To my great surprise, the Senate adopted a strike and insert amendment today to practically gut the S. 714 I blogged about a few days ago. Below is the amendment:
PERFECTING AMENDMENT by Sen. Vincent Sheheen (D-Kershaw)
Senator SHEHEEN proposed the following amendment (714R003.VAS):
Amend the committee amendment, as and if amended, on page [714-1] by striking lines -40 and inserting:
/ “Section 2-17-16. A political action committee organized by or on behalf of the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, any other statewide constitutional officer, a member of the General Assembly, a director or deputy director of a state department appointed by the Governor is prohibited. Any political action committee prohibited by this section in existence on the effective date of this act must distribute all unexpended contributions in the manner provided for in Section 8-13-1370(C).” /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
I’m uncertain if I want to outlaw elected officials from forming PACs, but this isn’t nearly as dangerous as the original bill as drafted.
How did this in-artfully drawn bill get out of judiciary? Where is the president pro tem in this constitutional tug of war? I thought Sen. GM would be the barricade to protect south carolina from unconstitutional hog wash like S. 714. Has he sold his soul forcing to keep silent on this bill?
I can’t speak for Sen. McConnell, but I would think he’ll have some things to say about this bill. Stay tuned!