Scoppe: How senators voted on ethics

One of the frustrating things about the S.C. Senate is that it rarely takes votes that tell you where senators stand. Wednesday’s defeat of a plan to let an independent body review legislators’ compliance with the ethics law was an exception. Of course, as with all things Senate, it’s not entirely straightforward.

S.1, the ethics reform bill proposed by Senate Judiciary Chairman Larry Martin and approved by his committee, would have assigned the State Ethics Commission to conduct investigations of legislators, as it already does for statewide and local officials. Currently, the House and Senate Ethics committees investigate legislators, and decide whether they’ve done anything wrong.

An amendment by Senate Ethics Chairman Luke Rankin would instead create a separate body just to investigate legislators. Five of the nine members would have been appointed by the governor and attorney general, but the other four would have been legislators — not simply people appointed by legislators, but legislators. And that simply is not independent review, first and foremost because legislators (or other elected officials) dominate any commission on which they serve alongside citizens, even if they’re outnumbered.

For a fuller explanation of the Martin proposal, and why truly independent investigations are essential, read my column from earlier this month.

And be sure to check back at thestate.com/opinion after 9 tonight to see our editorial about the Senate vote.

So, with that explanation in mind, let’s look at how senators voted. All 20 legislators voting for Sen. Martin’s plan were Republicans. All the Democrats, the most outspoken tea-party Republicans and two Republican leaders were among the 25 who voted to neuter the independent investigative committee. You can find out how to contact them here.

Voting for Sen. Rankin’s amendment (25)

Karl Allen, D-Allendale

Lee Bright, R-Spartanburg

Kevin Bryant, R-Andereson

Paul Campbell, R-Berkeley

Ray Cleary, R-Georgetown

Creighton Coleman, D-Fairfield

Tom Corbin, R-Greenville

Darrell Jackson, D-Richland

Kevin Johnson, D-Clarendon

Marion Kimpson, D-Charleston

Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence

Joel Lourie, D-Richland

Gerald Malloy, D-Darlington

Shane Martin, R-Spartanburg

John Matthews, D-Orangeburg

Thomas McElveen, D-Sumter

Floyd Nicholson, D-Greenwood

Clementa Pinckney, D-Jasper

Luke Rankin, R-Horry

Glenn Reese, D-Spartanburg

Ronnie Sabb, D-Williamsburg

John Scott, D-Richland

Nikki Setzler, D-Lexington

Vincent Sheheen, D-Kershaw

Kent Williams, D-Marion

Voting against Sen. Rankin’s amendment (for Sen. Martin’s proposal) (20)

Tom Alexander, R-Oconee

Sean Bennett, R-Dorchester

Chip Campsen, R-Charleston

John Courson, R-Richland

Ronnie Cromer, R-Newberry

Tom Davis, R-Beaufort

Mike Fair, R-Greenville

Greg Gregory, R-Lancaster

Larry Grooms, R-Berkeley

Wes Hayes, R-York

Greg Hembree, R-Horry

Larry Martin, R-Pickens

Shane Massey, R-Edgefield

Billy O’Dell, R-Abbeville

Harvey Peeler, R-Cherokee

Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington

Paul Thurmond, R-Charleston

Clarence Turner, R-Greenville

Danny Verdin, R-Laurens

Tom Young, R-Aiken

Ms. Scoppe writes editorials and opinion columns for The State; follow her on Twitter @CindiScoppe, email her at cscoppe@thestate.com or read her columns at thestate.com/scoppe.

This story was originally published February 16, 2015 at 11:26 AM with the headline "Scoppe: How senators voted on ethics."