Think tank advocates roll-call voting

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COLUMBIA --- A group of people shouting "yea" or "nay" on a bill doesn't tell the public much about how their legislators voted, says a free-market think tank.

That allows lawmakers to hide their positions from the public, something that's especially problematic when it comes to spending taxpayer money, says the Columbia-based South Carolina Policy Council.

The free-market think tank counted the General Assembly's votes and found that this year an average of 5 percent of votes on general bills or joint resolutions were conducted roll-call-style, which reveals individuals' positions.

"Legislators must be held accountable for their choices, and South Carolinians deserve to know how their elected officials vote," said Bryan Cox, the spokesman for the Policy Council. "Roll call voting is critical to ensuring open government. Voice votes keep citizens in the dark."

But Rep. Shannon Erickson, R-Beaufort, said voice votes tend to be on mundane issues and procedural steps, such as the first of three readings of a bill.

"Very rarely do I see a bill live or die by a voice vote," she said the first-term lawmaker. But she added, "There's never going to be a reason I don't want to stand up and look someone in the face and tell them how I voted."

House Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, said the group focused on the final passage of bills, rather than the amendments.

By his staff's count, the General Assembly took 1,102 roll call votes out of 3,780 bills and resolutions introduced in the recent two-year session.

"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," Mr. Harrell said.

Each roll-call vote costs taxpayers $55, according to his staff.

Comments

mutt

I'll bet that a lot of the things they voice vote on end up costing the taxpayers much more than any 55 bucks. We have not only the right, but the need, to know how our elected officials vote specifically. Especially when those votes are being used to take away personal freedoms, or spend our money. Everything our government does should be specific and on the record, unless it is dealing with security issues. How many government bodies have gone into executive session unlawfully and/or improperly just to do their controversial dirty work in secret? These are our public officials............."public" being the operative here.

Mic0317

Hidden agenda individuals definitely need to be sought out and mass voted out of office. The general public is turning a blind eye to these underhanded deals. We The People are losing a lot of our rights due to our sneaky Govenment actions. Lets all start waking up and doing something about it at the polls this year. Good article Mutt.

pofwe

Sarita Chourey, "'Very rarely do I see a bill live or die by a voice vote,' she said the first-term lawmaker." Doesn't "'Very rarely do I see a bill live or die by a voice vote,' the first-term lawmaker said. Sound better? Just curious, don't take offense. "And I don't got no journalism degree." Don't that sumptin'.

justthefacts

Slow day pofwe?

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