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S.C.
Statehouse Report
Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006
VIEW: http://www.statehousereport.com/columns/06.0101.winners.htm
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: Happy New Year!
Today we welcome new editor Jerry Ausband of Garden City
Beach, S.C., who will be producing most of the information
in the paid
edition of SC Statehouse Report. This issue also includes
our annual Cartoon Roundup of the Best
of McLemore of 2005. Enjoy!
2005 in South
Carolina produces winners, losers
By
Andy Brack
SC Statehouse Report
 JAN.
1, 2006 - -A look back at 2005's politicians, politics and
policies shows a plethora of winners and losers. First, the
winners:
The speakers. Former House Speaker David Wilkins of
Greenville got a big boost in his profile as the Bush Administration's
new ambassador to Canada, while House Ways and Means Chairman
Bobby Harrell of Charleston took over as new speaker.
The general. Attorney General Henry McMaster raised
the office's profile for actively pushing for more prosecutors
to combat one of the state's worst problems, criminal domestic
violence. He also got a big win by encouraging the Legislature
to expand powers of the state grand jury to include special
prosecution of environmental crimes.
The volunteers. Hats off to Sam Tenenbaum, Columbia
Mayor Bob Coble, Ginger Crocker and a host of others who made
a big success of South Carolina Cares, a Columbia-based organization
that provided real help to Hurricane Katrina victims. Kudos
also to Columbia public relations guru and director Bud Ferillo
for "Corridor of Shame," his eye-opening film on
the poor state of rural education in the state. A nod also
should go to financier Darla Moore of Lake City for pushing
helpful analysis of public policy through the Palmetto Institute
and Hayne Hipp of Greenville for his Palmetto Fellows leadership
program.
The bridge. Charleston opened its new $650 million
bridge over the Cooper River to the delight of commuters long
stuck in traffic on the old bridges.
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The leader. Congratulations to U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn,
D-S.C., who was elected to the third highest leadership position
among House Democrats. He also provided a private endowment
to S.C. State University that could grow to $1 million.
The commentators. State politicians are starting to
pay more attention to a political tool - - Internet blogging
- - as a dozen blogs become influential and generate new voices
of regular folks about the political process.
The policies. The year signaled the end of minibottles
at bars and restaurant (starting Jan. 1) and a tougher seat
belt policy that should save lives on state highways. An early-year
push for a school voucher-type program waned at the end of
the year as the governor pulled support.
And now the losers of 2005:
The governor. From being named one of the worst governors
in the nation to continuing to antagonize lawmakers in his
own party, South Carolina's thin-skinned governor did little
right in 2005. Gov. Mark Sanford's meddling to privatize Santee
Cooper and the state's Medicaid program led to fractious events.
His continuing lack of legislative accomplishments and poor
economic record ("More could be done," noted fellow
S.C. Republican and U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett) earned him
a GOP primary challenger in 2006, although he likely will
return to the governor's mansion for another term.
The general. Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom
nabbed more than $100 million in state funds to pay down an
old deficit, but was spanked by lawmakers, editorial writers
and finally the attorney general for exceeding his authority.
The economy. At year's end, South Carolina's unemployment
rate remained one of the nation's highest while job growth
was in the cellar of the 50 states. The state's credit rating
also dropped from AAA for the first time in years.
The mouth. State Rep. John Graham Altman, R-Charleston,
always is good for a quote, but he stepped in it in 2005 for
sexist remarks ("Women want to punish the men")
on domestic violence and shabby treatment of a TV reporter.
The party. South Carolina Democrats had little to
smile about it when their top vote-getter, State Superintendent
of Education Inez Tenenbaum, declined to run for governor
or her current seat. That leaves the party without a well-recognized
candidate at the top of the ticket.
The politicians. Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer didn't do much
to help himself throughout the year, but managed to pick up
a primary challenger (Mike Campbell, son of the late Gov.
Carroll Campbell) and a Democratic challenger (former Rep.
Robert Barber of Charleston). State Rep. Michael Thompson,
R-Anderson, picked up enmity for proposing a study of drilling
off the S.C. coast. U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., spouted
off with a lot of war-mongering talk and had embattled Rep.
Tom DeLay host a fund-raiser.
The policies. Tort reform passed with much hullabaloo,
but reportedly is having no effect on rising medical insurance
rates for doctors. Advocates for property tax reform moved
the issue to the top of the 2006 agenda, although major shifts
in the state's tax structure could have long-term negative
effects, particularly for low- and moderate-income people.
With a statewide election on tap for 2006 and members of
the S.C. House up for re-election, 2006 likely will be even
more lively than the year just-passed.
12/30: Red Cross
problems
Another great cartoon from Bill McLemore:
The year in cartoons
Here's a look at some of the best cartoons of 2005 by our
talented cartoonist, retired Episcopal priest Bill McLemore:
January: Tort
reform?
February:
Don't always blame the computer
March: About
husbands
April: Gas
prices
May: Give
me your ... Stop.
June: Fun
for bureaucrats
July: Reality
of global warming
August:
At the pumps
September:
Katrina
October:
Publicans, not REpublicans
November:
Excuses, excuses
December:
One-armed bandits
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Clips.
12/27:
Driver responsibility
To the editor:
Thank you for bringing this issue [Commentary,
12/25] to the public's attention. You have touched
on the majority of the issues regarding the causes of fatal
collisions. However, you didn't mention driving under the
influence of alcohol which accounts for about 40% of highway
fatalities. I will add that DUI is 100% the responsibility
of the driver and 100% preventable.
Keep up the good work of bringing the "workings"
of our government officials to our attention.
-- Frank Hamilton, Beaufort, S.C.
12/27: Nothing done about speeding
To the editor:
If I may chime in, I'd recommend the nation go to 55 mph
to save millions of barrels of fuel and countless lives. The
speed on our roads is certainly out of control with no apparent
enforcement.
- I think Rt 278 must be 50mph.
- Rt 170 s/b 45 mph especially where undivided from Rt 278
south.
- I think ALL trucks s/b reqired to drive 50 mph max. or
whatever speed permits them to stop in a 100' distance.
The tailgating and total disregard for speed limits is obvious
but it seems nothing is done. Even in rain storms, the speeders
continue to drive at unsafe speeds.
-- Russell Menz, Bluffton, S.C.
12/26: Truckers cause problems on road too
To the editor:
Please consider tackling the obvious, e.g. truckers carrying
tons of load and doing 80-90 miles per hour on retreads, folks
with “applied for” licenses, no insurance, birds
falling from the sky in their wake et cetera.
It is no secret that speeding tickets for folks doing 70-80
miles per hour in cars and tires that are designed to do 100
plus is simply a revenue generating mechanism. In a perfect
world we would ticket simply based on unsafe driving period
in which case you would see truckers and old cars pulled over
in masse.
-- Jeffrey Sewell, Columbia, S.C.
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