BRACK: Deadlines seem to work this year for lawmakers

By Andy Brack, editor and publisher  |   There’s something magical about deadlines.

For reporters and columnists working on deadline, there’s an up-front knowledge about when a piece is due — no ifs, ands or buts.

And over the last week in the South Carolina General Assembly, the press of time seemed to kick state lawmakers, especially state senators, into gear.

Just look at roads.  For months since last October’s tragic flooding when the crumble of the state of South Carolina’s roads and bridges became visible to the world, lawmakers have been pushing for more money to fix the state’s $30 billion in road needs.  Many wanted a gas tax.  But others hated the idea as it increased taxes.  Lawmakers bickered, filibustered and droned on as the clock ticked.

Then this week came news that the Senate approved a measure to spend $200 million a year in state revenues to borrow $2.2 billion over the next decade or so to fix roads and 400 deficient bridges sooner rather than later.  The bill now heads to the House, which preferred a dedicated funding source like a gas tax.  But House members, eager to get something done so voters don’t send them packing in the November elections, likely will approve the measure.

And then there’s ethics reform, stalled over the years despite the very public falls from power of the state’s number two official, former Lt. Gov. Ken Ard, and House Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, in two scandals.

A comprehensive ethics reform bill got bogged down again and again in arguments over disclosure of “dark money” by groups that work to influence elections and disputes over who should probe possible improprieties.  But this week, senators finally agreed on two measures — requiring state officials to disclose where they get their income and realigning the state Ethics Commission to allow it to investigate allegations against lawmakers.

Is it enough?  No.  But it should restore some of the lost trust the public has for state legislators.   Should dark money be disclosed?  Yes.  Should lawmakers disclose how much money they earn — or maybe a range of income as in the federal system — in addition to the sources?  Yes.  But this half an ethics haircut is way better than no reform at all.

The Senate, rushing to meet a May 1 “crossover” deadline when it is harder to move a bill from one change to the next because of a supermajority vote is needed, also approved new rules for alimony that would remove the assumption of permanent alimony in divorce cases.  That change will allow the capacity of one ex-spouse to eventually become untethered financially from a former partner.  It’s a reflection that times have changed.

The crossover deadline also impacts two other bills that are way more flash than substance.  State Sen. Lee Bright’s “bathroom bill,” which would require people to use public bathrooms associated with their birth gender, appears to be dead.  Two state senators vowed to kill the legislation targeting transgender people.  Bright, a Republican from Spartanburg County, reportedly will try to bring up the bad idea stolen from North Carolina as an amendment to the state budget.  Let’s hope Lt. Gov. Henry McMaster rules it out of order so we can move on.

Another bill facing death is state Democratic Rep. Mia McLeod’s “Viagra” bill.  It would put restrictions on erectile dysfunction medication that are similar to those that exist for women seeking abortions.  While the bill appropriately calls attention to the disparities of how women are treated in relation to their bodies compared to men, the bill is little more than a publicity stunt that is more appropriate for a comedy show than in the Statehouse.

In the next few weeks, state lawmakers will rush to make sure they pass a $7.5 billion state budget for the coming fiscal year.  Let’s hope they don’t get distracted and keep the eye on the ball to ensure more funding for education, health care and other core state functions.  And as outlined in our Palmetto Priorities every year, they should do what they can to reduce poverty, create better jobs and stabilize the tax structure.

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