UPDATE: Oh, what did we do. The previous headline, “Stavriankis Has Enough of S.C. House Politics” apparently provided some mid-budget drama. We’ve provided a little clarity. Nobody’s quitting.
A tweet recently from SCHouseDems read:
Democratic Rep. Leon Stavrinakis puts the GOP in their place regarding their skewed priorities. When are they going to start leading?
Last week, we figured out what they meant when Stavrinakis, who represents West Ashley and parts of James and John’s islands, sent us a letter summing up his frustration.
I have sat in amazement the first month and a half of session and watched the Republican majority waste day after day of valuable public time. During the greatest economic crisis in a generation the majority party in the S.C. House of Representatives is apparently paralyzed and completely unable to lead. No jobs bill, no bankruptcy bill, no economic development bill, no port bill, no stimulus bill, no crime bill. Nope none of that.
Stavrinakis goes on to note that House Republicans have instead been focusing on bills regarding abortion, voting, and renaming state roads. He also bring up the contentious relationship between the legislature and the governor.
With our state suffering so badly we need better, more focused leadership. We must demand a stop to the excessive personal bickering in Columbia. It is holding our state back and limiting opportunities for this and future generations. We must demand better results from the Republicans who have had absolute control of our state government for years now and also from Democrats who at times seem content to just sit back and watch.
It’s time to keep score on our would be leaders and, if they do not produce, we must hold them accountable and have the courage to buck tradition for a new beginning.
Rep. Leon Stavrinakis
District 119, Charleston County
For a PDF of Stavrinakis’ full commentary, click here. The State also covered Democratic frustrations last week.
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