SCPolitics

SCDC Interview with Josh Gelinas

2007-07-03T15:39:00.000-04:00

Interview on SC Department of Corrections Spokesperson, Josh Gelinas

Introduction: Josh Gelinas, a former news reporter in Aiken County is currently the public spokesperson for the SC Department of Corrections. I have spoken with him many times over the years when he had questions about local politics. He recently contacted me, and when I learned of his new position, I asked if I could ask him a few questions about the SCDC and post his answers for this class. Here are the questions and his responses.

If you would like an extra credit blog grade (to make up for a missed one or a low one), post a comment to what he has said – to get the S+ I know you would like to have, you must show that you have thought about his answers in your comment!!

Question 1. In looking at the statistics on the prison system, one could not help being concerned about rates of recidivism – the 5 year rate was about 35%, and the rates seemed to be growing if we look over the past several years as shown in the chart. If you had more resources, what would you like to do to try and reduce that rate?

South Carolina’s recidivism rates hover between 33 and 36 percent, and they’re among the lower rates in the country. Prison is not just punishment. Indeed, because 80 to 90 percent of those incarcerated will one day go free, the environment is geared to rehabilitate the individual and prepare them to become productive citizens upon re-entering society. Without a doubt, to most directly reduce the rate at which people return to prison, at least some new money would be spent on educational and vocational training. In fact, efforts are under way now to expand vocational opportunities to all of the state’s 29 prisons.

Question 2. One of the problems faced by the SCDC is turnover among staff (reported in the chapter we read as around 30% a year among guards). Have you been able to address that problem and what would you like to do to address it? The reading said the average salary was about $25,000.

The average salary for a correctional officer is, indeed, about $25,000. And that is an increased wage. With what little money he’s had to boost salaries for security staff, SCDC Director Jon Ozmint has tried to fatten starting salaries for entry-level staffers. It appears to be lowering turnover numbers, but it remains early in the process. The agency asked for another $640,000 to provide bonuses but it was axed from the budget.

Question 3. Another statistic of concern was attacks within the prisons, which are between 4 and 5% of all inmates each year – the rate was up in 2006. What are you doing to try and reduce rates of violence, both inmate on staff and inmate on inmate?

The increase was only slight and SCDC’s assault rate on officers remains one of the lowest in the country, despite having one of the highest inmate-to-officer ratios. Remarkably, assault rates for the most part have been steady or dropped in recent years. When forced to work with less, the system became more efficient and more disciplined.

Question 4. In looking at reasons for being in prison, the one thing that jumps out is the percentage that are in prison for non-violent offenses. Use of illegal drugs is more than 20% and that is the largest group. We certainly realize that the SCDC has to take in what the courts send using the laws passed by policy-makers and that policy-makers never lose votes for being “tough on crime.” Do you know of alternative sentencing or other measures that have been successful in reducing prison populations in other states?

Mandatory sentences and “truth in sentencing” that requires convicted criminals to serve 85 percent of their crimes is keeping inmates incarcerated longer than before. One alternative at work in South Carolina is called SHOCK, a rigorous 3-month program for some first time offenders. It’s essentially a bootcamp followed by release and a closely monitored probation period over two years.

Question 5. Figures from the chapter the students read show that we send more black males into prisons than we graduate from four year colleges in South Carolina – and we spend more state money on each prisoner than we spend on each college student each year. Are there any programs in the prisons that are aimed specifically at reducing recidivism rates among blacks so that we can reverse these figures? Again, we know that you do not choose who comes into prisons – policy makers and law officials do that.

That I’m aware of, there are no rehabilitative programs geared to a specific race.

Question 6. This is one that I know students would want to ask – why do we have to spend so much per prisoner on prisons? The per prisoner cost today is about $15,000, if I recall the numbers, and this was down after massive budget cuts a few years ago, and is just now getting back to what it was back around the year 2000. But to students I know any of these figures would seem high. I typically hear comments about how good life must be in prisons if we spend all this money.

A big contributor to the cost-per-inmate figure is healthcare. Incarcerated criminals are the only individuals in this country who are Constitutionally guaranteed medical care, including care for HIV, hepatitis C, cancer and other costly ailments. There are other obvious costs, such as food and clothing. Consider the infrastructure and manpower needed to house and secure 24,000 inmates and the high cost becomes more than fathomable. Think about it: there are 29 prisons in South Carolina that require regular maintenance, in addition to utility costs. Then factor the salaries, benefits and associated costs for the 5,700 employees in the agency, the state’s largest.

There’s an important premise that should be considered when analyzing the S.C. Department of Corrections: It is the only state prison system that receives less money today than it did in 1999. That is true yet again this fiscal year, which started July 1 (2007).
The reasons for that are fertile for thorough and probing debate. But the impact of this under-funding is tangible and can be seen across the entire system.

