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Their Views
First healthy budget cycle in half a decade
State lawmakers at least gave Gov. Mark Sanford’s 163 vetoes the time of day, unlike last year ... But ultimately the governor lost, both in terms of significantly changing the $5.8 billion budget and, perhaps more importantly, in taking the high ground in this budget fight. Sanford is a Republican governor with a Republican Senate and House of Representatives. But you wouldn’t know it from the rhetoric. This governor — personally and through his spokesmen — goes out of his way to paint the Legislature as a bunch of free-spending, pork-loving, fiscal liberals. It doesn’t work, though. The $5.8 billion budget is, as Republican leaders like to point out, is still more than $100 million smaller than the state budget was five years ago. This state has suffered dramatically during the five-year economic downturn, and the state budget bears witness to the pain and suffering. The 2005-06 budget represents the first healthy budget cycle in half of a decade. Little wonder then that many lawmakers used the growing revenue surplus to take care of pressing needs with colleges, technical schools and local projects sorely in need of a little state money. ... State lawmakers rejected all but about 10 of the governor’s vetoes. They have upheld a state budget that shores up many areas that have taken quite a hit over the past few years. The Greenville News
Former speaker now faces new challenges
The same diplomatic skills that departing Speaker David Wilkins, R-Greenville, used to keep order and civility in the House the past 11 years should serve him well in his new role as the top U.S. diplomat to Canada. Confirmed as U.S. ambassador to Ottawa, Wilkins takes over a plum assignment in a nation with which our nation has a warm, profitable relationship. For that reason, being ambassador to Canada will be less contentious for Wilkins ... But it still presents challenges. Many Canadians do not support the Bush administration’s foreign policy goals, especially in the Middle East. Wilkins no doubt will be devoting much of his time explaining the American foreign-policy view to skeptical Canadian leaders He’ll also be trying to persuade the Canadian government to beef up security on its side of the border. ... But the greatest consumer of Wilkins’ time and energy is likely to be trade issues. Each country is the other’s largest trading partner. ... Wilkins will find it a challenge to mediate disputes that go to the heart of the economies of both nations and of the security of the United States. But the S.C. House is as good a preparation ground for this work as any. The man who mastered that institution – and made virtually every member, Republican and Democrat, like it – should have no trouble representing our interests in Ottawa. The (Myrtle Beach) Sun News
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