Voting records lackingSome question absence of roll call on some bills By Yvonne Wenger (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Monday, August 11, 2008
COLUMBIA — Trying to track down a legislator's voting record might be a little like chasing Bigfoot: First, you have to find out if it really exists. Open-government advocates argue the state Legislature's lack of roll-call votes — revealed in a new study — is designed so that legislators have "plausible deniability" when comes to taking a stance on controversial bills. South Carolina's legislative leaders, though, say they and their colleagues want to be on record when it comes to important bills, that taking roll call on procedural matters would clog the system and cost money. Besides, they reason, a bill that passes without a roll-call vote indicates unanimous support on the House and Senate floors. Further, the South Carolina Policy Council's analysis of roll-call votes on its own is misleading, legislators say. What the conservative think tank found is that the House called roll on 8 percent of the bills that became law this year, while the Senate did so only 1 percent of the time. That practice is at odds with standards in most states nationally and in South Carolina's neighboring states. Gov. Mark Sanford's office did not hesitate in condemning the Legislature. "It's a shocking lack of accountability," the governor's press secretary, Joel Sawyer, said. "Our entire system is built upon this idea of people standing up and being counted and then being held accountable for their actions come November. "What our General Assembly has done is effectively obscure that from the public view," he said. All but nine states have a constitutional requirement for roll-call votes on final approval of legislation, according to information provided by the National Conference of State Legislatures. Requirements in Georgia, Florida and North Carolina are guided by a mix of constitutional provisions and legislative rules. South Carolina does require roll call be taken in a few instances, including when considering to override a gubernatorial veto and passing a constitutional amendment. In the House, all contested items must be passed with a roll call. Roll call also is taken in the House at the request of 10 members. It takes five senators to call for roll on any vote. House Speaker Bobby Harrell's office released figures that took a broader look at the matter. For the two-year session that concluded in June, roll was taken 1,102 times in the House. That also takes into account votes cast in 2007, bills that did not become law and voting on amendments, none of which the Policy Council's tally factored in. Although voting on amendments is not as easy for the public to track as a straight vote on approval of a bill, amendments sometimes replace the entire text of a bill so the vote in those cases is very telling. Roll call in the Senate is taken by the reading clerk who calls each senator by name. House members vote on an electronic board, which costs taxpayers $55 for every vote because of the cost of paper, printing, staff time, maintenance, power and technology fees, according to Harrell's office. "If some are suggesting that we should spend taxpayer dollars and increase government waste by taking a roll-call vote on every measure — whether warranted or not — I do not think that is a very wise decision," Harrell, R-Charleston, said. Here's a breakdown of the voting tango for the Legislature's illegal immigration reform bill, which became law on June 4. On such a complex matter, literally dozens of recorded actions are part of the official record, outside of the three readings needed for a bill to become law. The actual bill that became law received roll-call votes in the House on second and third reading but no recorded votes on second or third reading in the Senate. First reading approval is routine when bills are introduced. Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, said taking roll on every issue would be a waste of time. A lot of the Senate's business is conducted by unanimous consent and if a member objects, as in the House, he or she can make a statement to be recorded in the journal. "It's not weakening accountability, it's making efficient use of the time," McConnell said. "If everyone is in agreement why do you need to call their name out one after another?" Still, McConnell said he is not opposed to the idea of calling roll more often, and for the past several months, he's been working with Rep. Nikki Haley, R-Lexington, on legislation to do just that. "Is there room for improvement? Yes. Is it wholesale wrong the way it's being done? No," McConnell said. Haley said she wants to see roll taken whenever a bill is approved that spends taxpayer dollars. "I think there is a real opportunity for the people to see the spending habits of those they elected to represent them, and to keep the conscience of every legislator at its peak and also to give accountability and comfort to the public," Haley said. Bryan D. Cox, communications director for the Policy Council, said considering the amount of time legislators spend on floor speeches, introduction of guests and other things like proclamations, an argument that there is no time for roll-call votes is "silly." Likewise, Cox said, it would be hard for the legislators to say the state can't pay money for roll-call voting when money from a grant fund goes to pay for things like a balloon festival in Anderson and a peach festival in Gilbert. The issue is especially important, Cox said, because of government growth in spending. "Other Southeastern states mandate roll-call voting — tell me a reason why other states can do it but South Carolina can't do it," Cox said. U.S. Rep. and House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., said he does not think a direct correlation between roll-call voting and transparency exists. In Congress, any single senator or House member can call for a recorded vote, so Washington insiders explain that all substantial issues are logged. Clyburn said in the House, roll call often is done for partisan reasons. Bills move through the subcommittee and committee process — which is open for public scrutiny — and ideally when one reaches the floor, it is perfunctory at that point, he said. Byron Schlomach, director of center of economic prosperity at the Arizona-based Goldwater Institute for policy research said that when it comes to transparency in government, however, more can only mean better. Schlomach, who worked with state legislatures for 13 years, said the issue is not unique to South Carolina and that legislators in states with more regulations on roll-call voting find ways of getting around being recorded. "The main reason is so they can have plausible deniability when it comes to their position on various measures," Schlomach said. "Sometimes you have to stand up and be counted — frankly, that's what they've been asked to do." Reach Yvonne Wenger at 803-799-9051 or ywenger@postandcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 14 comment(s)
Posted by WhoCares on August 11, 2008 at 7:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sure would be nice to know how one's own legislator voted on key issues. But then, in reality, WhoCares??