Criminal Justice – Question 10

2007-06-29T11:29:00.002-04:00

EVERYONE answer this question. Pick ONE issue or controversy in the last major section of the chapter, describe it and take a position on it as to what should be done. Make sure you give your reasons for your position so that it is based on something more than just personal preferences!

Criminal Justice – Question 9

2007-06-29T11:29:00.001-04:00

Question for DeQuawn S and Erica W. What are the differences between probation and parole, and how are probation and parole administered in South Carolina? (Write separate paragraphs on each point with an extra line separating the paragraphs!)

Criminal Justice – Question 8

2007-06-29T11:28:00.004-04:00

Question for Randy L. Several parts to this question, but all are short. A) What are the various kinds of state prisons? B) Who is most likely to be imprisoned in them? C) How much does the state pay to imprison someone? D) How does South Carolina compare to other states on incarceration? E) What is the greatest problem faced by sate prisons?

Criminal Justice – Question 7

2007-06-29T11:28:00.003-04:00

Question for Warren K and Sarah L. Describe the various kinds of local detention facilities, what determines whom they house, and how have their operations been affected by federal intervention? (Write separate paragraphs on each point with an extra line separating the paragraphs!)

Criminal Justice – Question 6

2007-06-29T11:28:00.001-04:00

Question for Julie Kate K. How does South Carolina provide defense counsel for the indigent, and what problems are associated with how this is done? (Write separate paragraphs on each point with an extra line separating the paragraphs!)

Criminal Justice – Question 5

2007-06-29T11:27:00.002-04:00

Question for CoShendra J. Describe the office of solicitor in South Carolina in terms of its structure, selection, duties, and the pressures that exist in the office. (Write separate paragraphs on each point with an extra line separating the paragraphs!)

Criminal Justice – Question 4

2007-06-29T11:27:00.001-04:00

Question for Cequita E. and Matt S. Describe each of the major entities that are involved in law enforcement at the state level. (Write separate paragraphs on each point with an extra line separating the paragraphs!)

Criminal Justice – Question 3

2007-06-29T11:26:00.002-04:00

Question for Kaycee D. This is a several part question. A) How are police departments organized differently than sheriff’s departments? B) Describe the 3 alternative styles of law enforcement and which departments are most likely to use each. C) What is community policing? D) What is the major problem faced by most police departments?

Criminal Justice – Question 2

2007-06-29T11:26:00.001-04:00

Question for Xavier D. How has the office of sheriff evolved, and what are current and past problems that surround this office? (Write separate paragraphs on each point with an extra line separating the paragraphs!)

Criminal Justice – Question 1

2007-06-29T11:21:00.000-04:00

Question for Matt B. and Courtney T. Discuss the extent to which criminal justice is decentralized in the U.S. and in S.C. Include the concept of “police powers” in your discussion.

Education – Question 8

2007-06-26T11:28:00.001-04:00

Question for Julie Kate K. Describe the as yet unresolved issues surrounding the funding of k-12 and higher education in South Carolina.

Education – Question 7

2007-06-26T11:27:00.004-04:00

Question for Sarah L. What is the structure of k-12 and higher education in South Carolina, and why is it so confusing? What problems does this create?

Education – Question 6

2007-06-26T11:27:00.003-04:00

Question for Randy L. In what ways and to what extent is the national government involved in public education?

Education – Question 5

2007-06-26T11:27:00.001-04:00

Question for Cequita E and Warren K. Describe the major changes in public education in South Carolina since 1970.

Education – Question 4

2007-06-26T11:26:00.002-04:00

Question for Coshendra J and Matt S. Describe the evolution of public education in South Carolina from 1900 to 1970.

Education – Question 3

2007-06-26T11:26:00.001-04:00

Question for Kaycee D and DeQuawn S. Describe the evolution of public education in South Carolina up to 1900.

Education – Question 2

2007-06-26T11:25:00.002-04:00

Question for Xavier D and Courtney T. What changes took place in public education across the nation in the 1800s and 1900s?

Education – Question 1

2007-06-26T11:25:00.001-04:00

Question for Matt B and Erica W. Who is in charge of public education in South Carolina?

Human Resource Management – Question 9

2007-06-26T10:46:00.004-04:00

Question for Erica W. As the text notes, South Carolina is “the least unionized state” in the nation. Actually, that rating varies a bit from year, as North Carolina also has a very low rate of unionization and in some years has been #50. But in either case, S.C. is not a union-friendly place. Describe how South Carolina law treats union related activities among public employees? How have public employees responded?

Human Resource Management – Question 8

2007-06-26T10:46:00.003-04:00

Question for Courtney T. South Carolina is supposed to be an “employment-at-will” state. Discuss the exceptions that exist to this legal doctrine.

Human Resource Management – Question 7

2007-06-26T10:46:00.001-04:00

Question for Matt S. Outline the federal and state legal restrictions that shape human resource management in South Carolina. (My list has about 10 items in it.) We covered some of this earlier in a question about guidelines a personnel manager in a medium sized city must meet, so part of this is a review.

