“It shows that people of this state want to give more options to parents and allow for entrepreneurship and innovation within the public school system.”

-- Sen. Wes Hayes, R-York, speaking about a bill signed Wednesday by Gov. Mark Sanford that creates a statewide charter school district

TODAY AT THE STATE HOUSE

For a complete list of legislative meetings, go to http://www.scstatehouse.net/ and click on the “Meetings” link.

IN THE HOUSE: Convenes at 10 a.m. At 9 a.m., 516 Blatt Building, a Judiciary subcommittee discusses grounds for divorce.

IN THE SENATE: Convenes at 10 a.m. No committee meetings scheduled.

THE DAILY BUZZ

STATE OF MIND

There was much debate in the House about the impact of out-of-state special interest groups on S.C. education policy, talk fueled by a revised and revived private school tuition tax credit plan.

House Democrats charged supporters with bowing to outside interests. Republicans pointed out their interest was in South Carolina children.

Then there was Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, asking the question on The Buzz’s mind:

Wasn’t there just a Republican fuss made about out-of-staters influencing state elections?

“Do you think it might be the same out-of-staters that ... the (House) Speaker (Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston) had a press conference about last week?” Cobb-Hunter asked.

To which The Buzz asks a follow-up: Are they from Michigan, the state Gov. Mark Sanford complained in January was partly responsible for the state’s unemployment rate?

SCHMOOZING

Where and from whom state lawmakers will be able to get free food and drinks

• Breakfast: 8 a.m., 221 Blatt Building, hosted by South Carolina chapter of the American Planning Association

MORE ON THE WEB

What you can find online at thestate.com

• YGA Today, midday news from inside the State House, is updated several times each legislative day.

• Our searchable list of state employee salaries for workers earning more than $50,000 a year

A QUICK SPIN AROUND THE STATE HOUSE

House Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, said he is willing to extend the end of the session to try and force the Senate to pass statewide property tax reform.

Harrell said the House will not approve a state budget unless it contained “substantive” property tax relief. He declined to say how much tax relief would please the House.

The Senate moved no closer to passing statewide property tax reform Wednesday, raising and defeating plans it has already discussed.

The House budget includes $117 million to fund a statewide plan that would raise the sales tax by two cents on the dollar, stripping school and county operating taxes from owner-occupied homes.

“It has the potential to delay the end of the session,” Harrell said. “It is that important an issue for us.”

Lawmakers cannot adjourn until a state budget is passed. The session is set to end June 1.

The Senate adjourned around 5:30 p.m., leaving many upset that the body would not stay in session to hammer out an agreement.

“It’s got to get uncomfortable in here to get something done,” said Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston.

During the morning, some senators pushed to approve a so-called local option plan that would allow each county to vote to raise its sales tax to pay resident property taxes. By the afternoon, supporters were still tinkering with the plan to gain enough votes for passage.

As debate wore on for its third week, some senators were frustrated the body seemed to be chasing its tail with similar amendments being proposed, and rejected, time and time again.

“The Senate has voted over and over and over and over and over,” said Sen. Larry Martin, R-Pickens. “How many ways do we have to debate this?”

IMMIGRATION LAWS

The House put off detailed debate on a bill that could limit the number of illegal immigrants working in South Carolina, shifting the measure to the chamber’s contested calendar.

Representatives discussed the measure briefly before moving the measure to the slower-moving list. The Illegal Aliens and Public Employment Act would require employers doing business with the state to register with the Federal Work Authorization program, an electronic verification system or its equivalent, operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The bill missed the May 1 crossover deadline, meaning if it passes it can only be taken up in the Senate with a two-thirds vote of support. That higher bar, and the tight legislative calendar, means that bill and others face stiffer challenges to pass.

VIETNAM VETERANS

The first Friday each May will be designated “Vietnam Veterans Survivors’ and Remembrance Day” in South Carolina under a bill signed by Gov. Mark Sanford. The day was previously recognized by gubernatorial proclamations.

The day recognizes all South Carolinians who served in the Vietnam War.

The governor will be joined by legislators and veterans for a ceremonial bill signing today.