It’s
clear that ethics reform is needed
By BILL COTTY
Guest columnist
The State (Columbia, SC)
June 3, 2006
Recent
actions by South Carolinians
for Responsible Government and similar groups highlight the need for true ethics reform. Like a car windshield after 3,000
miles without cleaning, citizens’ visibility is becoming increasingly clouded by the layer upon layer of deceptive attempts
to influence voters without disclosure.
SCRG
is just one example of a special-interest group with unknown resources, from unknown places, spending unknown amounts of money
to directly influence the political process while masking itself as an issue educational organization.
It’s
high time that we require accountability. Clearly such groups not only have an agenda, but are also actively campaigning to
influence elections. I say more power to them: Citizen involvement is essential in a democracy. But those who use money to
influence the political process should play by the rules, including full disclosure of all contributions and expenditures.
The
State Ethics Commission notified SCRG that state law requires it to disclose its expenditures. SCRG stated that it has no
intention of reporting.
Isn’t
it ironic that a group claiming to comprise itself of citizens seeking “responsibility in government” would act
with such disregard for state law? Why would a group with a sole purpose of being heard have anything to hide? This attitude
of arrogance reflects SCRG’s lack of respect for the public’s right to know the truth about its organization and
its activities.
Meanwhile,
another mysterious group has arrived on the political scene. Out of the blue, “Conservatives In Action” picked
up the baton from SCRG and carried on the war against the same targeted candidates by sending out more deceptive mail and
misleading propaganda attacking me and my colleagues and promoting our opponents.
Could
these groups be in cahoots? Just like SCRG, Conservatives In Action has failed to comply with state ethics laws. How many
more mysterious groups will appear before the election?
These
groups’ deceptive actions do not represent healthy participation in government, but are a front for a narrow agenda.
While the Ethics Commission goes through the bureaucratic process of informing these groups about violations and extending
deadlines so each can comply, it becomes more apparent that our ethics laws need strengthening.
House
Speaker Bobby Harrell recently denounced the involvement of these groups with “misleading names,” saying “the
people of South Carolina should decide who their representatives
are, not out-of-state special interest groups.”
We
support an honest debate of the issues, but not attempts to mislead voters or unethically influence decisions. A half-truth
is a whole lie, and our voters deserve to know the truth. Most voters know there is little difference between endorsing a
candidate, contributing directly to a candidate or running negative ads against a candidate’s opponent. I trust South Carolinians to recognize these groups for what they are and not what they claim to be, but I also
believe our citizens deserve better. If we do not act swiftly and strongly to require accountability and openness by those
who wish to actively influence elections, secret money and outside special interests will soon rule our state.
It’s
time to close the loopholes that allow special-interest groups to influence state elections without accountability by requiring
disclosure not only of expenditures but of contributions as well. Citizen involvement in our political process is important
and should be encouraged, but those who use dollars to influence elections or change policy should be required to fully disclose.
A government “of the people, by the people and for the people” should not be for sale to the highest bidder or
an unregulated special-interest group.
Mr.
Cotty represents parts of Kershaw and Richland counties in
the S.C. House.
