A S.C. House rules proposal would have forced anyone testifying before a House committee to be sworn in before giving testimony. If passed, that rule would give lawmakers the authority to impose fines and jail time for giving “materially misleading” or “materially incomplete” testimony. No one is sure what this proposal was intended to remedy. Has there been some kind of problem with citizens lying before House committees. Or – what seems rather more plausible – was the proposal intended merely to intimidate certain non-politicians whose testimony is often critical of lawmakers?
For more on how a few lawmakers are openly expressing a desire to “get” certain groups, read Monday’s Nerve story on it. Take a look, too, at the meeting where all this was discussed: click here and go to the October 30 meeting of House Rules and Procedures Ad-Hoc Committee 1:50:15 for the relevant part of the discussion.