Human Resource Management – Question 6

2007-06-26T10:45:00.002-04:00

Question for Sarah L and DeQuawn S. Discuss the status of human service management at the local government level in South Carolina. Make sure you cover all the different kinds of local governments here.

Human Resource Management – Question 5

2007-06-26T10:45:00.001-04:00

Question for Warren K and Randy L. Discuss the reasons for reforms that took place in the 1990s, and describe the reforms that did take place along with the potential cost of these reforms. (Make sure you cover the material through p.280 in your answer.)

Human Resource Management – Question 4

2007-06-26T10:44:00.002-04:00

Question for Cequita E and Coshendra J. When and why did South Carolina begin to develop a comprehensive merit system, including grievance rights?

Human Resource Management – Question 3

2007-06-26T10:44:00.001-04:00

Question for Julie Kate K. Discuss the creation of the federal merit system, the values it was supposed to be based upon, its flaws in practice, and the major change that took place in 1978 that stimulated changes at the state and local level.

Human Resource Management – Question 2

2007-06-26T10:42:00.000-04:00

Question for Kaycee D. Discuss the arguments for each of the two conflicting value systems that have historically determined how we deal with public employment, merit and patronage. Make sure you cover the arguments of both George Washington and Andrew Jackson on this question.

Human Resource Management – Question 1

2007-06-26T10:41:00.000-04:00

Question for Matt B and Xavier D. What is Human Resource Management and why is it far more important than most average citizens think?

Planning – Question 19

2007-06-26T10:34:00.002-04:00

Question for DeQuawn S and Matt B. How has the “property rights movement” challenged the regulation of land use? Make sure you include the Lucas Supreme Court decision in your answer.

Planning – Question 18

2007-06-26T10:34:00.001-04:00

Question for Warren K and Xavier D. What is “new urbanism,” and how is it reflected in some South Carolina cities (including, by the way, Aiken)?

Planning – Question 17

2007-06-26T10:33:00.002-04:00

Question for Courtney T and Erica W. What is the argument for impact fees, and how have they been used in South Carolina?

Planning – Question 16

2007-06-26T10:33:00.001-04:00

Question for Matt S and Kaycee D. What is “smart growth,” and how does it attempt to meet its objectives?

Planning – Question 15

2007-06-26T10:32:00.004-04:00

Question for Sarah L and Cequita E. What is meant by “sustainability” in modern planning?

Planning – Question 14

2007-06-26T10:32:00.003-04:00

Question for Randy L and CoShendra J. What is “growth management,” and what conflicts has it created in South Carolina when it has been attempted?

Planning – Question 13

2007-06-26T10:32:00.001-04:00

Question for Julie Kate K and Warren K. Describe the birth and changing roles of the ten regional councils of government in South Carolina. (Aiken is in the Lower Savannah Council of Government – LSCOG)

Planning – Question 12

2007-06-26T10:31:00.002-04:00

Question for Coshendra J and Julie Kate K. Review the history of public involvement (by “public” I mean citizens) in planning.

Planning – Question 11

2007-06-26T10:31:00.001-04:00

Question for Cequita E and Randy L. Describe the alternate tools used to implement comprehensive plans.

Planning – Question 10

2007-06-26T10:30:00.004-04:00

Question for Kaycee D and Sarah L. Under South Carolina law, all comprehensive plans must have three basic components. Briefly describe each component.

Planning – Question 9

2007-06-26T10:30:00.003-04:00

Question for Matt B and Xavier D. Name and briefly describe each of the five phases to the planning process.

Planning – Question 8

2007-06-26T10:30:00.001-04:00

Question for Courtney T and Erica W. Contrast local comprehensive planning in the mid 1900s with comprehensive planning today. (Hint: You should see at least three major changes.)

Planning – Question 7

2007-06-26T10:29:00.002-04:00

Question for DeQuawn S, and Matt S. Here is a three part question. A) How did the federal government encourage planning in the states in the 1960s? B) What issues are nationally popular today that encourage planning? C) What was been the major focus of most state level planning in South Carolina for most of the 1900s?

Planning – Question 6

2007-06-26T10:29:00.001-04:00

Question for Sarah L and DeQuawn S. What makes planning so political and what roles do the various actors play in this highly political process? In your answer, note the various roles that planners can play.

Planning – Question 5

2007-06-26T10:27:00.002-04:00

Question for Warren K and Randy L. Many factors affect the legal framework of planning. Review the five major factors the text discusses, paying particular attention to the impact of private governments, police powers, and zoning.

Planning – Question 4

2007-06-26T10:27:00.001-04:00

Question for Julie Kate K and Erica W. If we consider planning after WWII, nothing has had more impact on the need for planning and the interests that surround planning than the rise of the automobile, which transformed our nation of cities and rural areas into a nation of suburbs. To look a little deeper, the rise of the auto has had a profound impact on virtually all aspects of our lives, from individual notions of freedom and views of the American dream to artistic live to family structure and the break-up of the extended family into the nuclear family and the independence of teens. I can think of only one thing that approaches the impact of the auto, and that is the impact of computers. Putting that observation aside, here is a simple question. Describe the five common characteristics of planning.

