by Karl Kurtz
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley recently sent a letter to all state legislators saying that she intends to issue a report card on their votes on key issues on her agenda. The Times and Democrat summarized the letter:
Haley said in a letter to legislators her report card would track results of important legislation, including requirements for more roll call voting, state spending limits, reorganizing state government and upholding her budget vetoes.
Haley claimed the move was not personal or partisan but "good government."
"I intend for the report card to be a public document and I hope that this tool will help us, as elected officials, make better decisions," Haley wrote.
I was asked by a reporter if I knew of a governor in any other state who had published a report card on legislators' voting records. I replied that I have not heard of it, but that didn't mean it hasn't happened.
I went on to say that I think you can view this action in two different ways. On the one hand, any good governor has such a report card in his or her head. Governors know exactly how each legislator votes on the issues that are important to them, and many of them use that information to berate legislators in public and reward or punish their supporters or opponents. The legislators' votes are matters of public record anyway, so what's the harm in a governor publishing her view of those votes?
On the other hand, the idea of a report card carries a couple of unfortunate connotations. First, grading legislators' votes is something that special interest groups routinely do to advocate for their causes and gain political influence. As the chief executive of the state, shouldn't a governor be above that? Second, a report card carries the image of a school or a workplace--a superior teacher or boss who evaluates the performance of those who are under her. The legislators are not pupils of the governor nor do they work for her. The legislature is an independent and co-equal branch of government in our separation of powers system.
The legislative institutionalist in me tends toward the latter view--that other hand. But then again, I'm not sure I can see the report card as much of a problem. It's not as if Gov. Haley is usurping the Legislature's power or bypassing its authority. If the governor thinks the report card will help her get her way, she should go for it. The problem with the report card is more symbolic than real. It's not likely to change the balance of power in a state with a strong tradition of legislative independence and authority.
In other words, I need a third hand that's right in the middle between the other two on this one.
If they wanted to, legislators could also issue their own report card for Haley. There are enough Democrats to keep her from getting better than a D.
Posted by: anonymous | March 17, 2011 at 09:10 AM