Posted by zoomru on August 11, 2008 at 8:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
WHAT ????
All of you ....RAVENEL'ers !!!
What a stink-bomb of an article !!!
You mean to tell me McConnell-ista and Harrell-asa that every last single ONE of YOU were in AGGREEMENT with Barfield and Knotts on their PORKING !!! 100K to the German Tourists??
Glenn and Bobby.....You squatting...DUCKS !! Have you ever heard of VOICE RECOGNITION software!! Have YOU ?? I highly suggest you get the Legislature into the 21st Century !!!
55 dollars...MY BACKSIDE !! We South Carolinians are NOT....FOOLS !!! YOU need to pin R.F.I.D's on every member as they come in the DOOR !!! When they leave the CHAMBER....the CITIZENS KNOW it !! That RFID relays a shock to the GOVERNOR when anyone leaves so he can PUBLICLY.."IMPUNE" the slack perpetrator of citizen trust!! Matter of fact...you need to do the same thing with ALL LOBBYISTS too !!
The citizens of this state need to know WHO, WHY, WHEN, WHERE, HOW MUCH, and for what REASON !!
This display of infested UN-accountability ..WILL NOT STAND !! We hope your working on your .."SUMMER BREAK"!!
WE TAXPAYERS ARE.........!!
Posted by drp7773 on August 11, 2008 at 8:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Voting record , that would mean they actually did something (work)is that legal up there? Oh yeah they voted in all the car tax, property tax, cig's tax, alcohol tax, motel tax,gas tax,school tax,state tax, marriage tax, interest tax,road tax,911 tax,cell phone tax,house phone tax,cable tax,middle class tax, no tax for rich or poor, whewwwwwww I guess they do work , my bad
Posted by zoomru on August 11, 2008 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bobby and GLENN,
DO you know what the Legislature looks like to the taxpayers of this STATE???
ROMPER ROOM ....!!!
Have either one of YOU 2 cats heard of BLUE-TOOTH connectivity ??? You guys could VOTE with your ..PHONE !!
If it is that much work for legislators to get to their desks then they can vote via blue-tooth text file!! MY LORD !!
When is the last time either of YOU have been to the CITADEL or Parris Island?? When ...?? WE WANT TO KNOW ??
BY GOD ...they kow how to determine if anyone is AWOL !!!
THIS CRAP WILL NOT STAND !!!
Posted by zoomru on August 11, 2008 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Citizens of this fine STATE.........!!
It is time to reflect upon OUR guiding PRICIPLES :.....
"THE 10 Commandments !!"
Furthermore: We rely on our OPERATIONAL FIELD MANUAL !!
SO....!!
Combined Joint Taxpayer Task FORCE- South Carolina !!
"Operational Excellence Guiding Principles"
1) INTEGRITY..... (Do the RIGHT Thing)
2) Level of Knowledge..(Know your job!)
