Transparency Victory in South Carolina

Published on Sunday, February 01, 2009
ARTICLES

South Carolina's transparency breakthrough in January - new rules mandating more recorded legislative votes - gave reformers here our biggest victory in years. This state went from having the weakest requirements in the nation for recorded votes to some of the strongest. South Carolina Policy Council's research triggered the statewide grassroots outcry that pushed lawmakers to open up the legislative process.

This victory marks a leap forward for SCPC's effectiveness and is but one example of how transparency issues can put state governments on defense. In 2007 transparency was not on the public's radar in South Carolina. By December 2008, it dominated the headlines. In the first week of this year, the House and Senate passed a requirement for more recorded votes than ever before, including a provision in the House to vote on every section of the state budget.

This was a hard-fought win for state residents. Along the way, the experience benefited SCPC. For example, even in these challenging economic times, transparency helped SCPC triple support from new and long-time contributors. Further, the battle unified our board and staff and energized our allies.

The lessons SCPC learned are ones we can apply in all our issues battles. They include:

• Seek input from SPN peers
• Craft a succinct message and work with allies to position it
• Stick to principles and be ready for the fallout, even from friends
• Get into the trenches, activate supporters

Seek Input from SPN peers

Forty-six state-focused think tanks now have full-blown transparency programs. The network's free flow of information and advice gives us an advantage.

At the 2008 SPN Annual Meeting, I asked for guidance in a brainstorming session with fellow think-tank executives. The Speaker of the House had attacked an SCPC recorded-vote report in papers all over the state. He said it would "cost too much and take too long" to record votes for the public. This Republican called our roll call numbers "exaggerated." I asked, what would you do? The response was clear: use the opposition's quote.

Joe Lehman of the Mackinac Center (Mich.) and Lynn Harsh from Evergreen Freedom Foundation (Wash.) explained why the Speaker's quote was a powerful tool to motivate members and position a fight. That convinced me to craft a tough message, get buy-in from our allies and take it to the public. The counsel of my peers helped change the debate in South Carolina.

Craft a succinct message, engage allies

When SCPC released the recorded-vote report, it exposed the House for passing bills on the record eight percent of the time, the Senate only one percent. Those numbers were repeated by our allies in public appearances and interviews. The governor and legislative reformers highlighted SCPC's report in press conferences and speeches.

When the Speaker attacked our research, I read his quote to the cameras on a four-city, fly-around tour with Gov. Mark Sanford and two S.C. House members. The dead-on research numbers and our positioning of powerful legislators as "obstacles to change" made citizens angry and gave them a clear choice and a goal. The public outcry directed at the leadership, and the media pressure focusing on the message, were strong enough to force reform.

Stick to principle, expect fallout

Having the Speaker, a powerful Republican, against our reform ideas made the win a lot tougher. But standing up to him in the face of pressure brought benefits that far outweighed the costs. The public needed to count on SCPC to tell them the truth about government, and unfortunately the facts did not put our majority in a conservative light.

The Republican-dominated General Assembly grew state government 40 percent in four years. They have fought Gov. Sanford's reform agenda since he took office in 2002. Those same lawmakers expect SCPC to be a "friend," and to save criticism for more "traditional" enemies. We cannot have credibility as South Carolina's independent voice for market-based policy unless we hold everyone accountable. Politicians shouldn't define good public policy - that is the think tank's role.

Last year SCPC exposed the lack of transparency in our state. We criticized government involvement in the economy, and exposed pork spending to the public. Our report highlighting South Carolina as having the least open legislative process in the nation angered status quo lawmakers, and they retaliated. House reformers were demoted from their committees. The Speaker lashed out at SCPC, both in the media and a harsh letter to our board members. Blogs lit up with reports on the behind-the-scenes campaign to have me fired. The board made it clear: the South Carolina Policy Council was not backing down. To prove it, they upped their annual assessment.

Some donors were told not to support us. A few may not. But our principled stand earned us a solid friend in Gov. Sanford, who signed a direct mail letter for us that helped generate the highest level of individual support in our history. The governor also praised SCPC by name and highlighted our transparency agenda as a priority in his State of the State Address.

Get into the trenches

The fight for open South Carolina government proved citizens can - and must - be energized for change.

On the press tour with the governor, speaking to the television cameras, I told the public "we have to fight." The Speaker reacted with open hostility, attacking SCPC in an op-ed that ran in every major paper in the state. Editorial writers jumped to the Council's defense, and our op-ed response appeared statewide. Phone calls poured into the office; people asked, "How can we help?"

We let our members know when and where we would be appearing to promote transparency. At almost every stop we were greeted by SCPC supporters, some of whom I met for the first time. They offered to get us in front of meetings in their communities. Those appearances helped energized the grassroots movement that won us change.

Sticking to our principles was the right thing to do, and the only way to maintain SCPC's credibility. The public responded. Finally, that stand changed government. We held fast even when it cost us friends and supporters. That won us the public's backing and the respect of true reformers in our state. Local support has never been greater and we solidified a reputation for holding politicians of every stripe accountable. Our coalition for change is stronger than ever, our voice more credible. A principled stand, hard work and smart strategy paid off and paves the way for future victories.

E. Ashley Landess is president of the South Carolina Policy Council. Write her at eal@scpolicycouncil.com.