Mandy Powers Norrell

September 17, 2008

Mandy Powers Norrell, candidate for S.C. Senate District 16, today announced her support for Representative Nikki Haley’s efforts to pass a bill which would require any state expenditure vote in the General Assembly to be recorded by a roll call.

Haley (R-Lexington) introduced the bill last session and it quickly gained bipartisan support, eventually reaching twelve co-sponsors. Norrell’s opponent, Rep. Mick Mulvaney, did not join in the effort to promote open and honest reform of government’s spending practices.

Under the current system, legislators can vote on massive amounts of spending in secret with no accountability to the taxpayers. Last session, the General Assembly received criticism after the South Carolina Policy Council released study results showing that state legislators held recorded votes less than one percent of the time on all legislation passed last year.

Norrell released these statements on the matter:

“I believe in an open and accountable government that allows the voters to see how Columbia spends our tax dollars. I believe in fiscal restraint and public scrutiny of spending practices will allow us to cut wasteful spending. Like most families, I have to live on a budget and the legislature should be no different.”

“I applaud the bipartisan efforts of Rep. Haley to promote the common sense idea of governmental accountability. It was a worthwhile measure and I plan to support similar efforts in the Senate to make sure this passes next year.”

“I am disappointed that my opponent did not support this worthwhile effort last year as a representative when he had the opportunity. Despite all his talk of reform, he seems only to bring these issues up on the campaign trail.”