(Columbia-AP) April 1, 2004 - Governor Mark Sanford has decided for now to back off threats to sue the Legislature over the constitutionality of unrelated items put in the same massive economic development bill in the General Assembly.

He says he made his decision after a closed meeting with Republican leaders Wednesday afternoon. Reporters were physically barred from the door of the meeting between Sanford and the House GOP Caucus. Senators met with the governor later. Democrats were not invited.

The governor says he's not giving up the option to sue, but wants to fix things legislatively first.

While House leaders say the meeting was productive, but also left them bewildered. House Republicans told Sanford the lawsuit would have no merit.

Sanford was upset the bill included provisions making the University of South Carolina Sumter a four-year school, creating a four-year cooking program at Trident Technical College and OKing an international convention center in Myrtle Beach.

Sanford last month vetoed the Life Sciences Bill (560). The General Assembly easily overrode his veto. The Senate voted 39-4 Wednesday to override the bill, while the House voted 81-24 with no discussion.

The main goal of the bill was to provide college research opportunities and economic development in biotechnology and related fields, and it allows the state to borrow up to $500 million to those ends.

updated 8:23am by BrettWitt