In her first opportunity to grace us with a breath of fresh air at the State of the State address, Governor Haley proposed cuts totaling $13 million to try to close a $700 million budget hole. Not much in the way of leadership or accountability there, but it was just a first try, so give her some slack.
But this week the Governor has struck forth again with a new initiative – she will grade lawmakers based on her criteria and her judgment. The whole concept is really kind of funny. Especially since her judgment has had a lot of errors in the past.
The Legislature has so many problems that include transparency, accountability – you name it, they got it. Some of the reforms on the list really should happen (the House already approved some of them when Sanford was still around). Still, it would seem that someone who had walked-the-walk would be the one who could shame the Legislature into doing what it should. Instead, we’ve got the equivalent of a drunk driver setting up the DUI checkpoint. I can see legislators now, “she did it and became Governor, so why can’t I?”
Though the four issues the Governor will grade won’t save the state money, nor create a job, they have the benefit of being extremely dull. Combining some state functions here, and adding to transparency and disclosure there … are you asleep yet?
And, now she wants to use these irrelevant hot-milk issues to show the state she’s got some pull. I suppose that acting like their school principal will get the statehouse to straighten up and be happy to work with her. It worked for her predecessor, right?
See THE STATE newspaper's story here.
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