Harvey Peeler

The state Senate has frequently been a stumbling block in the path of needed restructuring for South Carolina’s service and regulatory agencies. Maybe that will change under the focus of Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler, who is working on reform plans in advance of the January session.

Sen. Peeler will head a panel to look at restructuring health care services provided by the state, with an eye to greater efficiencies and lower costs. There are three plans under study, but all share the common element of more gubernatorial control.

Putting agencies under the authority of the state’s chief executive offers a higher level of accountability than governance by appointed committees. Currently, the governor has only 20 percent of state government under his control, probably less than in any other state in the nation.

South Carolina’s governors have repeatedly sought restructuring, but their efforts have come to little since Gov. Carroll A. Campbell advanced the Cabinet form of government 16 years ago, in the wake of the state’s worst legislative scandal of the 20th century.

Gov. Mark Sanford, in particular, has made restructuring a major part of his agenda, and there have been two victories on that front during his administration. The Legislature turned over the troubled Department of Motor Vehicles to the governor’s office, where it became a more efficient and customer-friendly agency. And the head of the state Department of Transportation was placed in the governor’s Cabinet, though its policy-making commission still is largely under legislative control.

Gov. Sanford has declared his willingness to work with the Legislature on restructuring, but lawmakers appear to have little interest in dealing with him, except to encourage his resignation in the wake of his extramarital scandal and allegations of his improper use of state planes.

The Legislature has the capacity, however, to pursue restructuring on its own, recognizing that any additions to the Cabinet system will expand the authority of the next governor, not Mr. Sanford, even if he completes his second term. In any event, the Senate leadership should be primarily concerned about making a difference to state residents and taxpayers, not settling scores with the governor.

Two of the health care bills under review were approved by the House last year, and only require Senate approval. In fact, the House approved by a vote of 108-0 the consolidation of the Mental Health Department, the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, and the Continuum of Care as the Department of Behavior Health Services.

The Continuum of Care currently operates out of the governor’s office and provides for the needs of children with severe emotional disturbance as well as their families.

The House also approved moving the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs into the governor’s Cabinet last session, after the agency was sharply criticized in a Legislative Audit Council review.

And Sen. Peeler’s committee will look at splitting the health and environmental components of the State Department of Health and Environmental Control, giving the governor appointment authority over the leadership of each agency. That would provide the additional opportunity for consolidating environmental agencies.

Based on current estimates, South Carolina can expect another tough budget year. The Legislature should do what it can to streamline state services and reduce the administrative cost of operating numerous agencies. Restructuring can advance both goals.

The Post and Courier