3) Procedural Compliance..(By the Book Procedures)
4) Formal Communications.. (Clear demands up/down the CoC)
5) Questioning Attitude...(SPEAK UP when something's wrong)
6) Forceful Backup...(Follow up and through w/ convictions)
7) Risk Management.....(Taxpayer, Citizen, and Personal)
Bobby and Glenn...which one of these do you 2 need to be working ON??? I highly suggest YOU both work on all of them !!!
...this message is approved by the "Taxpayer FIRST or DIE" Integrity Department CJTTF- South Carolina !!!
GET BUSY !!!!!
Posted by martin on August 11, 2008 at 9:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
how bout 2X2 post-its. legislator writes name and vote. walk up front and drop post-it in "yes" glass jar or "no" glass jar. Clerk counts and logs in legislator's vote. i don't think THAT would cost $55.
If that big ole lighted board costs that much to use, do away with it. Who's wife's company made big bucks off that one?
Posted by grainofsalt on August 11, 2008 at 10:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Zoom, buddy... try a little Valium or a nice gin and tonic. :-) Every single one of your posts is full of all caps (the internet equivalent of screaming, in case you didn't know) and multiple exclamation marks.
I agree with much of what you see, disagree with some, and completely don't understand other parts - those parts which get lost in the multiple ellipses, all caps and exclamation marks.
I enjoy reading your posts, but worry about you keeling over in the middle of one of them. :-) Keep posting, but take a few deep breaths (truly and metaphorically) before you post. Maybe do a little Frank Costanza mantra... "serenity now... serenity now." (Just don't yell it like Costanza.)
Ahem... But I belatedly digress. I'm glad to see someone's working on a little more accountability for the house and senate of SC. And Brian Cox makes a good point: based on the amount of time spent "speechifyin'" and on empty political fluff like proclamations, arguing that there isn't enough time to take a roll-call vote every voted issue is ridiculous. Both House and Senate should be done by electronic vote - and I'll gladly pay $55 for each one. I'll bet we could trim some fat elsewhere and make up that cost with very little effort.
I very seldom will offer praise to the Post-Toastie, but kudos for the story. Keep following up on it.
To dig a little yourself, visit http://www.scstatehouse.net/
Posted by tc1 on August 11, 2008 at 10:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Bryan D. Cox, communications director for the Policy Council, said considering the amount of time legislators spend on floor speeches, introduction of guests and other things like proclamations, an argument that there is no time for roll-call votes is "silly."
Likewise, Cox said, it would be hard for the legislators to say the state can't pay money for roll-call voting when money from a grant fund goes to pay for things like a balloon festival in Anderson and a peach festival in Gilbert."
With the absurdity of the above we are supposed to be concerned about a ridiculously cheap $55(misprint??) for a recorded vote that your rep can't deny?
Posted by bigwhip on August 11, 2008 at 12:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Is anyone surprised? This is business as usual in Columbia. Answer is simple.....do not vote for an incumbent.
Posted by Buffy1 on August 11, 2008 at 2:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
RW- I always perk up when I see you've posted! It is always great to see you run circles around these left wing whack jobs. Keep it up, and know that you speak for A LOT of people- you're kind of like the P&C's Rush Limbaugh!
Posted by guidedbystewart on August 11, 2008 at 3:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
yep Newt
RW = backwoods freak!
Posted by tc1 on August 11, 2008 at 4:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"you will want to run to some facists country where everyone tells you what to think and what to believe. That sounds like a warm comfortable non-thinking-for yourself place for you to be!"
Isn't that a liberal country?? I mean it seems that diversity and pc are required by libs. As long as they approve of your diversity and tell you what is pc you are not any kind of freak. You can't win RW. Libs can state the most outrageous fantasies, even day is night and night is day, with a straight face and stay calm.
Posted by ChrisPia on August 11, 2008 at 6:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
http://www.excelwithus.com/BoEN/PAST%20I...
Posted by JustJennings on August 11, 2008 at 8:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Democracy in this country is a joke. How can democracy work when the voters have no idea what is going on? They don't know how the legislators vote or anything else. The Freedom of Information Act is worthless as only those rich enough to hire a lawyer benefit from it, and there are no penalties for violating it. I have filed FOIA requests with the Charleston Police Department and with the Barnwell County Sheriff's Department, but as police offficers, they are above the law.