WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | (6-5-2002) What letter grade would you give lawmakers for this Legislative Session and why?

(6-5-2002) What letter grade would you give lawmakers for this Legislative Session and why?

• SA, Leesville:
  I think that politicians are completely out of touch with reality and the people the are supposed to represent.  They argue about petty issues, line bills with pet projects, wheel and deal with lobbiers and basicly have no idea of what is best for us.  We have a crappy budget because they can not seem to spend OUR money like it should be.  If we as citizens can not afford something, we do without, but lawmakers just create new taxes, or something like that.  They have a budget and they should have to abide by it, that means no raises for them, no free meals, no new offices or furnishing and so on.  If I do not finish my assigned work on time, I etjer have to work overtime (at time 1/2 only if I have physically worked 40 hours from Sun to Sat.)or it is a strike against me for future promotions, merits raises etc.  I do not get special car tags, have to buy my own gas w/no reimbursemnt for travel to and from work. They think that they should be compensated for serving us as elected officials. Well, I say it is a privalidge for them to run and serve.  I do not say no compensatipon at all, but lets remember that they chose to run for office and to "serve" us.  They should get a stripend just like the rest of us. I have worked for state government for 23 years, and have seen so much waste and stupid spending.  Like now, all of the agencies are spending money in their budgets like crazy, in order to use it all up before July 1.  If we did not need it during the year, why do we need it now?  Our departnment just bought 3 2003 trucks for over $100,000.00.  This money could have been used for personnel,(by the way the real average state employee only makes about 25,000 a year if that)but the high paid agency heads and mangers decide how to use it.  Used trucks could have been bought, but I wonder if the dealers and the purchasing agents are in cahoots too.  Its just a shame.  I pay property taxes, the majority of go to schools. I don't even (and can never) have kids.  These huge schools they are building, the teachers do not even live in the neighborhoods or even know the kids.  Kids are bused from all over so that there is no way parents can know their childrens friends or who they hang out with.  Get
  rid of the buses, and put the money into neighborhood schools.  Give teachers housing incentives to live in the areas that they teach, like what is done for police to live in neighborhoods they patrol.  Opps, I a wandering.  Well, lawmakers are a joke and should be held accountable for what they spend, what they do or don't vote on and given evaluations by the people they represent every year (they could mail these out like they do the junk wanting your vote) I think they are overpaid and underworked.
• SY, Irmo:
  It has to be a big concern that our legislators spend more time in session than other states and do less work. I guess the socializing got in the way of their work. If the Governor and our legislators worked for you in a private business, they would have been fired a long time ago. I think we are about to see a revolt by State Employees like we have never seen before. Governor and Legislators, "YOU ARE THE WEAKEST LINK-GOODBY".
• BL, Columbia, SC:
  As a state employee, I will not vote for any person that is currently in office.  While I respect a few of our elected leaders, I will not cast a vote to leaders that are irresponsible with taxpayers money. Anyone that would give them anything but an "F" as a grade, certainly is not as close to the situation as I am being a state employee.  They have failed in their efforts to provide a better South Carolina.  They should all be ashamed.
• MJ, Columbia:
  Kudos to our elected officials!  By and large, I think they have done a fine job in office.  In fact, I would hope that the voters will re-elect many of these state congresspeople.  I would give them a A-
• AA, lexington:
  "F" They could care less about state employees and their families.  I will vote for all new individuals. They cannot do any worse than the current bunch!
• TW, Sumter:
  I think they've done a wonderful job.  I agree with PS. Give them an A.
• CD, Chapin, SC:
  Unfortunately a few bad apples have to spoil the bunch. Today's lawmakers do not get a passing grade.  How is it that we are adding money to our education budget, but every school district, exept the very rich districts, are cutting teachers jobs to below what is needed to educate our children.  We do not need legislators or govenors in office that would rather bicker about religion in school than making sure we have enough money devoted to schools to keep them operational.  It is unfortunate that most of these partisan politions will remain in office because the majority of South Carolina citizens do not care or are not willing to take a chance on someone else.
• SS, West Columbi:
  It appears they are not interested in what the people want. Everyone is cutting their budget but them. Does not seem right.
• cb:
  As a state employee I think they did a shoddy job, they can never give us a raise but they can allow for health insurance to be increased by twice as much, it just went up last year and now it is increasing by $25.00.  Our checks will be used to pay for health insurance alone.
• JB, Lexington:
  I would give them a F they have not done what the people wanted them to do with money from the Lottery,and they cut every part of the state bugget but theirs.as far as I'm concerned they do not have a thing on their agenda that is for the people of South Carolina.
• JP, Sumter:
  Are you kidding.  A grade for what they did? Only in South Carolina would you give a grade for the self-serving, underhanded taxpayer robbing efforts of what we call a legislature.  They dont deserve a grade, they get a withdrawal failing noted on their records for this year.  The only salvation for this state is to vote out everyone from the lying govenor on down .
• js, LEXINGTON:
  F  These elected officials are a joke. I am embarrassed to say that I helped put these people in office. I feel cheated. I am disappointed with the decisions that they have made about the proposed spending of lottery funds. I will probably never get to finish college. Politicians must forget the common man when they get to office. To think that they used to be the common man. They are traitors in my book.
• WL, Columbia:
  If I was assigned a paper for school on how to improve national security in South Carolina, and I handed in a paper suggesting we post the Ten Commandments in all classrooms along with "In God We Trust," I would surely receive an F from my English teacher. This year's legislature has been the most thumb-twiddling bunch I've seen in 16 years of living!  Someone ought to give these legislators what they need--summer school! (And a note to all those who will be riding the school bus next year: Hold on.  It'll be a bumpy ride.)
