Upstate South Carolina

Dear Friends:

We are winning the fight to require on the record votes in the Legislature.

You have taken an issue, which the House Leadership said would “never see the light of day,” and made it a legislative priority in the General Assembly. Your letters to the editor, your phone calls to representatives and senators, and your emails to friends and family has made a tremendous impact, and I cannot thank you enough.

But, the fight isn’t over yet. Here’s what’s happening now:

Last week, the House met to reorganize for the new legislative session. We were surprised when the Speaker introduced a rule that would change the process of voting on the record, since rules changes usually occur in January. Speaker Harrell did not discuss his rule with me. Representatives were never given a copy of the rule ahead of time. His flawed rule will essentially show all legislators as voting in favor of a bill whether they are present in the Chamber or not.

I, along with many others, tried to amend the Speaker’s rule. We tried to fix it. But, after three hours of debate, the Speaker refused to allow amendments or changes to his rule that was written to make the public “think” he had just given them every vote on the record. The truth is that the Speaker’s rule does the total opposite and makes it harder to know where a legislator truly stands on an issue.

The next day, Speaker Harrell removed me from an influential committee – Labor, Commerce and Industry – on which I had served honorably. He wanted all the other representatives to know that if you go against his will, then there will be a price to pay.

But, no punishment will keep me from doing what I believe is in the public’s best interest. We are going to keep fighting, and we are going to make certain every citizen knows how his or her legislator voted on every issue.

So what now?

I introduced the 2009 Spending Accountability Act, and the bill is picking up serious momentum. We have close to thirty-five cosponsors in the House and support is growing by the day. Senator Peeler introduced the same bill in the Senate and has twenty cosponsors.

To get this bill passed, we are going to need your help. Here is what you can do:

1.     Read over the list of cosponsors provided below. If you see a legislator who is not listed as a cosponsor, please give him or her a call and ask them to get onboard with our bill.

2.     Keep writing letters to the editor. They are making a difference.

3.     Pass this email along to everyone in your address book. Let them know you support on the record voting, and ask them to do the same.

4.     Write your legislator and ask them to support on the record voting.

Your support has brought this bill to the forefront of the legislative agenda. You have made the difference, and with your continued support, we can make certain that South Carolina has the most comprehensive on the record voting policy in the country.

My Very Best,

Nikki

COSPONSORS TO H.3047 2009 SPENDING ACCOUNTABILITY ACT:

Haley, Ballentine, Wylie, Stringer, R.L. Brown, Kirsh, E.H. Pitts, Miller, G.R. Smith, Whipper, Huggins, Frye, Knight, Daning, J.E. Smith, Rice, Anderson, G.M. Smith, Phillips, Clyburn, Hart, Bowen, T.R. Young, Simrill, Duncan, Gunn, Agnew, Viers, Cobb-Hunter, King and Allison

COSPONSORS TO SENATE COMPANION BILL:

Peeler, Cromer, Massey, Bryant, Fair, Ryberg, Hayes, Campbell, Mulvaney, Rose, Rankin, Davis, Courson, Thomas, Alexander, Cleary, Bright, Campsen, Shoopman, S. Martin