May 17 • 6-9pm
Marriott, 1200 Hampton, downtown Columbia
Free and open to all.
Is political corruption endemic, or can it be treated? That’s the question at the center of a public forum on Wednesday that will offer three panel discussions with some of the state’s experts.
As yet another political scandal threatens a growing number of South Carolina lawmakers, it is clear that we have a problem. The bad news is that our system is broken. The good news is that we believe reform is possible if enough people demand it.
The SC Progressive Network has been working on reforms to reduce the causes of corruption for more than 20 years. We’ve concluded that unless we can make serious structural and cultural changes in the way we practice democracy in South Carolina, we will keep repeating the same patterns of abuse that will only further erode public trust.
It is no surprise that money and power are the interrelated causes of our lack of representative democracy and the resulting corruption.
Historically, our incumbent legislators, who win office with the existing rules and voters, have been disinclined to change a system that is working fine for them. They have resisted efforts to make it easier to vote, and ahve ignored legislation that would create a system of public financing for the General Assembly. A young Sen. Clementa Pinckney and Rep. Joe Neal were the bill’s prime sponsors, which has been introduced every session since 2000 but has yet to make it to the floor.
While voter participation continues to shrink, bills for universal voter registration have likewise languished without hearings. Last November, fewer than 14 percent of registered voters elected 77 percent (131) of the 170 members of the SC General Assembly. The winners in 94 of these districts faced no opposition at all, yet raised over $4 million. What did they do with all that money?
The purpose of the forum is to initiate an honest discussion about the state of our democracy in South Carolina. How did we get here? Whose interests are now being served? Can we reduce the influence of money in politics? Join us for a timely conversation. The event is free and open to all. RSVP/Share on Facebook.
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Welcome and statement of purpose: Marjorie Hammock and Kyle Criminger, SC Progressive Network Co-chairs
Panel I – Modern History of Political Corruption
Moderator: Jack Kuenzie, WIS-TV
Rick Bundrett, The Island Packet
John Monk, The State
John Crangle, SC Progressive Network
Sen. Mike Rose, R-Dorchester, Ret.
Panel II – Causes of Corruption
Moderator: Ken W. Gaines, USC School of Law
Sen. Mike Rose, R-Dorchester, Ret.
Cassie Cope, The State
Lynn Teague, League of Women Voters of SC
Ashley Landess, SC Policy Council
Brett Bursey, SC Progressive Network
Panel III – Reform is Possible!
Moderator: Brian McConchie, WACH-TV
Sen. Phil Leventis, D-Sumter, Ret.
Sen. Joel Lourie, D-Richland, Ret.
Rep. James Smith, D-Richland
Octavia Williams-Blake, Florence City Council
Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg