The Department of Health & Environmental Control is charged
with protecting the health of the public and the environment, but too
often its decisions permit excessive pollution. DHEC needs new
leadership and a clear mission to stand up for clean air and clean
water. In 2009 Senators Phil Leventis and John Courson introduced S.384,
to restructure DHEC as a cabinet agency to improve accountability.
Although the Senate Medical Affairs Subcommittee, headed by Sen.
Danny Verdin, gave the bill a positive report, the full Committee
bent to industry pressure and political reality and rejected cabinet
status. In lieu of cabinet accountability, the conservation community
offered amendments to give the Board a more meaningful role in the
management of the agency and make the permitting and appeals process
more transparent. Only minor amendments were adopted and the full Senate
never voted on the bill after several Senators raised objections. We'd
like to thank Senators John Courson, Phil Leventis, Harvey Peeler,
Danny Verdin, Vincent Sheheen and Dave Thomas for their
leadership in beginning this important discussion about how to better
empower DHEC to protect public health.
Two House bills supported by the conservation community that would have
improved the health of South Carolina's school children unfortunately
died in the Senate this year. Rep. Dan Cooper's Farm to School Bill, H.3179 encouraged school districts to purchase locally and regionally produced
foods in order to improve student nutrition and strengthen local and
regional farms. And Rep. Bakari Sellers' School Health Food
Standards, H.3297 called for elementary schools to offer only full meals for student
consumption, and aimed to create fat, calorie, and sugar content
standards that snacks and beverages must meet in order to be sold in
schools. Both bills passed the House last year, and received a favorable
report from the full Senate Education Committee in February 2010, only
to stall on the Senate floor when objections were raised.