Planning – Question 3

2007-06-26T10:26:00.002-04:00

Question for Cequita E and Coshendra J. and Matt S. Describe the three movements that took place around 1900 that tried to improve the quality of life in cities. Pay particular attention to zoning in your answer.

Planning – Question 2

2007-06-26T10:26:00.001-04:00

Question for Kaycee D and Courtney T. Why did local government lose power after the American Revolution?

Planning – Question 1

2007-06-26T10:16:00.000-04:00

Question for Matt B and Xavier D. Explain the mixed feelings that exist on planning and why planning is particularly controversial when done by government?

Local Government Finance – Question 11

2007-06-25T10:42:00.001-04:00

Question for Dequawn S, Matt S, Courtney T, and Erica W. At the end of the chapter is a list of issues facing local government finance. Much of the discussion on property taxes is now dated because of the changes that I discussed in an earlier question. The state reductions in personal property tax on cars and in ending property taxes for school operation both raise serious questions about how poor areas of the state can get additional money for better services, especially if the state just distributes state tax money to replace existing local expenditures. Here is your question. Briefly explain the issue of “mandates” that face local government, the problem of “tax expenditures,” and the problem of sales taxes on electronic commerce.

Local Government Finance – Question 10

2007-06-25T10:41:00.002-04:00

Question for Randy L and Sarah L. What disadvantage do rural school districts have in school funding? What did they do to try and improve their funding and how successful have they been? (I will update what has happened since after I see your answers on this.)

Local Government Finance – Question 9

2007-06-25T10:41:00.001-04:00

Question for Julie Kate K and Warren K. What are the difference between “general obligation bonds” and “revenue bonds” and what limits exist on local governments using bonds to raise money for projects?

Local Government Finance – Question 8

2007-06-25T10:40:00.003-04:00

Question for Kaycee D, Cequita D, and CoShendra J. Why is most local government spending “relatively uncontrollable” and how does the practice of “earmarking” affect this? In your answer, explain what earmarking is and give the arguments for and against earmarking.

Local Government Finance – Question 7

2007-06-25T10:40:00.001-04:00

Question for Matt B and Xavier D. Review the reasons why state government provides state aid to local governments. In your review, make sure you include what I call the “my brother’s keeper” justification -– that we have some responsibility to South Carolina citizens in poor areas that cannot raise much money on their own. This argument is a major factor in public school finance, as we shall see.

Local Government Finance – Question 6

2007-06-25T10:39:00.000-04:00

Question for Dequawn S, Matt S, Courtney T, and Erica W. User fees are becoming more and more popular. If you use the tennis courts at the Aiken Tennis Center off Whiskey Road, you pay user fees for their use. Give the pros and cons on local governments funding services through user fees. What kinds of services do you think make the most sense to fund through user fees?

Local Government Finance – Question 5

2007-06-25T10:38:00.002-04:00

Question for EVERYONE! Here I want to make a comment and update the discussion on property taxes and then ask you a question. Several changes in property taxes have been made since the text was written. The changes are a result of the fact that of all taxes, property taxes are the most unpopular. They hit people in big chunks with a yearly bill and can change fairly rapidly when property values go up and property is reassessed. Thus, even though property taxes are low in South Carolina compared to northeastern states, South Carolina has had property tax revolts that have influenced the legislature to make changes appease angry voters. The two major changes are replacing property taxes that support schools with state aid (thus sales taxes went up one cent this summer). That means that schools are now much more dependent on state funding than local funding, which can be both good and bad. We will have more to say about school finance later. Second, voters passed a constitutional amendment in 2006 that set a limit of 15% in how much anyone’s home can increase in value when property is reassessed. Voters clearly did not understand this amendment, most thinking that it capped property tax increases at a 15% increase. In practice what this will do is reduce property tax increases for a relatively few people living in areas where property values are going up rapidly (read this as luxury coastal property) and shift increases to most all other citizens where values are going up more slowly (read this as middle and lower classes as well as businesses). When voters figure this out in a few years, there will be another revolt. What should have been done is to place caps on property taxes as percentage of income so that those who can least afford increases are not hit with them. What is bad about property taxes is that they are not necessarily tied to income (as they once were when most people farmed), but what is good about them is that they provide a stable source of income and do not fluctuate with the economy. Sales taxes, while less unpopular, are regressive (the poor pay a relatively higher percentage of their income in sales taxes since they must spend most of their income to live) and fluctuate with the economy. So tying school funding more to sales taxes means that money available for schools will be unstable from year to year – not a good thing in planning education programs! Ok, now after that long comment, here is a question. Look at the calculation of property taxes (Figure 3). Suppose you have a home appraised at $200,000 that you live in (if you rent it out to someone, it is considered a business). Further suppose that the tax rate in mils is 500. What would be your property taxes for a year? Then, suppose you rented that house out rather than lived in it yourself. What would the property taxes be in this case?

