The South Carolina Club for Growth urges all Senators to support transparency and accountability in H. 3945, the Commission on Ethics Enforcement and Disclosure.

Since last year, the Senate has been considering H. 3945. In one year, a Senator left office under scrutiny, and multiple House members have been under investigation. It is clear that South Carolinians deserve meaningful reform.

This bill is a rare chance to change a system where legislators are police other legislators, and income sources are not disclosed.

Sadly, a bill meant to bring about sunlight has been discussed in the dark. There have been numerous closed-door meetings on this bill where taxpayers don’t know what was said or done.

We encourage Senators to vote to disclose all sources of income, not just some income, or income from certain sources.

The self-policing ethics process needs to end. The current makeup of the South Carolina Ethics Commission is well equipped to watch over the legislature. We saw legislators try and hide behind South Carolina’s Constitution during on the record voting, and we are seeing it again today.  

Today is a great opportunity for those Senators who campaigned on accountability to show they are serious about the promises they made.

Ethics reform has been a focus of the South Carolina Club for Growth since our founding. Votes from this year’s budget veto message will be a part of the SC Club for Growth’s 2014 Scorecard.

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