News and Press Releases for May 2007

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5/03/2007

Gov. Sanford: End Filibuster and Vote on DOT Reform

Governor Calls for End to Democrat-Led Stall Tactics in Senate

Columbia, S.C. - Gov. Mark Sanford today issued the following statement on efforts being led by Senate Democrats to stop reforms of the SC Department of Transportation. The Senate is currently locked down under a filibuster that is keeping DOT reform bills from advancing. Gov. Sanford called on Senators to end that filibuster next week so that reform ideas can be voted on.

"Senator Grooms, Senator Ryberg, Representative Young and others have made real DOT reform a priority, and it's unfortunate that so many in the Senate are siding against the taxpayers and with the status quo," Gov. Sanford said. "With all due respect to the DOT Commission, this is the same body who voted to support the previous director when wrongdoings were first being uncovered at the agency. To that end, putting anyone in the director's role without real reform is ultimately going to lead to the same results we've already gotten at the DOT - millions of dollars wasted, and a system that's effectively accountable to no one. Senators have a very clear choice. They can either side with the taxpayers, or they can side with those who don't support substantive changes to this agency - people like Jake Knotts, John Land, and other Democrats who want to keep the good-old-boy system of building roads in place."

A November audit found a number of problems at the state DOT, including overpaying by tens of millions of dollars for contracts, purposefully manipulating account balances, and violating state law on hiring practices for temporary employees. All told, the report found more than $60 million wasted by the agency that could have been used for infrastructure needs in South Carolina.

In 47 other states, the Department of Transportation is accountable directly to the Executive Branch - with South Carolina, Georgia and Mississippi being the exceptions. In 41 of these states, the governor appoints a transportation director, and in the remaining six states the governor appoints the entire commission.