please pass it along to a f riend.
-###-
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
MARK SANFORD, GOVERNOR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joel Sawyer, 803-734-2100Governor’s Statement on Passage of $250 million, 5-Year Commitment HOUSE PA SSES SPRINKLER SUBSIDY BILL, CREATES
OPEN-ENDED ENDOWED CHAIRS OBLIGATION
Columbia, S.C. - February 14, 2008 - Governor Mark Sanford today expressed his concern over the House’s passage of two bills that would mean an open-ended, $250 million five -year commitment for the taxpayers of South Carolina.
Today, the House of Representatives passed a sprinkler bill that provides an 80 percent subsidy for sprinkler installation. Original estimates for the cost of the bill were roughly $36 million, when the bill included only commercial construction. The House expanded the bill to include residential housing, which could push the cost to more than $108 million over a five-year period, using BEA assumptions. Not included in that number is the cost to local governments of upgrading water pressure to serve an expansion in the use of sprinkler systems in South Carolina.
In other words, the total cost of the legislation is at this point unknowable — as South Carolina faces a $270 million budg et hole and will struggle to meet basic obligations for education, healthcare and law enforcement. While some have misleadingly compared the legislation to the coastal insurance reform package passed last year, that legislation only provided a 25 percent tax credit, versus an 80 percent subsidy.
“I appreciate the fact that the House was looking at ways to bring good from the horror of recent fires, but we do not believe open-ended financial commitments that essentially create new entitlements ar e the way to do so, particularly when you look at the realities of the budget we’re about to head in to,” Gov. Sanford said.
The House also today passed an open-ended commitment to the Endowed Chairs program, by eliminating the $200 million dollar cap and passing on the opportunity to reform the requirements for drawing down those state dollars. Over the next five years, it means an additional $150 million will go into the program without first reforming it. The program has moved toward one drive n by state dollars leveraging more state dollars. In one case, the state transferred land to North Charleston, which the city then used as a “match” for Clemson to draw down millions more in state funding to build its Hunley Campus.
“While we bel ieve Endowed Chairs is a good program, the fact is that it has been abused. At a time when we’re going to struggle to meet core needs, we don’t believe it makes sense to create not one, but two, open-ended and very significant financial obligations for o ur state,” Gov. Sanford said.
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6 Responses to “Ripping the GOP apart”
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The blame falls on the State House and it’s business-as-usual way of operating. Thinking like that which comes from the editors of The Shot! is what keeps South Carolina close to the bottom of lists we might otherwise top. Common sense is obviously not so common; we see that demonstrated here and in the State House all the time. It isn’t Governor Sanford’s fault he’s the only one in state government who has any.
You are exactly right, Mark Sanford is all about the news story.
Everything he does or says is designed to “play” well for the national press in hope of him becoming the VP…or to give him stature to become a speaker of high regard (so he can make millions).
Nothing he does here is designed to make our lives better. And it shows.
There is nothing, nothing, Republicans won’t do to get more money. They steal from the people, lie and cover each other’s backside on a hourly basis.
Republicans ruined my life.
Oh, man, Lou. Dude – get a drink (or three), sit down in front of the TV and watch a little “Family Guy.” Sometimes we all need to chill a little.
Lou - take Harden’s advice. After you do all that, go get a hug from someone. You could really use one.
Yes, the Governor should be questioning the State Legislature when they lead the South in the growth of Government and spending. The antiquated Budget and Control Board continues to operate under the good-old-boy system. The voters affirmed Governor Sanford’s position in 2006 with a mandate to get the Government under control. The battle is not necessarily a Republican problem. After the 1994 election, many Democrats scrambled to switch parties, in order to maintain powerful committee assignments in both Houses of the State Legislature. Although Republicans in name, it’s much harder to adopt the Republican view of limited Government.