THEIR VIEW

The General Assembly must reduce state spending this week via difficult choices forced by the economic meltdown's devastating impact on tax revenue. But reducing spending by reducing the length of the regular legislative session should not be a difficult choice. Lawmakers should support the new push for that long-overdue change.

On several occasions in recent years, the S.C. House has approved legislation that would shorten the session. Unfortunately, the Senate has failed to advance those bills. ...

At least there appears to be growing bipartisan support for a common-sense decrease in session length. As Gov. Mark Sanford said in a release Monday:

"We believe a shorter legislative session would not only save money but would also serve as a deterrent to so many of the things that we believe unnecessarily prolong the legislative session like early adjournments and excessive recognitions from the floor. ..."

Too bad the bill might not even be considered during this special session as those hard spending-cut calls dominate lawmakers' attention. But shortening the session should be an easy call. And if our state's legislators fail again this week to advance this practical reform, they should give it their prompt attention in January.

The (Charleston) Post and Courier