House agrees to strip Budget and Control of some duties

The House voted 111-0 Tuesday to create a new department, the Department of Administration, and move some state departments currently controlled by the state Budget and Control Board under the new department.

The governor would appoint the head of the new Department of Administration. If both Houses agree to this structural change, it would be a victory for Gov. Mark Sanford and his quest to give the governor's office more power over state government.

Affected departments would include human resources, procurement and information technology.

Proponents say the bill will streamline government and increase efficiency.

Also, the House approved an accompanying accountability bill that requires committees of lawmakers to evaluate state agencies and ensure programs are meeting stated goals.

"We can address issues not in a crisis management sense but from a proactive sense," said bill sponsor Rep. Laurie Funderburk, D-Kershaw. 

Comments

[Commonman]

So what will become of all the extravagantly paid bureaucrats who have retired and simply continue to work for the board? What would become of the employment agency for legislators' and governors' supporters and their staff when they move on? What would become of the legislators' trough for special projects? This has about a zero percent chance of passing the Senate and the House knows it. If they thought the Senate would pass it, they would never have sent it to them.