The South Carolina House on Tuesday voted to override two of Governor Mark Sanford’s vetoes that would take financial control away from the Fairfield County School Board.
Fairfield County Democrat Boyd Brown co-sponsored the legislation along with Fairfield County Senator Creighton Coleman. The measure would have created a five-person committee to oversee the district’s finances. Those positions would be appointed by Boyd and Coleman. The local issue had a number of House members from other areas of the state enthralled in lengthy debate.
Richland County Democrat Leon Howard accused Brown of crossing the line.
(Howard attacks Boyd Brown MP3 4:23)
Howard attacks Boyd Brown
After a 39-22 vote Tuesday morning failed to get the necessary two-thirds majority vote required to override a veto, another vote (33-10) late Tuesday afternoon succeeded, when fewer House members voted.
From the House floor, Howard then said that lawmakers had no business getting involved in local issues that should be up to local voters.
Votes were also sufficient to override a veto on another bill, which would increase the number of school board members in Fairfield County from seven to nine.
The Senate must override the vetoes with a two-thirds majority as well, or the vetoes stand.
The feelings of many lawmakers were summed up by Laurens County Republican Jeff Duncan, who said that members who are not a member of the local delegation should stay out of it. “I don’t think you should vote on it unless you live in Fairfield County,” he said. “Because I can tell you, there will be a time when some local legislation comes up that only affects your county, and you are not going to want everyone to sway the vote, because they’re not accountable to your voters. You are. Jeff Duncan is going to stay out of this.”
