South Carolina editorial roundup

The ethics law was exposed as a self-protection racket for the political class; computer hackers broke into the ill-secured data system of the state Revenue Department and lifted the unencrypted data of more than 6.4 million South Carolinians; 250 candidates were kicked off the ballot because no one noticed a new law that applied only to non-incumbents; the unaccountable elections office in Richland County deployed too few voting machines, forcing thousands of voters to endure waits of up to seven hours, while untold others left without casting a ballot; video gambling interests sold several judges on a ploy to revive their outlawed industry.

All of that was on top of the perennially ignored list of problems that plague our state. ...

Lawmakers did quickly close the video-gambling loophole, and just before they closed the regular session on Thursday, they eliminated the election filing disparity (and, more importantly, stripped political parties of the power to act as state officials, whether they know what they're doing or not). But that's it.

There's still a chance that they could dismantle the Budget and Control Board, giving the governor more power to act like a governor and the Legislature a mandate to act like a legislature, when they return to Columbia later this month to tie up loose ends. And we must hope for that, because it's really the only chance we have left of salvaging a simply dreadful session.

Theoretically, lawmakers could spend our money wisely, since negotiators are still trying to work out a deal on the budget. Realistically, that seems far-fetched. In fact, the defund-the-school crowd has made such strides that it's not inconceivable that we could be looking at the second year in a row when lawmakers can't pass a budget by July 1. ...

Some would argue that given the fixations they entertained this year — from Obamacare "nullification" to guns in bars to empowering people to divert their tax payments to private schools — we should be relieved that lawmakers didn't accomplish more. And they did make enough progress on ethics reform and cyber security that they might manage to act early next session.

But the outlines of what needed to be done to address the crises have been clear for months, and the need to act was obvious. So at half-time of a two-year session, we have every right to be disappointed.

Online:

http://www.thestate.com

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June 10

The Times and Democrat of Orangeburg on making U.S. shield law a high priority for Congress:

Much is written about the public's right to know guaranteed by freedom-of-information acts on the federal and state levels. Sadly, most of the news is about violations by elected officials, government bodies and agencies, and their appointees and employees. The battle to ensure access is a daily one.

But there is a related and growing problem — one that goes to the root of the freedom of the press guaranteed by the First Amendment. The press, as watchdog of government, must have the ability to do its work.

A top public policy priority for journalists is enactment of a federal shield law that would enable reporters to protect confidential sources when subpoenaed in criminal and civil cases.

In the wake of recent scandals involving the Justice Department's secret seizure of phone records that swept in communications of more than 100 Associated Press journalists, and the monitoring of Fox News reporter James Rosen's personal email and cellphone records, this legislation is critical to protecting the free flow of information and the public's right to know. ...