Local Government Finance – Question 4

2007-06-25T10:38:00.001-04:00

Question for Randy L and Sarah L. The next section of the chapter is about sources of revenue for local governmental units. What are the four major groups of revenue that local governments have and what sources fit into each group.

Local Government Finance – Question 3

2007-06-25T10:37:00.002-04:00

Question for Julie Kate K and Warren K. What struck me the most in reading the section of the chapter about the local government budget process was the incredible variation in how local governments prepare their budgets. Beyond having to prepare a budget and the requirement that the budget be balanced, few generalizations apply. One that does seem to apply, mentioned at the end of the section, is that all seem to operate in a “revenue centered process” rather than a “demand” or need centered process. Rather than start with what is needed and then tax at levels required to meet those needs, they start with available monies and then figure out what they can provide. That particular generalization also applies to the state as a whole. Some local governments prepare detailed budgets and some prepare bare-boned budgets. This usually depends on size of the government, with larger units having more detail. The least is known about budgets of special purpose district governments, because they do not even have to report their budgets to any other part of state government. Ok, after all this comment and summary, let me give you a question. Explain the following statement: despite the variation in how cities and counties and special purpose districts engage in budgeting and finance, the most variation in budgeting and finance occurs in the budgets of school districts.

Local Government Finance – Question 2

2007-06-25T10:37:00.001-04:00

Question for Kaycee D, Cequita D, and CoShendra J. What is the major difference in who is responsible for taxing and spending between cities and counties and why is this difference important?

Local Government Finance – Question 1

2007-06-25T10:18:00.000-04:00

Question for Matt B and Xavier D. What three changes took place in the 1970s that had a significant impact on local government finance?

State Budgeting and Finance – Question 7

2007-06-22T10:47:00.002-04:00

Question for Courtney T and Erica W. Discuss the major spending categories in South Carolina and the state’s major sources of revenue. Are taxes in South Carolina high relative to other states?

State Budgeting and Finance – Question 6

2007-06-22T10:47:00.001-04:00

Question for Matt S. Discuss South Carolina’s two reserve funds and how the operate.

State Budgeting and Finance – Question 5

2007-06-22T10:46:00.000-04:00

Question for Sarah L and DeQuawn S. Describe the four major stages of the budget process. Let me add a quick note here before I see your answers. Although the executive budget can be an important part of the process and has compelling arguments behind it (see top of page 313), its impact is dependent on the political skills of the governor. Republican Governor Mark Sanford’s proposals as well as his vetoes have had little effect on the budget that the Republican dominated legislature has adopted in past years. However, because he has championed tax cuts, which is always popular in this state, he has maintained reasonable levels of popularity statewide.

State Budgeting and Finance – Question 4

2007-06-22T10:45:00.000-04:00

Question for Warren K and Randy L. South Carolina uses an annual budget process (versus a biennial budget such as N.C. uses) with a single appropriations bill (excluding supplemental bills that are sometimes passed when there is additional revenue, or when the Budget and Control Board makes mid year cuts where there is a shortfall). The state budget uses the line item format (as opposed to more modern formats like program budgeting). The line item format allows for control in details on spending when “proviso’s” are included in the appropriations bill, but usually the lines are fairly general which allows agency discretion. Within this budget bill, four major legal limitations exist. Describe each of them. In this discussion, make sure that you include the justification for the state creating debt in a “capital budget.”

State Budgeting and Finance – Question 3

2007-06-22T10:44:00.000-04:00

Question for CoShendra J and Julie Kate K. Describe the two different roles that the State Treasurer and the Comptroller play in South Carolina’s budget and finance process. (Note: I am asking you this because most people do not know what these two offices are or know what they each do.)

State Budgeting and Finance – Question 2

2007-06-22T10:43:00.000-04:00

Question for Kaycee D and Cequita E. Explain why the Board of Economic Advisors (which is within the Division of the Budget in the Budget and Control Board) is so important.

State Budgeting and Finance – Question 1

2007-06-22T10:37:00.000-04:00

Question for Matt B and Xavier D. Explain this statement: while both the governor and the General Assembly are important actors in the budget process, the governor is at a distinct disadvantage because of the Budget and Control Board, a body that is distinct to South Carolina.

