• Haley is right: Record every legislative vote
Rep. Nikki Haley of Lexington is exactly right, and anyone who opposes her bill to mandate individual recorded votes for every vote in the state Legislature is exactly wrong. Only a politician could cook up excuses to keep from having absolutely every vote recorded.
What are politicians afraid of? It all reeks of corruption on the part of those who resist such a common-sense precaution. The law expects common citizens to be responsible and, if they’re not, they’re subject to punishment for any law they violate. When politicians attempt to escape responsibility in South Carolina, there are only Nikki Haley and a few others willing to hold them accountable.
Every politician in the Legislature needs to earn their pay for a change. Part of earning their pay is for them to actually fight for the people they represent and to reveal their stand on every issue by recording every vote. It’s all about accountability, and the politicians in Columbia escape it every chance they get — if we let them.
THOMAS CANADAY
Lexington
• We need to know how representatives vote
Several pieces in the past few days have addressed the effort by Rep. Nikki Haley to change the procedure by which the Legislature votes so that recorded votes are required on all bills.
Much of the focus has been on personalities involved and real or perceived motivations. Those are distractions; the real issue is simple. Is the proposal a good one or a bad one? Cindi Ross Scoppe gave her answer when she wrote, “That undoubtedly would produce better legislators and better legislation….”
From my perspective as a taxpayer and voter, I agree. We voters and taxpayers need to know how our representatives vote on issues that are important to us.
When Ms. Scoppe writes, “Requiring a recorded vote on every one of dozens of bills that can move through the House and Senate each day could be a time-consuming mess,” she raises another distraction.
The legislators can streamline their process if that is needed, but accountability must be provided. Aren’t legislators who are unwilling to be accountable, in effect, saying that they are ashamed or at least not proud of the positions that they take? We should all insist on this level of accountability and transparency.
BILL ANDRESS
Lexington
• Secretive leaders keep S.C. in Dark Ages
A big thanks to Rep. Nikki Haley, Gov. Mark Sanford and Sen. Glen McConnell for their initiative to shed more light on our political process. Sadly, in many cases, it’s more of a political process than a leadership process.
It’s also interesting that those who would oppose more “sunshine” would begin to squirm or remain mute in an attempt to continue to hide their votes and views from their constituents. Alignment of committee appointees to agree with their under-the-table dealings guarantees our state’s position at the bottom of the socioeconomic barrel.
It’s time to move forward. Please contact your senator and representative and support visibility and accountability in the day-to-day operations of our General Assembly.
We all deserve better than we are receiving.
RICHARD E. MORGAN SR.
Lexington
• Elected officials must have a lot to hide
Our elected officials tell us to let them hear from us on how we feel about various issues, but quite a few are less than eager to let us know how they cast their votes. Now it seems that at least one legislator (Rep. Nikki Haley) who is pushing for an open government very likely will be punished for working toward that end.
It is not surprising to find a controversy over something that should be a matter of common sense and a sense of responsibility. What do “they” have to hide? Apparently quite a bit, or this would not be an issue.
At a time when confidence in government at all levels is at low ebb, it is sad that many of those for whom we cast our votes do not see the need to help restore that confidence.
DAN TURPIN
Lexington
Letters
The State Newspaper
December 1, 2008
