Looking back at South Carolina's civic life, most historians would agree that Carroll Campbell was one of the state's most effective governors. In 1993, Campbell, a Republican with 61% of the Legislature supporting Democrats, led a comprehensive reorganization of state government.
It's hard to imagine now, but before the former Greenville lawmaker's reforms were enacted, South Carolina's governor was easily the most vulnerable in America. State agencies were run by boards and commissions, some of which included members of Congress. There was no governor's cabinet, and executive power was widely and thinly dispersed, so the people often wondered who was in charge.
There were many reasons for Campbell's success, some of which seem almost paradoxical. Although he was clearly very conservative, he believed passionately in reform. He was a fan of Ronald Reagan, who was “too conservative,” but also criticized “horse and buggy government.” He supported reducing the size of government and was well aware of the balance that framers were trying to create in public policy. That is, power should be concentrated enough to ensure effective governance, but not enough to open the door to tyranny.
Mr. Campbell's conservative but reformist legacy and his understanding of the appropriate balance of power speak to the final stage of the current debate. Following the split of DHEC into the Environmental Agency and Health Agency, the General Assembly is taking the next step in streamlining the health functions of six state agencies into the Office of Health Policy Executive.
Unfortunately, even after the Senate passed S.915 by a vote of 44-1 and the House passed it by a margin of 98-15, some concerns led some of the existing departments to push back on this new division. The enactment of legislation to establish it has been prevented. However, these concerns are not based in reality.
The creation of the Office of Health Policy will not only save taxpayers money by eliminating duplication that was not addressed in 1993 and 2014, but will also help the public, especially those with complex health needs who are underserved. It represents a significant opportunity to serve people more effectively. This is due to the confusion arising from existing unaffiliated institutions.
However, the new government agency will not have absolute power. The governor's supreme powers, the oversight and verification procedures already in place, and the additional safeguards built into the law are designed to protect the rights of the public. Beyond these, there are additional political, legal and administrative remedies.
The Office of Health Policy is a reform whose time has come, and one that I think Carol Campbell, a Ronald Reagan Republican, would have warmly embraced.
Oran Smith, a senior fellow at the Palmetto Promise Institute, served in the Campbell administration.
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