SC Senate GOP Leader Peeler teaches the SC House a lesson

The South Carolina State Senate passed rules to allow for more on the record votes for higher accountability to the people in their first day in session. While some still criticize the compromise measure that was a big step forward in open state government, even Governor Sanford praised the measure.

How did such happen? It is simple. Majority Leader Harvey Peeler worked with various state senate factions to work quietly on a measure that could pass without opposition. Peeler’s quiet legislative diplomacy stands in stark contrast to the controversy in the South Carolina House over similar measures. Instead of quiet diplomacy to get something done, the House debate about such measures erupted into media gamesmanship and retributions from the House leadership.

Legislative bodies are a clash of egos. All of the egos involved have equal stakes per the votes of the people who elected them to their posts. A real leader recognizes that fact and works to prevent high profile clashes based upon ego when it comes to passing important measures. A real leader shows respect for those who have equal footing per elections by dealing with them quietly and looking for consensus. Finding common ground on important measures is the essence of legislative leadership.

Simply put, State Senator Harvey Peeler taught the House of Representatives a lesson in leadership. When an important legislative measure needs to be passed, a true leader in a legislative body does not play media games or offer heavy handed retributions. Instead, a leader quietly works out differences and finds a way to get something done. South Carolina House Speaker Bobby Harrell and members Nikki Haley and Nathan Ballentine would be well advised to learn from the lesson in politics Harvey Peeler offered them. It is how real leaders get things done.