‘A cloud over the entire State House:’ SC ethics reform back in the spotlight

A handful of S.C. lawmakers have found themselves before a judge on corruption charges this year – a sign the state’s ethics laws are working, some state legislators say.

But those laws must be strengthened, those same legislators say, to restore public confidence in the State House after the indictments of six former and current lawmakers, plus a powerful GOP consultant.

“Sunshine is the best disinfectant” for a state that once was given a D- for transparency and accountability in government, S.C. House Majority Leader Gary Simrill, R-York, said Friday.

Some legislators are eager to return to the State House in January to address gaps they say exist in the state’s ethics laws. At least two 2018 gubernatorial candidates also have pledged to make ethics reform a campaign issue.

“There seems to be substantial interest, especially from the younger guys, the ones who say, ‘I didn’t create this, but this sewage was already over here,’ ” said John Crangle, a veteran government watchdog now with the S.C. Progressive Network.

‘Draining the swamp in Columbia is priority’

Lawmakers vary on how to best address the state’s weak ethics laws.

After the most recent indictments, state Rep. James Smith, a Richland Democrat running for governor in 2018, says he plans to file ethics legislation. “Draining the swamp” is a top priority next year, he said.

Reforms are necessary “so that the people of South Carolina can have confidence that this government is working for them and not special interests,” he said. “Both (State House) bodies need to move.”

Therein lies one problem.

It took years for both chambers to debate previous ethics-reform proposals, and just two of those recommendations were signed into law by former Gov. Nikki Haley.

Ethics-reform advocates in the House blamed the state Senate, where most of the reform bills died.

“It’s frustrating from the point of the House of Representatives when we have taken the time and due diligence to pass individually and a package of ethics proposals,” Simrill said. “I find it striking that some senators have said we (now) need to look at ethics reform.”

Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, said the most recent indictments may lead lawmakers to study whether the state’s current ethics laws need to be strengthened. “When you see somebody abusing the existing laws or making use of loopholes, you have to re-evaluate.”

‘It’s up to us’ to tackle ethics

Gov. Henry McMaster also will make ethics reform a priority next year, his office said Friday.

McMaster spokesman Brian Symmes said the Richland Republican will “advocate for and eagerly sign any bill that will strengthen the public’s trust in its government.”

McMaster — who co-chaired then-Gov. Haley’s ethics reform task force — will announce proposals aimed at strengthening the state’s ethics laws before session reconvenes, Symmes said.

The governor wants to require more special interests to register as lobbyists or lobbyist’s principals, and strengthen the State Ethics Commission, which investigates ethics complaints.

McMaster also wants to eliminate the exemption that shields lawmakers’ emails and other records from open-records requests.

Those proposals “will send the message that government is working for the people of the state, and not the other way around,” Symmes said.

Lawmakers will take ethics legislation seriously this year, Massey said.

“There’s a cloud over the entire State House. It’s up to the rest of us to try to fix that.”

This story was originally published October 27, 2017 at 6:17 PM with the headline "‘A cloud over the entire State House:’ SC ethics reform back in the spotlight."