Office of the Speaker
SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
March 5, 2008

Contact: Greg Foster
(803) 734-3125
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House Passes Government Restructuring
Bill allows Governor to appoint several Constitutional Officers

(Columbia, SC) -Today, the South Carolina House passed a bill that will streamline government by changing the way our state chooses its constitutional officers. 

“The system we have right now is not the most effective way of governing,” House Speaker Bobby Harrell said.  “Once again, the House has passed this issue of restructuring our state’s government in hopes of streamlining our system of government.  This will make the Governor more effective in governing and the winners of this change will be the citizens of our state.”

The bill (H. 4620) will allow the Governor to appoint the Secretary of State and the State Superintendent of Education.  It will also allow the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor to run on the same ticket.  The change will be in the form of a Constitutional Amendment that will be decided upon by the people.  Currently the public elects these constitutional officers every four years.

Past government restructuring bills have been introduced and passed by the House but have not passed the Senate. 

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