Political Parties – Question 6

2007-06-21T15:52:00.002-04:00

Question for Matt S, Courtney T, and Erica W. The rest of the chapter gives a history of elections (up till the text was written) and the fortunes of the two parties in those elections. The trends are all Republican. After Fritz Hollings retired from the U.S. Senate, the state elected a second Republican Senator, Jim DeMint, to go along with Lindsey Graham (who replaced Strom). Four of the state’s U.S. Representatives are Republican and today all Constitutional Officers, with the exception of State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex are Republican. Perhaps of most importance is the make-up of the legislature, because in South Carolina the legislature is the most powerful political body. Table 13 in the text is particularly revealing. In 1971 practically no Republicans were in the legislature. By 1991 the Democrats still had a strong majority on both houses. But by 2001 Republicans had majorities in both houses. To update, the numbers have remained pretty steady but slowly trending Republican. In 2007 the House is 74 Republicans and 52 Democrats and the Senate is 26 Republicans and 20 Democrats. So most of the change took place in the 1990s. Part of that is due to changes in voter preferences, but part is also due to redistricting. Here is the question. Explain how redistricting helped both Black Democrats and white Republicans in the 1990s.

Political Parties – Question 5

2007-06-21T15:52:00.001-04:00

Question for Sarah L and DeQuawn S. The text has an excellent section on how the two parties have developed in South Carolina. Race of course played a central role, but there are other differences as well. Describe how Democrats are different than Republicans in South Carolina. Pay particular attention to Table 8. However, you should realize that activists in both parties have more extreme views than less active citizens who do little more than nominally identify with one of the two parties.

Political Parties – Question 4

2007-06-21T15:51:00.000-04:00

Question for Julie Kate K, Warren K, and Randy L. The section of the text on campaign finance and regulation has a lot of rules on contributions and limits and reporting that can get quite complicated. A couple of points are worth noting. First, while about half the states do have public financing of campaigns to eliminate the connection between money and political influence, South Carolina does not. Second, the soft money that used to flow from national parties to the state parties no longer exists with the national reforms that took place a few years ago – soft money no longer exists. Third, the amounts of money required to run for office have increased since the text was written. So candidates must spend a lot of time asking people for money if they are to have a chance of winning – and you cannot win without money! The most recent example was the 2006 governor’s election in which Aiken County’s Senator Tommy Moore only raised $3 million against incumbent Governor Mark Sanford’s $8 million. (Moore did not like asking people for money.) While many factors contributed to Moore’s loss, not being able to run tv ads until the last 3 weeks of the campaign pretty much doomed him to defeat. Ok, having said all that, here is the question. Describe the major sources of funding for elections and how candidates spend the money they raise.

Political Parties – Question 3

2007-06-21T15:50:00.000-04:00

Question for Kaycee D. Cequita E, and CoShendra J. Briefly describe the structure of both political parties in South Carolina. Each party has its own website that gives a lot of information about the parties and events, though the center focus today is on the upcoming presidential primaries. See the Democrat’s website at http://www.scdp.org/ and the Republican’s at http://www.scgop.com/.

Political Parties – Question 2

2007-06-21T15:48:00.002-04:00

EVERYONE answer this question. I am going to summarize and add to a section in the text here, and then point you to another source on the web for the actual question. The text has a discussion of the use of primaries to select candidates for office in the state. The original use of primaries back when the state was a one-party Democratic state was more than just selecting a candidate. The primary actually selected the officeholder because the Republicans either did not run or ran a token candidate who was certain to lose. The Democratic primary was run by the party, not the state, and the party acted like a private club in which only whites could be members. Much of that changed with the civil right revolution of the 1960s. As the Republicans became competitive they too began to hold primaries. Jumping ahead in the chapter, if you look at Table 6 you can see that since 1996 more people have voted in the Republican primary than in the Democratic primary, reflecting the changing fortunes of the two parries in the state. As the text notes earlier, the legacy of party organized primaries remained until 1992 when the state began to operate the primaries so that rules and records and procedures were much more uniform. Again, as the book notes, most local offices (county and municipal) also employ primaries to select candidates. The text also talks about presidential primaries, which are getting a lot of national publicity right now because South Carolina will be holding early presidential primaries in 2008. Unlike primaries for state offices, these were run by by the two parties until the upcoming 2008 primaries. The legislature passed a law in 2007 to have the state run them, the governor vetoed the bill, and his veto was overridden in the last days of the 2007 session (no surprise there). Recently, Educational TV and Winthrop University ran a state-wide survey to see how voters feel about the upcoming primaries. Go to the web page that gives the results – it is at http://www.myetv.org/television/productions/tbp/winthrop_etv_polls/poll1/survey1page1.html. Take a look at the results and findings and describe ONE thing that you found most surprising.

Political Parties – Question 1

2007-06-21T15:48:00.001-04:00

Question for Matt B and Xavier D. Looking over history, what has contributed to the development of political parties in South Carolina, and what has eroded their strength in recent years?

Interest Groups – Question 8

2007-06-19T10:48:00.002-04:00

Question for Matt S. What is democratic pluralism, and how well does it apply to South Carolina today?

Interest Groups – Question 7

2007-06-19T10:48:00.001-04:00

Question for Courtney T and Erica W. What are the four methods to determine which groups are most powerful, and what would each method suggest about the powers of the different groups in South Carolina?