• cw, west columbia  sc:
  i would give them a failing grade.they cant solve problems only spend money. they think they are serving the people when they only serve themselves an their personal agendas. thanks
• MH, Lexington:
  Grade: F
  Why: I'm still paying unreasonable property taxes on my car and home and technical education was not made free by the lottery.
  Comment: All politicians are elected based on their promises to eliminate or reduce taxes, and all politicians are liars in that regard. Politicians promised a free technical education from the lottery in order to win favor for the lottery - they are liars. They will all get their rewards, along with the rest of the crooks we decent people have to deal with, but in the meantime we have to deal with them and their deeds. Thank you for asking. That felt good.
• jm, Lexington:
  Is there anything lower than zero?   Let's see, they redig the flag issue from the dead to waste time.  They pay for postage they do not use to funnel the money from your and my taxes into their pockets(can we say fraud that would land you or me in jail) and only seem upset that they were caught.  They waste time and money on a redrawing of districts that is destined for court in its obvious partisanship and  even admit in court that it is drawn to "protect incumbents" (silly me, I thought that it was to insure fair representation in a growing state)and then all the house takes the day off to see Bush because, according to Speaker Wilkins "their business is done" so why didn't they pack up and go home and save us all some money?  Maybe just maybe they could have not had to cut state agencies budgets and furlough employees. Nah,  we're talking about the one's who raised their own budget in secret while faking a budget cut for themselves and forcing a to the bone cut on the back of state employees. I  mean real working employees, not relatives and political appointees. No wonder we the bottom of the barrel in all the ratings.  We deserve it if we vote these turkeys back in.
• BC, Orangeburg:
  A solid "F".  It amazes me how the Governor and the Legislature can say a lottery is great for the State in one breath and video poker is illegal in another.  In addition, the wallet-padding by legislators at the expense of State agencies and public Universities is sickening.  One good thing that will come out of this legislative session is a high voter turnout on the 11th so that citizens can vote these clowns out of office.
• PS, Columbia,South Carolina:
  I would give it A.
• TG, Columbia:
  A definite F.  They spent too much time bickering and arguing either among themselves or His Highness, King Hodges, and too little time trying to accomplish ANYTHING that would actually help the state.
• RN, Columbia:
  A big " F " They have fail to do what is needed this year just the same as they have in years past.  I will also vote for someone new .
• KG, Columbia:
  I'd give them a D.  Other than finally passing the Education Lottery proceeds bill they have done little.  They enjoy refusing to follow Governor Hodges' lead, but they offer no leadership of their own. They need to shorten their session to 90 days and return the excess tax money to the taxpayers.
• RA, Ridgeway:
  My strategy for the up-coming election is "anybody but an incumbent".  Things can't get worse, even with in-experience.
• JE, Irmo:
  I would give them an "E" for the worst effort I've seen in a very long time.  All the partisan politics is truly embarassing to our state.  They see fit to pad their own budget, while the rest of state and local governments suffer. At this point I don't anticipate voting for any incumbants.  Just once, I would love to see an election where I felt I was voting FOR the candidates instead of for the lesser of the evils.
• JP, Columbia:
  For the House, a 'D'.  They cut everybody but themselves in the budget.  Many state agencies are really hurting for money for needed office supplies, but the house gave themselves a bonus.  The Senate gets a 'F' for being spineless cowards afraid to face up to problems in the state.  And the Govenor, get a 'Z-'.  This is absolutely the poorest excuse for a govenor I have seen in 70+ years. The only difference between Mr Hodges and Fidel Castro is that Mr Castro admits that he is a communist and places all priority on his personal desires.  Mr Hodges lied all through his election campaign and all thru his administration.  He is nothing but a front man for the gambling mafia and other special interests.
• RB, Columbia:
  I would give them an F for failing miserably.They are the biggest group of "Good Ole Boys' I have ever seen.They make this state the laughing stock of the country.
• JM, Columbia:
  All in all, I think our legislators deserve a D for this Session. There have been too many inappropriate bills, such as the "Unborn Children's Monument" that Rep. Sharpe wishes to place on the State House grounds. Meanwhile bills that many South Carolinians want passed, such as legal tattooing have been avoided or skirted. Our Homeland Security bill was going to have a 10 Commandments bill logrolled with it. It's obvious that as our legislators continue to attempt to legislate morality they are failing to provide for school bus replacements, proper disposition of the lottery money, and a compromise for the Charleston shipping terminal - things South Carolina actually needs.
• BS, Hopkins:
  They deserve a F-...how dare they say that their budgets should not be cut but increased when the rest of the state agencies must take up to a whopping 9%+ cut.  My office has lost a lot of staff already but does the Legislature care...No.  I would like them to come and answer our clients' questions as to why they can't get the same quality services or why they have to wait so long to get served.  Oh, well...we're just the taxpayers who can VOTE them out of office and get someone else in there who just might be able to do a better job!
• PR, Lexington:
  A Well Deserved ZERO. Why, it's an election time and they all become Economist, Holy born again and tried to take money for their own usage, and cut back State employees benifits, school money. Like in the Music Man they're selling Boys Band invisable instraments and most of ALL they think we don't know what's going on, WRONG those days are gone.
• DT, West Columbia:
  At this point the General Assembly gets an "I" (incomplete). Much of the work of this legislative session is waiting to be signed or vetoed by governor Hodges.  Until that happens we won’t really know what has been accomplished this session.
• CJ, Bishopville sc:
  I give them an F.  As usual, egos and partisan politics has kept them from really doing their jobs.  Since this is an election year, the only thing they are interested in is getting re-elected.  Therefore, they are not going to do or take up anything controversial.