COLUMBIA, S.C. - Lawmakers will be back at the Statehouse on Tuesday to deal with bills the governor vetoed since the General Assembly adjourned earlier this month.

They expect to work quickly during the two-day session since Gov. Mark Sanford sent them just 11 vetoes on bills ranging from changes in the state's college scholarship program to restrictions on driving in the left lane on interstates.

The brief return to the Statehouse was set up initially to elect a new House speaker as well as address bills rejected by Sanford. But Charleston Republican Bobby Harrell was elected June 2 to replace House Speaker David Wilkins, who was named ambassador to Canada.

The position is the most powerful in the House as the speaker appoints people to committees, including conference panels that work out final details of contentious legislation with the Senate. The speaker also controls which committees receive bills and sets the pace for debate and the tenor for how Republicans and Democrats work together.

Harrell said he would resign as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and give up his spot on the State Budget and Control Board. The committee is expected to elect a new chairman Tuesday.

Harrell won't take the speaker's gavel, however, until June 21, when Wilkins' resignation takes effect. That means House Speaker Pro Tem Doug Smith will preside over the House on Tuesday while Wilkins will be training for his duties as ambassador.

"I personally didn't see the wisdom in coming back and thought it was a complete waste of time," said Smith, who reluctantly bowed out of the speaker's race a day before the election. "It's a shame we're having to come back to do this."

It will cost about $19,000 a day if each of the 124 House members return. The Senate clerk did not immediately return phone calls to determine how much that body's session would cost.

The House and Senate agreed to a sine die resolution that allows them to address vetoes and offer resolutions of expressions, but lawmakers cannot handle any leftover business.

Harrell agreed the vetoes could wait until the regular session starts again in January, but said it was important to have the option to deal with them now.

Many closely watched the governor's action on a bill that overhauled the state's primary retirement system that guaranteed 63,000 state retirees would get annual cost-of-living increases in their pension checks beginning in July. Sanford signed it into law on Friday.

Those who wanted stronger enforcement of the state's seat belt law learned Sanford allowed it to become law without his signature June 9.

Sen. John Land, D-Manning, said the governor's vetoes show "a lack of understanding."

For example, Land said the governor vetoed a bill that would transfer the land from a former South Carolina National Guard Armory to the town of Inman for the benefit of the community.

"None of them are Earth-shattering," Land said of the vetoes. "I have no problem coming back. I think the cost is certainly justified."

Harrell wants the Legislature to override a veto of a bill to expand the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship to more top performing students.

"The idea is to keep South Carolina's brightest kids in the state," said Harrell, adding the cost would be minimal.

Sen. Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence, and others in the Pee Dee are angry Sanford rejected a commission to study whether a trail should be established to honor Revolutionary War hero Francis Marion.

Land, who supported that bill, said he expects that veto to be overturned.

"I would probably predict all 11 will be overridden," Land said.