State senators should vote to end filibuster

On Tuesday, the S.C. Chamber of Commerce issued a statement saying that the salaries of state senators should be rescinded because they have failed to do their job and pass a roads bill. That isn’t going to happen, but the point is well taken and reflective of the growing annoyance of the state’s business community with the failure of the Legislature to act.

The statement notes that 321 days have passed since the House sent the Senate a roads bill, and no votes have been taken.

“All the while, 825 people have died on South Carolina’s roads, which are some of the most dangerous in the country,” the statement continues. “In the business world, you don’t get paid if you don’t do your job.”

The annoyance with the Senate’s inaction undoubtedly extends beyond the business community, as well it should. Every resident in the state should be disgusted not only with the inability of elected officials to find a solution to crumbling roads and bridges but also with their failure to act on any of the state’s other pressing priorities.

In addition to road problems, the Legislature also faces a mandate from the state Supreme Court to come up with a plan to bring equal access to quality education to every student in the state. Lawmakers also need to debate an ethics reform bill that has been in the works for more than two years.

Sadly, however, action on virtually any bill has stalled because of the filibuster of the roads bill by senators who oppose all tax increases. The bill passed last year by the House and sent to the Senate includes a slight increase in the gas tax – which hasn’t been raised since 1987 – and increases in vehicle sales taxes and license fees.

Gov. Nikki Haley has threatened to veto any bill that does not include offsetting cuts in the state income tax rate. But her plan, when fully phased in by 2025, would deplete state revenues by about $1.4 billion a year, far more than the money generated by raising the gas tax and other fees.

But the issue may be moot. As things stand, no roads bill will be debated in the Senate.

Under antiquated Senate rules, one senator can filibuster a bill, keeping it in limbo indefinitely until either a majority of senators vote to end the filibuster or the bill is taken off the calendar for debate. So far, too few senators have been able to compromise to form a majority to overcome the filibuster.

If the Senate doesn’t take up a permanent solution for roads, senators might resort to the use of other revenues for a temporary fix. But that would require spending money on roads that should be spent on education or other pressing needs.

South Carolina residents should be outraged and embarrassed by the Senate’s inability to move forward on a roads bill or any other legislation. Senators should not be able to act so irresponsibly without paying a political price.

Unfortunately, no single senator can be held accountable. They all are players in a system that allows and even encourages legislative logjams.

But lawmakers have to act if our state roads are ever going to get repaired and other essential priorities are to be addressed. The inability of the Senate to act is a disgrace and, as the Chamber of Commerce notes, a failure of senators to do the job they were elected to do.

Maybe they shouldn’t get paid until they start doing that job.

This story was originally published March 1, 2016 at 6:09 PM with the headline "State senators should vote to end filibuster."