Caucus Press Release: Taxpayers Finally Get DOT Reform
Jun 21, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Taxpayers Finally Get DOT Reform
House, Senate approve sweeping restructuring package
COLUMBIA -- The House of Representatives, led by Speaker Bobby Harrell, Majority Leader Jim Merrill, and Rep. Annette Young, approved a sweeping reform package for the state Department of Transportation -- marking a major victory in government accountability for the taxpayers of South Carolina.
"We were faced with a wasteful agency and brought meaningful accountability to the DOT," said Rep, Young. "Thank you to everyone who worked for months on creating this reform package, and thank you to all the people of South Carolina who called their representatives and made their voices heard on this critical issue."
Supporters of DOT reform overcame a strong push by special interests and the entrenched Columbia status quo to approve an aggressive reform plan. The Legislative Audit Council found last fall that the DOT had squandered tens of millions of dollars while misleading the General Assembly in an effort to get more money.
"The resistance we faced to reforming this agency was astounding," Rep. Merrill said. "This is a great start and a good compromise. We will continue to watch this agency closely to see these reforms are working and will come back in future years to make more changes if we need to."
Some of the major reforms approved include:
* Giving Gov. Mark Sanford direct control over the top three levels of the DOT, rather than just the top level as before.
* Approving strict criteria for the ranking of road projects and taking politics and personalities out of the system.
* Creating a new Secretary of Transportation that will be appointed by, and will report directly to, the governor.
Approval of DOT reform Thursday, as well as the approval of comprehensive workers' compensation reform earlier in the week, means the House cleared two major hurdles toward finishing a successful 2007 session.
"Cutting Taxes, supporting small business, and reforming a wasteful state agency: These are three pillars of our shared conservative philosophy," said Speaker Harrell. "The House heard from the people loud and clear on these issues and we fought all year against the special interests and the status quo to deliver."
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