Interest Groups – Question 6

2007-06-19T10:47:00.000-04:00

Question for Randy L and DeQuawn S. Describe the factors that affect the powers that interest groups have.

Interest Groups – Question 5 (really an update)

2007-06-19T10:45:00.000-04:00

Everyone make sure you read this!! This is not really a question but rather a comment and update. The section on regulation and reform needs some updating. Scandal and crises do drive reform as noted in the beginning of that section in the story of “Operation Lost Trust,” the FBI scam operation that caught a significant number of legislators accepting illegal money from lobbyists tied to a promise to pass legislation. Since the chapter was written, the rules have been tightened up a bit on reporting contributions (in 2003). Independent groups that spend money trying to influence elections must report spending (this reform was pushed by Governor Sanford in response to the money spend by gambling interests to help Governor Hodges). More recently the courts have ruled that a group pushing for public funding of private schools had to report what it spent and where it got the money, but that ruling came well after they had spent a lot of money in the 2006 election. Presently the effort to reform and strengthen laws seems to be going backwards. This year the legislature has considered several bills that would weaken laws and protect legislators more than improve ethics, for example threatening anyone with a jail sentence who reveals that they have filed an ethics complaint against a legislator with the House or Senate Ethics Committees. A second example. The 2003 campaign donation law tried to improve reporting by making candidates report the occupations of those who donate, but it was worded to say that candidates had to collect such information, but failed to say they had to actually report it. The fix proposed by the legislature is to remove any requirement rather than require reporting, as the 2003 law intended. These non-reforms may well be beaten back, but further real reforms (such as outlawing leadership political action committees in which important legislators collect money from interest groups that they then give to other legislators to curry favor and keep power) are unlikely short of another crisis simply because people are not angry enough.

Interest Groups – Question 4

2007-06-19T10:44:00.002-04:00

Question for CoShendra J and Sarah L. What does the lottery battle suggest about interest groups and interest group power in South Carolina? (See the insert on pages 327-328.)

Interest Groups – Question 3

2007-06-19T10:44:00.001-04:00

Question for Warren K and Julie Kate K. Describe the targets of interest group activity in South Carolina, noting some of the techniques they use for each target.

Interest Groups – Question 2

2007-06-19T10:42:00.000-04:00

Question for Xavier D and Cequite E. Describe the range of interest groups that operate in South Carolina and why each kind of group is active in state politics. Note in your answer the problem that some groups have with “free riders.” All of you need to understand what free riders are. We have already talked about them in reference to those who live in donut holes and adjacent to cities but do not pay for the cost of maintaining a city.

Interest Groups – Question 1

2007-06-19T10:41:00.000-04:00

Question for Matt B and Kaycee D. What dilemma faced the Founding Fathers concerning interest groups (what they called “factions”), and how did they attempt to resolve the dilemma?

Special Purpose Districts and Schools – Question 5

2007-06-18T10:51:00.000-04:00

Question for Matt S, Courtney T, and Erica W. Consider the following statement: school districts are the result of the failure to have a general law governing their creation. Explain what this means and why it creates problems in understanding the governance and structure of schools in South Carolina.

Special Purpose Districts and Schools – Question 4

2007-06-18T10:50:00.002-04:00

Question for Sarah L and DeQuawn S. How did home rule and court rulings affect special purpose districts? Note in your answer how the existence of spd’s affected the incorporation of Hilton Head as a municipality.

Special Purpose Districts and Schools – Question 3

2007-06-18T10:50:00.001-04:00

Question for Warren K and Randy L. Review the arguments for and against having special purpose districts. (Also see the arguments in the conclusion to the chapter.) Which arguments do you think are most convincing and why?

Special Purpose Districts and Schools – Question 2

2007-06-18T10:49:00.003-04:00

Question for Cequita E, Cashendra J, and Julie Kate K. How are special purpose districts formed and what are the reasons why they are created?

Special Purpose Districts and Schools – Question 1

2007-06-18T10:49:00.001-04:00

Question for Matt B, Xavier D, and Kaycee D. What are special purpose districts and what are the most typical kinds in South Carolina?

Counties – Question 9

2007-06-15T10:22:00.002-04:00

Question for Courtney T and Erica W. The last sections and the conclusion of the chapter deal with altering boundaries of counties, which is extremely rare, and city/county consolidation, which is possible but has never been done, and with challenges and reforms. The major challenge, which is mentioned in several places in the chapter, is the inherent fragmentation of county government because of all the independently elected officials (like sheriff, auditor, clerk of court). How to overcome this fragmentation and get these offices working together is and will continue to be a challenge. However, there are at least two other challenges. What are they and how could they affect your quality of life?

Counties – Question 8

2007-06-15T10:22:00.001-04:00

Question for DeQuawn S and Matt S. Describe the kinds of services that counties provide and how they pay for these services.

Counties – Question 7

2007-06-15T10:20:00.000-04:00

Question for Sarah L. What is a “special tax district” and how could having these districts end the creation of “special purpose districts?” (Note: because of the political power of special purpose districts, they are still around and going strong, as we shall see in the next chapter.)

