Governor Presents His Broad Vision for South Carolina

October 17, 2006: Governor Mark Sanford gave Rotary Club members a broad perspective of his vision for the state. He noted that we get most of our news in small sound bites which often leave out a balanced view of both sides of the issues. He asked us to look down on the state with him from “30,000 feet high”. Quoting from journalist/author Tom Friedman, he said he was a real fan of Friedman’s position in his recent book that The World is Flat. Like no time in the past we today must compete on a world-wide basis. Globalization of our world means that a single South Carolinian can interact directly with others in the emerging nations of China and India and directly export products and services to persons who live there.

To be successful in the global market one needs both education and equipment. In so doing we must maximize those things in South Carolina that have the best chance for success in the world market, and recognize that it is fruitless to compete in areas where we cannot win. We no longer can compete at the level of minimum skill labor; those jobs have gone elsewhere.

The founding fathers of our nation established three equal branches of government – legislative, judicial and executive. South Carolina is the only state in which these three agencies are not equal because we have a 4th group, the budget control board. The governor can only directly influence 16% of the annual budget. To achieve proper accountability in the state we need to open up the system to more voices, so that the people can truly be heard.

In response to questions, Governor Sanford stated that the long term medical care of older citizens is a major issue. 750,000 people in the state are on Medicaid. This problem is both a Federal and a state issue. We must find ways to enable older people to stay home. It would be more cost effective for the state to fund a wheelchair ramp at a private home than cause the elderly person to have to go to a full time care facility.

Asked what major changes in state governance he would like to see, the governor responded that the Lt. Governor should be elected with the governor from the same party. When the Lt. Governor is from a different party, as was the case during Governor Hodges time, there is an immediate conflict facing the governor as he begins his work.

He also felt that there must be major changes to the budget control board.

Reported by Fred Sales, Keyway Committee