South Carolina divided over taxpayer-funded lobbying for in-state universities
From Sunshine Review
September 28th, 2009. A public university's recent decision to hire an additional taxpayer-funded lobbyist has exacerbated the debate over taxpayer-funded lobbying in South Carolina. Critics of the use of taxpayer-funded lobbying, such as that for public universities, charge that taxpayer-funded lobbying is against the interests of taxpayers and wasteful, but public universities say in defense that it can play valuable role in government[1].
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[edit] Taxpayer-funded lobbying in South Carolina higher education
Many of the public universities in South Carolina use tax dollars to employ lobbyists. The expense for these lobbyists is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The College of Charleston, for instance, employs two lobbyists; with salaries of $81,600 and $85,000 respectively. Other universities that employ highly-paid lobbyists include Clemson University, the University of South Carolina, and The Medical University of South Carolina [2].
[edit] Critics
Critics say that taxpayer-funded lobbyists for public universities, like the newest one hired by the College of Charleston, are an unjustified use of taxpayer dollars. Critics charge taxpayer-funded lobbyists as unrepresentative of the taxpayers who fund them. Ashley Landess, president of South Carolina Policy Council, said, "It's a conflict of interest against the people. As a taxpayer, I might be paying a lobbyist to fight for something I don't agree with" [3].
Some politicians within South Carolina are opposed to taxpayer-funded lobbying. Governor Mark Sanford sees taxpayer-funded lobbying as a waste. He bans state agencies under his control from the use of taxpayer-funded lobbying [4].
[edit] Response from public universities
In response to heated criticism, public universities within South Carolina have defended their use of taxpayer-funded lobbyists. The universities maintain that lobbyists are helpful because they inform and educate legislators about the needs of higher education within the state. With the help of lobbyists, universities say that legislators are able to effectively draft and pass legislation in a way that they would otherwise not be able to. As Jim Parker, President of Clemson University, said, "We need to have people who are knowledgeable about both the university and the state regulatory and legislative processes. The governmental affairs staff plays a critical role as liaisons between the university and the many state and federal agencies that impact Clemson University [5]."
In defense of their recent hire, the College of Charleston has said that lobbyists are particularly important in times of economic downturn, since resources are scarcer. In addition, lobbyists in this time are important because they can lobby on behalf of South Carolina for the reception of stimulus package dollars. [6]."
[edit] References
- ↑ The Post and Courier, Schools defend lobbying costs
- ↑ The Post and Courier, Schools defend lobbying costs]
- ↑ The Post and Courier, Schools defend lobbying costs
- ↑ The Post and Courier, Schools defend lobbying costs
- ↑ The Post and Courier, Schools defend lobbying costs
- ↑ The Post and Courier, Schools defend lobbying costs
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