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Published on 1/11/2009

By Tim Callahan

Timcallahan01@aol.com

Rep. Vida Miller said the gasoline tax hasn't been raised in 20 years and "it is critical to improving roads and infrastructure."

She said the Legislature is starting its session with twice the debt as last year.

"No one wants to tax people," she said. "But the government can't operate without taxes. It is how we get our services."

At a luncheon meeting of the South Carolina Women's Connection, Miller said the state budget won't be on the table until March and won't be finalized until June.

Miller said Gov. Mark Sanford is always calling for less, and more effective, government.

"I think the government is efficient," she said, "but when we get through the recession, I'm sure, government will be more efficient."

She said state agency employees are being asked to take furloughs and early retirement.

On unemployment, benefits, Miller said she has no problem with Gov. Sanford asking for an audit of the Employment Security Commission, but "don't keep 77,000 people from getting their checks."

However, Sanford did agree to request a $146 million federal loan that will cover unemployment expenses until March. The unemployment fund system makes $14 million a week in payments. Sanford had refused to sign the loan request because of a long-running dispute with the state agency that handles unemployment. He wants an audit of the Employment Security Commission. After several lawmakers agreed to ask for an audit, Sanford signed off on the loan request.

Miller said she and Sanford have different philosophies of government.

Less, and more effective, government is fine, she said, but she is in Columbia "to serve the people and improve their quality of life."

When asked how to change the wording of the state constitution from South Carolina will provide "minimally adequate" education to something like "high quality," she said it would have to be done through a referendum. But to get a referendum, she said, a bill would have to be first introduced in the Legislature.

Rita Smith asked Miller why she switched from the Education Committee to the Judiciary Committee, considering Miller seemed so committed to education.

"It was time for a change," Miller said. "I had been on the Education Committee for 10 years. But I will still follow education issues."

Susan Smith asked what was going to be done about "shadow organizations like South Carolinians for Responsible Government." SCRG currently does not have to file a campaign spending report but spends money during elections to educate voters. They spent a lot of money attacking Miller's record in the District 108 race last year.

"Would it help to get a petition with many signatures on it?" Smith said.

"That would be great," Miller said. "The most effective form of lobbying is to hear from you. When constituents call or write, we listen."

Miller sponsored a bill for a roll call vote and is trying to get co-sponsors, she said, but "nothing we do is hidden from the public."

Explaining the voting system, she said, "A roll call vote is not required, but any one of us can request one. The House has 600 bills a year. A lot of them don't need a roll call vote. All the controversial issues are recorded votes."

South Carolina ranks 50th in the nation for women elected to state office, 48th for women's life expectancy, 39th for women earning college degrees, and first for women killed by domestic partners.

To improve these statistics, the Clemson Institute for Economic and Community Development initiated the SC Women's Connection, a statewide organization to improve economic opportunity and quality of life by advancing the status of women through research, teaching, and service programs.