Counties – Question 6

2007-06-15T10:19:00.000-04:00

Question for Warren K and Randy L. To what extent do counties in South Carolina have "fiscal home rule?” Explain your answer.

Counties – Question 5

2007-06-15T10:18:00.000-04:00

Everyone do this one! Study the alternative forms of county government in the text and go to your home county web site (use Aiken if you live out of state) and determine which form your home county uses and explain your conclusion. (Use the SC Government link in the left hand frame to get to your county.)

Counties – Question 4

2007-06-15T10:17:00.001-04:00

Question for Julie Kate K. Describe how counties evolved in South Carolina and the limits that existed on what they could do before Home Rule was passed in 1975. In your discussion note how counties were actually run and how the U.S. Supreme Court case Reynolds v. Simms (1964) began to undermine this system of governance.

Counties – Question 3

2007-06-15T10:15:00.000-04:00

Question for Cequita D and Coshendra J. What about the structure of county government makes reform and uniform centralized control and responsibility so difficult? This is part of the explanation to the saying in South Carolina that “counties can’t govern.”

Counties – Question 2

2007-06-15T10:14:00.000-04:00

Question for Kaycee D. The text describes the great diversity among counties in the nation, from populations of only a few hundred to hundreds of thousands and millions in a few cases. While the difference between cities and counties noted in the previous question remains, the difference between what counties do and what municipalities do has changed over time. What services and roles do modern counties typically provide and play today?

Counties – Question 1

2007-06-15T10:13:00.001-04:00

Question for Matt B and Xavier D. What is the origin of the term “county,” and what is the major difference between counties and cities?

Municipalities – Questions 7

2007-06-13T16:03:00.001-04:00

Question for Matt S, Courtney T and Erica W. Suppose you are a personnel manager for a medium sized city in South Carolina. Describe some of the federal and state rules and laws that will affect your handling of city employees. Make sure you include in your discussion the idea of “employment-at-will.”

Municipalities – Questions 6

2007-06-13T16:02:00.004-04:00

Question for Sarah L, Carsten P, and Dequawn S. Describe the sources of income that cities have and where most cities spend most of their money.

Municipalities – Questions 5

2007-06-13T16:02:00.003-04:00

Question for Warren K and Randy L. Look up your home town or the nearest major town from where you live on the Web. (You can find links off the SC Government link on the left panel on this page.) If you do not live in SC, then look up Aiken City. Compare the kinds of services that your city provides compared to the services listed for typical cities in the state.

Municipalities – Question 4

2007-06-13T16:02:00.001-04:00

Question for Coshendra J and Julie Kate K. Consider the alternative forms of municipal government. Look up your home town or the nearest major town from where you live on the Web. (You can find links off the SC Government link on the left panel on this page.) If you do not live in SC, then look up Aiken City. Describe its structure in terms of form (using the different forms listed in the text) and how it selects leadership (kinds of elections and when held).

Municipalities – Question 3

2007-06-13T16:01:00.000-04:00

EVERYONE ANSWER this one! The way cities expand is called annexation. Figure 3 on page 28 outlines the methods of annexation, the most common of which is petition and election. What you should all understand about these methods is that at least a majority of those living there must want to become part of the city before it can happen (unless the city owns the land, which is rarely the case). This makes annexation extremely difficult in South Carolina, because many citizens do not want to be part of a city because then they would then have to pay both city taxes and county taxes. Most do not feel that they will get sufficient benefits to outweigh the costs involved. So we have areas, known as “doughnut holes,” that are completely surrounded by city that are not in the city. The situation in North Carolina, which has what most political scientists consider a model annexation law, is quite different. If an area is adjacent to a city and is city-like in character the city has the power to annex it by ordinance, whether the residents like it or not. Ok, so here is the question, and this is a thought question to which you will find no factual answer in the book. Consider these two alternative situations. What arguments can you make for doing things the way South Carolina does it and for the way North Carolina does it? Try to make at least one good argument on each side.

Municipalities – Question 2

2007-06-13T15:58:00.000-04:00

Question for Kaycee D and Cequita E. As we are taking this course, the people who live in the area of the county commonly called Graniteville are exploring the possibility of becoming an incorporated municipality. What steps do they have to go through to become an incorporated city?

Municipalities – Question 1

2007-06-13T15:57:00.000-04:00

Question for Matt B and Xavier D. If you look at the list of cities in South Carolina, most all of them are small and only a couple are in the 100,000 population range. The state could be characterized as a state of small towns, yet that is not quite accurate. If you add up all the populations of all the cities, the number falls far short of even half the population of the state. At the same time most people do not live in rural areas as they once did (that would have been true prior to about 1950). If they do not live in cities or in rural areas, where do they live? Hint: the answer to this is related to the fact that many people who think they live in a city like Columbia or Aiken really do not live in that city.