SC Politicos Battle For DMV “Credit”

Given South Carolina’s chronic incompetence and anti-competitiveness on virtually every available measurement, politicos in the Palmetto State are usually grappling to appropriate blame … not assign credit.

One rare exception?

The S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) – which was famously reformed a decade ago under the administration of former S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford.

In fact Sanford’s efforts to streamline the agency (which included Saturday office hours and enhanced online capabilities) were praised this week by an unlikely source – liberal public relations executive Tim Kelly.

“You can criticize Mark Sanford about a lot of things, but he sure as heck fixed customer service and waiting times at the DMV,” Kelly wrote on his Facebook page.

But did he?

A liberal activist – one with a history of, um, vehicular issues – quickly piped up to correct Kelly.

“That plan was implemented under Sanford, but (it) was drawn up by the husband of a friend of mine at the end of Hodges’ administration,” liberal activist (and former blogger) Laurin Manning wrote. “Sanford is quick to claim credit for it though.”

That comment drew Sanford’s former chief of staff Scott English into the mix …

“It’s the hard work of the SCDMV staff,” English wrote.

Of course he quickly transitioned into credit mode for his old boss …

“Only one Administration implemented and maintained a standard of excellence, but let’s NEVER give it credit for anything. Ever,” English complained. “Of course, if things had gone badly at any point, only Sanford would have been blamed.”

Sheesh … what a whiner.

The irony in all this? Performance at the SCDMV has been slipping in recent years as the administration of Gov. Nikki Haley has chosen to play political games with the agency (here and here) rather than let it do the job we pay it $84.5 million a year to do.

Maybe these politicos should focus on that rather than trying to appropriate credit unto themselves for a decade-old “reform.”