Nikki Haley Calls for SC DOT Overhaul

Haley says the DOT's governing commission is "wheeling and dealing," rather than prioritizing the limited cash the state has for construction and maintenance. Maybe they are, and maybe they aren't, but it did seem a little strange that they ran out of money this summer. Haley's criticism?

Haley said now is the time for the Legislature to build on a 2007 overhaul of the agency that shifted partial control to the governor's office. Haley said she can only do so much to change the agency's internal management and continuing money problems. "We don't need a political body handling infrastructure," Haley said.

Haley said the difference between the commission and the governor's office having control is that she will take a statewide approach to managing highway dollars with an eye toward economic development.

So let's see....Haley says the seven member committee at the DOT is too "political" and is "wheeling and dealing", but she want the Governor's office to have the control because she would do it "with an eye toward economic development". Maybe. But isn't the Governor's office even more political than a seven member committee? You know, the Governor is...elected...by the political process. It's pretty much the definition of "political".

Maybe the committee isn't doing a great job, but to say they need to give the Governor all the power to take politics out of the equation doesn't compute. In any event, I'm pretty happy with the roads here in SC. Nothing has collapsed (that I know of) and I can pretty much drive to everywhere I need to get to. So, there you go. It's not totally a broken system in my opinion.