SC Club for Growth to Score All Votes on Budget Vetoes

The South Carolina Club for Growth urges all Representatives and Senators to vote “NO” on overriding Governor Mark Sanford’s budget vetoes.  We will be scoring every budget veto vote as part of our 2009 Legislative Scorecard.

Unlike the alternative budgets presented in the House and Senate, we believe this year’s budget inadequately funds the core functions of government.  Much of this budget was crafted by staff members along with the finance committee chairmen and passed the House in a mere two hours – with not even the minimal 24 hours of review for legislators and the public.  South Carolinians deserve open and accountable government, instead of one that is crafted behind closed doors.

Without modifications, this budget sets up our state up for serious more budget problems in a mere 24 months when the federal stimulus dollars run dry.  We also agree that the amendments to the budget forcing the acceptance of $700 million in stimulus funds are in violation of our state’s constitution.  This is backed up by public opinions from South Carolina’s Attorney General, the Congressional Research Service, and the federal Director of the Office of Management and Budget, who have all argued that only the governor can apply for and accept these stimulus funds.

SC Club for Growth firmly believes the legislature’s efforts clearly violate federal law and will score any associated veto overrides.  In spite of false information to the contrary, sustaining these vetoes will not make the funds available for other states as the funds can still be drawn down by the governor through 2010.

Even legislators who aren’t willing to sustain the vetoes of the Part 1 and Part 3 spending have plenty of opportunities to vote as fiscal conservatives by sustaining the vetoed provisos.  Given SC Club for Growth’s role as South Carolina’s largest taxpayer watchdog group, we will be scoring all of the vetoed provisos but giving additional weight to some of the most egregious ones.    These include the following:

Vetoes 9- 12   An attempt to move the state Aeronautics Commission to the Budget and Control Board rather than allow savings of up to $350,000 (state government flies away with more tax dollars)
Veto 14   Special Events Traffic Control (potential savings: nearly $1 million)
Veto 15   Hunley Security (protecting pet projects should be privately funded)
Vetoes 16 -24   Capitol Police Force (a politically motivated waste of tax dollars)
Veto 25   Lt. Governor Security Detail (no need for the state’s part-time constitutional officer to receive security)
Veto 29   Requiring executive branch/cabinet officials to report to the legislature (violates separation of powers)
Veto 30   Eliminate B&CB oversight of agency heads and higher-ed presidents (removing Executive Branch oversight will lead to more overpaid bureaucrats)
Vetoes 32 – 35   Allows agencies to transfer Competitive Grant funds (sustaining these vetoes will finally end the Competitive Grants program)
Veto 40   Inexplicably prohibits a reform-minded appointee from serving as chair of the SC Research Authority board (what’s there to hide at SCRA?)
Veto 43   Raids the Insurance Trust Fund to fill recurring budget shortfalls with one-time funds

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The South Carolina Club for Growth is a network of thousands of South Carolinians, from all walks of life, who believe that prosperity and opportunity come through economic freedom. We work to promote public policies that promote economic growth primarily through legislative involvement, issue advocacy, research, training and educational activity.  The independent SC Club for Growth PAC and its members are fresh off two very successful election cycles where 38 of 54 endorsed candidates won their primary and general election races.  SC Club for Growth PAC members frequently use the Club’s legislative scorecards as part of their due diligence in deciding who to support in elections.