“Somewhere near the end it said you can’t do this, I said I can too!” What does a line from ‘Gravity’s Pull’ from REM’s Fables of the Reconstruction have to do with restructuring you ask? Well not much, but since I was educated in Athens, I’m quickly reminded of my days in the Classic City.
Back to the backbench. Today, the Senate took up government restructuring. Y’all know that the governor has campaigned and won on government restructuring as part of his overall plan of reform. In this case, Governor Sanford wants the currently-elected constitutional officers, such as the Secretary of State and Comptroller General, to become appointed officers within his cabinet. Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted out six bills on the issue. They would allow the voters to decide if they want the following officers appointed by the governor:
1-Adjutant General 4-Secretary of Agriculture
2-Comptroller General 5-Secretary of State
3-Superintendent of Education
The sixth bill would allow voters to decide if the governor and lieutenant governor should run as a ticket.
Now if these bills simply removed these officers from the ballot and placed them in the Governor’s cabinet, I might pause and pick some and leave others. That is not the case. These initiatives will change SC’s constitution. Each bill must get 2/3 of the General Assembly and then get final approval by the citizens. So I would like to give you the opportunity to see the whole slate, and you can pick and choose which offices you’d like to continue to elect, and which one’s you’d like to see appointed.
We’ve already seen the erection of a straw man as the opposition argued on Tuesday that no one in his district ever comes up to him and says that this or that office should be appointed by the governor. The excuse was being made for an imminent “no” vote. The reality is, however, is that the Senate will simply decide as to whether we trust the public or not.
Does your senator trust you? Let me know.
Link on Anderson Independent’s:
http://www.independentmail.com/news/2007/jan/24/governor-legislators-tussle-over-elected-officials/
For Superintendent of Education, consider option #3:
The Governor nominates his choice for Superintendent, to be interviewed and then voted on by the South Carolina Education Oversight Commission.
This would allow the Governor to put forth their choice while also allowing for some broader consensus on the final selection.
Public education is indeed a complex entity (just browse through the Dept. of Ed. website), consuming about half the state budget and attempting to meet the needs of a student population that bridges the entire socio-economic spectrum of the state. With education being that most politicized issue, second only to religion, there is a risk that the Superintendent’s position will become an “Ambassadorship” that is awarded as a political favor.
As devisive as the election for Superintendent was in 2006, it did provided for a healthy, focused, public debate on public education, especially amongst the Republican Party faithful in the Primary. With Democracy being the basis for our society, we should all think long and hard before we collectively foreit our most cherished right as American citizens: voting.
Would the state office holders under consideration truly be more accountable, transparent, and best serve South Carolinians when they cease to be voted into office?
For Superintendent of Education, consider option #3:
The Governor nominates his choice for Superintendent, to be interviewed and then voted on by the South Carolina Education Oversight Commission.
This would allow the Governor to put forth their choice while also allowing for some broader consensus on the final selection.
Public education is indeed a complex entity (just browse through the Dept. of Ed. website), consuming about half the state budget and attempting to meet the needs of a student population that bridges the entire socio-economic spectrum of the state. With education being that most politicized issue, second only to religion, there is a risk that the Superintendent’s position will become an “Ambassadorship” that is awarded as a political favor.
As devisive as the election for Superintendent was in 2006, it did provided for a healthy, focused, public debate on public education, especially amongst the Republican Party faithful in the Primary. With Democracy being the basis for our society, we should all think long and hard before we collectively foreit our most cherished right as American citizens: voting.
Would the state office holders under consideration truly be more accountable, transparent, and best serve South Carolinians when they cease to be voted into office?
anonmous…..
Please provide the reference citations related to your claims and assertions; some links we can all click upon.
Thank you.
JK