Shane Massey Plan Will Fight Wasteful Spending
Earmark Reform Plan & Caucus Agenda Item Passes Out State Senate
Columbia, SC – April 2, 2009 - While Congress continues to put our nation further in debt with exorbitant spending, South Carolina’s Senate
Republicans are taking common-sense steps to reduce spending at the state
level. On the opening day of the 2009 legislative session, the South
Carolina State Senate passed a monumental rules change increasing spending transparency with ‘on the record’ voting. The Senate took another huge step toward spending accountability today by passing Senator Shane Massey’s (R-Edgefield) earmark reform plan out of the State Senate.
Senator Massey’s reform package requires legislators to put their names on
any spending requests they insert into the state budget. Currently a Senator
can request a spending project under the cloak of anonymity. Massey’s plan
shines the light of public scrutiny on state government spending.
“The federal government continues to put our nation further in debt and
South Carolina¹s taxpayers will be paying it off for many years to come.
There¹s not a lot we can do about Congress’ irresponsible actions, but we
can demand spending accountability here in South Carolina,” Senator Massey said.
Massey continued, “South Carolina’s State Senators see the wave of change
sweeping across the state and nation. We know taxpayers are demanding
reform, accountability, and transparency. This plan uncovers the secret
spending projects that could balloon our state budget at the expense of
essential services such as our education, transportation, and criminal
justice systems.”
The earmark plan is part of the South Carolina Senate Republican Caucus’
“Sunshine in South Carolina Agenda.” The bill was approved by the State
Senate today on second reading.
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