Posted on 05/31/2003 4:53:02 AM PDT by Captain Shady
Black lawmakers say their agenda is stifled
LEE BANDY
Knight Ridder Newspapers
COLUMBIA -- Most black legislators say they can't get their proposals passed or even considered in the General Assembly because of an age-old problem -- racism. They say if they want to get a bill through the Legislature, they normally have to take it to a friendly white Republican lawmaker and ask him or her to introduce it.
"Black legislators still are searching for equal footing in the General Assembly," said state Rep. Seth Whipper, a black lawmaker from Charleston. "There are problems with complete acceptance by white legislators. "Some people seem not to vote for legislation blacks are involved with."
Several Republicans said race isn't the reason bills by black lawmakers are rejected: The proposals are considered on their merits and dismissed because of differing philosophies.
The problem became public this month when state Rep. Leon Howard, a black Columbia Democrat, and state Rep. John Graham Altman, a white Charleston Republican, almost came to blows after Altman employed a rarely used procedural maneuver to quash a bill Howard introduced. The proposal would have mandated paper coverings on all drinking straws.
Howard, a representative since 1995, called it part of a disturbing pattern of the House blocking legislation offered by black lawmakers.
"When I first got elected, I found out quickly I could not, as a black member, pass a bill on my own," Howard said. "I had to give it to a white lawmaker to get it passed. It was almost like slavery days."
Altman said black authorship is not the problem; it's the type of legislation black members offer. "It's socialistic and liberal," Altman said of the agenda of most black lawmakers. "It has no chance of passing."
An analysis by The State newspaper shows black lawmakers, all Democrats, don't have much success getting legislation passed -- but neither do white Democrats:
--Of 157 bills the 32 black lawmakers introduced this year, only one passed. That bill, offered by state Sen. Darrell Jackson, D-Richland, created a mechanism for black colleges to get state lottery money.
--White Democrats offered 304 bills and saw 16, or 5.3 percent, pass.
--Even House Democratic Leader James Smith, who is white, doesn't have much to brag about. He hasn't gotten one bill of his own through.
Black lawmakers have introduced bills this year addressing issues including increased education funding, better health care for the poor, and criminal justice reforms.
Most of the 19 black lawmakers interviewed said political partisanship is as much, if not more, of a factor than racism in what gets passed and what doesn't. Several black lawmakers declined to talk on the record, saying the topic was too sensitive.
Republicans control the state House and Senate and the flow of legislation. They set the agenda and the calendar.
"Most of it is partisan," said state Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, a black legislator from Orangeburg and former House Democratic leader. "But race is also a factor. Race permeates everything we do here."
When Democrats controlled both chambers in 1993-94, blacks also lagged in getting legislation approved -- trailing even Republicans, all of whom are white. During those years, the General Assembly approved 8.9 percent of the bills proposed by black legislators and 16 percent of those proposed by Republicans.
"It really is kind of sad," Cobb-Hunter said. "You have women and men of color with great ideas, and they never see the light of day unless some Republican decides to sponsor it."
State Rep. Todd Rutherford, a black Columbia legislator, can vouch for that. He recalled two years ago when he tried to get an amendment attached to a DUI bill on the House floor. His measure extended from 10 to 30 the number of days a person arrested for drunk driving had to apply for alcohol and drug abuse counseling. The amendment was going nowhere, he said, until the bill's floor manager, state Rep. Bill Cotty, stood up and embraced the measure. Cotty, a white Republican from Columbia, confirmed the story.
"If we have a good idea, we have to find a white Republican to carry the ball for us," Rutherford said. "If it is a bill authored by a black legislator, we're laughed at. The bill won't go anywhere. Our bills are often called silly" by white lawmakers.
House Speaker David Wilkins, R-Greenville, took issue with black representatives who say their legislation is doomed.
"I see no indication of that whatsoever," said Wilkins, who is white. "Bills are defeated because of philosophies."
Clemson University political science professor Bruce Ransom, who is black, agreed.
The problem black legislators have, Ransom said, is that much of their legislation "tends to be progressive -- some might say more liberal -- and not in keeping with the mainstream of South Carolina."
ajority Leader Rick Quinn, a white Columbia Republican, said, "Ideas rise and fall on their merits. People aren't going to vote against good ideas offered by black members."
One particular issue -- creation of the state lottery -- is a good example of two very different perspectives in the Legislature. Quinn cites it as an example of a bill initiated successfully by a black lawmaker, state Rep. John Scott, a Columbia Democrat.
Many black lawmakers, however, point to the lottery as an example of how a black lawmaker wasn't given credit for a major piece of legislation. Scott had been pitching a lottery bill for several years. The measure that finally became law looked very much like Scott's bill, but it did not have his name on it, black lawmakers said. It was credited as a committee bill. Several black members were quick to praise Wilkins, saying his actions are not racially motivated.
For instance, they credit Wilkins with naming two black Democrats -- Scott and state Rep. Joe Neal of Columbia -- to key conference committees on the lottery in 1999 and predatory lending this year.
"There certainly is involvement by African-American members," Wilkins said, "and John Scott and Joe Neal are real good examples of that on critical legislation."
Wilkins also has appointed two black committee chairmen -- Joe Brown of Columbia to Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs; and Mack Hines of Florence to Interstate Cooperation.
But this inclusiveness must encompass the entire House leadership, including Republican committee chairmen, black lawmakers say.
State Rep. Jerry Govan of Orangeburg, chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus, agreed with fellow black legislators that legislation offered by them tends to languish in committee longer than others. Also, there is a tendency for other representatives to oppose bills authored by black legislators, he said.
Bills sponsored by black lawmakers "seem to get closer scrutiny." Govan said. "We're very concerned. There's no rhyme or reason to it."
God damn at least these worthless black lawmakers are allowed to even have an 'agenda'. Can you imagine if there was a 'white lawmakers agenda'. instantly it would be denounced as an evil racist conspiracy. Yet when blacks conpsire to gain special benefits for their race, it's noble and great.
Mark Sanford has been a/the leader in making it clear he represents all South Carolinians, whatever race. Give him some time.
All I had to do to recognize this is to read the title. It's consistent.
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